Carter's Corner: Labeling Jones, India in draft, Tebow homers, Etc.
Friday, May 4, 2018 | Football, Scott Carter
Freshman quarterback Emory Jones' high school coach offers his opinion on the dual-threat label attached to his former player.
At the end of spring camp, incumbent starter Feleipe Franks and redshirt sophomore Kyle Trask appeared safely in the top two spots. For Jones, who enrolled in January, the departure of Allen simply removed one less potential roadblock for playing time.
Jones spent much of his first camp with the Gators getting acclimated to the collegiate level and learning the playbook. He took limited snaps in the Orange & Blue Game and if he is going to be a serious threat for playing time in the fall, Jones has some distance to make up over the summer.
Labeled as a dual-threat quarterback by recruiting analysts during his impressive career at Heard County (Ga.) High, Jones' high school coach, Tim Barron, isn't so sure that's an accurate evaluation.
"I'll tell you what, he's not a dual-threat guy and that's what amazed me, that he was touted as a dual-threat quarterback," Barron told SECCountry.com this week. "He's a pro-style quarterback who's athletic enough to get out of some trouble. When you watch him throw and watch him do things, I think he was just labeled that, and I really think he's better within the pocket. But he is athletic. He can get you first downs and do those things."
For many observers of Jones in his brief time at UF, Barron's assessment rings true. Jones showed a lively arm in the pocket in the spring game and while athletic and mobile, he showed a presence as a drop-back passer. Regardless of labels, Jones is the biggest recruit in Dan Mullen's brief tenure and as a quarterback at Florida, he will be analyzed throughout his career.
To read more on Jones, check out SECCountry.com writer Ryan Young's story from Franklin, Ga., as he travels to report on some of UF's new players.
Let's take a look at other fresh links from around the internet of interest to Gator Nation:
Might be a wet one tonight. We'll let you know of any schedule changes if they happen.#Gameday links:
— Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) May 4, 2018
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-- Reserve offensive lineman Andrew Mike announced he is departing for an opportunity to play elsewhere as a graduate transfer writes Thomas Goldkamp of Swamp247.com.
-- The UF women's basketball team has added 6-foot-5 center Emer Nichols from Texas A&M via Kathy Cafazzo on FloridaGators.com.
-- John Sickels of minorleagueball.com reviews draft prospects of Gators third baseman Jonathan India.
-- Former UF standout Nick Calathes is planning a return to the NBA from the Euroleague writes Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com.
-- Tim Tebow hit his second home run for the Binghamton (N.Y.) Rumble Ponies via USAToday.com.
-- Former Gators coach Billy Donovan is returning next season as head coach of the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder. What about former UF player Corey Brewer after his brief stint with the Thunder wonders Cody Taylor of USAToday.com.
-- Denver upset Georgetown on Thursday in the BIG EAST Tournament semifinals and faces the Gators on Saturday in the final writes Megan Schneider of uslaxmagazine.com.
COACH CASTRO
Former UF softball standout Bailey Castro must have learned a thing or two from Tim Walton during her time with the Gators ...
Bailey Castro is the 2018 SSC Softball Coach of the Year! #FEARtheFISH pic.twitter.com/EqyO7hGyAT
— PBA Sailfish (@PBASailfish) May 3, 2018
