Florida Gators fall camp: Intel and observations from day three

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators opened up fall camp on Monday at Sanders Practice Fields. They were back on the grass Tuesday afternoon for their second practice of camp. The Gators will open the season one month from today against the two-time defending Pac-12 Champion Utah Utes.

Per NCAA rules, the team cannot be in pads for the first two days of scrimmage. That didn’t stop the team from getting to work, and the Gators hit the ground running.

Gators Online was out at practice for the second day of fall camp. 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 the first day of camp. GO’s Zach Abolverdi contributed to this report.

Previous Intel and Observations

Day One Observations

Day Two Observations

Gators in non-contact jerseys

Freshman WR Eugene Wilson
Sophomore WR Thai Bowman
Freshman WR Brian Green Jr. * (walk-on)
Junior TE Jonathan Odom – non-contact
Junior OL Micah Mazzccua – non-contact

All three receivers did not go through drills during the portion of practice open to the media on Monday. The receivers went through individual position drills on Tuesday and Wednesday, but when the receivers ran routes with quarterbacks throwing or when the team was in 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 they worked off to the side with a trainer.

Quarterbacks

At this point of fall camp, there isn’t really a question as to who will be the starting quarterback. According to program sources, redshirt junior Graham Mertz has taken the first-team reps when the team has been in 11-on-11 portions of practice. Mertz started 32 games at Wisconsin and it’s expected that he’ll make his 33rd collegiate start against Utah on August 31.

The bigger question may be about the No. 2 role. Redshirt sophomore Jack Miller is the assumed backup, but what about redshirt freshman Max Brown?

Brown has grown leaps and bounds. He’s been much more accurate and precise over the first three practices of fall camp than he was this time a year ago or even in the spring. Miller continues to get reps behind Mertz, but could there be a scenario where Brown would take over as the backup?

Offensive line

Redshirt senior offensive lineman Lyndell Hudson Jr., a transfer from FIU, was not observed during the viewing period for the second consecutive day. Gators Online is awaiting an update on his status from a team spokesman. Hudson is expected to serve as Florida’s backup to starting right tackle Damieon George, following Kiyaunta Goodwin’s departure from the program due to family reasons.

True freshman Bryce Lovett worked as the right tackle with the second-team unit, along with redshirt sophomore tackle Jordan Herman (LT), true freshman Knijeah Harris (RG) and redshirt freshman Christian Williams (LG).

Redshirt sophomores George and Austin Barber (LT) and juniors Micah Mazzccua (LG) and Richie Leonard (RG) worked as the starters against the sled, while redshirt junior center Kingsley Eguakun repped in a separate drill with true freshman Roderick Kearney and redshirt sophomore Jake Slaughter, Eguakun’s backup.

Inside linebackers

The Gators aren’t just replacing QB1 but the quarterbacks of their defense as well. They lost both starters at inside linebacker in Ventrell Miller and Amari Burney, both of whom were selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.

As Gators Online observed this year’s group on Wednesday, sophomore Shemar James was the first to go in position drills and he’s expected to be one of the starters this season after making four starts as a freshman.

After James, however, redshirt senior Teradja Mitchell, junior Derek Wingo and redshirt sophomore Scooby Williams took turns going third and second in position drills. All four are expected to play regularly.

Former Gators All-American linebacker Brandon Spikes, who has joined the staff as a student assistant, watched closely as the players went through position drills with Jay Bateman and was motivating the group.