Stock Up: Five Gators who earned more playing time in spring ball

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A handful of Gators are trending up on the Florida football team following spring camp.

Here are five players who boosted their stock and earned more playing time, according to program sources.

DL Justus Boone

2022 stats: 24 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, and a quarterback hurry in 13 games with two starts.
The skinny: Boone unseated Princely Umanmielen as Florida’s starting defensive end for two games last season. With Umanmielen moving to outside linebacker, Boone is now the full-time starter at DE. He has also emerged as one of the leaders on defense. When Florida coach Billy Napier was asked which players made huge strides in the spring, the first one he listed was Boone.
Quotable: “I’ve been impressed with Boone. Boone has shown maturity. I like his practice habits, like his leadership. He’s really grown as a man and his character.” — Napier

Florida Gators defensive end Justus Boone. (Maddie Washburn/UAA Photo)

WR Caleb Douglas

2022 stats: 10 catches for 175 yards with two touchdowns in eight games played with two starts.
The skinny: Douglas flashed as a freshman and stepped up down the stretch in SEC play against Texas A&M and South Carolina, catching six passes for 78 yards and a touchdown in Florida’s final conference games. After making two starts in 2021, he’ll be a staple in the starting lineup this fall and will help fill the void left by the departures of Justin Shorter and Xzavier Henderson.
Quotable: “I was pretty stoked (last season) to see the young guys get some burn like Caleb Douglas. It was good to see him start. …. His 50/50 ball, he’s been improving at that. Just his contested catches in general. It was pretty fun when they had us running routes for [Anthony Richardson] at Pro Day.” — Henderson

Florida Gators receiver Caleb Douglas is congratulated after his touchdown against Texas A&M. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

OL Jake Slaughter

2022 stats: Played in all 13 games, primarily on special teams.
The skinny: Following two years with the Gators as a reserve offensive lineman, Slaughter will take on a bigger role this season. He’s been the backup to center Kingsley Eguakun but started in his place for the spring game, which Eguakun sat out. Slaughter has also been repping as a guard and could potentially start there as well. Florida OC Rob Sale said he has “no problem” playing Slaughter, who’s pushing for snaps with the starters.
Quotable: “My boy Slaughterhouse, man. It’s hard to say he’s improved on things ‘cause in my opinion, he’s always been a freak. He’s always been a hard worker. He puts in the time and I enjoy being around Jake, to be honest with you. He’s definitely looking good to me so far. He’s improved a lot. I think he’ll be good for us. Jake, he’s a dog for sure. He’s taking advantage of his opportunity. Jake’s been handling business.” — Eguakun

Florida Gators offensive lineman Jake Slaughter. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

LB Scooby Williams

2022 stats: 14 tackles in eight games played.
The skinny: After redshirting in 2021, Williams played some meaningful minutes last season when starter Ventrell Miller was sidelined. Williams was moved to outside linebacker on the 2023 roster, but injuries at inside linebacker kept him there and he started in spring game alongside ILB Shemar James. Florida coaches said Williams will line up both linebacker spots this year — including some plays where “he’s playing one position and based on the call he goes and plays another position,” according to UF inside linebackers coach Jay Bateman.
Quotable: “The guy that’s jumping out right now is Scooby Williams. Scooby is a really unique player. At the end of the season, we were doing some pretty creative things with him. He has a chance to be really good. … He’s pretty special.” — Bateman

Florida Gators linebacker Scooby Williams. (Photo by Alexis Greaves)

WR Marcus Burke

2022 stats: Four catches for 30 yards in eight games played with his first career start at Vandy.
The skinny: If Napier had a spring game award for most improved player off the field, Burke would’ve likely received it. Napier made three roster cuts in June of 2022, but it was initially four players. Burke was also removed from the roster and a team spokesperson told multiple outlets he had been cut. After the news broke, however, some team leaders went to Napier on Burke’s behalf and he was given another chance to remain the team. Burke has made the most of it, particularly this offseason. He caught a 16-yard touchdown in the spring game and had the play of the night with his behind-the-back reception.
Quotable: “I love Marcus, right, and Marcus is a talented young man. I mean, he is tall. He is long. He is fast. Marcus is learning how to be more consistent as a person. I’m proud of him and the progress that he has showed, right? He is a guy that’s always been one of the more talented guys, and I think he has grown up this offseason in particular. He has taken some steps forward just in terms of being dependable, being accountable, being a guy that not only the staff can respect, but also his teammates, his consistency. He has been banged up here a little bit at times, but for him to be healthy and be out there and make a few plays, I think that’s going to help his growth. And our team, we’re better when Marcus Burke is playing his best football. He has made some progress, but he is not there yet. And he has an opportunity here in the next couple of months to continue to earn opportunities to play.” — Napier

Florida Gators receiver Marcus Burke. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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