Offense

Offensive Line

LT DJ Humphries .6'5"..280 – he looks about 10 pounds heavier than he did last season.  It would be really nice if he could add another 10 pounds between now and the Fall.  He’d still be light but at least wouldn’t be a flyweight for an OT and would be able to stand up better to some of the bigger DE’s.  His feet are great and he’s very athletic for a big guy.

LG Max Garcia..6'4"..307 a good pass blocker, a very good run blocker.  He will start,for the next two years, no question in my mind.

C Jonathon Harrison ..6'3"..302 probably our best OL last year.  Its good to have him back for another year.

RG Kyle Koehne..6'5"..315 solid utility man who can also play Tackle.  I doubt he’ll start, but he will definitely play plenty.

RT Tyler Moore..6'6"..312 boy is he gonna be good.  Big ole barrel-chested dude he is every bit 312 and ain’t fat at that weight.  Good feet too.  Either Chaz Green at RT or Jon Halapio at RG is going to be beaten out for a starting job by him. 

Dunker was suspended, Thurman, Silberman, Green and Halapio were all dinged.  Trenton Brown doesn’t arrive until the Fall….with him not being able to early enroll, I think there’s a good chance he’ll redshirt even though that wasn’t the plan when he was recruited.  He’s got 3 years to play 2.

The OL is in VASTLY better shape than it was last year.  Getting Garcia and Moore and Brown was huge.

Wide Receiver

Quenton Dunbar was our #2 WR last year and looks like he has taken a  step forward in the Spring.  He’ll play a good bit and will help us.

Andre Debose - he seems to have improved in terms of consistency and practicing hard which were the two biggest knocks on him previously.  Yeah Yeah Yeah I ain’t a coach and all but I still don’t understand why he didn’t play more.  He’s got more physical ability than probably any other WR we’ve had for the last 2-3 years.  If he ever wants to earn a living from football he needs to show out this year.  I suspect he will finally show us why he was rated so highly.  Demarcus Robinson – yes he really is supremely physically talented.  Size, hands, speed, leaping ability, he’s got it.  He has to learn the Offense and routes better but he will definitely play a lot and will help us.

Andrades, Patton, Pittman will play but none of them look really special.  Purifoy will play some on Offense and he is a very talented athlete (I think he’d be a better WR than he is a CB but that’s just my opinion).  We will see what Chris Thompson, Marqui Hawkins, Alvin Bailey and Ahmad Fullwood can do in the Fall.  Fullwood especially might be able to contribute as a big possession-type WR since we don’t have one of those currently.   The WR corps should be much better…..but it could hardly be worse than its been for the last three years.  How much better it is depends on Debose and Robinson being difference makers.

Quarterback

Jeff Driskel is obviously entrenched as the starter.  He struggled as a passer in his first year starting with a new OC last year.  The fact that the OL was bad at pass blocking and the WR corps had no real threats didn’t help.  Both of those positions look to have been upgraded.  Driskel appeared to be more comfortable this Spring than he was last year and at times looked much better at things like looking off safeties and checking to the right plays.  At other times he threw a rash of picks.  He has great potential but is not there yet.  Hopefully studying film and working with the WR’s in the offseason will help him continue to improve.

As of now the backup looks to be Tyler Murphy.  He is limited as a passer but he can run.  Skyler Mornhinweg is advanced in the cerebral part of the game – as you’d expect from a coach’s son – but he’s not going to threaten anybody with his legs and as a result Murphy is ahead of him right now.   Max Staver will arrive in the Fall and will redshirt.  We’ll see what the new walk-on QB Chris Wilkes can do.  Stud QB Will Grier from North Carolina who will be rated one of the top 2 QB’s in the next recruiting class is committed. 

The QB position should be better since Driskel will be more experienced, but we are really thin on depth and experience right now.  We’re finally starting to build some depth after being woefully thin at this position and stuck with a bunch of non-QB’s thanks to the Spread Option (emphasis on the latter) Offense we ran before, but we’re not all the way back to where we’d like to be here yet.  We need to cut down on Driskel’s running.  We cannot afford an injury to him.

Fullback

Hunter Joyer is a fixture at this spot and is a great blocker.  He’s also a solid receiver and indications are that we plan to incorporate the Fullback into the pass-Offense a bit more this year.   We had little depth behind Joyer in the past and thus were afraid to make the Fullback a more integral part of the Offense, but in the Spring, the moves of Raheem Ledbetter from Safety and especially Gideon Ajagbe from OLB to Fullback appear to have gone quite well.  Ajagbe particularly has been a pleasant surprise with how well he has adapted and can help us after not having been a factor at OLB.  Trey Burton will also continue to be used in an H-back role sometimes.

Tailback

Matt Jones has entrenched himself as the starter.  He’s big, fast, powerful and has good hands – better than many may realize since we didn’t throw to him last year.  He was good enough at this to line up at WR sometimes in high school.  After running too high and trying to bounce it outside too much at the beginning of last season, Jones learned to put his head down and blast people by the end of the year –always a good option for a 230 pound back – and was very effective.  He has built on those lessons in the offseason.  Kelvin Taylor is by all accounts the #2 Tailback right now.  Though he doesn’t have his father’s freakish top end speed, he will otherwise remind you of Fred in his size, his strength and especially his shiftiness.  He does not go down on first contact – he’s already too strong for that or for arm tackles to have a prayer of stopping him.  He is very advanced as a receiver and not bad as a blocker though he does still need a little work in this area as you’d expect for any Freshman.

Walk-on Freshman Mark Herndon looks like he will be a factor.  He is by most accounts the #3 Tailback right now.  At 193 pounds, he’s a definitely lighter than Jones and Taylor, but he runs hard and definitely looks like a legit SEC caliber back.  Mack Brown will be a redshirt Junior.  He hasn’t looked bad but getting passed up on the depth chart by younger players means he will either break out in the Fall or this will be his last season.  Adam Lane arrives in the Fall.  He was the Coaches’ #1 priority at Tailback this past recruiting season.  Yes, you read that correctly.  At 5’8’ and every bit of 215 he is a bowling ball and is very quick.  Trust me….trying to tackle guys like this SUCKS.  It will be very interesting to see how he’ll do when he arrives.

Tailback is in better shape than it has been since 2004 or maybe 2008 IMO.  We have several legit Tailbacks and Fullbacks and we’ll have a good line to run behind.  We’re gonna do some real damage on the ground next year.

Tight End

And now we come to the weakest position on Offense.  Kent Taylor is a good receiver but is a lightweight and a liability as a blocker.  Colin Thompson is a bigger and more powerful blocker but doesn’t appear to be much of a threat as a receiver.  Trey Burton is a better receiver than blocker.  His brother Clay and Tevin Westbrook are the opposite being much better blockers than receivers.  We have plenty of numbers, but we do not have anybody who appears to be complete and certainly nobody at the level of some of our past TE’s like Aaron Hernandez or Ben Troupe. 

Offense as a whole should definitely better and could be a lot better depending on the progress made by Driskel and the WR corps.  The OL and backfield look very sound.

Defense

Defensive Tackle - Dominique Easley will slide inside to his much more natural position this year.  He is obviously more of a #3 technique (ie quick Tackle) in a 4-3 Defense.  With his quickness, and now fully recovered from the knee injury he sustained at the end of 2011, he should be a disruptive force on the inside next season.  We have not had a DT who could really penetrate and disrupt since 2006.  That leaves the #1 technique (ie noseguard) position to fill and Leon Orr looks like he fits the bill here.  He’s a big, strong and athletic guy who will be a 4^th year Junior.  He’s played a good bit also the last couple seasons and knows what he’s doing.  Damien Jacobs was a solid contributor last year after arriving from the Juco ranks who steadily improved as the season wore on last year.  Jacobs’ former juco teammates Bear Cummings and Jaran Reed were very welcome additions in this past recruiting class.  Cummings arrived in the Spring and was by all accounts ahead of where Jacobs was a year ago when he arrived.  Cummings will definitely play for us and could start.  The Coaches were quite happy with what they saw from him this past Spring.  Reed is said to be a bit more raw than Cummings but has a lot of physical ability.  Jaynard Bostwick and Caleb Brantley also arrive in the Fall.  Hopefully we won’t have to use either one and can redshirt them but they will be available.

Picking up 3 Jucos in the last two recruiting classes (at least two of whom we know can play) has rescued this position.  It would have been a disaster without them but as is, it looks like we may be pretty good here.

Defensive End – Heading into last season we looked pretty shaky at this position.  We ended up being decent though not great largely because Freshman studs Dante Fowler and Jonathon Bullard turned out to be worthy of their lofty recruiting rankings.  Fowler especially seems to have taken another step forward in the Spring from everything I heard…though I was honestly a bit more impressed by Bullard last season.  Regardless, we’re delighted to have them in addition to Ronald Powell coming back from injury.  Powell may be rusty and may need to be eased back into things after two knee injuries cost him all of last season but he showed a lot of promise as the starter 2 years ago. 

Behind those three are Alex McCallister who I heard a lot of people raving about and Brian Cox Jr.  McCallister was a flyweight at barely more than 200 pounds on his lanky frame when we recruited him.  He’s up to 230 now which is a big improvement but another 10 pounds of muscle between the Spring and the Fall would be nice.  Brian Cox Jr is a very solid 260 and after flying under the radar during his redshirt year surprised many observers with how good he looked this Spring.  Both of them will play.  Antonio Riles and Joey Ivie will also be available but look almost certain to redshirt.

We are loaded here.  Loaded.  We should have a very good pass rush this season unlike last year when we really had no effective pass rush without blitzing.

Linebacker – Antonio Morrison will be a huge star.  That’s not exactly a news flash.  Yes, he’s a bit lighter than we’d like still.  Doesn’t freaking matter.  He has great instincts and will tear people’s heads off.  Bostic was a solid Mike LB and will play in the NFL but Morrison is going to be much closer to Brandon Spikes than to Jon Bostic.  He will intimidate.  Michael Taylor is another one who has good instincts and will hit though he too is still a bit light.  The Coaches are very happy with true Freshman Daniel McMillian.  He’s big, he’s physical and has a good work ethic.  He’s going to play a lot this year. 

After the above group, things start to get dicey.  The coaches are eager to see what Jared Davis can do when he arrives in the Fall.  They like Matt Rolin as a prospect but he sat out the Spring with a knee injury and its unknown if he will be able to help us in the Fall.  They had planned to get a lot of work in with Alex Anzalone but he dinged his shoulder and had to miss most of the Spring.  It is unknown what he’ll be able to do in the Fall.   Jeremi Powell looks like he can make plays at OLB and is fast….but he’s also light.  It is unknown how well he can stand up to a punishing SEC schedule.  Neiron Ball continues to work his way back after a neck injury forced him to miss significant time prior to last season.  Due to that, he didn’t play much previously so its difficult to say how much he can help.  Darrin Kitchens has been a solid player and the coaches were pretty happy with him in the Spring.  He will definitely play a lot.

We have some very talented guys at LB but not as many as we’d like and given how many are Freshman or are coming off of injuries, depth is a concern.  This position could be one of real strength for us or with a few injuries could be a real weakness.

Cornerback – this may well be the deepest position on the team.  We are loaded.  Freakin’ LOADED.  Marcus Roberson returns as a Junior after having started the last two years.  He was said to have made some slight improvement in the Spring (though he was already quite good).  Jaylen Watkins returns for his Senior season after starting the last two years.  To me, its between he and Roberson as to which one is our best in coverage.  I’ve always been very impressed with him.  Louchiez Purifoy returns for his Junior season after having played a lot.  The coaches love his raw ability.  He may end up being the best of the bunch…though I still think the other two are better from what I’ve seen.  He will play some WR too because he’s tall and fast and is a real physical specimen.  Cody Riggs returns for his Junior season after breaking his foot and redshirting last season.  Riggs is quick as a cat and is really good in coverage though he’s not the most physical of tacklers (he’s a little thinner and lighter than the others).  I doubt he’ll start but he’s too good to sit on the bench.  Look for him to be our nickel back as well as a damn nice insurance policy against injury.

As if this embarrassment of riches wasn’t enough, former starter Jeremy Brown returns for a 6^th year.  Its unknown if he can stay healthy.  When he has been healthy, he’s been good though.  The Gators added the #1 rated CB in America to this group in the past recruiting season when we signed Vernon Hargreaves.  As a coach’s son, he is as polished as you’d expect and was one of the best players – arguably THE best – at the under armour practices against all the other top recruits in America.  Its hard to imagine him not contributing significantly. 

Quite simply, I do not ever remember us being this talented, experienced and deep at Cornerback in all my years as a Gator.   I can think of many seasons when we would have been overjoyed to have the #4 or #5 guy among this group to plug into the starting lineup.

Safety – We lost both starters.  We will be just fine here and have utterly nothing to worry about.  The logjam at Cornerback had the coaches experimenting with moving Jaylen Watkins over to Free Safety in the Spring.  I still would prefer Purifoy here since I think Watkins is better in coverage but *shrug* I’m confident we could plug in either one of them and get a good result and still have extremely good depth at CB.  Valdez Showers was also slid over from Cornerback to Safety because we’re so loaded at CB.  Fellow Sophomore Brian Poole is also available.  One guy the coaches were impressed with in the Spring was redshirt Freshman Marcus Maye at Strong Safety.  If it were today, he would start.  Top recruit Marcel Harris arrives in the Fall and is a big physical DB so look for him to get a shot to show what he can do at Strong Safety.

Will Muschamp made his bones as a secondary coach and still coaches them directly.  We have tons of quality DB’s.  There may be a brief period of figuring out the best ones at the best spots, but the quality, depth and coaching are all there.  We will be just fine at Safety.

Defense as a whole will probably be slightly weaker than last year due to the simple fact that we had two excellent DT’s who totally clogged the middle and left our LB’s free to roam last year and we have to replace both but another top 10 finish is entirely realistic IMO.  LB depth is the biggest concern.

Special Teams – we have plenty of quality athletes now with our numbers rebuilt from 2 years ago when we bottomed out at only 67 players.  The coaches plan to use Andre Debose as a punt returner.  Provided he is comfortable catching punts that looks like a great choice since we’ve all seen how dangerous he is as a KO returner.  Punter Kyle Christy returns after a stellar season last year.  At kicker we lost Caleb Sturgis and right now Austin Hardin and Brad Phillips look nowhere near as good.  Both have strong legs but have been inconsistent in practice.  The coaches have their fingers crossed that things will click for one of them by the Fall but it looks like we will take a step back at this position this year as of now. 

Summary – the Defense will be slightly weaker, but only slightly.  The Offense will be a bit better if the passing game does not come together.  The Offense will be massively better if Jeff Driskel and the Receivers can put together even a decent semblance of a passing attack.  The schedule is not easy with both sow and scUM as well as a decent Toledo team OOC and LSU, UGA and the Cocks all looking pretty tough in-conference.  We catch a break with Arkansas rotating onto the schedule in place of aTm since they lost a ton of Seniors last year and have to break in a new coaching staff as well.  UGA FINALLY drawing at least one tough rotating opponent from the West (LSU) for the first time in several years helps too (what SEC Office?...you mean you couldn’t arrange to give UF to tough rotating opponents and UGA zero yet again?  You’re slipping.)

Its tough to predict this early but right now I think 10-2 or 11-1 look like the most realistic outcomes for the Gators in 2013.