Senior running back Dameon Pierce takes a water break during Friday's practice, the first of preseason camp. (Photo: Isabella Marley/UAA Communications)
Gators' Backfield Loaded, Ready to Run
Saturday, August 7, 2021 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — When the Gators opened preseason camp on Friday, the competition was robust for head coach Dan Mullen's attention as usual.
After all, Florida's defense is in a rebuilding stage, the Gators have a new starting quarterback, and the kicking game features ample new faces. If there is one position group that might prompt a sigh of relief from Mullen in camp, it's when he walks over to check in on the running backs.
"I wouldn't be shocked to see us with multiple running-back packages this year, with more than one on the field at a time a little more than maybe we have done in the past,'' Mullen said. "Just utilizing our talent and our depth of what we have at that spot."
What might that look like?
Senior running back Dameon Pierce has some thoughts. Pierce, who rushed for a team-high 503 yards a season ago, understands what the Gators did offensively in 2020 is going to look much different in 2021. There's no way around it, not with Heisman finalist quarterback Kyle Trask and All-American tight end Kyle Pitts gone to the NFL, along with talented receivers Kadarius Toney and Trevon Grimes.
"We had a generational quarterback here at Florida and maybe one of the greatest tight ends in the history of college football," Pierce said.
But there's more to the optimism the running game will produce at a higher rate this season than a year ago – the Gators finished 11th in the Southeastern Conference and 96th nationally in rushing yards per game (131.2) in 2020 – than a revamped offense designed around dual-threat quarterbacks Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson. More specifically, it's about who and how many quality players the Gators have in their backfield.
Besides Pierce, fifth-year senior Malik Davis, third-year sophomore Nay'Quan Wright, fourth-year junior Lorenzo Lingard and redshirt freshman Demarkcus Bowman round out a deep and talented group of backs that, for now, serve as potentially the team's greatest strength heading into the season opener Sept. 4 against Florida Atlantic.
Pierce when asked this week for his scouting report on the backfield.
"I done answered this question so many times. Make sure y'all write this one down,'' he said. "To keep it in kind of layman's terms ... you know me, I'm the bruiser, I'm the big guy, the big man. You know, I like to run through people, not around people. You know, we got [Malik]. I think he likes to be in the open field more like pass packages or whatever. Nay'Quan, he like a little Swiss Army Knife, we put him out in the pass game or you know, he short and stocky to run through you too, you feel me?
"And then we got Bowman and Lorenzo, who are like more of our top-end speed guys. Like, if they get step on you, you not catching 'em, so like, just hang that up. Pretty much how that running back room go. But, yeah, all five of us dangerous."
And different based on Pierce's breakdown.
While Pierce, Davis and Wright each have had their moments in a Gators uniform, Lingard and Bowman remain intriguing talents who arrived at Florida in search of opportunity after distinguished prep careers in the Sunshine State. Lingard starred at University High in Orange City prior to signing with Miami. While with the Hurricanes, Lingard suffered a season-ending knee injury after playing in six games in 2018, played sparingly in 2019 and carried five times for 32 yards in limited action a season ago at Florida.
Meanwhile, Bowman was a five-star recruit out of Lakeland High in 2020 who signed with Clemson. However, despite his stature as the nation's No. 20 overall prospect in the class of 2020, Bowman was unable to crack the Tigers' rotation consistently and opted to transfer.
Bowman's blend of size and speed – he rushed for 5,081 yards and 71 touchdowns during his high school career – drew interest from the top programs in the country. He rushed for 32 yards on nine carries before entering the transfer portal at Clemson.
"He looked good in the little bit in spring, but we've got to see how he picks things up and how he learns,'' Mullen said. "Obviously, that hurts, being a first-year player when you kind of miss a whole installation. This is kind of now almost like he's going through the installation and learning it all for the first time."
The natural question is whether there are enough carries to spread around and keep everyone engaged. Pierce doesn't seem too concerned. He pointed to last year's offense and how he used it to improve, working on his pass protection, route running and receiving ability knowing that 20 carries per game wasn't in the game plan.
Mullen's plans to incorporate more running plays in 2021 has Pierce eager to get started.
"You know that makes me feel excited,'' Pierce said. "That means we got more plays drawn up. I mean, you can't break 80 yards if you're tired with dead legs. I'm alright with being fresh when I go out there."
After all, Florida's defense is in a rebuilding stage, the Gators have a new starting quarterback, and the kicking game features ample new faces. If there is one position group that might prompt a sigh of relief from Mullen in camp, it's when he walks over to check in on the running backs.
"I wouldn't be shocked to see us with multiple running-back packages this year, with more than one on the field at a time a little more than maybe we have done in the past,'' Mullen said. "Just utilizing our talent and our depth of what we have at that spot."
What might that look like?
Senior running back Dameon Pierce has some thoughts. Pierce, who rushed for a team-high 503 yards a season ago, understands what the Gators did offensively in 2020 is going to look much different in 2021. There's no way around it, not with Heisman finalist quarterback Kyle Trask and All-American tight end Kyle Pitts gone to the NFL, along with talented receivers Kadarius Toney and Trevon Grimes.
"We had a generational quarterback here at Florida and maybe one of the greatest tight ends in the history of college football," Pierce said.
But there's more to the optimism the running game will produce at a higher rate this season than a year ago – the Gators finished 11th in the Southeastern Conference and 96th nationally in rushing yards per game (131.2) in 2020 – than a revamped offense designed around dual-threat quarterbacks Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson. More specifically, it's about who and how many quality players the Gators have in their backfield.
Besides Pierce, fifth-year senior Malik Davis, third-year sophomore Nay'Quan Wright, fourth-year junior Lorenzo Lingard and redshirt freshman Demarkcus Bowman round out a deep and talented group of backs that, for now, serve as potentially the team's greatest strength heading into the season opener Sept. 4 against Florida Atlantic.
| PLAYER | YEAR | HT. | WT. | 2020 SEASON |
| Dameon Pierce | Sr. | 5-10 | 215 | Led Gators with 503 yards; averaged 4.7 per carry, 4 TDs |
| Malik Davis | R-Sr. | 5-10 | 207 | Rushed for 310 yards, 31 receptions for 377 yards |
| Nay'Quan Wright | R-So. | 5-9 | 196 | Rushed for 213 yards, 2 TDs; 19 receptions for 219 yards |
| Lorenzo Lingard | R-Jr. | 6-0 | 203 | Appeared in 9 games; carried 5 times for 32 yards |
| Demarkcus Bowman | R-Fr. | 5-10 | 193 | Played 2 games at Clemson as fourth RB on depth chart |
Pierce when asked this week for his scouting report on the backfield.
"I done answered this question so many times. Make sure y'all write this one down,'' he said. "To keep it in kind of layman's terms ... you know me, I'm the bruiser, I'm the big guy, the big man. You know, I like to run through people, not around people. You know, we got [Malik]. I think he likes to be in the open field more like pass packages or whatever. Nay'Quan, he like a little Swiss Army Knife, we put him out in the pass game or you know, he short and stocky to run through you too, you feel me?
"And then we got Bowman and Lorenzo, who are like more of our top-end speed guys. Like, if they get step on you, you not catching 'em, so like, just hang that up. Pretty much how that running back room go. But, yeah, all five of us dangerous."
And different based on Pierce's breakdown.
While Pierce, Davis and Wright each have had their moments in a Gators uniform, Lingard and Bowman remain intriguing talents who arrived at Florida in search of opportunity after distinguished prep careers in the Sunshine State. Lingard starred at University High in Orange City prior to signing with Miami. While with the Hurricanes, Lingard suffered a season-ending knee injury after playing in six games in 2018, played sparingly in 2019 and carried five times for 32 yards in limited action a season ago at Florida.
Meanwhile, Bowman was a five-star recruit out of Lakeland High in 2020 who signed with Clemson. However, despite his stature as the nation's No. 20 overall prospect in the class of 2020, Bowman was unable to crack the Tigers' rotation consistently and opted to transfer.
Bowman's blend of size and speed – he rushed for 5,081 yards and 71 touchdowns during his high school career – drew interest from the top programs in the country. He rushed for 32 yards on nine carries before entering the transfer portal at Clemson.
"He looked good in the little bit in spring, but we've got to see how he picks things up and how he learns,'' Mullen said. "Obviously, that hurts, being a first-year player when you kind of miss a whole installation. This is kind of now almost like he's going through the installation and learning it all for the first time."
The natural question is whether there are enough carries to spread around and keep everyone engaged. Pierce doesn't seem too concerned. He pointed to last year's offense and how he used it to improve, working on his pass protection, route running and receiving ability knowing that 20 carries per game wasn't in the game plan.
Mullen's plans to incorporate more running plays in 2021 has Pierce eager to get started.
"You know that makes me feel excited,'' Pierce said. "That means we got more plays drawn up. I mean, you can't break 80 yards if you're tired with dead legs. I'm alright with being fresh when I go out there."
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