Countdown To Kickoff: Gators Ready For A New Start

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – When they flip on “SportsCenter” or visit national websites devoted to college football, there’s very little talk about the Gators.

Oklahoma or Alabama or LSU or Miami or some other team instead of Florida seems to be grabbing most of the national attention. Some of the headlines are good. Some of them are the kind you want to avoid.

Junior linebacker Jon Bostic has noticed the phenomenon and calls it “The Forgotten Gators.”

“A lot of people are overlooking us right now,’’ Bostic said. “You can just see it. A lot of people from everywhere are just overlooking us.’’

Bostic hesitated for a moment, and then added: “It doesn’t bother us at all. That’s how we’re trying to look at it.’’

The Gators hope to do something about it Saturday in the season opener against Florida Atlantic. Nine months after Will Muschamp was named head coach, the Gators finally get to run into The Swamp for the first game of Muschamp’s tenure.

The preseason has been a mix of anticipation and mystery. With Charlie Weis and his pro-style offense in place, and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn installing a more complex system than a year ago, fans are wondering what kind of team they will see Saturday.

If you read fan message boards, you know they want to see a team that plays crisper than in last year’s win over Miami (Ohio) in the season opener. The Gators won, but there was more talk after the game about high snaps and dropped passes than Florida’s 21st consecutive season-opening victory.

While the Gators started 4-0, they lost three consecutive games in the middle of the season as the offense never seemed to find a rhythm with first-year starting quarterback John Brantley, a classic drop-back passer, trying to run a spread-option attack.

With Muschamp and Co. aboard, Brantley and the Gators have a clean slate.

And if it makes fans feel any better, the Gators want the same thing they do: a good performance and a win on Saturday. If that happens, then everyone can agree the Muschamp Era kicked off the right way.

“I know we’re eager to go out on the field and play the game we love and try to change that 8-5 from last year,’’ said redshirt freshman receiver Quinton Dunbar said. “I can’t predict the season, but I just know we’ve been working hard all camp, all spring, and we’re looking forward to a great season.’’

As for the new sheriff in town, Muschamp walked into his office the first day on the job with a plan for the first 100 days. Once that phase ended, he moved onto a plan for the entire season.

A fiery leader who prides himself on hard work and organization, Muschamp is ready for the season opener as much as anyone. He said Wednesday that you’ll probably see some of that sideline intensity he is known for come Saturday.

“I plan on being emotional, that’s kind of me as far as the game is concerned and the competition,’’ Muschamp said. “Don’t let it cloud your judgment on game day.”

If you listen to what buzz there is surrounding the Gators, most of the talk is centered on Brantley and how well the offense will perform under Weis. Brantley, who has shown much more confidence in camp than near the end of last season, is ready for the new Gators to be unveiled and expects fans to approve.

“I think they’re going to be very pleased. We’ve had a great camp, a great three weeks, and we’re excited just to get out there and play against someone else besides ourselves,’’ Brantley said. “We’re looking forward to showing our fans what new Gator football is doing.”

Brantley has the support of Weis, who has handed out nothing but compliments to his newest quarterback in their time together.

Brantley has picked up the offense and despite missing some practice time last week due to a sore back, he is full-go for Saturday physically and mentally.

“Where he is right now doesn’t surprise any of us. He’s continued to progress,’’ Weis said. “Fortunately for him, this system fits his physical qualities better than the last one. He has the mental capabilities to do all the things that I like to do.

“The more he shows me mentally, the more freedom I can give him when it comes to getting out of bad plays at the line of scrimmage.”

In Muschamp’s first game, the Gators face an FAU team coached by 77-year-old Howard Schnellenberger, who announced recently that he is retiring after this season.

The Gators are aware of FAU’s talent and pro-style attack similar to Florida’s. Muschamp faced the Owls last year when he was defensive coordinator at Texas, and after a close first half, the Longhorns went on to a 51-17 win. The Gators have watched tape of that game to prepare for Saturday.

Muschamp talked earlier this week about how everything changes starting Saturday. No matter what has been written or said up until kickoff, the final score will ultimately be the way the past nine months are judged.

Weis, who knows all about the scrutiny that comes with being a head coach, understands that’s part of the deal as well.

“Anytime you’re putting in a new system, you really want to go and try to play as clean as you can in the first game,’’ Weis said. “You want to minimize your mental mistakes, you want to minimize your line of scrimmage penalties, you want to take care of the football, and obviously you want to move the ball and score touchdowns.’’

In about 72 hours “The Forgotten Gators’’ come out from hiding.

When they do, it will be show time. Linebacker Jelani Jenkins said the Gators are ready. Ready for a new start. Ready to open a new era. Ready for people to start talking about the Gators again.

“I have complete confidence in the team,’’ Jenkins said. “I like the talent we have and I’m looking forward to it. I think Gator fans all over the country are trying to figure out what we have and we’re ready to show them.’’

Charlie Weis: WR Quinton Dunbar was near bottom of depth chart in spring

Fewer have benefited from an open competition for starting spots than receiver Quinton Dunbar. The Gators’ redshirt freshman went from needing to adjust his work ethic to a starting spot in the span of a year.

Dunbar admitted to being inconsistent as a freshman, something that he said led to a meeting with then-coach Urban Meyer. They discussed his work ethic, and Dunbar’s change in attitude apparently paid off with a new coaching staff. Dunbar was listed as a starter when the depth chart was released on Monday.

“When we started off the spring, Quinton Dunbar was so far down the depth chart he was probably underneath this table,” Weis said on Tuesday. “You couldn’t even find him. And by the end of the spring, he was a starting wide receiver. So without slighting Deonte or Frankie or Andre or anyone else that’s involved in the mix right here, the fact that the kid who was way down on the depth chart and worked the way up just showed the players that, you produce, we’re going to put you out there.”

Although Dunbar has been praised for providing a deep threat with his speed, he said he’s been working on shorter routes as well. The biggest adjustment has been run blocking, he said.

“Very important. If you can’t block, you won’t play,” said Dunbar. ” My blocking in the spring wasn’t all that, but I think I made great strides to being a good blocker.”

Gators ready to start season

Florida senior quarterback John Brantley's back is fine and he's good to go this week, he said during Monday's news conference at UF.

The Gators open the season at 7 p.m. Saturday against Florida Atlantic at Florida Field.

Brantley said his back has been sore and tight, which forced him to miss some practice time work over the last two weeks.

Meanwhile, Florida players can't wait to unveil the new offense under coordinator Charlie Weis, Brantley said.

“UF fans are going to like this offense,” Brantley said. “We're ready to show everybody what we've got.”

Brantley also credits Weis with helping him overcome last year's poor performance. Weis has told Brantley to forget about last year and move forward.

Also from Monday's news conference, coach Will Muschamp is pleased with his team's preparation. The Gators had good practices after the poor scrimmage last Wednesday night, he said.

In other notes: Muschamp on calling plays on defense: “(Dan) Quinn is going to call it and I'm going to be on the headset. Both coordinators will be on the field.”

Tight end A.C. Leonard is out for the opener.

Cornerback Jeremy Brown (knee) and wide receiver Omarius Hines (hamstring) are questionable, along with linebacker Dee Finley. ...

Freshman Pop Saunders is the front-runner to start at free safety. Muschamp said he has all the intangibles. ...

The most hotly contested jobs are on the offensive line and in the secondary, according to Muschamp. ...

Jaylen Watkins has moved to cornerback and he'll split time between cornerback and safety.

Florida teammates uninjured in crash

Two University of Florida football players are OK after an auto accident Sunday afternoon, according to reports.

Junior starting right guard Jon Halapio and redshirt junior backup defensive lineman Earl Okine were involved in what was described as a minor accident on Interstate 10 in Madison County, Fla. Tallahassee television station WCTV reported that the vehicle the two players were traveling in "swerved off the road and into a median." The car hit a few small trees and bushes, according to the report.

The Gainesville Sun reported that state police cited Halapio for careless driving.

Halapio's girlfriend, who was described by the Orlando Sentinel as a Florida State student Halapio was visiting in Tallahassee, tweeted that one of the car's tires "popped," causing the accident. The Sun reported that Halapio was distracted while negotiating a water jug and lost control of the vehicle.

"God is so good. So blessed to be alive," Halapio said via his Twitter account Sunday night.
University spokesman Steve McClain said Halapio and Okine were not injured and did not require medical attention. Both players were expected to practice Monday.

No. 8 Gator Soccer Loses 2-0 to No. 15 UCLA

The No. 15 UCLA (3-0, 0-0-0 Pac 12) soccer team handed No. 8 Florida (3-1-0, 0-0 SEC) its first loss, a 2-0 decision, in the final match of the First Tennessee Lady Vol Classic held Sunday at the Regal Soccer Stadium.
 
The only goal of the opening half came in the 35th minute when Kylie McCarthy, from about 10 yards above the box, sent a through ball into the box. Ally Courtnall caught up with the ball and placed in her first goal of the season to the far post corner from 14 yards.
 
UCLA’s second goal came when Sarah Killion intercepted a Gator clearance attempt. The ball she sent forward found the foot of All-American Sydney Leroux. She tucked it in the short shot at the near post corner at 71:30
 
“I’m disappointed that we lost, but was encouraged by a lot of things that we saw,” UF Head Coach Becky Burleigh said. “One goal was off a turnover once again so that is obviously something that we’ve got to spend some time on. I think that we are capable of cleaning some of that up. This is just a step in the progress.
 
“We had great chance and ultimately, you’ve got to stick those chances,” she continued. “It was great to see that we can create opportunities against a team the quality of UCLA but the next step is finishing those chances”
 
Opportunities to score were present for the Gators on Sunday. A through ball nearly resulted in a goal for the Gators in the 22nd minute. Tessa Andujar sent a ball into the box for McKenzie Barney making a run down the left side of the box. UCLA goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland stopped the chance.
 
In the second half, the Gators had a handful of opportunities to score. In the 51st minute, a ball off a corner kick found Havana Solaun deep in the box. Sarah Chapman couldn’t quite tuck the pass from Solaun in at the near post corner. A couple of minutes later, Solaun sent a ball forward into the box, but Barney couldn’t get control to get off a clean shot. Lindsay Thompson saw her shot go just wide of the post off a ball sent forward in the 65th minute. The last good look came with three minutes remaining when Erika Tymrak evaded several defenders to slide the ball forward to Taylor Travis making a run in the box, but the keeper stopped the play.
 
Three Gators were named to the First Tennessee Lady Vol Classic All-Tournament team – Jazmyne Avant, Tymrak and Kathryn Williamson.
 
The Gators now open the home season on Friday, Sept. 2 with Texas Tech. Match time is set for 7 p.m. at the James G. Pressly Stadium. Admission is free for all 2011 Gator soccer regular-season matches.
 
Gator All-Americans and 2011 U.S. World Cup players Heather Mitts and Abby Wambach will sign autographs post-match Friday. Also, the first 1,000 fans Friday receive a fall schedule key tag courtesy of Sun Sports. Don’t miss the halftime show of the Soccer Collies, where the canine duo will showcase their soccer playing skills.

UF volleyball sweeps UNC, Active Ankle Challenge

Tar Heels and active ankles are not of the same foot.

On Saturday, No. 9 Florida defeated North Carolina in straight sets (25-17, 25-20, 25-14) to sweep both of its games at the Active Ankle Challenge in the O’Connell Center.

Sophomore outside hitter Stephanie Ferrell, named the event’s Most Valuable Player, did her part in shutting down the Tar Heels by notching 13 kills and seven digs on the night.

“If I have a good warm-up, then I’m good,” Ferrell said. “But even if I don’t have a good warm-up, mentally, I calm myself and I just get it going during the game.”

Joining the kill parade for the Gators was senior outside hitter Kristy Jaeckel, who picked up 12 kills and 10 digs, two of which rescued Florida late in a closely contested second set.

“We got a couple of breaks with mistakes by North Carolina, but it was (Jaeckel’s) digs and chasing the ball out of bounds that really made the difference in us going up 2-0,” Ferrell said.

Throughout the second set, the Tar Heels furiously kept up with the Gators’ quick style of play and trailed just 20-19 before their most recent point was reversed, resulting in a two-point swing for UF.

“As a team, we kind of lost focus a little bit, but with those two digs, we regrouped and bounced back,” Ferrell said. “Kristy motivated the whole team and created momentum and we just rode the wave.”

For their efforts, Ferrell and Jaeckel, who both posted a .357 hitting percentage against North Carolina, were named to the all-tournament team, joining fellow Gators Kelly Murphy and redshirt freshman libero Taylor Unroe.

After sitting out the 2010 campaign due to injury, Unroe made her collegiate debut this weekend, recording 10 digs, which gives her a team-high 19 for the season.

“Last year was pretty much terrible sitting on the bench,” Unroe said. “Now I get to go out there and do what I’ve been doing my whole life, so it feels great.”

Florida will face their third consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference opponent when they play host to Florida State Tuesday night in the O’Connell Center.

Florida Gators' Brantley to be ready

GAINESVILLE -- Quarterback John Brantley is still experiencing soreness in his back, but coach Will Muschamp does not expect his status to be in doubt for the season opener next Saturday. Brantley practiced Tuesday but sat out Wednesday’s scrimmage for precautionary reasons.

“I just don’t have a whole lot to be concerned about at this point,” Muschamp said. “Certainly, if we were sitting here Wednesday or Thursday of game week, I’d be concerned. I feel good where we are.”

Wide receiver Omarius Hines (hamstring) also missed the scrimmage, and Muschamp said he is questionable for the Week 1 matchup with FAU on Sept. 3. Hines also has been playing at tight end because depth was a concern after freshman A.C. Leonard tore his meniscus in his right knee. Leonard will be out until at least mid-September.

Junior cornerback Jeremy Brown (knee) also sat out but is expected back for the opener after missing the past 2 1/2 weeks of practice.

Big step forward for Florida Gator’s Dominique Easley

After nearly transferring a season ago, sophomore defensive tackle Dominique Easley is poised to start on the defensive line and has impressed teammates with his game and improved maturity.

“Ten steps forward, big,” fellow tackle Omar Hunter said of Easley’s growth. “He knows we’re counting on him to play a lot. He definitely stepped it up. He’s just going out and working hard, he’s not talking as much. And when he does talk, he’s not complaining about anything, he’s just having fun and going out and playing.”

Easley, Hunter and senior Jaye Howard form a three-man rotation that will split time inside on the line. Each is versatile enough to play at either position, meaning each has a better chance of staying fresh.

Cornerback position still unsettled

A possible cornerback combination of Janoris Jenkins plus whoever emerged as the next best player would have been a strength for Florida. Instead, Jenkins is gone and that position is one of the biggest question marks on the team.

It’s probably the single biggest question mark on the defense.

Gators coach Will Muschamp said Wednesday he has not finalized his depth chart at that position. At this point, it appears five players are in contention for two jobs.

Jeremy Brown, a junior, seemed like an obvious leader to start, but has been out at least a week with a sprained knee. Senior Moses Jenkins, sophomore Cody Riggs and true freshman Marcus Roberson have all been getting first-team reps, per Muschamp. Jaylen Watkins has, too, but he also is working at safety.

“We haven’t declared anybody a starter yet,” Muschamp said. “Moses Jenkins, Jaylen Watkins, Cody Riggs and Marcus Roberson have all repped through there. Loucheiz Purifoy’s done a nice job at times. You look at any combination of those five and the guys that play the best throughout the week and perform the best for the Gators will start on game day. That’ll be true through the whole season.”

Florida fans seem to be excited about Roberson. If it was my team, the idea of a true freshman starting cornerback sounds more scary than exciting.

No matter what starting duo Muschamp settles on, it will probably be an inexperienced one. Here are his choices:

Cody Riggs (5-9, 179), So.
Experience: 13 games, 3 starts

Brian Biada (5-10, 179), Sr.
Experience: None (walk-on)

Loucheiz Purifoy (6-1, 183), Fr.
Experience: None

Jeremy Brown (5-10, 187), R-Jr.
Experience: 11 games, 10 starts

Marcus Roberson (6-0, 184), Fr.
Experience: None

Moses Jenkins (6-3, 186), R-Sr.
Experience: 29 games, 3 starts

De’Ante Saunders* (5-8, 192), Fr.
Experience: None

Jaylen Watkins* (5-11, 195), So.
Experience: 10 games, no starts

After poor scrimmage, Will Muschamp vows to shuffle Gators' roster

GAINESVILLE — Florida coach Will Muschamp was not pleased with the Gators' final scrimmage of the preseason.

In fact, he was so upset with what he saw at Florida Field on Wednesday night that he made the coaching staff stay late to watch film and evaluate the depth chart and said there could be significant changes.

"We did not execute very well," Muschamp said. "Mental toughness was not there. Very immature football team at this point not consistently performing at the level we need to perform at.

"[There were] some procedural issues we should not be having at this point. [On] defense [there were] some mental mistakes we should not be having at this point. Overall, pretty displeased. Not what we were looking for tonight, that's for sure."

Muschamp said there were lapses all over the field during the situational work, such as players walking around during the two-minute drill.

"We had no sense of urgency of what we're doing," Muschamp said. "And it's not everybody. We've got a bunch of guys that do it the right way but not enough and not collectively enough guys doing it that way at this point.

Muschamp said the poor performance will cost some players starting jobs and others will drop further down the depth chart.

"Ain't no doubt," he said. "We're going to get the guys that want to compete and play hard. The ones that don't, we'll go on to the next guy."

Muschamp said he did not stop the scrimmage to try and fix the issues because he wanted the team's leaders to do so because that's what would have to happen during a game. They didn't, however, and he called the situation a wake-up call for the leaders.

Health of Florida Gators’ offense hinges on their linemen

GAINESVILLE -- Florida offensive linemen Xavier Nixon, Matt Patchan and Dan Wenger could not be more different.

They have taken different paths filled with different hurdles. But if the Gators are going to have success on offense this year, they need all three to come together and do something they have never done: stay healthy.

Tasked with implementing a new offense under coordinator Charlie Weis, the line must be a cohesive unit. They must be physical, smart and athletic. Most of all, they have to stay on the field.

That last part is where it gets tricky. Several months ago, the three didn’t know if they would play this fall.

Likely the starter at left tackle when Florida opens the season against FAU on Sept. 3, Nixon lost 55 pounds. Doctors could not find a cause for his dramatic weight loss.

Penciled in as the starter at right tackle, Patchan, a redshirt junior, has dealt with myriad injuries. Problems with his knee, leg and, most recently, a hairline fracture in his wrist that required surgery, have limited the top recruit to appearances in just 15 games during four years Florida.

And after starting 13 games as a junior at Notre Dame, Wenger has not been the same. He dealt with multiple injuries, but the two concussions last season meant Wenger had to listen as the Irish’s training staff told him he wasn’t cleared to return to football.

But Nixon found his appetite — the 6-6 junior gained nearly all the weight he lost, now tipping the scales at 290 pounds. Patchan received a clean bill of health at the start of fall camp and has impressed coaches and teammates throughout. And Wenger sought a second opinion. After the NCAA granted him a sixth year of eligibility, Wenger decided to transfer. He received clearance from Florida’s training staff and joined the Gators in May.

Teammates are glad to have them.

Wenger, a Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas graduate who played under Weis and offensive line coach Frank Verducci while at Notre Dame, has been instrumental in helping his teammates acclimate to a new system.

“It’s just like having another coach Verducci around,” sophomore guard Jon Halapio said. “We all have questions, and he has the answers because he knows the playbook like the back of his hand.”

Speaking about Patchan, Nixon said: “He’s going to be the same player that I’ve seen since I’ve been here. He’s an explosive player off the ball. He’s real fiery.”

Defensive end Sharrif Floyd said Nixon stands out during practice and has been his toughest opponent in camp. Thanks in part to the resurgence of Patchan and Nixon, defensive tackle Jaye Howard said the offensive line will be greatly improved this season.

“I can really tell a difference from last year,” Howard said. “Last year they couldn’t even block me, but now they’re giving me a little run for my money.”

High praise considering Florida lost three starters to the NFL Draft. But quarterback John Brantley agreed, saying the knowledge and veteran presence on the offensive line has boosted his confidence.

None of that matters if they can’t stay in the lineup.

Florida has just 13 scholarship players on the offensive line. Coach Will Muschamp has reiterated the importance of the position since spring.

“Their movement, their toughness, what they bring to the table, we’re excited about that group. … We’ve got good players. It’s just [you would] just like to have a deeper group.”

And a healthy one.

Florida Gators' Coach Boom — aka Will Muschamp — gets players' attention with his passion

GAINESVILLE — When Florida landed Will Muschamp as its new football coach, defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd was familiar with his reputation for wild antics and raucous enthusiasm, but he was unaware of Muschamp's nickname.

"Coach Boom?" Floyd asked. "I actually never knew that, but yeah, I've seen him going nuts on the sideline."

Muschamp was a defensive coordinator at Texas, Auburn and LSU before coming to Florida. Some of his friends and family believed he might tone down his demeanor as a head coach, but that does not seem to have happened.

Muschamp has been known to chest-bump players, and he once reacted so violently to a play that he cut the side of his face with his headset at Texas. Those antics made him a popular target for television cameras and microphones. The nickname stems from Muschamp celebrating a big play as an Auburn coach in 2007, when ESPN's mic recorded him yelling "BOOM" followed by several profanity-infused phrases.

Muschamp, 40, said the nickname does not bother him except, "It's a little hard to explain to your 6-year-old why people call you Coach Boom."

He also said "Boom" is not a regular piece of his coaching vernacular. Both of his older brothers vouched for that, saying the only time they ever heard it come out of his mouth was on the famous YouTube clip.

Either way, linebacker Jelani Jenkins knows that his coach is "real intense" but with a playful side.

"He jokes a lot, but he's also very serious," Jenkins said. "When it's time to play, it's time to play."

Quarterback John Brantley occasionally hears Muschamp's voice booming through the walls when he walks past the defense's meeting room at the Heavener Football Complex.

Chris Rainey, a senior running back, has seen his coach switch quickly from screaming at a player to talking to him in his normal voice.

The defensive backs know Muschamp's ire better than any others. Muschamp was a strong safety at Georgia in the early 1990s and worked his way up from walk-on to team captain. Florida has a secondary coach in Travaris Robinson, but Muschamp still is regularly involved with those players.

Starting strong safety Matt Elam, from Dwyer High, had a very close bond with former coach Urban Meyer, but has embraced Muschamp's approach. Elam, a sophomore, said his relationship with the new coach is "getting better every day" and he respects Muschamp's expertise.

"I like that he's more hands-on," Elam said. "He's active and he can show me what to do and things like that, so I like the energy."

The flip side is that Muschamp is especially hard on defensive backs, cornerback Moses Jenkins said. Any missed tackle, blown coverage or dropped interception ignites his wrath.

Muschamp said his style exhausts him to the point that coaching a practice reminds him of how tired he felt after a game when he was a player.

"I'm just myself," he said. "I think there's a key to every young man. You've got to find that key. Some guys handle that better than others as far as the in-the-face attitude. But I'm going to be who I am. I don't plan anything. I just kind of do what I do."

Backup QBs get more reps with Brantley held out

The Florida Gators scrimmaged Saturday in The Swamp without starting quarterback John Brantley, who was held out with a sore back.

Florida coach Will Muschamp said Brantley is not injured.

“We held John today. Just soreness of camp. Nothing serious,” Muschamp said. “He's fine. We wanted to get Jeff (Driskel), Jacoby (Brissett) and Tyler (Murphy) a lot of reps as well and see if we can create some separation (behind Brantley).

“(John's) had a very productive camp. We felt like Wednesday's scrimmage was much more important as far as progressing our offense further to get game-planned than this one was. If he was going to take a day off, this was the best day to do it.”

Muschamp said the offense did some nice things in Saturday's situational scrimmage with the other quarterbacks running things.

“It was a very productive day,” Muschamp said. “We did some good things offensively, created some explosives (big plays).”

Driskel ran with the No. 1 offense and remains the No. 2 quarterback. Muschamp said Brissett and Murphy also continue to progress.

“Jeff is the backup,” Muschamp said. “Jacoby and Tyler both have done good things. We're very pleased with both of them. There's nothing to disappoint us.”

The picture also is becoming clearer along the offensive line. Running with the No. 1 offense Saturday were Xavier Nixon at left tackle, Kyle Koehne at left guard, Jonotthan Harrison at center, Jon Halapio at right guard and Matt Patchan at right tackle.

Koehne, who was performing well at left tackle, moved to guard a few days ago, Muschamp said.

“Our philosophy is to get the best five out there,” Muschamp said. “Three days ago we made the decision to move (Koehne) in to left guard. He's done a nice job. At this time, Ian Silberman is still competing at left guard. Sam Robey and Dan Wenger are doing a nice job inside (along with James Wilson).

“We still have some things we've got to settle out. It's very premature to say that's our starting offensive line at this point.”

The Gators do know who their No. 1 kickers are with less than two weeks to go before the start of the season.

“Caleb (Sturgis) is by far the kicker. He's been very consistent,” Muschamp said. “At punter right now, David Lerner has punted consistently better than Kyle Christy.”

Lerner, a senior from Buchholz High School, was one of four walk-ons awarded a scholarship at Friday's practice. The others were safety Tim Clark, linebacker Scott Peek and offensive lineman/tight end William Steinmann.

“It was a big day for me from the standpoint of being a former walk-on (at Georgia),” Muschamp said. “Those four guys have all been in our program for a number of years and they've demonstrated themselves well on and off the field. Academically, they've done an outstanding job.

“I'll never forget the day I was awarded a scholarship. We did it in front of the team and it was an emotional time. It was great for our football team.”

UF quarterback Brantley’s confidence ‘higher’

GAINESVILLE -- Redshirt senior quarterback John Brantley’s confidence is manifesting itself in ways it never has before, and teammates are taking notice.

“His swag, his confidence is just higher than it’s been the past couple of years,” wide receiver Deonte Thompson said. “He’s taking leadership and taking control of the team.”

Defensive tackle Jaye Howard said Brantley is looking like a Heisman Trophy candidate in camp, saying that Brantley’s demeanor is different, and he is finally stepping into a more vocal and visible role. It’s a stark difference from last season, when Brantley had more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (nine) and looked lost for much of the season.

“When the receivers or anybody are doing bad, he gets on you,” wide receiver Quinton Dunbar said.

Part of the change is because of the presence of new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, who has helped Brantley evolve both as a quarterback and as a leader.

“I learn something new every day in that film room,” Brantley said.

“It’ll be the same play but he’ll pick out something new to teach us with. That’s what make its fun and interesting to go in there and keep learning.”

Practice notes: Frankie Hammond Jr.’s consistency makes him top receiver

Will Muschamp has praised Frankie Hammond Jr. for being the team’s most consistent receiver, but that day-in, day-out dependability didn’t always come naturally for the redshirt junior. Like many, Hammond needed to mature before he could become one of Florida’s top three receivers.

“It just takes time. Coming off my redshirt sophomore year when I was just basically playing special teams, I just wanted to focus on just catching and becoming a better all-around receiver,” he said. “Coming off that year I just tried to focus on that. I’ve just been getting better and progressing every day.”

Hammond had 276 receiving yards last season but drew praise from former coach Urban Meyer late in the season for his blocking. That’s become a key part of why he’s done so well with the new coaching staff, Hammond said.

“To be a good football team, you have to establish the run game and part of that is just springing plays, those big 60-yard runs that contributes to a receiver blocking downfield,” he said. “I understand that’s a great deal of our offense and that’s what keeps things moving, and that’s what opens up things for the pass game as well. So I focus on blocking just as well as catching the ball.”

Gators ranked No. 25 in SI’s preseason poll

Sports Illustrated’s college football preview issue hit newsstands today with Florida ranking 25th in the magazine’s top 25. While much of the attention surrounding Will Muschamp’s first season in Gainesville has surrounded the offense and what coordinator Charlie Weis can do with it, SI focuses on the Gators’ defensive line. The issue also ranks Florida as the No. 7 game day experience.


Alabama, who Florida faces on Oct. 1, was the tabbed No. 1 by the magazine. In all, six SEC teams were ranked above UF: No. 1 Alabama, No. 3 LSU, No. 7 South Carolina, No. 10 Arkansas, No. 21 Mississippi State and No. 24 Auburn.

Florida was ranked No. 23 in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll released earlier this month. The Associated Press preseason poll is scheduled to be released on Saturday.

Wildcat in play at Florida Gators

Despite reports that Florida would be running a strictly pro-style offense this season, Chris Rainey said Wednesday that he has been practicing as the quarterback in a Wildcat formation that offensive coordinator Charlie Weis has added to the playbook.

Rainey said fellow running backs Jeff Demps and Trey Burton also have taken snaps at the position.

• After deciding making the decision to return to the Gators for his senior season instead of pursuing a professional track career, Demps said he had a chance an opportunity to increase the private insurance policy he holds on his athletic ability but declined; he the running back said he didn’t want to jinx himself.

• Punter David Lerner, who is battling Kyle Christy for the starting role, also is fighting a battle with Crohn’s disease. Coach Will Muschamp said watching Lerner fight through adversity has been inspirational.

Lerner has adjusted to his medication, including IV treatments every two months and constant monitoring of his diet.

D-line taking shape

The Gators have a pretty good idea now how they will line up on the defensive line.

Muschamp said Jaye Howard, Omar Hunter and Dominique Easley can play nose tackle and tackle, while Leon Orr is playing nose tackle exclusively. Sharrif Floyd is starting at end, but can also play inside. The other top two ends are William Green and Earl Okine, while the top two Bucks are Ronald Powell and Kedric Johnson.

“Leon Orr is coming along and has done some nice things,” Muschamp said. “He's gotten his weight down and is playing with more endurance.
 
“If we have an injury at Buck, (starting outside linebacker) Lerentee McCray would play that position. That's where we are right now.”

Rainey, Demps, Burton good to go

Muschamp said Tuesday that tailbacks Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey and fullback/H-back Trey Burton are already game ready.

“Trey Burton is game ready. Those three guys could play immediately in a game and be fine,” Muschamp said. “They're mentally and physically tough, hard nosed.”

Muschamp said Demps and Rainey both broke off long runs in Monday's scrimmage.

“Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps have had outstanding camps,” Muschamp said. “Both had explosive runs. When you play these guy, you better be gap sound. Their cutback vision is very good. They stick their foot in the ground and get north and south quickly.
 
“We've got to get the ball in those guys' hands.”

Freshmen stepping up at scrimmage

In the competition for the backup role behind starting quarterback John Brantley, true freshman Jeff Driskel has moved ahead of redshirt freshman Tyler Murphy and true freshman Jacoby Brissett.
That was the word from Florida coach Will Muschamp on Tuesday, the day after the Gators held their first preseason scrimmage.

“Jeff has kind of distanced himself right now to become the backup quarterback,” Muschamp said. “He played well in the scrimmage. He's got good command in the offense. I say, ‘At this point.'

“(Offensive coordinator) Charlie (Weis) and sat Jeff down today and said, ‘At this point, you've earned this opportunity, but you're a day or two away from those other two guys gaining on you.'

“Tyler and Jacoby have done nothing to disappoint us. They're both outstanding and coming along well. Jacoby probably had his best day in the scrimmage. He was starting to get a better feel for the offense. He's extremely intelligent and he's done a nice job.”

Driskel's advantage over Brissett is that he was an early enrollee and went through the spring, while Brissett did not arrive on campus until this summer.

Muschamp said Driskel has made great strides since the spring.

“His growth process from spring. … obviously, he worked extremely hard through the summer dedicating himself to the playbook and learning what to do and how to do it and why we're doing it that way,” Muschamp said. “He's had a very good camp.”

Muschamp said Driskel, who completed close to 70 percent of his passes in the scrimmage, has been very efficient running the offense.

“We look at command, we look in the huddle, all the intangibles that in Charlie's experience he's seen the good and the bad of that,” Muschamp said. “(Jeff) obviously displays the things that you need from an intangible standpoint.

“The numbers, accurate with the football, taking the ball to the right spots, getting us in the right runs. There's not a bunch of negative plays when he's in the game. He's managing our offense very well. Obviously, he's very athletic and can pull it down and run.”

Despite his high level of play, Driskel is no threat to Brantley's starting job, Muschamp said. Brantley completed almost 60 percent of his passes in the scrimmage and has had a strong camp.

“John is far and ahead of where (Driskel) is at this point. We're very pleased with John.”

Driskel isn't the only true freshman who has made a serious run at possible playing time this season. Marcus Roberson has played so well at cornerback that he's competing for a starting role, Muschamp said.

“He could possibly start,” Muschamp said. “He's played well. We're going to play our best players. I don't care what grade they are or where they're from. It doesn't matter to me.

“It's our job to put good football players who are going to do it the right way and do it the way we want it to be and play at a championship level. If they're freshmen, it doesn't matter to me.

“(Roberson) makes a lot of plays and tackles in space. He's got good instincts.”

Muschamp also praised two other true freshmen Tuesday — cornerback De'Ante “Pop” Saunders, who is moving to free safety, and Chris Johnson, who was moved from safety to outside linebacker a few days ago.

“Pop is playing well. He deserves the opportunity to be a starter at this point,” Muschamp said. “I think we need to shore up some things at safety as far as tackling and our space play.

“Pop has good instincts on the back end — when to play the ball, when not to. We've got to tackle better at that position. We cannot continue to miss tackles in the secondary.”

Muschamp said Johnson has been a natural fit at linebacker so far.
 
“He's under-sized, but he is a guy who can run and strike,” Muschamp said. “He's instinctive in the box. Watching him at safety, when we played in some eight-man stuff, he naturally gets it. That's part of being a linebacker.”

Gators keeping tough October schedule in mind during camp

With the heat of August beating down on players, the cool game nights of October might seem far away. But with a slate of Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Georgia ahead for the Gators in a couple months, it’s not far from the players’ minds.

Quarterback John Brantley said this October stretch is the toughest since he’s been at Florida. After opening the month with a home game against the Crimson Tide, the Gators won’t be back in The Swamp until the first week of November. Consecutive road games against two different Tigers – LSU first, Auburn second – follow before a bye week. Florida ends the month with its game vs. Georgia in Jacksonville.

“I’m sure there’s been tougher, but that’s a tough month,” Brantley said. “Those are four great teams we got to face and that’s what we’re preparing for now. We’re preparing for that first game but right now, the tough camp, the hot days, that’s what we’re preparing for later on in the season when we’re starting to get beat up.”

As unfriendly is the October schedule is, the opening month is favorable for UF. It doesn’t have a road game until the final week of the month when it travels to Kentucky to face a team it has beat 25 years in a row. Florida’s first three games are against Florida Atlantic, UAB and Tennessee.

“Definitely being home those first three games are going to help us out,” said Brantley, “just to play against another team and get everything together, figure out what we can do best and go on from there.”

CB Moses Jenkins healthy for senior year

Cornerback Moses Jenkins received a fifth year of eligibility after suffering an elbow injury that kept him out much of last season. That came after the Coral Springs native missed much of 2009 with a concussion.

Heading into this season, though, Jenkins said he’s healthy.

“I came back a little rusty, but that’s part of the game. It’s all right.”

Notebook: Speedy Dunbar turning heads at practice

In spring practice, redshirt freshman wide receiver Quinton Dunbar was one of the big surprises in the Florida offense.

By all accounts he's picked up where he left off.

"He's just making plays when plays need to be made," quarterback John Brantley said Friday. "Anyone can catch the ball when no one's around, but it's what you do in traffic and on go-routes, if you can go up there over the cornerback. He's just making plays. He absolutely has the speed (to run past defenders)."

Dunbar, who has added 16 pounds to get up to 188 since he first arrived at UF, says he is staying humble despite all of the attention.

"I'm young, so I just have to stay consistent and keep working," he said. "My confidence is going to stay high, because I'm just going to continue to get better."

He is fighting for a starting position this fall and hopes to use his speed to carve out a role.

"Vertical is a big part of this offense," he said. "We run to set up the pass, so it's a big emphasis."
To that end, Dunbar says he has strengthened his connection with Brantley.

"We stay after practice and get routes down, get deep balls down," he said. "So we're just trying to get that connection."

Florida State talking to SEC about a possible jump according to source

Florida State officials have been flirting with the SEC for several months and the discussion now are getting more serious, according to sources.

Rumors have been spreading that the SEC is poised to expand, first to 14 teams and then to 16, and the Seminoles and Texas A&M of the Big 12 could be the first two to jump.

“This is real,” said a source close to FSU.

Other schools being mentioned as possible SEC candidates: Clemson, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

Miami apparently is not on the SEC’s radar. The possibility of being left out if FSU bolts has the Hurricanes, “scared to death,” said a source.

Texas A&M appears to be the SEC’s first choice. The school is a good fit in many ways. Its facilities are first class and it’s a school with a lot of money. Adding the Aggies would allow the conference to gain a foothold in one of the richest states in the country for high school football and add two large television markets in Dallas and Houston.

Texas A&M is unhappy that Texas has created own television network and is unhappy with the Big 12 for bowing down to Texas when the Longhorns flirted with the idea of moving to the Pac-10.

Some believe the Aggies are more of a sure thing to join the SEC than any other school and Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe told the Austin-American Statesman he is treating reports of Texas A&M’s possible move “very seriously.”

The SEC has stayed quiet during this latest round of speculation. At SEC Media Days a couple weeks ago, SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said he could add members if he wanted to in 15 minutes.

“I’m going to think about and do things that are in the long-term best interests of the SEC,” Slive said.

UF players say offense almost there

Florida's offensive players were so lost in Charlie Weis' offense last spring that quarterback John Brantley said it was like trying to read Chinese.

Well, it's in clear English now, apparently.

With three weeks still to go before the start of the season, Brantley said Friday the offense is already almost game-ready.

“I think we're really close,” Brantley said. “These past three days have been really good for us. As long as we keep going (like this) in this next week, we're going to be very game ready.

“The receivers are making plays, the running backs are making plays and the offensive line is really coming together and blocking real well. We'll be ready.”

The quarterback definitely sounds ready.

Brantley said he's gotten so comfortable in Weis' pro-style attack that he feels like he's back in high school.

“Oh, yeah,” said the former Ocala Trinity Catholic star, who was the Gatorade national player of the year his senior season. “I like this offense a lot.

“I don't feel as nervous as I used to back in the spring. I feel more confident going out there and making the right calls and the right protections. It's going well.”

In the spring, Weis was installing his offense. Over the summer, the players started learning it, redshirt freshman wide receiver Quinton Dunbar said.

“In the spring, we didn't know what we were doing, we were just installing it,” said Dunbar, who has been one of the offensive stars of camp. “In the offseason, we were getting in the playbook and learning it.

“It's finally starting to click now. We're finally getting everything right. I'm very excited (about unveiling the offense). I think we're going to have a pretty good year.”

Brantley said even true freshmen quarterbacks Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett already are effectively executing the offense, and Brissett did not arrive on campus until June.

Driskel and Brissett are in a close battle with redshirt freshman Tyler Murphy for the back-up role. Brantley said Driskel, Brissett and Murphy are getting equal reps in practice.

“They're doing real good,” Brantley said of the QBs behind him. “Jacoby has picked up on the offense real quick. Just like the receivers and the running backs and the offensive line, everyone is getting better every day.”

Dunbar said the receivers have confidence in all four quarterbacks.

“All of them are learning the offense,” Dunbar said. “Jacoby came in (late) and learned the offense. All of them are making plays. All of them get in there and make their reads and make plays.”

Brantley said he's bonded with the receivers after working with them in the spring and throughout the summer.

“Absolutely,” Brantley said. “Coach (Aubrey) Hill has done a great job with them. I've seen improvement every single day with route running and everything. As long as they keep getting better every day, we'll be happy.”

Muschamp said earlier in the week that junior Frankie Hammond has been UF's best all-around wide receiver. He's becoming one of Brantley's go-to guys.

“He's making plays, making tough catches, making the easy catches he's supposed to and making people miss after those catches,” Brantley said. “You can tell he's been studying his playbook, and it's showing on the field.”

Showing not just for Hammond, but for the rest of the offensive players, apparently.

“We'll be ready (for the start of the season),” Brantley said. “We're close right now.”

Gators grinding away

Even though the Gators are only one week into their preseason camp, plenty of things about this young team have begun to emerge.

Here’s a camp update:

* Quarterback depth is a lot better than anyone thought it would be last winter. John Brantley is having a strong camp and is the clear starter. Redshirt freshman Tyler Murphy has shown he can manage and move the offense. True freshmen Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett have been impressive and are pushing Murphy for the backup role. Driskel has a much better understanding of the offense than he did coming out of the spring. Brissett is a little behind Driskel because he did not arrive until this summer, but by all accounts, he’s an excellent passer with a big-time arm — and a great fit in Charlie Weis’ offense.

* Everyone talks about how Weis prefers a big, physical tailback in his offense, but the little guys — Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps — have sprinted to the top of the depth chart in camp. Rainey and Demps have tremendous speed and Weis is getting them out on the edge, where they’ve made some long runs. If the Gators are a threat on the ground, it’s going to open all kinds of opportunities in the play-action passing game.

* Frankie Hammond Jr. has been the Gators’ best and most consistent receiver thus far. Will Muschamp said earlier in the week that he’s been the complete package in terms of catching, blocking, running routes and making plays. Deonte Thompson and Quinton Dunbar have been the best down-field threats. The coaches are still waiting for some of the other receivers to emerge, although Muschamp made it sound earlier in the week that Andre Debose has started to make a move.

* Depth on the offensive line, especially at tackle, remains a huge concern, although the coaches are feeling better about what the Gators have at the guard and center spots. The addition of Notre Dame transfer Dan Wenger, who can play all three inside positions, has been a tremendous plus.

* Even though A.C. Leonard is out after undergoing knee surgery, the Gators still plan to use a two tight end package this season. That nugget came from TE Gerald Christian on Thursday, who said the package gives the Gators a lot of options in both the running and passing game. Weis has shown in the past that he will feature his tight end (or ends), so we’ll see plenty of Jordan Reed and Christian this fall.

* Florida’s defensive front seven has a chance to be pretty dominant — if the Gators can stay healthy. Those five-star prospects who are now sophomores (Sharrif Floyd, Ronald Powell and Dominique Easley) have grown into major players. The same can be said of linebacker Jon Bostic and Jelani Jenkins — both of whom have come into their own and now are defensive leaders.

* Muschamp has expressed little or no concern about the inexperience in the secondary, saying he prefers athleticism to experience. This group is fast and athletic. Here’s one reason why Muschamp might be feeling so good about the secondary: true freshmen Marcus Roberson and Loucheiz Purifoy have performed at a high level and have brought depth to the cornerback positions. Who knows, Roberson might even end up starting at the corner opposite junior Jeremy Brown.

* When the Gators added Boston College commitment Graham Stewart to the 2011 signing class, many speculated whether he was good enough to play linebacker in the SEC. Apparently he’s already answered that question. Muschamp and several of the defensive players have praised the early work of Stewart, saying he’s a physical and athletic guy who has a chance to play this season.

* Jaylen Watkins has emerged as one of the key players in the secondary. He can play corner and both safety positions and is expected to see extensive playing time. Redshirt freshman safety Josh Shaw also has had an excellent camp thus far.

* Jeremy Brown, safety Josh Evans and strong safety Matt Elam have emerged as the leaders in the secondary.

Tebow puts up good numbers

ARLINGTON, Texas — Tim Tebow scrambled far to his left, inches from the sideline, saw some resistance and headed back the other way. He was around the middle of the field when he decided to pass, lobbing the ball over a defender to a waiting teammate, who took off toward the end zone.

It could’ve been the latest addition to Tebow’s legacy — if only he hadn’t gone a full stride over the line of scrimmage, a lineman hadn’t ran illegally down the field and another teammate hadn’t clobbered someone in the back. 

Instead, by the end of it, even one of the officials was chuckling.

Tebow’s schoolyard play came just before halftime and stood as the play of the game, until Dallas’ Stephen McGee threw a 13-yard touchdown pass and a two-point conversion with 15 seconds left, giving the Cowboys a 24-23 victory over the Broncos on Thursday night.

McGee, an option quarterback in college just like Tebow, showed the moxie he displayed in two quality outings at the end of last season. He finished 14 of 24 for 208 yards, with three touchdowns, plus ran four times for 25 yards.

“It’s always fun to win no matter how it comes,” McGee said. “For me, this is my regular season.”

Tebow’s numbers were good. He completed 6 of 7 passes for 91 yards. He also ran twice for 15 yards, producing a pair of field goals in four drives.

His first scoring series started at Denver’s 10 and included a 43-yard pass perfectly lofted into double coverage. The other drive, however, started 7 yards from the end zone and wound up moving backward, with a holding penalty wiping out his touchdown run on first down, then the bizarre play coming on third down.

“I tried to scramble and one thing turned into another,” Tebow said.

Dallas declined all three penalties to force the Broncos to kick a field goal. When Tebow went to the sideline, new Denver coach John Fox spoke to him gently, patting him on the head at the end of the chat.

“Tim is a work in progress,” Fox said. “He made some things happen and he is learning. ... The M.O. on him when I got here is that he does ad-lib some. You don’t ever want to take that away from a player. He is a young player that I think is going to get better in time.”

In other words, he didn’t likely do much to unseat veteran Kyle Orton as the starter, not with Fox saying, “I though Kyle was sharp,” even though he completed only 2 of 6 passes for 37 yards, with three straight incompletions after reaching the Dallas 6.

Tebow felt good about his performance. His only lament was not getting into the end zone.

“I feel a lot more confident in my decision making, my fundamentals and going out there and running the offense,” he said. “It’s picking and choosing your battles and being smart about it.”

One other play that stood out was Tebow bobbling a snap, ducking to avoid a blow by Dallas linebacker Victor Butler, then being pulled down by the next defender to arrive, Clifton Geathers. Tebow got to know Butler and defensive lineman Jason Hatcher, as they seemed to be in his face almost every play.

Hatcher and Butler both came away impressed by Tebow’s strength.

“He messed up my sack,” Butler said. “I’ll have to hit him on Twitter and tell him about it. ... Some of his throws were on and some of his throws were off. Sometimes you have to equate that to pressure. When you have somebody hitting you in the back or coming straight at your face, your throws are going to be off.”

Brady Quinn — who is probably Tebow’s real competition, for the main backup slot — was 8 of 14 for 120 yards and an 8-yard touchdown to Eron Riley. Denver also got a 13-yard TD run from Jeremiah Johnson with Quinn going against Dallas’ reserves.

Caleb Sturgis modified offseason workouts

After missing most of last season with a hairline fracture in his back, kicker Caleb Sturgis said he feels healthy heading into this season. Part of the difference has been changing what he’s done this summer, Muschamp said.


Sturgis didn’t practice kickoffs in the spring, although he did practice field goals and PATs. So far in the fall, he hasn’t done kickoffs at fullspeed.

When asked to elaborate on what other changes have allowed the redshirt junior to remain healthy, Muschamp quipped, ” He’s not doing squats anymore. Mickey (Marotti) wants to have him power clean, and squat and dead lift and we need him to be a good kicker.”