Montrell Returns To Run Behind a Re-tooled Offensive Line

A few thoughts to jump start your Monday morning:

Montrell Johnson - Photo Credit Chris Spears

Montrell Johnson Jr. is returning for his senior year at Florida. He is a power runner with speed, a reliable pass catcher, and he can pick up a blitzer, something a more explosive back who transferred out couldn’t do. So Montrell is worth some fluff. Two years at UF have proven he can get the job done. Montrell has run for 2,496 yards in three years (1,679 at Florida) and 27 touchdowns. He ran for 838 yards and scored five touchdowns in 2023 while catching 30 passes for 236 yards and another TD. Those are good numbers that would have been better if the offensive line had produced with any consistency. To call the O-line disappointing would be giving them far more credit than they deserve.

Fluff over. Now for the real. Guards Micah Mazzccua (to Nebraska) and Richie Leonard IV (to Florida State) are transferring. They started all season long on an underperforming offensive line that allowed 39 sacks (17 in 2022) and saw a 1.3-yard drop in the running game (5.58 per carry in 2022, 4.27 in 2023). Under most circumstances we would talk about how much two starters will be missed. That would be fluffy and quite undeserved.

Reality is sometimes brutal and the reality is that Mazzccua and Leonard leaving is actually addition by subtraction. Mazzcua, for whom much was expected when he transferred in from Baylor, had attitude issues as well as inconsistent performance issues. He wasn’t terrible, but quite average in a league where average doesn’t cut it. He graded a very average 69.1 (per Pro Football Focus). Richie Leonard is a very nice kid, but his 64.2 grade tells you he had problems carrying out assignments at the level you need in the middle of the offensive line. Leonard struggled to consistently handle the guy across the line from him one-on-one. When you have a redshirt freshman center who requires help with the monster nose tackles you face in the SEC, the last thing you need is a right guard (Mazzccua) for whom you’re uncertain if he will show up mentally and a left guard (Leonard) who has to have help.

When Billy Napier brought in two tackles from the portal – Devon Manuel from Arkansas and Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson from San Diego State – the handwriting was on the wall for Mazzccua and Leonard. The two new guys will be upgrades on the outside plus they will allow Rob Sale flexibility he didn’t have last year to move two outside starters inside where they figure to play at a more consistent level. Austin Barber, who played right tackle in 2022 and left tackle in 2023, dropped off considerably as both a pass blocker and run blocker in 2023. He’s better suited to play inside. The same holds true for Damieon George Jr., who spent most of his time at Alabama playing guard. He had a difficult year at right tackle after transferring to Florida in 2023.

Gators get commitment from Colorado State transfer QB

Billy Napier added a backup quarterback with experience Sunday when he got a commitment from Colorado State transfer Clay Millen (6-3, 210, RSO). Originally signed by Nevada, Millen transferred to Colorado State as a redshirt freshman in 2022. A 10-game starter in 2022, Millen played in only one game in 2023 and elected to enter the transfer portal. In his 10 games as the starter in 2022, Millen completed 169-234 passes (72.2 percent) for 1,910 yards and 10 touchdowns.

On scholarship, January 15, 2024 (84)

Quarterbacks (4): Graham Mertz (6-3, 215, RSR); Clay Millen (6-3, 210, RSO); QB Aidan Warner (6-3, 205, FR); DJ Lagway (6-3, 230, FR)

Running backs (6): Montrell Johnson Jr. (5-11, 215, SR); Cameron Carroll (6-0, 230, RSR); Ja’Kobi Jackson (5-11, 220, RJR); Treyaun Webb (5-11, 210, SO); Kahnen Daniels (5-11, 190, FR); Jaden Baugh (6-1, 225, FR)

Wide receivers (10): Chimere Dike (6-1, 200, SR); Ja’Quavion Fraziars (6-4, 215, SR); Marcus Burke (6-4, 200, RJR); Kahliel Jackson (6-3, 210, RJR); Taylor Spierto (6-0, 205, RJR); Trey Wilson (5-10, 170, SO); Andy Jean (6-1, 190, RFR); Aidan Mizell (6-2, 170, RFR); Jerrae Hawkins (5-9, 170, FR); Tawaski Abrams (5-11, 175, FR)

Tight ends (5): Keon Zipperer (6-1, 240, GR); Arlis Boardingham (6-3, 240, RSO); Hayden Hansen (6-6, 265, RSO); Tony Livingston (6-5, 250, SO); Amir Jackson (6-4, 223, FR)

O-linemen (16):  Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson (6-7, 310, SR); Austin Barber (6-6, 310, RJR); Jake Slaughter (6-5, 300, RSO); Damieon George Jr. (6-6, 350, RJR); Kamryn Waites (6-8, 365, RJR); Riley Simonds (6-3, 305, RSR); Devon Manuel (6-9, 310, RJR); Christian Williams (6-4, 310, RSO); Knijeah Harris (6-3, 315, SO); Roderick Kearney (6-4, 285, RFR); Bryce Lovett (6-5, 335, RFR); Caden Jones (6-8, 350, RFR); Fletcher Westphal (6-8, 335, FR); Mike Williams (6-7, 310, FR); Marcus Mascoll (6-5, 295, Snellville, GA South Gwinnett); Noel Portnjagin (6-5, 335, Germany)

D-linemen (12): Joey Slackman (6-4, 300, GR); CamRon Jackson (6-6, 360, SR); Desmond Watson (6-5, 435, SR); Jaelin Humphries (6-3, 325, RSR); Justus Boone (6-4, 265, RJR); Brien Taylor (6-6, 270, Houston, TX, JR); Caleb Banks (6-6, 320, RSO); Jamari Lyons (6-4, 305, RSO); Kamran James (6-6, 270, SO); Gavin Hill (6-3, 255, RFR); LJ McCray (6-6, 260, FR); Michai Boireau (6-5, 390, FR)

Linebackers/EDGE (14): Derek Wingo (6-1, 235, SR); Shemar James (6-1, 230, JR); Ja’Markis Weston (6-3, 230, RJR);  Tyreak Sapp (6-3, 275, RJR); Jack Pyburn (6-3, 250, JR); Quincy Ivory (6-3, 260, JR); George Gumbs (6-4, 242, JR); TJ Searcy (6-5, 245, SO); Kelby Collins (6-4, 270, SO); Deuce Spurlock II (6-0, 225, RSO); Jalen Robinson (6-0, 230, SO); Grayson Howard (6-4, 241, SO); Myles Graham (6-1, 212, FR); Aaron Chiles (6-3, 220, FR)

Corners (7): Jason Marshall (6-1, 200, SR); Devin Moore (6-3, 200, JR); Ethan Pouncey (6-1, 170, RJR); Ja’Keem Jackson (6-1, 185, SO); Sharif Denson (5-11, 180, SO); Dijon Johnson (6-1, 200, SO); Teddy Foster (6-2, 170, FR)

Safeties (7): RJ Moten (6-0, 220, SR); Trikweze Bridges (6-3, 198, SR); DJ Douglas (6-0, 205, SR); Bryce Thornton (5-10, 205, SO); Jordan Castell (6-2, 220, SO); Aaron Gates (6-0, 200, RFR); Josiah Davis (6-1, 185, FR)

Special teams (3): Jeremy Crawshaw (6-4, 200, SR); Trey Smack (6-1, 200, JR); Rocco Underwood (6-3, 225, RJR)

Gators in the portal

Outgoing (22): OT Jordan Herman (6-8, 375, RSO) to Charlotte; WR Caleb Douglas (6-3, 200, SO) to Texas Tech; QB Max Brown (6-2, 220, RFR) to Charlotte; DL Will Norman (6-4, 300, RFR); S Kamari Wilson (6-0, 205, SO) to Arizona State; PK Adam Mihalek (6-2, 200, SO); DL Chris McClellan (6-3, 320, SO) to Missouri; TE Jonathan Odom (6-5, 250, RJR) to Eastern Michigan; WR Thai Chiaokhaio-Bowman (6-0, 200, SO); DT Keenan Landry (6-1, 305, RJR); TE Andrew Savaiianea (6-3, 270, RFR) to Nevada; OL Jalen Farmer (6-5, 310, RFR) to Kentucky; EDGE Princely Umanmielen (6-5, 255, JR) to Ole Miss; RB Trevor Etienne (5-9, 217, SO) to Georgia; Miguel Mitchell (6-1, 215, SO) to Arkansas; S Jadarrius Perkins (6-2, 190, SR) to Toledo; CB Jalen Kimber (6-0, 185, RSR) to Penn State; OG Micah Mazzccua (6-5, 325, RJR) to Nebraska; Scooby Williams (6-2, 230, RSO) to Texas A&M; G Richie Leonard IV (6-2, 320, RJR) to Florida State; CB Jaydon Hill (6-0, 195, JR) to Texas A&M; LB Mannie Nunnery (6-1, 225, JR)

Incoming (10): Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson (6-6, 310, SR) from San Diego State; Joey Slackman (6-4, 300, SR) from Penn; DB Trikweze Bridges (6-3, 198, JR) from Oregon; WR Chimere Dike (6-1, 200, SR) from Wisconsin; LB Grayson Howard (6-4, 241, FR) from South Carolina; EDGE George Gumbs (6-4, 242, SO) from Northern Illinois; OT Devon Manuel (6-9, 310, SO) from Arkansas; S DJ Douglas (6-0, 205, JR) from Tulane; QB Aidan Warner (6-3, 205, FR) from Yale; QB Clay Millen (6-3, 210, SO) from Colorado State

Gator hoops: A nice win over Arkansas; now for the hard part

The Gators showed up in all phases of the game Saturday when they took down Arkansas, 90-68, at the O-Dome. Five Gators scored in double figures led by Riley Kugel with 20. Tyrese Samuel scored 17 with 11 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season. The Gators, the top rebounding team in the nation, pounded Arkansas on the backboards for a 48-31 margin. Defensively, the Gators held the Razorbacks to 23-61 shooting from the field and only 5-15 from the 3-point line.

It was the first SEC win of the season for Florida (11-5, 1-2 SEC) and easily the best overall game the Gators have played. Now for the hard part. The Gators next two games will be on the road, at No. 5 Tennessee (12-4, 2-1 SEC) and Missouri (8-8, 0-3 SEC) this week.

SEC basketball

Tuesday’s games: FLORIDA (11-5, 1-2 SEC) at No. 5 Tennessee (12-4, 2-1 SEC); Missouri (8-8, 0-3 SEC) at Alabama (11-5, 3-0 SEC); Georgia (12-4, 2-1 SEC) at South Carolina (14-2, 2-1 SEC); Texas A&M (10-6, 1-2 SEC) at Arkansas (9-7, 0-3 SEC)

Wednesday’s games: Mississippi State (12-4, 1-2 SEC) at No. 6 Kentucky (12-3, 2-1 SEC); No. 16 Auburn (14-2, 3-0 SEC) at Vanderbilt (5-11, 0-3 SEC); Ole Miss (15-1, 2-1 SEC) at LSU (10-6, 2-1 SEC)

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: A week ago, Kalen DeBoer was leading the Washington Huskies into the national championship game with Michigan. Today, he has the responsibility of replacing the greatest coach of all time, Nick Saban. From a strictly coaching standpoint, Kalen DeBoer probably is as good a choice as can be found to replace Saban. He has started at the bottom of the head coaching ladder –Sioux Falls in the NAIA – and worked his way up, winning at every stop. He is 104-12 as a head coach with three NAIA national championships at Sioux Falls (67-3 record), 12-6 in two seasons as the head coach at Fresno State and 25-3 in two seasons at Washington.

If we go simply by wins and losses, Kalen DeBoer is the best coach Bama could have hired. He is an innovative offensive mind whose teams know how to score points and win games. Coaching is only a part of the equation at Alabama, however. The off-the-field requirements at Washington were Algebra I for dummies. At Alabama what will be required away from coaching will seem like Astro-physics for graduate students with certified memberships in Mensa.

Then there is life in the fishbowl. There is no place in the state of Alabama that Kalen DeBoer can go that he won’t be recognized. He should get used to having pen and paper shoved in his face by autograph seekers as he’s taking a bite of that medium rare 16-ounce T-bone. Just ask Steve Spurrier about that. He’s been dealing with it since he was a sophomore at the University of Florida, Romper Room on the fan fanatic scale when compared to Alabama.

Months after his run at Florida that produced a 65-15 record with two national championships ended, Urban Meyer remarked to me that the time spent on the practice field was almost like a vacation due to the other job requirements. This was before there were such things as NIL, the transfer portal and an NCAA hell bent on turning college athletics into something unrecognizable. There is a reason there isn’t enough money in the world to entice Meyer, who was born to coach football, to return to the sidelines. Why deal with all the non-football distractions of coaching when you can live on Longboat Key, tool around the Gulf in his Sea Ray and get his football fix on weekends with Fox Sports Big Noon Kickoff show?

If he can deal with all the non-football stuff and keep it from distracting from coaching, then Kalen DeBoer will do just fine at Alabama. If he can’t Alabama will be doing a coaching search in three or four years.