Gators Prepared for a Competitive Preseason Camp

Florida head coach Jim McElwain likes the competitiveness of his roster entering Year 2. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA)

Gators Prepared for a Competitive Preseason Camp

Wednesday, August 3, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter

With added depth on the roster, coaches expect more position battles in Year 2.

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The Gators reported for the start of preseason camp on Wednesday, and soon after checking in, the players gathered for a catered barbecue meal.

It was a cordial gathering prior to the team's annual media day. They'll assemble again on Thursday afternoon for the first practice of camp. Don't expect the tone to be so genial.

There are jobs up for grabs.

"Positionally, there's a lot of question marks,'' head coach Jim McElwain said. "The key to our success will be guys competing for playing time at many positions."

The competition that will generate the most headlines is the quarterback battle between redshirt sophomore Luke Del Rio and fifth-year senior Austin Appleby. Del Rio concluded spring camp as the front-runner, capped with a 10-for-11, 176-yard, two-touchdown outing in the Orange & Blue Debut spring game.

Appleby arrived on campus in January after transferring from Purdue, and while he made strides in the spring to learn the offense, he admittedly felt pressured to catch up over the summer.

The gap has closed according to offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier.

"I think they are both very close,'' Nussmeier said. "They can both be extremely effective. Very excited about the competition that's going to be created and not just at quarterback, but across the board."

So is McElwain. He saw how an influx of talent in the spring and summer recharged some of the veterans such as junior running back Brandon Powell. Coming off an injury-plagued season that required foot surgery after the Citrus Bowl loss to Michigan, Powell worked tirelessly to return.

The addition of playmakers such as receiver Dre Massey and running back Mark Thompson didn't hurt in McElwain's view.

"You've heard me say it over and over, but it's the truth: competition by position actually breeds success,'' McElwain said. "And the more we can do that, the better off we'll be."

The offense is filled with competition for playing time, whether it be the quarterback battle, depth at offensive line, or a receiving corps that features five newcomers in the mix.

Meanwhile, the biggest defensive battles are up front and in the secondary.

Defensive coordinator Geoff Collins said the talent is there. That's not an issue. Roles must be determined.

"We don't really have a two-deep on defense around here,'' Collins said. "Because a lot of times, if you get labeled a two, you're going to play like a two."

While Florida lost three key players in the secondary -- cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, nickel Brian Poole and safety Keanu Neal -- Collins isn't fretting. Not with Teez Tabor and Quincy Wilson back at corner and Marcus Maye at safety.

Others fighting to build on their performance in spring include safeties Nick Washington and Marcell Harris, nickel Duke Dawson and true freshman Chauncey Gardner, an early enrollee who made a favorable impression, and newcomer McArthur Burnett.

"I think they complement each other well,'' Collins said of the defensive backs. "They are a bunch of unselfish players that want to see the best guy on the field and rotate through."

Building depth was a key mission at the end of McElwain's first season. The Gators enter his second season in better shape than his first as far as position battles.

"You can't go into coast,'' he said. "This is exciting for all of us as we get ready to kind of find out what the standard is going to be that this team sets. This is a team that I really like the vibe."

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Personnel Notes

-- McElwain said there is no change in the status of receiver Antonio Callaway, who was cleared to practice with the team over the summer but has not received a final ruling on his eligibility for the season.
-- Linebacker Alex Anzalone and offensive lineman Martez Ivey will be limited at the start of camp for precautionary reasons. Both players are coming off shoulder surgeries.
-- Freshman receivers Rick Wells and Tyrie Cleveland will practice with the team at the start of fall camp and have received punishment for a summer BB-gun incident. McElwain said their situation is not entirely resolved and hinted that more punishment could be handed down.
-- Defensive lineman Thomas Holley and two-way lineman Andrew Ivie have received medical exemption's from the NCAA. Both players remain on scholarship but their careers are over due to medical concerns.
-- McElwain said redshirt freshman receiver Kalif Jackson and running back Case Harrison will not count toward the 105-man roster at the start of camp due to their recoveries from offseason surgery.