Mark Hocke says Gators are a closer team and ‘much smoother operation’ in Year 2
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Earlier this month, Gators Online spent a day inside the $86 million Heavener Center to cover the “four-headed monster” that powers the player experience at Florida. One of those monsters is Mark Hocke, UF’s associate head coach and director of football strength and conditioning.
Gators Online was able to observe Hocke and his staff at work in the weight room and indoor practice facility as three different groups of Regimen teams conducted one of the last workout sessions before fall training camp, which begins Monday.
With the Regimen phase ending, Hocke reflected on his second offseason with the program and how the players handled summer workouts.
“Year 2 has been a blessing, just really excited about what’s to come. I think the best really is yet to come for this group,” Hocke said. “Last year we talked a lot about accountability, whereas this year we have a better understanding and we’re actually living it out. Certainly, have room for improvement. There’s always gonna be that. We have a ways to go individually and collectively. But as a whole, just a much smoother operation, much more efficient. I think from the players standpoint, they have a better understanding.”
“Last year was almost like we were navigating in the dark a little bit and I think there was some ego, some stubbornness with everyone involved. Whereas this year I feel like everyone understands what the expectation is, what the standards are, how we go about our different protocol systems, whether it be lifting, running, practice, what the expectations are and everyone’s kind of getting in line and going. And I think it’s exciting. It gets me personally really fired up about the season, which is coming up soon.”
This was the first full offseason for sophomore running back Trevor Etienne, who did not enroll early as a freshman. He put on six pounds this summer, going from 207 to 213 pounds.
The Regimen workouts paid off for Etienne, but they’re no walk in the park.
“It’s definitely challenging at times,” Etienne said. “Gainesville weather is crazy. It will be raining and then it’s 100 degrees the next second. So, it’s definitely been challenging, but it’s all worth it. I can definitely see it paying off. I can definitely say that the team is closer.”
Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall echoed Etienne’s comments. This is also his first full offseason with the program after transferring from Arizona State last fall.
Like quarterback Graham Mertz, Pearsall recently spoke to the team during the Regimen phase.
“I think Coach Napier did a tremendous job of making the team closer, just with all these workouts and everything that he puts in play. We even do team talks. Some of the players do a presentation for the guys. I was one of them,” Pearsall said. “I think that’s a really important part about the Regimen that we have.
“I think that was really important to hear from players. It’s coach-fed but player-led. We live by that, and I think that’s something important we have been working on all summer. Just seeing a glimpse of what it was like last year and then coming now, some of the freshmen dudes don’t even know how much closer we are.”
Hocke agreed with Etienne and Pearsall about the closeness and comradery of this year’s team. He attributed that to the players spending more time around each other in the Heavener Center.
Hocke also credited Napier for pushing the right buttons with the locker room setup.
“Some of it is intentional. Coach Napier, how he builds out the locker room, it’s intentional mixing different positions, different offense, defense, putting people together that need to develop a relationship,” Hocke said. “Whether it be a starting quarterback and starting center or starting quarterback and a receiver, it’s calculated from that standpoint. Because a lot of times you’re gonna grow close to the people in your proximity. It also has to do with being in a new building, but it’s all very calculated, very intentional.
“Everything from the jump, how you’re dressed, what you’re doing, everybody’s in line. It’s very methodical, almost like if you’re in the Army. I think that’s the way you build and develop a team culture. We before me. Are they perfect? No one is. I make mistakes all the time too. But there is remorse, there is ownership, there is accountability and less finger pointing. So, that’s what has me so excited about Year 2. They all know what the expectation is and they’re working really hard to work towards it.”
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