GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gators sophomore offensive lineman
D.J. Humphries arrived at UF in January 2012 with the kind of accolades that
made some wonder if he would start from day one.
The prep All-American was ranked the No. 1 overall offensive
tackle in the country by Rivals.com and No. 3 by Scout.com.
What Florida coach Will Muschamp saw was an extremely talented
player that needed to add some bulk to withstand those grizzly bears known as
SEC defensive linemen.
More than a year later, Humphries’ size and status on the
team have grown. Listed at 265 pounds his final season at Mallard Creek (N.C.)
High, the 6-foot-6 Humphries is up to 280 pounds and listed atop the depth
chart at left tackle.
Humphries played in 13 games last season – starting three in
place of a Xavier Nixon – and showed why he was so highly recruited and
why he needed to gain weight.
“At times he had a hard time anchoring against the bigger
players, some of the bull rushes,’’ Muschamp said Tuesday. “That was always an
issue when we played the bigger teams. He’s a guy now that is building that anchor,
building that core.”
Muschamp is confident Humphries has all the tools that
garnered him those accolades in the first place.
“He is extremely intelligent, first of all, extremely
confident,’’ Muschamp said. “He is just a really good athlete. He can bend his
lower body. He can set the edge against the speed rush. Football is important
to him. He works hard at football.”
With Humphries developing at left tackle, left guard Max
Garcia is getting back into the mix after sitting out last year. A transfer
from Maryland, Garcia is atop the depth chart at left guard next to Humphries
in what is an entirely new left side of the offensive line.
“Max Garcia has been a real good addition, a big, physical
inside player,’’ Muschamp said. “I’m excited about those players.”
Garcia (6-4, 307) started 12 games at Maryland at left
tackle in 2011.
INJURY REPORT
Muschamp announced the Gators will be without freshman
linebacker Alex Anzalone for the duration of spring camp. Anzalone (6-3, 220)
is one of eight early enrollees who arrived in January. He underwent successful
surgery to repair a labrum injury in his right shoulder on Monday.
Anzalone is expected to be a contributor in the fall with
the Gators lacking depth at the position following the departure of starters
Jon Bostic and Jelani Jenkins.
“He will be back for fall camp,’’ Muschamp said. “It’s
usually about a four-month situation there. It was a freak drill. He just got
hit on a tackling drill and he just got hit on it the wrong way. I’m disappointed
for him but he is going to be a really good player. We’re going to be fine.”
Meanwhile, Muschamp said defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard
(hamstring) could be out until early next week, and that defensive back Cody
Riggs (hamstring) is day-to-day.
PROGRESS REPORT
The Gators have held four spring practices thus far and will
practice Wednesday and Friday before scrimmaging on Saturday. Much of the work
is getting young players reps and developing depth.
“Really working hard on fundamentals and technique and
physicality,’’ Muschamp said. “Pleased with the contact speed so far. Four days
in we’re not ready to make any proclamations.”
The receiving corps is one group being watched closely. With
tight end Jordan Reed gone – he was the team’s leading receiver last year – the
Gators need more production from a group that includes Quinton Dunbar, Andre
Debose, Solomon Patton, Latroy Pittman, Ralph Andrades and Loucheiz Purifoy.
Purifoy is working at receiver the first seven practices of
spring and is learning the position.
“We’re trying to introduce the concepts to him,’’ Muschamp
said. “We want to be able to expand what he can do at receiver. I don’t think
it’s diminishing his skill at all as a corner. After the seventh practice he is
going to come back to defense. He is going to have a role on our offense in the
fall. That’s why I wanted to do this now.”
Muschamp said Dunbar, Debose and Pittman have all made
strides. Patton is coming off a broken arm and is participation only in
non-contact drills, while Andrades is trying to catch up to the others
according to Muschamp.
TAYLOR WATCH
One of the more intriguing freshmen in spring practice is
running back Kelvin Taylor. Taylor is a contender to backup projected starter
Matt Jones in the fall.
Taylor has shown off his physical skills in individual drills
but remains a work in progress as he tries to learn the offense and pick up his
production in practice.
“He’s a guy who can stick his foot in the ground, can get
north and south,’’ Muschamp said. “He’s got some physicality. The game has got
to slow down for him a little bit right now.”
QUOTE OF NOTE I
“He can anchor. He’s got good short-area quickness, he can
get off blocks; he can disengage. He’s got good strength, I’m just really
pleased.” – Muschamp on junior-college transfer Darious Cummings, a candidate
to replace Omar Hunter at nose tackle
QUOTE OF NOTE II
“He needs to be in really, really good shape.’’ – Muschamp on
Purifoy, who will play defense, offense and special teams in the fall
QUOTE OF NOTE III
“They need to understand there is a certain learning curve
that they’ve got to go with. They’ve never been asked to do this before, as far
as playing the game at a faster pace, playing the game at a faster tempo, but
also learning the game at a faster pace and a faster tempo. I’m very pleased with
all eight guys, their progress and where they are.” – Muschamp on the early
enrollees
NOTES AND NUGGETS
Former linebacker Gideon Ajagbe, working behind starter
Hunter Joyer at fullback, has made a good impression on Muschamp, especially as
a blocker … Kyle Koehn is behind starter Jon Harrison at center and Tripp
Thurman is third on the depth chart … Muschamp said starting right guard Jon
Halapio, coming off offseason arthroscopic knee surgery, looked good in
individual drills Monday. “He is not ready for full-11 work at this point.” … Muschamp
said kickers Austin Hardin and Brad Phillips “need to kick a lot better” as
they compete to replace Caleb Sturgis … Sophomore linebacker Antonio Morrison,
a candidate to start at middle linebacker, is taking on more of a leadership
role. “[He] continues to improve as a communicator within the front seven and
that’s going to be a key deal for him. He’s handling a lot of the directing of traffic.
He had Jon and Jelani helping him last year. Now he’s got to be that guy.”
