Insider intel from Florida spring practice
Florida wraps up spring practice with its spring game Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Here’s some intel on the Gators heading into the spring game that On3’s Matt Zenitz gathered via sources:
The QB battle
While a decision on a starting quarterback likely won’t come until a later point, Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz still seems to be the favorite in the competition to replace Anthony Richardson as the Gators’ starting QB, a competition that also includes redshirt sophomore and former Ohio State transfer Jack Miller.
There’s a decent amount of internal optimism with Mertz, if he does end up winning the job, that he could end up having a stronger year than what outsiders may be expecting based on his underwhelming production as the starting QB at Wisconsin.
Although Mertz ranked 63rd or worse nationally in QB rating each of the last three seasons at Wisconsin, the belief at Florida is that he’s a “super sharp guy” and a good fit for the Gators’ system on offense. Word is that he’s also had a good overall camp, including a particularly strong stretch during the middle portion of the spring.
“I would say is that Graham Mertz has been impressive to watch,” Gators head coach Billy Napier said recently. “Just his maturity, his ability to learn a new system in a very quick manner. He did two-a-days basically since the day he got here. He’s been grinding away behind the scenes. And he’s hit the ground running. He operates like a guy who’s been around here. So, the most important thing here is he has forced the other players to rise to the occasion.”
Returning stars set for even bigger years
Something that should help Mertz or whoever the starting quarterback is that the Gators’ should have one of the top running back tandems in the SEC with junior Montrell Johnson and sophomore Trevor Etienne, who rushed for a combined 1,568 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.
Both have had strong springs and the belief among at least some around the Florida program is that they may be the Gators’ top two overall players.
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who led Florida with 661 receiving yards last year, has also stepped up, improved and had a good spring.
Defensive line transfers standing out
Memphis defensive line transfer Cam Jackson has been one of the stars of the spring for the Gators. It comes after Jackson posted 41 tackles for Memphis last season.
He’s not the only defensive line transfer that’s impressed this spring, though.
Louisville transfer Caleb Banks has, too. Despite minimal production at Louisville (two tackles in six games last year), the 6-foot-6, 315-pound Banks is looking like he could be a part of Florida’s defensive line rotation this fall.
After lacking depth along the defensive line last year, those two have added talent, competition and depth along the line.
A couple young players to keep an eye on
In addition to the returning starters in Pearsall and Xzavier Henderson, another wide receiver who has emerged and stood out this spring has been sophomore Caleb Douglas.
The 6-foot-3 Douglas, a Class of 2022 four-star recruit who made two starts last season, went up to make some grabs down the field in the Gators’ previous scrimmages.
Among the other young players generating buzz this spring has been three-star freshman offensive guard Knijeah Harris.
The Gators are enthusiastic about his future.
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