Three observations from the Florida Gators sixth practice of fall camp

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators were back on the practice field for the sixth time in fall camp. The Gators practiced on Sunday and Monday but neither practice was open to the public. Here are three observations from Tuesday night’s practice.

Montrell Johnson back at practice

The Gators’ senior running back was back on the practice field in pads on Tuesday. Johnson had arthroscopic surgery to clean his knee up. While Johnson did not participate and remains week-to-week, according to Florida, it was good to see him at practice. He didn’t have a brace or wrap on the knee, just compression pants under his uniform. Johnson was walking without a limp and sources inside the program continue to share confidence that Johnson won’t be out long and will continue to be evaluated each week after the minor surgery.

Defensive line gets intense

New defensive line coach Gerald Chatman is intense. You can hear him coaching across three football fields and his defensive line has taken on that same intensity. Chatman had the defensive linemen hitting a sled on Tuesday. Five linemen would go from left to right, one at a time, and then back, right to left one at a time before the five would hit the sled in unison twice. It had to be done perfectly. If one player wasn’t up to par the whole group would start over.

After having to start over several times, tempers flared and teammates loudly implored the rest of their teammates to do the drill correctly, to put it nicely.

The group continued to work while arguing. After the next two drills, Chatman brought them together and everything seemed to be squashed. It never escalated to anything more than yelling/arguing, which is going to happen in camp. The group is definitely playing with an edge and taking on the mentality of their new position coach.

Florida Gators defensive lineman Joey Slackman (97), left, breaks up an arguments during Fall practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]

Florida Gators accumulating bumps and bruises

After one week of camp, the Gators’ list of players in black non-contact jerseys grew. Florida started camp with just two players in non-contact jerseys: freshman safety Gregory Smith (undisclosed) and Fletcher Westphal (Mononucleosis). Smith has since been cleared for contact and has returned to practice. Offensive lineman Caden Jones was in a non-contact jersey and not in pads. He spent the portion of practice open to the media watching the offensive line.

Senior safety Asa Turner was in a non-contact jersey but was a full participant during portions that the media was able to see.

Junior cornerback Devin Moore (undisclosed), sophomore corner Ja’Keem Jackson (undisclosed), and sophomore corner Cormani McClain (undisclosed) were new additions to the non-contact club. Moore has struggled with injuries in each of his first two seasons. Moore made it through spring camp without any setbacks. Tuesday’s practice was the first

“It feels amazing. Really, like, I’m lost for words,” Moore said after the spring game. “Just being able to continue to compound all the practices, the reps, the gains I’ve made in the weight room with the strength staff. It’s just a great feeling just being able to continue to build on that and just being healthy overall.”

Jackson and Moore were both off to the side doing light rehab work on the field while McClain worked off to the side in the weight room with the training staff.

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