Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Gators offensive line coach Brad Davis has been on the job less than a month, so there's still much to learn about the group he inherited.

Still, when the Gators opened spring camp on Tuesday, Davis had a solid scouting report on No. 73.

Martez Ivey was a five-star recruit two years ago out of Apopka (Fla.) High, and in today's information age, Ivey was a well-known commodity as one of the most heavily recruited offensive linemen in the country.

"I've really been investing a lot of time in Martez,'' Davis said recently. "I think he has limitless potential."

Like his new position coach, Ivey is taking part in his first spring camp with the Gators. He missed last spring while recovering from shoulder surgery. Once healthy, the 6-foot-5, 305-pound Ivey turned in a solid season. Ivey was twice named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week and earned a spot on the AP All-SEC Second Team.

Ivey started at left guard last season, lined up next to left tackle David Sharpe. With Sharpe in Indianapolis this week for the NFL combine, Ivey has moved to left tackle. He played the position in high school.

"I think it's natural for him,'' head coach Jim McElwain said Tuesday.

Ivey has no problem with the move.

"I was happy. I wasn't saying no,'' he said. "I got used to playing guard, now I'm getting back used to playing tackle. It's a transition. It does come natural out there."

Plus, left tackle pays better than left guard in the NFL, which is where Ivey wants to play after UF.

As part of Davis' transition from North Texas to Florida, getting to know Ivey and pushing him to set the tone for the rest of the group has been a priority. Players as talented as Ivey need to be leaders.

 

"I ask my guys to set the example and hold other guys accountable to the standard,'' Davis said. "That has been my conversation to Martez. 'Yes, you're a tremendous football. Yes, we see a big future for you in football.' But the bottom line is you want to make sure that you leave this place better than when you got it, whenever your time is up here.

"He has really, really expressed a strong desire to find ways to improve his game."

Ivey has had to grow up fast with the Gators. He started eight games as a freshman after missing most of fall camp due to arthroscopic knee surgery. The biggest adjustment Ivey said he has made since Davis' arrival is studying the game more.

He wants to be a smarter player by the time the season starts.

"It's going to be tremendous for me [to participate in spring camp],'' he said. "You get 15 practices to get better. That's only benefiting me when it gets to summertime to go out there and play Michigan."

In his short time around Ivey, Davis has seen the kind of commitment he wants from arguably the Gators' top NFL prospect on the roster.

If Ivey keeps it up, the potential is there for greatness.

"I think he's a kid who falls in the category of loves football. And so I've been very, very thrilled to work with him every day," Davis said. "Has a ton of potential to be a leader and to be a guy that makes other guys around him better."