Scrimmage Notes and Practice Observations Halfway Through Florida Gators Spring Practice

The Florida Gators football team is officially halfway through spring practice in this early 2021 offseason. Restrictions related to COVID-19 protocols means practices are closed to the public and media, with any access coming on Instagram Live. The peaks into the Gators practice days aren’t the ideal or normal, but have offered a unique look at how practices are conducted. Viewers and fans hear coaches running drills, see interaction with players—both current and former—and are practically inside some drills.

So while our notes and observations might not be as extensive in the past, a few things have stood out. Read on for five observations from spring practice thus far, as well as a scrimmage report.

The QB Battle Is Top Heavy

To the surprise of no one, the quarterback “battle,” for what it’s worth, is led by Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson. The veteran that’s bided his time for three years and the hometown slinger are consistently at the top of the pecking order in practice. Every QB drill we’ve seen has shown two passers working at the same time. Jones and Richardson are always working together and the first in the rotation.

As such, it’s been easy to compare and contrast the two. Both have flashed a great arm, getting balls deep downfield. Jones seems to have a little more velocity while Richardson possess more touch. Both are dangerous runners as well.

Carlos Del Rio-Wilson and Jalen Kitna are in the next group, both big guys—especially for true freshmen. And no, that isn’t Kyle Trask you’re seeing in the videos. It’s Kitna, rocking the No. 11 jersey for the next generation.

The RB Unit Is Deep and Vast

The running back unit didn’t get much work last season—except as backfield and wheel route pass catchers—as Kyle Trask and the Gators aired out one of the best offenses in the country. They still return their top three producers though in Dameon Pierce, Nayquan Wright and Malik Davis. Then Mullen added two former five-star transfers in Lorenzo Lingard (Miami) and Demarckus Bowman (Clemson).

Practice footage has shown us a unit that is versatile, offering everything from power backs like Pierce and Lingard, to shifty guys like Davis and Bowman and then a do-it all guy like Wright. There’s no way to evenly distribute the ball to them all and one even wanders if Davis or Wright could become a slot receiver, given their ability as a receiver. Davis averaged 31.4 passing yards per game last season, and Wright averaged 19.9 a game.

Desmond Watson

The freshman defensive lineman has been hard to miss, even in a non-traditional lineman jersey (No. 21). He tips the scale at 432 lbs. and cast a shadow as he stands tall in drills. One of the perks with the Instagram Live practices is getting to see drills for units that are normally far from our viewing area. That means seeing Watson up close as he works with the line.

For all of his size and pure mass, Watson has shown impressive agility. Coupled with his pure built in power, Watson is tearing up the field. Coaches want to get his weight down, understandably. The goal is the 380 range by fall. Once that happens, he’ll be even lighter on his feet.

“The thing that impresses me about him for his size and where he is, he's really a good athlete,” Defensive Coordinator Todd Grantham said of Watson.

“He’s really got quick feet, he's got ability to change direction; he's obviously going to be a guy that can hold the point, do those things. But I think if he works to get in the kind of shape he wants to be—that we want him to be—you’re going to see a guy that that will be able to make some range plays, and maybe get from point A to point B, a little bit better than you may anticipate right now."

Mullen Is Involved In Defense

This is not to say that Watson is ready made to hit the field. He has some slimming down to do but also a need to catch up to the college game. That’s understandable of any freshman. We mention this because Head Coach Dan Mullen could be heard in videos yelling for Watson to do a drill again and “get off his block” faster.

In fact, Mullen has been noticeably more involved in defense in each practice clip shared this spring. As the head coach, Mullen has always had a presence on the defensive side of the field. But it was typically more as an encouragement and over watcher. Now, he’s down in the drills with guys, working through instructions with the position coaches.

After a season in which the defense was abysmal, Mullen was left with little choice but to get more involved, taking responsibility for the product on the field—and the job of his staff.

Scrimmage Notes

The Gators scrimmaged on Friday in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The plan was originally to go Saturday, but impending inclement weather pushed everything up for safety.

It was a great day for the defense according to those with knowledge of the scrimmage. Overall the defense appeared much improved and the underclassmen in the secondary especially provided promise for the unit.

A full game made it clear Desmond Watson needs to get his weight down for better stamina, but he is still un-blockable in the middle. He’s on track to be “a star.”

Of course a good day for the defensive and secondary indicates it wasn’t a great day for the offense, and the stats back that up. Emory Jones threw two interceptions and struggled with some of the reads. Although he also threw two touchdown passes in the second half, one to Jacob Copeland. Anthony Richardson threw a pick as well, but also scored the first touchdown of the day. Reports state he appeared much more decisive and worked better through his progressions. Del Rio threw two touchdown passes.

Bowman was held out with knee soreness, presumably what has also kept him out of the last few practices. The other transfer, Lingered, had a 90-yard touchdown run.

Tight end coach Tim Brewster has praised freshman tight end Nick Elksnis and his scrimmage on Friday reportedly began to prove Brewster correct. The offensive line from left to right was Richard Gouraige, Ethan White, Stewart Reese, Josh Braun and Jean Delance.