Gators Notebook: Linebacker Shortage, Ex-Players Show Up, more tidbits

Gators linebacker Jarrad Davis is in Tampa for the Outback Bowl but won't be able to play on Monday. (Photo: Steve Jacobson/Outback Bowl)

Gators Notebook: Linebacker Shortage, Ex-Players Show Up, more tidbits

Friday, December 30, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter

Florida will be without starting linebackers Jarrad Davis and Alex Anzalone in Monday's Outback Bowl against Iowa.

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

TAMPA, Fla. – Gators head coach Jim McElwain met with reporters on Friday for the final time before the Outback Bowl against Iowa.

Unfortunately for Florida, McElwain delivered familiar news on starting linebackers Jarrad Davis and Alex Anzalone: neither will play in Monday's game.

Davis missed three consecutive games due to a severely sprained ankle before starting in the SEC Championship Game against Alabama. However, Davis could barely walk after the game and is still not 100 percent.

Meanwhile, Anzalone has practiced here this week after missing the last four games because of a broken arm suffered at Arkansas on Nov. 5. Like Davis, Anzalone is not completely healed and isn't ready to play against a physical Iowa offensive front.

"To his credit, he tested it,'' McElwain said of Anzalone. "That's great to see."

Both players are potential high-round draft picks in next spring's NFL draft. A senior, Davis is projected by some analysts as a late first-round pick. A fourth-year junior, Anzalone has another year of eligibility remaining. If he opts to return, he will be the Gators' most experienced linebacker next season. If not, Anzalone is projected to be drafted in the middle rounds and perhaps as high as the second round.

35898 — Gators interim defensive coordinator Randy Shannon will be without two of the unit's most valuable players on Monday. (Photo: Will Pantages/UAA Communications)

Despite missing significant time, Davis (60 tackles) and Anzalone (59) rank second and third on the team in tackles behind safety Marcell Harris, who has 64.

Florida is extremely slim at linebacker entering the game against Iowa, which features a strong rushing attack led by LaShun Daniels Jr. (1,013 yards) and Akrum Wadley (966 yards). Besides Davis and Anzalone, freshman linebacker Davis Reese (wrist surgery) is out.

McElwain said freshmen Kylan Johnson and Vosean Joseph will start and that walk-on Cristian Garcia will get additional reps. Senior Daniel McMillian is also a factor and is the most experienced of the players available.

In addition to three linebackers, starting safety Nick Washington (ankle) and defensive end Bryan Cox Jr. (ankle) are "highly questionable" according to McElwain. If they can't play, that means the Gators will be without five of their top six tacklers.

"It's going to really test the safeties to when we get down in the box, to be able to stand up to that run game and get the guys to the ground,'' McElwain said. "Obviously, where we're going to be a little short on bodies is not a place against this kind of team is where you want to be.

"But that's our responsibility to put a plan together to put them on the ground. Our guys are going to have to be really disciplined on the back-end with their eyes on not get beat in play-action."

McElwain did have some good news: starting nickel Duke Dawson is healthy and ready to play after being hobbled late in the season because of injuries.

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SPECIAL GUESTS

The sideline at Jesuit High School was full of Gators at Friday afternoon's practice – and not just current ones.

Several former players stopped by to say hello to McElwain and each other, including Tampa native Andre Caldwell, a member of Florida's 2006 national championship team. Caldwell spent last season with the Super Bowl-champion Broncos and was in camp with Detroit for a short stint in August.

Others spotted: Stacey Simmons, Kirk Kirkpatrick, Ernie Mills, Mike Pearson and Kevin Carter.

"We could have had a hell of a ball squad just with all the former players out here,'' McElwain said. "It's great."

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BEACH DAY

The Gators made a stop at Clearwater Beach prior to practice on Friday for an Outback Bowl fan event. GatorVision reporter Mitch Gerber filed this report:

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DIFFERENT BUT SAME

Interim defensive coordinator Randy Shannon took over running that side of the ball when Geoff Collins left to become head coach at Temple. With Shannon moving up, defensive quality control specialist Mark DeBastiani was named interim linebackers coach.

The changes leading into the bowl game have had little impact on preparation.

"He's been there, obviously, Coach Rumph has been there, D-Bas has been around,'' McElwain said. "They're speaking the same language. They are in the same situation because of where we're at personnel-wise. There are some things we've got to change up to allow our playmakers to make plays on that side of the ball."

With so many injuries on defense (see above), the Gators are trying to make adjustments against an Iowa offense that likes to run first, pass second.

"We'll do some things in nickel and dime packages that will be a little bit different,'' McElwain said. "And we're going to have to confuse them a little bit with pressures out of that as well."

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QUOTE OF NOTE I

"This is what kind of makes this team so special. Those two guys have been the constant. It just shows how many times we have had to change lineups and the guys have adapted and come in and played." – McElwain on offensive lineman David Sharpe and cornerback Quincy Wilson being the only two players on the roster to start all 12 games

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QUOTE OF NOTE II

"I'd like to see us finish and play throughout. Play with a passion and pride in being a Gator. It goes back to seeing all these Gators that were out here today and how much it means to them and obviously, a lot of people here in the state of Florida, particularly in Tampa. You know what, let's go play some Gator football. I just want us to play really hard and give ourselves and opportunity to win the game." – McElwain on what he wants to see out of his team in Monday's game

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EXTRA POINTS

Senior receiver Chris Thompson continues to take reps at defensive back. McElwain said Thompson could play in the secondary if needed and it offers him experience to potentially help him extend his playing career. Former UF receiver Quinton Dunbar switched to defensive back after UF and has carved out a career with the Redskins … The Gators have ramped up the intensity at practice and will treat Saturday's final practice as a Perfect Thursday during the regular season. "Now we're kind of gearing into game mode,'' McElwain said. "We've had good practices. Excited to get out and play."