GAINESVILLE, Fla. – With the way
Dan Mullen has buzzed around since taking over the Gators, you almost expect him to run out of the tunnel in a uniform at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday.
The annual Orange & Blue Game kicks off at 3 p.m. and for the Gators, it's their first showcase event under Mullen.
Mullen has been the story around the Gators this spring as he set in motion his plan to revamp the program into a national championship contender the way it was in his four seasons as offensive coordinator from 2005-08.
That's going to take more time, but in the five months Mullen has been back, he has made something clear to players, fans, boosters, school officials, student organizations and anyone else who will listen.
"We're all in this together,'' he said.
For the Gators to get back to where Mullen believes they belong – as one of the elite programs year in and year out – he seeks to restore what he calls the 'Gator Standard.'
To help get his point across to the players, Mullen has invited several ex-Gators to speak to the team this spring, including
Percy Harvin,
Danny Wuerffel,
Major Wright,
Louis Murphy and
Kevin Carter.
Check out some of what Carter had to say during his visit to practice on Thursday:
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Meanwhile, the new-and-improved Gators finally take the field in front of Gator Nation on Saturday. They are a work in progress, but following the struggles of last season, Mullen has restored hope.
Let's take look at Florida's spring game with
The Opening Kickoff, first with the team rosters:
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FOUR QUESTIONS WITH … REDSHIRT SENIOR KICKER JORGE POWELL
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Q: You were here before Eddy Pineiro and now after Eddy, so what it's like to get this opportunity?
A: I feel like I've been here forever. Getting the opportunity to get back to how it was my sophomore year [2015] was important to me. I feel like all eyes are on me, but I like that, because it gets me to compete every day. The competition has been tough, but I think I've done well so far and hope to perform well on Saturday.
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Jorge Powell
Q: What would you do if fans chanted your name on Saturday?
A: That would be awesome, I'm not going to lie. That would be pretty cool to carry that tradition.
Q: Eddy was such a talented kicker, did you pick up some tips from him?
A: We used to play this game called PIG. It's like HORSE. We'd just pick on each other's steps or our follow-throughs. In the end we had similar mentalities. We helped each other out here and there. I learned a lot from him and he even learned a lot from me. You could ask him. It was good.
Q: What will be your focus over the summer to better your chances of winning the job in the fall?
A: Trying to get my body stronger, maybe get a little bit more depth on my kickoffs, so work more on my kickoffs. I'm getting the ball five [yards] deep, six deep, but I want to be getting the ball out of the end zone. My field goals have been pretty solid all through spring, so just keep working my technique.Â
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THREE STORYLINESÂ
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-- Since
Dan Mullen returned to UF in late November to take over a program he helped win two national titles, he has been a one-man hype machine. Mullen's goal to rejuvenate the Gators and their fans started this spring with his #PackTheSwamp campaign for Saturday's Orange & Blue Game. The curtain raises on the first show Saturday.
-- The four-man quarterback battle will continue into fall camp, but Saturday's game provides a glimpse at how
Feleipe Franks,
Kyle Trask, Emory Jones and
Jake Allen have progressed in their first camp with Mullen in charge. Franks remains the probable favorite to be the opening-game starter but Trask is finally ready to compete. Jones and Allen are behind in the race but have the summer to work and improve their chances come fall.
-- Spring games are about offense and protecting the quarterbacks, so we won't get a complete picture of what the Gators' 3-4 defensive alignment under first-year coordinator
Todd Grantham will be able to do at full speed. Still, the defensive line won plenty of battles up front in the team's two spring scrimmages and has plenty of players to watch closely, including veteran
Cece Jefferson.
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THREE NEWCOMERS TO WATCH
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-- Defensive back Trey Dean (6-2, 181) is a fluid athlete with good size and quickness. He adjusted quickly to the pace of spring camp only weeks after enrolling early out of Dutchtown High in Hampton, Ga. Dean is nowhere near his potential but appears talented enough to be a contributor as a true freshman.
-- Another Georgia product, running back Dameon Pierce (5-10, 207), impressed in spring camp with his physical running style and toughness. Pierce starred at Bainbridge (Ga.) High and joins a deep group of players in the backfield competing for carries. Pierce is not lacking in personality or confidence.
-- You can't do this list without adding Jones, who is also from Georgia. Jones (6-2, 192) is a dual-threat quarterback who played at Heard County High in LaGrange, Ga. He was the biggest name in Mullen's first recruiting class. While the Gators have brought Jones along slowly in spring camp, he has a skill set that fits nicely in Mullen's spread offense.
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THREE DIGITS
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31-0 – Score of last season's Orange & Blue Game, first time since at least 1996 either team was shut out.
97 – Number of players on roster for last season's spring game.
109 – Number of players on roster for first spring game for Gators under Mullen.
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THE SPRING QUOTE FILE
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"Honestly, I wasn't impressed by my freshman season. I know I've got a lot more to do. I want to be known as the best and I want to end up going on to the next level, and when I get to the next level, I want to be the best there, too." – Sophomore cornerback
Marco Wilson
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"I don't think I've paid attention to separation, you know what I mean? I'm watching all the guys and really worried about how we're getting better. One of the things for me, especially with where we are with a new roster to me, you know, with everybody starting over, is it's a long time before we have to make any decisions or play a game. So I'm not that concerned about that right now." – Mullen on separation in quarterback battle
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"He's a 50/50 guy. Fifty percent of the time he looks fantastic, 50 percent of the time he looks terrible. That happens with young players. When he decides to do it right and put the effort and the focus and attention to detail and put the strain in, he has the potential to be an excellent player.'' – Mullen on sophomore defensive tackle T.J. Slaton
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"You need a guy that has some stout and some strength. He can cover in the slot, he is going to set the edge on the bubble, which is more like a safety. He is a good blitzer coming off the edge. He does multiple things. He could play corner for us, but it's a matter of getting our best 11 players on the field, it's a matter of putting him at nickel." – Defensive coordinator
Todd Grantham on junior defensive back
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
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"I'm always a positive person. No matter how many people are talking about me, I've always kept a smile on my face. My game's only going to go up from here. You know, I hit the all-time low, it's only going to go up." – Gators quarterback
Feleipe Franks
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INJURY REPORT
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OUT/LIMITED:Â RBÂ
Malik Davis (knee), OL
Brett Heggie (knee), OL
T.J. Moore (knee), DB
Jeawon Taylor (shoulder), DL
Keivonnis Davis (lower body).
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FIVE SPRING READS
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BOTTOM LINE
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The most important part of a spring game is that no one is seriously injured. The second most important element is that the offense and quarterbacks offer hope heading into the offseason. If those two things happen on Saturday, everyone should leave Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in a good mood and excited to return for the Sept. 1 season opener. If there is a rash of injuries and the quarterbacks play poorly, fall camp can't get here soon enough.
