RECEIVERS: Orange & Blue Game Analysis. Assessing the Florida Receivers and Tight Ends
Thought by some to be the least talented group of Gator receivers in almost a decade, they will need to continue to grow for a successful 2022 season.
By LOREN MEADOWS
GatorBaitMedia.com Football Analyst
WIDE RECEIVERS
The Florida Wide Receiver Room has come under much scrutiny since the end of the 2021 season. Once the strength of the Florida program, graduation and transfers have left the group with a number of physically impressive but relatively unproven players with a lack of depth.
Thought by some to be the least talented group of Gator receivers in almost a decade, they will need to continue to grow for a successful 2022 season.
Departed wide receiver coach/passing Game Coordinator Billy Gonzalez had a track record for getting his wideouts to the next level.
Throughout spring practice, Wide Receiver Coach Kerry Colbert has preached “consistency,” and “simplicity,” with a focus on efficiency at the top of their pass routes which is sometimes the difference between completions and the ball falling aimlessly to the ground.
During the Orange and Blue Game, many will be looking at what kind of improvement, explosiveness and big play ability this group could bring to the offense in Billy Napier’s first season.
Players to Watch: #4 Justin Shorter (R-Sr.), #14 Trent Whittemore (R-Jr.), #3 Xzavier Henderson (R-So.), #0 Jaquavion Fraziers (Jr.), #82 Ja’Markis Weston (R-Jr.), #81 Daejon Reynolds (R-Fr.)
Justin Shorter — The elder statesmen and most accomplished of the group, Justin Shorter brings a relentless work ethic and excitement for the game. At 6-5, 228, Shorter has the measurables to possibly emerge as the No. 1 outside option in the Florida passing game. With 66 career catches, Shorter will need to continue to develop as a route runner as well as look to win the 50/50 balls that can separate many receivers from good to great. A very good blocker on the perimeter, the ability to separate with speed and bringing home the deep ball will be key as he looks to improve his 12.4 yard per catch average.
Trent Whittemore — When healthy Trent Whittemore has been a consistent performer for the Florida Gators. Recruited as an athlete, Whittemore has shown the ability to make catches in traffic and help the Gator offense move the chains the past two seasons. Whittemore’s consistency could be a steadying factor in a highly scrutinized group searching for an identity and respect. That consistency will only improve if Whittemore can maintain his health and handle a possible increase in volume and responsibility after spending half of Spring practice in limited capacity.
Xzavier Henderson —Tall and lean, Henderson possesses a high level of top end speed, and the ability to perform in the return game. Henderson is a former 400m state champion with a long stride who could emerge as a deep threat for the new Gator offense. Henderson has shown improved lateral quickness on routes and an improved catch radius. This should allow him to improve on his 12.1 yards per catch average and become the bonafied deep threat that you see with receivers of similar size and speed.
Ja’Quavion Fraziers — Dunnellon’s Ja’Quavion Fraziars is poised to make an impact and push for significant playing time this season. Playing mainly on special teams, Fraziars has appeared in 20 games over the course of his career. This game experience has equated to a player who practices hard with a positive attitude. Fraziars will look to improve on his career stats of 6 catches for 39 yards. Consistency will be key as Fraziars looks to show the ability to get open often and cement a place in the rotation week to week.
Ja’Markis Weston — Gator fans have been waiting for Weston to reach the high ceiling that was set for him when he was introduced in the Class of 2019. An under-the-radar recruit, Weston was praised by the former staff as a hard worker with immense potential. In 2021 he served as one of the primary kick returners at the beginning of the season while playing sparingly out wide. Florida will need Weston to show continued improvement in his route running and catch radius to gains snaps and bolster the depth of the group.
Daejon Reynolds — Throughout the Spring, keen observers have been impressed with Reynolds. Extremely strong, with the ability to run after the catch, Reynolds will have many eyes on him during the Orange and Blue Game. Reynolds, who suffered a knee injury in 2020, is said to be fully recovered and playing faster than he actually looks. This ability could allow him to be a factor in the slot for the Gators, due to a lack of a proven receiver with elite lateral quickness inside.
After the final scrimmage of the spring, Coach Billy Napier spoke of the receivers saying:
“I think we have a group of players that I think can play winning football.
“The receiver position is like every position on our football team.
“We have a good group of ones we can run out there, a couple two’s, then after that we need improvement.”
The passing game will be center stage in the Orange and Blue Game. It has been since 1989. Thursday night’s game should be no exception.
TIGHT ENDS
This Spring, no room has dealt with more injuries than Florida’s tight ends. This has caused Napier and his staff to convert two former defensive linemen, a linebacker and a long snapper to tight end in order to have the bodies necessary for practice.
This has also led to many questions as in the past, Napier’s offenses have relied on multiple tight end sets, and the signing of three tight ends in the 2022 recruiting cycle indicates that trend should continue. Despite the injuries, the group is said to be “working hard” according to Tight Ends Coach William Peagler and The Orange and Blue game should give us some insight to those efforts.
While we don’t look to learn much from the game about this group there are a couple in the group that could stand out.
Keon Zipperer — With 25 catches and for 309 yards and 3 touchdowns, Zipperer is by far the most experienced and most talented tight end. While used as an off-the-line blocker, Zipper has improved his in-line blocking and just a week ago had what Coach Peagler called “his best practice of the spring.” Slightly undersized, Zipperer will need to improve as a route runner and someone who the offense can count on to be a mismatch when teams load the box to stop the run. After sharing snaps for the past two seasons it will be interesting to see how he handles an increased work load in both the passing and running game.
Dante Zanders — Zanders began his career at Florida as tight end, moved to defensive line, and now is back at tight end. Zanders, who appeared in 12 games on defense and special teams last year, has impressed many this spring including Coach Peagler who said that he is “very fired up” about Zanders’ ability to help the team in the fall. It will be interesting to see how far Zanders can go in his reeducation at the tight end position. Working as a blocker first and then possibly becoming a serviceable option as a pass catcher.
Others to Watch: #97 Griffin McDowell (R-Sr.) #48 Noah Keeter (R-Jr.), #42 Rocco Underwood (R-Fr.), #84 Nik Elksnis (R-Fr.), #87 Jonathan Odom (R-So.)
The three tight ends in the 2022 recruiting cycle are all more of the hybrid (pass-catching) variety of the position. However, the run game will be a major component of the Florida offense going forward. The blocking ability of Zipperer and Zanders will be on display for evaluation Thursday. However, when the injured players like Elksnis and incoming freshmen arrive in the summer and fall, we look for the group to have a different tone altogether. Don’t be surprised if Coach Napier’s aggressive transfer portal utilization expands the Tight End Room.
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