Florida Gators fall camp: Intel and observations from practice No. 11

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida football team returned to Sanders Practice Fields on Monday. It marked the Gators’ 12th practice of fall training camp with four more left to go.

Gators Online was in attendance to take in the sights and sounds of the day. The media was allowed access to the first 15 minutes of practice as the team went through individual drills.

These are the observations and intel that we gleaned from Monday’s viewing period.

QB Jack Miller III not practicing for second day

Florida redshirt sophomore quarterback Jack Miller III sat out a second consecutive practice on Monday. He was off to the side pulling a sled along with redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Kamryn Waites and true freshman defensive lineman Andre Morris, and sophomore linebacker Shemar James.

Miller sat out Sunday’s practice so the staff could rest his throwing arm, per a team spokesman. The media was once again told that Miller was still resting his shoulder on Monday. With him sidelined, redshirt freshman QB Max Brown was repping as the backup quarterback. The Gators named redshirt junior Graham Mertz the starting QB on Friday.

Gators in non-contact jerseys

Sophomore TE Arlis Boardingham
Junior TE Jonathan Odom
Freshman EDGE Kelby Collins
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Jack Miller
Sophomore linebacker Shemar James
Redshirt sophomore OL Kamryn Waites

Junior cornerback Jason Marshall Jr., redshirt senior offensive tackle Lyndell Hudson II and redshirt sophomore linebacker Scooby Williams were all participating for their second consecutive practice. Williams shed his non-contact jersey on Monday, participating fully with the inside linebackers.

Redshirt junior defensive back Jaydon Hill was also back after an undisclosed illness kept him out last week.

Two players absent

Senior tight end Dante Zanders and freshman offensive lineman Caden Jones were not participating. Zanders wasn’t seen during the 15-minute portion that was open to the media. Caden Jones was seen in the weight room. The freshman offensive lineman has a boot on his foot but Billy Napier hasn’t updated his status. Jones enrolled over the summer and wasn’t thought to be in contention to play as a freshman, but the Gators’ numbers on the offensive line are concerning at this point of the season.

Replacing Justus Boone

The clear answer at this point is redshirt sophomore Tyreak Sapp. Immediately after Boone’s torn ACL, Sapp switched from defensive tackle to the edge. At 270 pounds, Sapp will fill in at defensive end. Sapp has worked with Mike Peterson and works closely with sophomore Jack Pyburn during individual drills. That pair will be critical for the Gators in their effort to fill the void that Boone leaves.

Sapp repped at the ‘F’ spot with true freshman Kamran James and sophomore Quincy Ivory, while junior Princely Umanmielen was at JACK with sophomore Jack Pyburn and true freshman TJ Searcy.

Another player at the ‘F’ spot, true freshman Kelby Collins, missed his fourth straight practice Monday. Collins worked off to the side with other injured players on Monday.

“Kelby Collins is kind of in the same category, he could be back sooner than later. We’re excited to get back, I think tomorrow we’ll get back Scooby [Williams], Jason Marshall and Lyndell [Hudson II],” Napier said last week. “So we’re kind of, you know, we got a few that we’re losing and a few that we’re getting back. So, we’re in a relatively safe place there. And some of this is, you know, we’re being cautious with some of these guys.”

Another position change?

Gators Online spent time watching the safeties and cornerbacks on Monday. Our attention was drawn to redshirt junior Ja’Markis Weston not with the group. Weston had spent time at receiver before switching to safety. Weston was observed going individual drills with the inside linebackers, another potential transition for the veteran.

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