{"id":11042,"date":"2023-07-20T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/?p=11042"},"modified":"2023-07-20T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-07-20T05:00:00","slug":"what-we-learned-from-the-florida-gators-at-2023-sec-media-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/what-we-learned-from-the-florida-gators-at-2023-sec-media-days\/","title":{"rendered":"What we learned from the Florida Gators at 2023 SEC Media Days"},"content":{"rendered":"

NASHVILLE \u2014 Florida coach Billy Napier took part in his second SEC Media Days on Wednesday. Making the trip with him was Ricky Pearsall<\/a><\/strong>, Kingsley Eguakun<\/a><\/strong> and Jason Marshall Jr<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what we learned from Napier and the Gators in Nashville: <\/p>\n

Napier will know QB starter \u2018pretty quick\u2019 <\/h2>\n

The Gators head into fall training camp with multiple position battles to be determined<\/a>, most notably at quarterback. <\/p>\n

Wisconsin transfer\u00a0Graham Mertz<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Jack Miller III<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0have spent the offseason competing for the starting job. <\/p>\n

Napier indicated the QB race could be settled after the first scrimmage<\/a> on Aug. 10. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll know pretty quick. At some point we\u2019ll start giving the majority of the reps to the first team guy. We\u2019ll go in and we\u2019ll have competition,\u201d Napier said. \u201cI think it\u2019ll happen relatively quick. We\u2019re not going to make a decision until we\u2019re ready to do that.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe scrimmage, I think two times in training camp. We get through that first scrimmage, and we\u2019ll evaluate and go through that first set of installation. Put the ball down and play and evaluate that first scrimmage at that point.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Napier touts Florida\u2019s transfer class<\/h2>\n

Mertz is one of 14 total transfers that the Gators added to their 2023 roster, along with 21 recruits from the high school ranks. Those 35 additions to the team offset the 35 departures they had from 2022. <\/p>\n

Napier feels that Florida\u2019s newcomers, particularly the 27 mid-year enrollees, will have a significant impact this season. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think we have kind of an influx of talented, young players. I feel really good about the portal work we did,\u201d he said. \u201cWe added 10,000 snaps of experience. 123 starts. The line of scrimmage players, I do think there\u2019s a component to that. Overall, our depth will be developed throughout training camp. 93 percent of our team was here in January. We had 27 midyears. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s really unique in that regard. Essentially, we\u2019ve been coaching this team since January. That\u2019s given us a little bit of an advantage in developing depth. They went through the offseason program. They went through spring ball. Then they rebooted the computer and stated the instillation in OTAs. I think some of these young players will be in a better position to contribute.\u201d<\/p>\n

Injury update on Micah Mazzccua, others<\/h2>\n

Napier provided an update Wednesday on the status of Micah Mazzccua<\/a><\/strong> and a few other players who missed time or were limited in spring ball. <\/p>\n

Mazzccua continues to fully recover from shoulder surgery but is still on schedule to return. His availability for the opener is TBD next month. <\/p>\n

\u201cMicah is the one player who\u2019s yet to be completely cleared,\u201d Napier said. \u201cHe\u2019s doing great. He\u2019s on schedule. Certainly he\u2019ll get reps and he\u2019ll have his opportunity to compete. I think before his injury he showed that he\u2019s very capable. There will be some things that come with missing time. Overall, he\u2019s on schedule to be ready to go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Napier added that offensive lineman Jalen Farmer<\/a><\/strong>, cornerback\u00a0Devin Moore<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and linebacker\u00a0Derek Wingo<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0while he anticipates offensive lineman Kamryn Waites<\/a><\/strong> (torn Achilles) being available \u201cat some point\u201d during the season. <\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>Austin Armstrong brings energy, Florida Gators\u2019 defense will swarm<\/a><\/p>\n

Dallas Turner high on Austin Armstrong <\/h2>\n

Gators Online<\/em> caught up Wednesday with Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner<\/a><\/strong>, who briefly worked with new Florida defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong earlier this year. <\/p>\n

He was hired as Turner\u2019s position coach in January but left the following month for the UF job. Despite Armstrong\u2019s short stint, he made a strong impression on Turner<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cVery good person, very good person on and off the field. Just a good guy to be around,\u201d Turner told\u00a0Gators Online<\/em>\u00a0at SEC Media Days. \u201cWe didn\u2019t spend too much time together, but I did get to see how he views things on the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like he\u2019ll do a very good job (at UF). Florida has a lot of good defensive talent on the front line and in the back end as well. I feel like he\u2019ll fit in well and be the type of defensive coordinator they need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Napier will continue to call plays<\/h2>\n

The Gators have a new coordinator on defense, while Napier resumes his play-calling duties on the offensive side of the ball. <\/p>\n

Despite SEC coaches such as Jimbo Fisher, Hugh Freeze, Eli Drinkwitz and Lane Kiffin relinquishing calling plays, Napier will keep it up. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s a relevant question. I do think it\u2019s part of the evaluation to some degree. But I feel confident in our process,\u201d Napier said to local media on Wednesday. \u201cWe\u2019ve done it before. I do think some of the growing pains that come with year one, I went through some of those things much like some of of our other staff and some of our players did. I\u2019m very hopeful we\u2019ll continue to improve. I\u2019ll benefit from year two just as much as any player or any staff member.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n

The post What we learned from the Florida Gators at 2023 SEC Media Days<\/a> appeared first on On3<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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