Gators Notebook: Gardner Impressive in Scrimmage, QBs had moments

True freshman defensive back Chauncey Gardner performed well in Florida's first scrimmage of spring camp. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA)

Gators Notebook: Gardner Impressive in Scrimmage, QBs had moments

Monday, March 28, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The day before Florida opened spring camp, Gators head coach Jim McElwain talked about the need to build depth at defensive back.

That was expected considering the loss of three key starters from his first season at UF: cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, safety Keanu Neal and nickel Brian Poole.

Sounds as if the Gators are making progress, in part due to true freshman Chauncey Gardner. As McElwain recapped Thursday's scrimmage during his Monday press conference, Gardner drew praise for his play.

"Chauncey was put to safety right away and actually caused a turnover down at the goal line, which was great to see," McElwain said. "He's a guy that sometimes isn't getting to the deep middle third like you'd like and some rotational things, but part of that is being young.

"I've been really proud of the way that he's come up and tried to play physical, especially in our team-run stuff. I'm sure glad he's here and he's a guy that's going to help this football team."

Gardner was a standout cornerback at Cocoa High. With the talented duo of Jalen Tabor and Quincy Wilson at corner, Gardner is getting reps at safety to expand his versatility. The same is true for fourth-year junior Marcell Harris, who is a safety.

Defensive coordinator Geoff Collins has moved Harris into a hybrid role where depending on the defensive alignment, Harris is essentially a linebacker.

"He's athletic enough to cover slot receivers, to cover tight ends,'' Collins said. "He's just a big, physical kid. Once he gets downhill and we start inserting him in the box or inserting him on the edge, he's a physical presence."

Meanwhile, McElwain said Monday fifth-year seniors Marcus Maye and junior Duke Dawson are working in nickel roles. Both are considered safeties but have the ability to play cornerback.

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QUARTERBACKS HAD THEIR MOMENTS

The first spring scrimmage produced mixed results for the four quarterbacks vying for positioning on the depth chart.

The veterans – redshirt sophomore Luke Del Rio and fifth-year senior Austin Appleby – remain in a close battle according to McElwain.

28806 — Freshman quarterback Feleipe Franks in action during spring camp.

"Offensively, I thought they did a really good job of coming out at the beginning of the scrimmage, taking a couple drives down, punching it in," McElwain said. "Couple explosive passes, and that was good to see."

True freshmen Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask showed poise in their first scrimmage action at UF, with both receiving reps running the first-team offense.

McElwain said no one has emerged as a clear-cut leader in the competition.

"Both of the young guys really threw the ball well,'' he said. "I was impressed with how they handled a lot of situations."

Overall, McElwain voiced an optimistic tone from the way the quarterbacks performed as a group. For the second consecutive season, McElwain is managing a quarterback battle that is expected to continue into fall camp.

"I thought all the quarterbacks had their moments, both good and bad, and yet, I think the consistency in which they played was pretty darned good,'' he said.

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HOLLEY'S CAREER OVER?

No one can say redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Thomas Holley didn't try. However, Holley's bad hip continues to hamper his ability to stay on the field.

Holley lost more than 50 pounds since last season to help alleviate the discomfort and perhaps rejuvenate his career at defensive end instead of on the interior line.

For now, though, it appears Holley's career could be over as he is once again sidelined due to his injured hip.

"That's going to be a tough one," McElwain said Monday. "He did everything he could, obviously losing the weight and taking the pressure off that. We'll see where that is as the spring rolls on."

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INJURY REPORT

Sophomore running back Jordan Scarlett (leg) was held out of the scrimmage due to an injury but returned to practice Monday … Defensive tackle Caleb Brantley is sick and was kept from the team Monday as a precaution … Center Cam Dillard (broken nose) is expected back by the end of the week … Receivers Dre Massey (leg) and Ahmad Fulwood (leg) missed Thursday's scrimmage and should be back soon according to McElwain.

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SHANNON TALKS SHOP

Gators linebackers coach/co-defensive coordinator Randy Shannon discusses the outlook this spring for Florida's linebackers corps via video shot by GatorVision.tv's Whitney Haworth:

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QUOTE OF NOTE I

"DeAndre Goolsby really showed up in the last scrimmage. He made some really big plays in the pass game and has gotten a little bit better from a blocking standpoint, especially some point-of-attack stuff.'' – McElwain on Florida's junior tight end from Derby, Kan.

QUOTE OF NOTE II

"His hang time, when he swings his leg, I think we've got a chance to have a pretty good cover team because of him." – McElwain on kicker Eddy Pineiro

QUOTE OF NOTE III

"Still have the contract. Coached quarterbacks and receivers, taught classes, tended a bar, worked at J.C. Penney's. So I've come a ways." – McElwain, who now earns $4.25 million annually, on the $4,723 he earned from his first coaching job at Eastern Washington

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EXTRA POINTS

The Gators took 117 snaps during their first scrimmage of camp … Florida's second scrimmage of spring practice is scheduled for Friday … Redshirt junior receiver Alvin Bailey, who has been hampered by a sore back, caught the ball well in the scrimmage according to McElwain … Sophomore defensive lineman CeCe Jefferson spent part of Monday getting his driver's license, which McElwain approved. "I'm really excited about that. That's a heck of a thing,'' he said. Jefferson has been working to resolve a charge for driving without a license that occurred in December.