Notes from Gators coach Will Muschamp's opening media session at SEC Football Media Days
Wednesday, July 20, 2011 | Football, Scott Carter
HOOVER, Ala. – Gators coach Will Muschamp and players John Brantley, Deonte Thompson and William Green are making the rounds here at SEC Football Media Days.
Muschamp and the players met first with a group of Florida-based reporters who cover the program on a daily basis.
Here are some notes from Muschamp's session:
--Muschamp said senior running back Jeff Demps is in Italy this week running track and is expected back in town next week to prepare for the start of fall camp. There have been rumors that Demps may quit football to pursue track full-time.
"Jeff and I have talked all summer,'' Muschamp said. "I fully expect him to be part of our football team.''
--Sophomore linebacker Neiron Ball will definitely miss the 2011 season as he continues to recover from a congenital vascular condition that involved a blood vessel bursting in his head during offseason drills.
Ball has been at a spiritual camp in Colorado recently and Muschamp said his football future will be re-evaluated at the start of 2012.
"I'm more concerned about his health than anything else,'' Muschamp said. "Other than Neiron Ball, we look to be full-speed with all the scholarship guys.''
--Redshirt junior tackle Matt Patchan has been cleared to play at the start of camp. Patchan missed all of last season due to a right wrist injury.
"He's full-go,'' Muschamp said. "He's still working on some flexibility with his wrist, but I'm really excited about his progress.''
--A recent addition to the program is former Notre Dame center Dan Wenger, who started some during Gators offensive coordinator Charlie Weis' tenure as the Fighting Irish's head coach.
Wenger wants to be a strength coach when he is done playing and contacted Florida's staff about joining the program as a player in his final year of eligibility.
"He is working out with our football team,'' Muschamp said. "He is a guy who was there in Charlie's system at Notre Dame. He's a guy who brings some toughness. He is kind of a guy who has been through our system.''
Wenger can play center or both guard positions. Muschamp added that Nick Alajajian, Sam Robey, Jonotthan Harrison are working at center.
--Muschamp faced a lot of questions about the offense as expected, saying that by the end of spring practice, he felt the unit had progress under Weis' direction and the expectations of the new coaching staff.
"As spring continued on, there were some days that I felt very comfortable leaving the practice field with the rhythm offensively in what we were doing,'' Muschamp said. "A lot of that goes to Charlie. Charlie does a nice job of identifying what guys do well.''
--With camp scheduled to start in two weeks, Muschamp does have some questions. The Gators are still looking for some playmakers on offense and defense. Finding those answers will be critical before the season opener Sept. 3 against Florida Atlantic.
"We've got more unknowns going into August camp than I would like to have,'' Muschamp said. "But that's part of it and we have to do a good job of working through August camp and making sure our team is ready to roll.''
--One of Muschamp's best sound bites came when he was asked if he would use the fact no Gators were named first team All-SEC by the coaches to motivate his players.
"Sure. I'll remind them a little bit when we play those coaches each week. Nobody really thought much of you,'' he said. "I'll have some fun with them more than anything.''
--Last but not least, Muschamp said if the season started today, true freshman Kyle Christy would be the team's punter.
Check back with GatorZone.com later today for more from SEC Football Media Days.
