Redshirt sophomore Kalif Jackson, left, talks to freshman tight end Kemore Gamble at a recent practice. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Injuries at TE provide unproven Jackson extra snaps
Friday, August 18, 2017 | Football, Scott Carter
The Gators enter the weekend without the services of the top four tight ends on the depth chart.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – As Gators head coach Jim McElwain rattled off names on Friday's injury list, it soon became clear the tight end position was going to need a lift.
Heading into their scrimmage on Friday night, McElwain said C'yontai Lewis, DeAndre Goolsby, Moral Stephens and Kemore Gamble are unavailable. Lewis has an undisclosed injury that is keeping him out of contact drills, Stephens and Gamble are both nursing leg/foot injuries, and Goolsby's grandmother passed away. He went home for the memorial service.
"Our biggest area where we've had a rash of injuries is at the tight end spot,'' McElwain said.
To overcome the losses, McElwain said the Gators would use different personnel groupings and work on various jumbo formations in goal-line drills Friday. Redshirt sophomore Kalif Jackson is "obviously getting a ton" of reps, he added.
The Gators also have walk-ons Ryan Ferguson, Brian Fallace and linebacker R.J. Raymond working at the position.
Jackson, listed as a wide receiver on the roster, has made little impact during his UF career. He was one of two early enrollees in McElwain's first spring at Florida in 2015. Jackson and tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe enrolled early and Imatorbhebhe transferred to Southern Cal after going through spring camp. Imatorbhebhe caught 17 passes for 250 yards and four touchdowns a season ago.
Meanwhile, Jackson made his college debut last season in the SEC Championship Game against Alabama on special teams. Redshirted his first year on campus, Jackson has yet to record his first career reception.
However, he has bulked up since he arrived as a 6-foot-4, 190-pound early enrollee from Fletcher High in Neptune Beach. Jackson is listed at 217 pounds and is noticeably bigger.
In last Friday's scrimmage, Jackson caught a short touchdown pass to show up on film. The tight end position is considered one of the Gators' strengths, so any opportunity for an unproven player like Jackson to get extra snaps in camp is crucial.
*****
INJURY REPORT: OL Martez Ivey, DB Duke Dawson (leg), DB Nick Washington (shoulder), LB Kylan Johnson (hamstring), DB Quincy Lenton (leg), DB C.J. McWilliams (hamstring) will miss Friday's scrimmage according to McElwain.
"There are not any career-ending injuries or anything,'' he said. "It's just that they are not going to scrimmage."
Heading into their scrimmage on Friday night, McElwain said C'yontai Lewis, DeAndre Goolsby, Moral Stephens and Kemore Gamble are unavailable. Lewis has an undisclosed injury that is keeping him out of contact drills, Stephens and Gamble are both nursing leg/foot injuries, and Goolsby's grandmother passed away. He went home for the memorial service.
"Our biggest area where we've had a rash of injuries is at the tight end spot,'' McElwain said.
To overcome the losses, McElwain said the Gators would use different personnel groupings and work on various jumbo formations in goal-line drills Friday. Redshirt sophomore Kalif Jackson is "obviously getting a ton" of reps, he added.
The Gators also have walk-ons Ryan Ferguson, Brian Fallace and linebacker R.J. Raymond working at the position.
Jackson, listed as a wide receiver on the roster, has made little impact during his UF career. He was one of two early enrollees in McElwain's first spring at Florida in 2015. Jackson and tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe enrolled early and Imatorbhebhe transferred to Southern Cal after going through spring camp. Imatorbhebhe caught 17 passes for 250 yards and four touchdowns a season ago.
Meanwhile, Jackson made his college debut last season in the SEC Championship Game against Alabama on special teams. Redshirted his first year on campus, Jackson has yet to record his first career reception.
However, he has bulked up since he arrived as a 6-foot-4, 190-pound early enrollee from Fletcher High in Neptune Beach. Jackson is listed at 217 pounds and is noticeably bigger.
In last Friday's scrimmage, Jackson caught a short touchdown pass to show up on film. The tight end position is considered one of the Gators' strengths, so any opportunity for an unproven player like Jackson to get extra snaps in camp is crucial.
*****
INJURY REPORT: OL Martez Ivey, DB Duke Dawson (leg), DB Nick Washington (shoulder), LB Kylan Johnson (hamstring), DB Quincy Lenton (leg), DB C.J. McWilliams (hamstring) will miss Friday's scrimmage according to McElwain.
"There are not any career-ending injuries or anything,'' he said. "It's just that they are not going to scrimmage."
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