Florida redshirt freshman Colin Thompson, who sat out last season
with a broken foot, is battling sophomore Kent Taylor for the starting
job at tight end.
The two were part of
Florida's 2012 class and became close during their recruiting process.
And they haven't let the competition in camp come between their
friendship.
“You just kind
of go out and play,” Thompson said. “People look at it like it's going
to be a heated rivalry, but at the end of the day, you still put the
Gator helmet on and you go out together and compete. We're all trying to
achieve the same goal.”
There's even a chance that both could be on the field at the same time.
“Multiple
tight end sets, that's why I came here,” Thompson said. “That would be
great. Some chemistry and some physicality. Kent has gotten a lot bigger
and stronger. It would bring a lot to the table.”
Players discuss Debose
Florida
football players were crushed earlier this week when they were told
redshirt senior receiver Andre Debose had torn his anterior cruciate
ligament.
“That hurt,”
running back Mack Brown said. “When I heard the news, I just had to
pause for a couple minutes because he was having his best camp that I'd
seen since I've been here.
“I
think he's the best returner in the country. College and pro, if you
ask me. And he has quickness when he catches the ball. We've got people
to fill in for him, but it's hard to replace a guy like Andre Debose.”
Added
fullback Hunter Joyer, “It's really tough, especially it being his last
year and just seeing his reaction to how the whole thing went down. We
definitely lost a step at the wide receiver position.”
In addition to his skill set, linebacker Mike Taylor will miss the energy Debose always brings.
“That's
really detrimental,” he said of the loss. “You lose one of the guys who
can break a game open instantaneously. He's a playmaker. He's a
positive guy to have around the locker room. When you see him he's
smiling, he's joking, he's laughing.
“Not
even just having him football wise, because a lot of times life is
bigger than the game of football. But just having him around being that
same person, because with an injury like that, it takes a lot out of
you. It's going to really hurt us, but it's just production were going
to have to make up for.”
