Florida Gators Podcast: Grier transferring and more

Monday’s Gator Country podcast breaks down the latest news regarding the Florida Gators football team including our breakdown of quarterback Will Grier transferring away from the football team.

Andrew Spivey and Nick de la Torre give you their opinion on the transfer, plus they break the news of Kelvin Taylor and Demarcus Robinson going pro as well as the Alex McCalister news.

Andrew and Nick also break down which other players could be leaning towards the NFL draft or leaning towards coming back to school, plus they preview the bowl week.

Transcript:

Andrew:                 What’s up, Gator Country? This is your man, Andrew Spivey, Sir Goat is here, and after a long hiatus Nicholas de la Torre is back. Nicholas, say hello to the people.

Nick:                         Hello, everyone. Glad to be back. Glad to be pumping out over iTunes or on Gator Country if you’re listening to us right there on the website.

Andrew:                 No. You’re really glad to be back in the presence of the goat. You really miss my greatness. You feel lesser as a person last week because you weren’t in my presence.

Nick:                         The podcast listeners have created a monster.

Andrew:                 Just say it.

Nick:                         They have created a monster that they don’t have to deal with. I have to deal with it.

Andrew:                 It’s okay. It’s okay. When you’re in, nobody likes to tell people how great they are. It’s okay, Nick. I know. I know. If I could show people the text messages of your tears from not being on the podcast it would be gold, but how was Colorado?

Nick:                         It was good. It was very cold. I can handle the cold one week, and that’s how long I was out there. I can handle the cold for like a week, and I reach my limit. It was very cold, very windy, but it’s a beautiful place to experience something that I normally don’t experience. I get back to south Florida, and it was 80 degrees when I landed, versus 10 degrees or 1 degree in Colorado.

Andrew:                 You know, when you do go to the Senior Bowl you can expect that it’s going to be a little cold. Have your warmth right now, and then there, the last time you were in the Senior Bowl it was sleeting. Don’t bring that back.

Nick:                         That was a mess. There was ice on my car.

Andrew:                 Don’t bring that back. We do have a little thing to get to before Senior Bowl week. Big game for the Gators coming up against Michigan in the bowl game. Big for momentum in my opinion to set that momentum, set that bar. It’s been a good year, but to go out on a three game losing streak would just be like, ugh. That’s bad way to end the year. Get that losing streak over with. Go to the bowl game, and then Under Armor All-American game as well. First things first, big news is if you’re a five star quarterback chances are you’re transferring.

Nick:                         Poor Texas A&M.

Andrew:                 Poor Texas A&M for real.

Nick:                         My goodness. I mean, Florida’s had some bad luck with transfers. If you look at Driskel, Burset, Mornhinweg, Tyler Murphy, Will Grier. There’s another one I’m missing in there. I think there’s six.

Andrew:                 Driskel.

Nick:                         I said Driskel. Driskel, Burset, there’s six. They’ve had six like in the last five years, four years.

Andrew:                 Cam Newton.

Nick:                         Cam Newton transferred. Lot of people transferring, but to me I think I saw Kyle Allen when I was out in Portland, not Portland, in Beaverton for the Elite 11.  He and Will Grier finished one two in the Elite 11 MVP race. I thought Kyle Allen was the best quarterback at that Elite 11, and I’m kind of weird about why would he transfer?

Andrew:                 I think my biggest question is why did he go to A&M in the first place?

Nick:                         If you look at Kevin Sumlin in the past, when he was at Houston he didn’t run the Johnny Manziel type offense. It was a spread like air attack, air raid. I thought getting Kyle Allen you would see a change at A&M towards that. It something where when Johnny Manziel was at A&M it was like, he doesn’t really fit Sumlin’s old offenses, and he changed the offense. So you thought he would be able to change it again, but just never really did. He had a couple quarterbacks with very different skill sets. It was like, do we change it one way, and then somebody gets hurt, and now we have another quarterback who’s not fit for that?

Andrew:                 Yeah. I think the biggest one for me is not Kyle Allen leaving. It’s Kyler Murray. His father is a legacy at A&M, and it took a lot, you and I talked about this with my good friend from Texas, Eric, who covers Inside Texas. He wasn’t sold on going to A&M in the first place. Then he does go, and he leaves. That’s a black eye on the program any time a legacy leaves your program, and then leaves after six months at the school? That’s bad.

Nick:                         Yeah. I think there was, based on some people at A&M that I know, some confusion or maybe one thing was said and another thing turned out to the be case, with Kyler really wanting to play baseball, and we’re talking about a kid who could have been a very high draft pick if he hadn’t told MLB teams, “I’m going to college.” He wanted to play baseball and football. It’s really hard to do that. I think the last person that I know that really tried to do it was Raph Andrades. Johnny Townsend talked to me about doing it when I met him on signing day, when he signed, but it’s really tough. Playing college football’s a full time job, and playing quarterback at a big Division I school is like a full time job with unpaid overtime. It’s very hard to play quarterback and then go ahead and play baseball. You’re talking about not having your starting quarterback for all of spring practice, because he’s playing baseball.

Andrew:                 It’s a thing that is bad, but at the same time there is ways to work around it. Jameis Winston did it. Of course, maybe not full potential, but there’s ways around it. A guy like Kyler Murray, who is a top prospect in baseball, if that’s what he needs to do, if that’s what he wants to do, you kind of got to let him do that. It is what it is. It is tough. No doubt it’s tough, but he wouldn’t be the first person to do that.

Let’s move on real quick to the Gators quarterback, the one everyone wants to talk about. Will Grier, see you later. He’s out, back to Charlotte or wherever he’s at. Here’s my take. This is where I’m at. Am I surprised? No. But I am surprised at the same time. Had you told me a couple weeks ago he was transferring I probably wouldn’t have been surprised. After Mac comes out and says what he says, I am surprised, because now it looks like it was a slap in the face to Mac that he transferred. To me that’s where it is. I’m going to say this. I have a lot of respect, I like the family a lot. They’re good people for the most part, but they handled this situation really wrong, and they made themselves look really bad with this situation.

Nick:                         You’re saying the Griers did?

Andrew:                 Yes. I’m saying the Griers did by telling Mac they’re coming back, and then letting Mac announce that, and then transferring. To me, that looks bad on them. Not only do they have this suspension going against them, but the school speaks out on your behalf, then you leave? Not too fond of that.

Nick:                         Yeah. It’s tough. For me, I kind of treat quarterbacks differently than other positions. There’s only one ball. If you’re a wide receiver five on the depth chart you might play. If you’re quarterback five on the depth chart, you’re wearing a hat and a clipboard, and nobody knows who you are. To me it’s different, and it’s like what I was saying when we were talking about Jacob Eason. I will always tell a recruit, don’t pick a school based on a coach, unless you’re an elite quarterback. Because now you’re picking, for someone like an Eason or someone like Grier, there is NFL aspirations, and you’re picking a coach that can groom you into the best possible quarterback.

To me, I think where the Griers were were Florida’s recruiting a lot of quarterbacks. We never really got anything solid from Jim McElwain as far as Will’s going to be, we have plans for him when he comes back, and I think maybe even if you look at it, we’ve talked a lot you and I about kind of having to read between the lines when Jim McElwain talks publicaly about players. We talked about you can see how he’s kind of coddling Treon a little bit after bad games, and Will would have a great game, and it was, he did okay. I think maybe the Griers, whether it was Will or his dad, didn’t know, and probably had questions about why hasn’t this coaching staff really come out and defended our son? They’re defending this other quarterback after a bad game, and losses and this and that. Why aren’t they sticking up for our son? Then when you look at Florida’s already got two quarterbacks committed, still going after Dwayne Haskins, a third. Now you’re thinking, am I even in the mix?

Andrew:                 Here’s my thing. Hold the gun there for a sec. This is my thing. Any coach in America that promised you you’re going to start is full of shit.

Nick:                         I don’t they were looking for, when you come back against Missouri the starter job is yours.

Andrew:                 Then what are they looking for?

Nick:                         They’re looking for, am I coming back to a situation where you didn’t recruit me, you inherited me as a new coach. I was already on the roster. You’ve now brought in two guys who you have recruited, so those are your guys.

Andrew:                 Right.

Nick:                         Am I coming back to a situation where I’m not going to have a future, where I’m just going to be…

Andrew:                 That’s something, do you really think…

Nick:                         It’s not saying you are the starter. It’s saying, am I coming back to a situation where I’m supposed to just be happy to be a Gator, and I’m never going to play again?

Andrew:                 Do you think Jim McElwain really said in his office, “Will Grier, you’re never, ever going to play again. You’re coming here to ride pine.” No. That’s dumb. If Will Grier is good, he’s playing. Jim McElwain’s not an idiot. He’s not an idiot. He’s going to play the best guy there is. He played the best guy. Grier won the job. My thing is what do you want, Will? You made the mistake. You’re the one that screwed up the situation for yourself. You’re that decided to pop that pill or whatever you decided to do. You’re the one that decided to do that. Why is Florida having to baby you? They already let you stay a part of the team. They didn’t kick you out of school. They didn’t kick you off the team. Why are you going to dictate what’s going on? No. Part of me thinks that that’s why Coach Mac is as hard on Will as he is, because it’s an egotistical family that thinks that they’re going to dictate what it is. No. This is college football. This isn’t Hollywood. This is college football. That’s my take.

Nick:                         You’re hot about it.

Andrew:                 I’m hot about it, because I had to do a radio spot Monday morning, and the question came very clear to me. It did. It kind of sent me to a different thing here. It was, so Will expects that he has to be promised something to come back to this team, whether that’s promised to be a part of the plans, promised whatever. No. You’re a quarterback. You go earn your job, earn your teammates back. Earn the trust back of this team before I promise you anything. You are very lucky to be a part of this program, because a lot of programs would have kicked to the curb because of the horse crap you did. Don’t tell me I need to promise you something to get you back on this team. You’ve got the opportunity. We’re paying for your school. You got an opportunity to win the job. Come back and win the job and be done with it. Sit there and shut your mouth.

Nick:                         Here’s the other thing is that it was very clear that Will Grier won that starting quarterback job.

Andrew:                 Right.

Nick:                         It was never announced. It was never said anything. As Treon Harris struggled we’re asking, “Is there any chance there’s going to be a quarterback change?” No. Treon is our quarterback. There was never, when Will Grier was there there was never a Will is our quarterback. He’s won the starting job.

Andrew:                 Anybody in their right mind knew there was no battle with Treon.

Nick:                         Then why not say it?

Andrew:                 I’m saying with Treon and Josh Grady. Yes, he said that. Treon, you and I talked about this before. If you announce one of those two guys the starter when they were competing the other one’s transferring. Right? My thing is it’s words. It’s words. What does it matter that he said he’s starter? Did play all the game in Tennessee? Yes. Did he play the whole game against Ole Miss? Yes. Did he play the whole game against Missouri? Yes. You’re the starting quarterback. Be done with it.

Nick:                         Why in the media, we’re still evaluating it? You’re not evaluating anything. The other kid isn’t playing. You have a starting quarterback, but you refuse to say it.

Andrew:                 Right. I do think a little bit of that is to keep Will grounded, keep Will battling, to keep Treon battling in practice.

Nick:                         We can say that, you know what I mean? We can say that, but the kids know. When they’re at practice, and they see how the reps are being split up, then you go into the game, and you see that one quarterback gets all of the reps.

Andrew:                 Right.

Nick:                         The kids know. Why not just come out and say it?

Andrew:                 Why do you need to say it? Did Nick Saban come out and say, “Jake Coker gets the start this week?” No. He’s the starter. He plays every week. That’s my point. This isn’t a shot at you, Nick. It’s a shot at whoever else will say it. Why? Why is Will Grier different? Why do I have to name Will Grier the starter to make everybody happy? It’s the name. No. You’re the starting quarterback at Florida. You’re playing. Why do I have to name you the starting quarterback? Why do you get preferential treatment that I have to name you the starting quarterback?

Nick:                         Because quarterbacks are different.

Andrew:                 No. They don’t have to be. They have to be. That’s what I’m saying.

Nick:                         They are, because it’s kind of like the head coach. The head coach and quarterbacks I kind of dump them into the same group here. Wins and losses are team stats. They’re not quarterback stats. We had this argument when you were making the argument to get a point for Treon, but wins and losses are team stats, and so many times it falls into a head coach stat. Such and such head coach was this and that at this school. The quarterback has this record. It’s like, there were at least 21 other players playing, 21 other starters. What do you mean it was his loss? To me there’s so many other factors that go into it, and you’re looking at Jim McElwain, but it’s the entire coaching staff that comes into wins and losses, and quarterbacks get held into a different regard, and I think that’s why they need to also be treated differently than a wide receiver. They’re importance is more so than just any other player.

Andrew:                 It’s like a kicker. They got to be babied. They got to be coddled. We talk about this a little bit. Garrett Grayson, he said, Mac coddles his quarterbacks when they lose, and he’s hard on them when they win.

Nick:                         Right. That’s kind of what I was trying to say before is we’ve kind of figured things out, based on talking to people who’ve spent a lot of time with Mac.

Andrew:                 Right.

Nick:                         Maybe that wasn’t the case. The Grier family has barely been around Mac for a year. Maybe to them they’re just seeing it as why did we never get that public vote of confidence that Treon did?

Andrew:                 It’s a public confidence, because we all see Treon’s not a good quarterback. If Treon wants to bash me, fine. I like Treon. He’s a good kid. He’s just not a good quarterback. Why bash him? You’re trying to build his confidence up. Will has a big game against Tennessee, his mind’s there. Mac brought his confidence up a little bit, and then brought him back down. Here’s my thing, and this is a serious question to you, Nick. This is a serious question to the Florida people, fans, everybody else. Outside of the Callaway play and outside of the Ole Miss game, did Will Grier light the world on fire with his quarterback play? Yes or no. That’s all I want to know.

Nick:                         No. I think that was something that kind of gets lost. Everyone’s favorite player is the backup quarterback at some point. I think people forgot that there were still holes in Will Grier’s game. He was young.

Andrew:                 Right. So my thing is this. Did Mac have the right to go after him because he didn’t play well? In my opinion, yes. My thing is this. This is kind of where I’m going to end it, because I’ve already said probably more than I should have said on this. I like the Grier family. I really do. Nick, you know. You and I spent a lot of time with Chad Grier. We’ve talked to Chad several times, the father. He’s a good guy. The brothers, we all love the brothers retweeting us, that kind of stuff. Will’s the nicest guy in the world, great guy, always been nice to us. I do think that we put him on a pedestal, because of his name, and I do think he gets a lot of attention because of his name, and I think that we all give him preferential treatment because of that. At the end of the day, Will caused this problem. Basically he shit his bed. That’s what it is. Why do we have to promise something?

Nick:                         You mean he made his bed, and now he has to lie in it.

Andrew:                 Whatever. He did problems. He made the mistake. He hurt this football team, whether you want to admit it or not. He hurt this football team. He hurt the people around this football team. Why are we the ones begging? He should be the one promising, I’m going to walk a straight line. You’re never going to have a problem with me. I’m going to walk the straight line. I’m going to be here, and I’m going to compete. Why is Mac the one making promises instead of Will and his father making promises to Florida? That’s my question, and until someone can give me that answer I’m not changing my stance on it.

Nick:                         Okay.

Andrew:                 Do you agree with that?

Nick:                         I agree. Listen, Will caused this situation. I agree with that 100%. I don’t think it was Will or his family that made him as big as he was with Gator fans. I think the last great quarterback Florida has had, and it’s kind of shocking, is Tim Tebow.

Andrew:                 Right.

Nick:                         To go seven years without a great quarterback at a school like Florida it’s kind of gotten fans just bloodthirsty for somebody. You get a kid who’s an Elite 11 quarterback, crazy passing numbers in high school, and then he comes, and he red shirts. Fans were calling for him to play as a freshman two years ago, because of Driskel and then Treon. I think when you see the way he was leading the team in two minute drills, four minute drills, just kind of how cool he was under pressure. It kind of got fans hopeful. We have our next quarterback. I think that is a lot of the mystique that was built up around him.

Andrew:                 My question is this. It goes back to this. Who was the one that needed to be making promises? It’s like this. It’s like a criminal. Should a job be promising a criminal you have a job, or should the criminal be promising the job I’m going to walk a straight line? That’s where I’m at.

Nick:                         I can see what you’re saying, but I think it’s a two-way street.

Andrew:                 Sure. Florida has to say, we want you back. From all accounts we’ve been told that Mac welcomed him back. He did that. Mac’s not going to promise anybody. That’s just like recruiting. You just said that. That’s why Texas A&M is having problems is because they promised stuff.

Nick:                         Right. It’s tough, because I do think that the quarterback is different, because only one can play. Florida played 11 defensive linemen this year. You can’t play 11 quarterbacks, unless you’re Baylor, apparently, because you have 11 quarterbacks on the roster.

Andrew:                 Or Ohio State. I think, and this is kind of where we’ll kind of end this. We’ll head on to the next subject. I do. I wish the best for Will. I really hope to see Will in the NFL and succeeding in the future, and I really do hope that this moment changed his life, because he is a good dude, and he is a good person. I really hope to see him for that, but let’s move on real quick, Nick.

Some guys announced for the NFL draft recently. We hit on Vernon Hargreaves. On Monday Kelvin Taylor and Demarcus Robinson both declare, and then McAlister, I guess we’ll just call him that he declared for the draft as well. I don’t want to say I’m surprised about any of the three. Maybe McAlister a little bit, but I don’t think McAlister had a choice to come back to school or not, academics, being in the doghouse, a lot of things like that. Not surprised by those three.

Nick:                         Yeah. Jim McElwain on Monday was kind of abrasive when asked about the report that he left, and I can see it. As a reporter you’re always trying to tell the story. Whatever the story is, you’re not making it up. You’re just trying to tell a story. As a football coach you’re trying to protect your players. You’re trying to protect your kids. To me, McElwain kind of addressing the report that McAlister was dismissed from the team versus decided to leave, it was kind of like, listen guys, Alex McAlister was leaving. He watched his very close friend, Dante Fowler, leave. This guy is 6’6”, long, fast, quick.

The NFL is about three things. First and foremost, finding a franchise quarterback. Right after that, protecting your franchise quarterback, and the third thing is finding somebody who can go and get the other guy’s franchise quarterback. Alex McAlister, when teams see him, when they see his frame, when they see his speed, and when they see his quickness, they’re going to fall in love with that. He’s one of those guys who’s athletically going to impress at the Underwear Olympics up in Indianapolis. The problem is he’s going to have a couple suspensions that he needs to answer questions to.

Physically NFL teams will look at him and say, “I understand he’s a little bit light right now, but now he’s not doing football part time. He’s not a student athlete now. Now he’s a professional athlete.” He’ll have the funds and the time to really fuel his body and to put on more size, not having to worry about homework and tests and midterms and finals and stuff like that. Alex McAlister’s going to get drafted, and I think what Mac was saying was why report that, the kid was going to leave anyway. The NFL is going to find out about it, but why put that out there?

Andrew:                 You know me. I’d rather protect the players in any way, shape, or form for that. My only thing is then put out an announcement that says he’s leaving, maybe. I don’t know. I’m with Mac. You protect your guys. That’s a bad look on the program. It’s like here we go. It’s another deal that’s out there of another guy kicked off the team. Kind of protect that, but I don’t know. It is what it is. For me, I kind of excepted him to go, like we said. Adios to him. Good luck to him. I think he made a lot of money this year. I don’t know right off hand. What was it? 8 sacks, 7 sacks, something like that this year.

Nick:                         He had 6.5 in 9 games. Missed a bunch of games and still led the team in sacks.

Andrew:                 He had a good game overall. Had that going for him. Like you said, he’ll win the Underwear Olympics. He’s a good looking player that has gotten better every year. The next guy though, Kelvin Taylor. No surprise at all. Fred, his father, told me in Atlanta. I told you this as well, Nick, that his son was kind of debating whether I’m going. I didn’t believe that whatsoever, sorry Fred. Love you, you’re a great player, but I didn’t believe for a second Kelvin Taylor was coming back to school. He has nothing to gain by coming back. That running back class for next year is sick with Fournette and Chubb.

Nick:                         And Cook.

Andrew:                 And Cook.

Nick:                         Fournette, Chubb, Cook, and not even the outside draft class that he would enter in. Florida’s back field is loaded next year. Mark Thompson, Lamical Perine, you got the Jordans coming back. You’re coming back to a deeper back field, and then a deeper draft class. The NFL, I just talked about the three things the NFL wants. None of those three things were a power running back or a running back.

Andrew:                 The running backs career starts when he comes out of the womb, so you better get there as quick as you can, because that clock is ticking.

Nick:                         The rule changes in the NFL, the NFL is an entertainment company that just happens to play some football. They’re trying to put an entertaining product. They’ve changed the rules so much that it all favors scoring and the passing game. The running back position as a whole has been devalued. People aren’t going to pay, unless you’re an Adrian Peterson. It’s a once like in a generation type of player. They’re not going to pay you when they can pay two or three guys half of what you’re going to make. There’s no $10 million a season running backs. They’d rather give three guys minimum and hopefully we’ll get the same production out of those three rather than you. It’s tough. We talked about it last year with Matt Jones. There’s really no incentive for a running back, unless they’re injured, to come back for their fourth year.

Andrew:                 That’s what I was going to say.

Nick:                         Kelvin Taylor will get drafted. He’s not going to be a first round pick, might not be a second round or a third round pick, but he’s going to get drafted. Then it’s up to you. The way the rookie salaries are now everything is slotted, so there’s no really negotiating with your first contract. If you’re a first round or a second round there’s different bonuses and incentives that will be in your contract that won’t be, but by and large it’s getting to that second contract and getting there as quickly as possible.

Andrew:                 That’s what I was going to say. Matt Jones, Mike Gillislee, those two guys kind of probably showed Kelvin some things. It was like, I might not have had a good career, but Matt was in what, the fourth round last year? Fifth round?

Nick:                         I think fourth round.

Andrew:                 Something like that. I would say that he had a successful rookie season for the Redskins. I don’t know his numbers right off hand. I really could care less about the NFL.

Nick:                         He had a very good season.

Andrew:                 That helps for him to go there. Why not go ahead and go there? Let’s face it. The Taylor name is going to help him out some. Dad’s going to help him out some there. Go ahead and go, like you said. Back field’s loaded next year, so go ahead. Demarcus Robinson, to me I don’t even know if he’s welcome back on the football team next year if he shows back up in Gainesville. He might have been another McAlister where he just beat the punch by declaring early. I think his best move is dancing with the stars, but he’s going to try out for the NFL.

Nick:                         You can say that, and a lot of people are saying he’s not going to get drafted.

Andrew:                 He’s drafted.

Nick:                         If you’re saying Alex McAlister isn’t going to get drafted, you don’t know the NFL.

Andrew:                 Both of them are getting drafted.

Nick:                         Yes, wide receivers are kind of a dime a dozen, but Alex McAlister’s skillset, sorry, Demarcus Robinson’s skillset is undeniable. Super talented player. He’s going to go run crazy at the combine. He’ll look good in all the drills. He’s going to have to answer questions about why he had some suspensions while he was at Florida, but he’s going to get drafted. He’ll probably get drafted higher than someone like Kelvin Taylor, who never had a problem off the field.

Andrew:                 That’s because of his body, like you said. He’s a big receiver. Outside of the three things you said, they need someone to go get the ball, and quite frankly he’s a guy that’s going to go get the ball. The NFL probably does like that he runs out of bounds. Protect their money.

Nick:                         I feel like I started this joke, and now I’m like tired of it. It’s like, there aren’t many receivers that enjoy contact. There aren’t many.

Andrew:                 There’s one up in Atlanta right now who would love to hit you.

Nick:                         Julio Jones is gigantic. You’ve met him in person. We’ve both met him in person. He is gigantic.

Andrew:                 Yeah. I’m just saying, I don’t think a lot of receivers go as far out as Robinson does. My biggest thing for Demarcus Robinson is this, and it’s kind of crazy to come out today, but Justin Blackman has all the talent in the world, but can’t stay good off the field. That’s D Rob. It’s like what are you doing? Why are you always in the wrong spot at the wrong time? If you would have, had Demarcus Robinson had a good career at Florida on the field and off the field, with his talent alone he could have been a first round draft pick. It’s tough to find a guy with his wingspan, his length, and his ability that can make plays.

Nick:                         Yeah. Receiver is a position that there’s a lot of talented people, and you do kind of need to stick out. It’s a position, especially in the NFL that’s known for prima donnas and teams have kind of shied away from that personality, but the skillset’s undeniable. When Demarcus Robinson’s on the field he can help you win football games. NFL teams will see that. He will be drafted. I don’t think he came to Florida with a four year plan.

Andrew:                 Hell no.

Nick:                         Even without the off the field issues I think this was always his plan. I’m not surprised one bit.

Andrew:                 That’s what I was going to say. Let’s hit real quick. This is my next thing before we end this podcast. Couple guys still undecided, Marcus Maye, Keanu Neal. Both are up in the air coming back. I think Maye comes back. Neal I’ve been told probably gets a first or second round draft grade. If that’s the case he probably goes. Let’s speak on ifs right now.

Nick:                         First off, both guys were and have been at practice. They’ve been doing the split squad practice, and both Maye and Neal have been at practice, whereas the seniors and Vernon, who’s declared, and Demarcus and Kelvin Taylor, those guys haven’t been.

Andrew:                 Right. That’s the biggest thing. I will say this. Keanu Neal’s not going to be a problem. He’s not going to talk about that decision until he’s ready to go. Same way with Marcus Maye. Both are first class citizens. Both are first class team players. I don’t think that’s there. My opinion, both of them probably want to come back to school, because Keanu Neal wants to win a championship. I think Keanu Neal loves school, loves that kind of stuff. I think he wants to come back to school, but if a first round comes back I think not. I’m going to say, I’m going to change my stance. I’m going to lean that both guys come back, and I’m going to pose this question to you. How good is this Gator defense if both come back?

Nick:                         Real quick, I think both of them do come back. I don’t think either of them will get a first round grade. Safeties, there’s only one safety taken in the NFL draft in the first round, but the year before there were four I think in the top 40 picks. It’s still a position, like we talked about how the league is all about passing, so it’s a still a position that is coveted, because you’re defending the pass. I don’t think either guy would get a first round pick, or a first round grade, but if these guys come back and you talk about Jarrad Davis is back, Caleb Brantley’s back, Rayshad Jackson.

We’ve talked about the linebacker position being a little thing, but Alex Anzalone coming back healthy, Jarrad Davis coming back healthy. Rayshad Jackson, I talked about him this spring as a guy who surprised the hell out of me with just how big he was. He’ll be a redshirt freshman next year. This Florida defense I will eat crow, because I said this defense this year, the 2015 defense, will be worse than the 2014 defense. Wrong. Very wrong. I think the 2016 defense could be even better than the 2015 defense was if you get Maye and Neal back.

Andrew:                 Hold on. Who told you this 2015 defense was going to be better, because this pass rush was going to be pretty good? I need to hear you say it.

Nick:                         I don’t remember this.

Andrew:                 No. No. No.

Nick:                         You’re bringing something up that may or may not have happened.

Andrew:                 Yes it did. I’ll go pull the transcript. I told you Jonathan Bullard and Alex McAlister were going to have really good years. Jonathan Bullard was going to make himself some money, and you told me you didn’t think the pass rush was going to be good. Nick, you need to eat crow when crow needs to be eaten. When the goat is right you let him know he’s right, and I’m right here.

Nick:                         When the goat find the transcript and shows me that. Then I’ll eat it. I’ll eat the crow.

Andrew:                 Let me agree with you though, for real. This defense could be really good next year, and I’m going to say this, because as good as Antonio Morrison is, and Antonio Morrison is a very good football player, Alex Anzalone is a very good football player as well, and has a little bit more athletic ability. Him and Jarrad Davis together in the middle is nasty. Add that to, and again this is not disrespect to Vernon Hargreaves, but Jalen Tabor is pretty damn good in his own right.

Nick:                         He really came into his own this year.

Andrew:                 Quincy Wilson’s pretty good in his own right. Then this secondary of Neal and Maye. Maye’s becoming a really good player as well. Then we were able to see the emergence of Cece Jefferson this year and Caleb Brantley. I’m on record right now as saying Caleb Brantley will be a first round draft pick this time next year, because he’s going to have that kind of player impact next year. He’s showing that five star potential that he has had, and I’m pumped to see it, because we’ve seen spots of that in high school. Seen spots of that through his Gator career, and he finally put it together this year, and it’s impressive to see. At times he was putting the center on skates and just driving them in the back field.

Nick:                         My problem is when we say coaches watch film. They don’t watch games. They’re watching cutups, and they have people cutting thing up. To me, if you’re watching a Caleb Brantley cutup you’ll go, wow. Like you just said, he put that guy on skates. Then you’ll wait five minutes, 10 minutes. Where’d 57 go? To me, it’s consistency. That’s what he needs to bring back.

Andrew:                 We’ve seen flashes this year of that, and that was good.

Nick:                         I think that’s what takes his game, because we’ve talked about it. It’s been mental or it’s been consistency. To me, if he can become consistent that is what takes him to the next level, and that’s what makes him a first rounder is being consistent. When Caleb Brantley’s playing at his ability, he is disruptive. He is a problem. It’s just you can’t be a problem five times a game and that’s it.

Andrew:                 Right. Jonathan Bullard will help his game a lot, because when scouts go to look at Bullard’s film cutup they’re going to see Brantley.

Nick:                         Yeah. When scouts go to watch 90 they’re going to start asking other people in the room, who’s 57? Who’s that guy? Is he eligible? It’ll put him on the map. It’ll put him on their radar for next year.

Andrew:                 Yeah. Exactly. That’s a big one for that. Again, I think that this defense will be there. I’m here to say, this offense won’t be as shitty as it was this year. Del Rio, Franks, Trask, Clarabelle, whoever it is. I can guarantee you Mac is sick of losing sleep over the quarterback play. Real quick, Nick, starting Monday, a week from today that you guys are listening to this, Orlando will be taken over by the Gators. Citrus Bowl, Buffalo Wild Wing Citrus Bowl and Under Armor game. Be tag teaming those two. Be a lot of good coverage. Over 20 prospects in the Under Armor game with either Florida commits or Florida targets in that game. I’ll say this. To me, that shows how much this recruiting is getting better for Florida. When the All-American games are fully your prospects, you’re doing things right.

Nick:                         Yeah. There’s a saying that great players make coaches look smart. Great players, JJ Watt was a two star, this and that, and Tom Brady was barely recruited and had to send out tapes. To me it’s great players make coaches look maybe even smarter than they are, and more times than not, yes there are outliers, but more times than not those four star, five star All-American type guys are more successful or are better than the guys that aren’t as highly thought of. Sure, some of that comes with camps, stuff like that. There’s a lot of talent.

Andrew:                 I wouldn’t say that’s with five stars. I’ll say that’s with a lot of four stars. You did make a point. Do I make you better? Because I’m the goat. I’m the great one. Do I make you better?

Nick:                         I’ve never conceded that you are the goat.

Andrew:                 I’m asking. Do I make you better?

Nick:                         Maybe. Maybe I’m the one that pushed you from where you were and made you the goat.

Andrew:                 No.

Nick:                         Maybe you were just a sheep before, and I came along, and now you’re a goat.

Andrew:                 A sheep’s a different person than a goat.

Nick:                         You evolved because of me.

Andrew:                 Whatever. For real, big content coming next week. It’ll be exciting. I’m ready. I’ve missed it. I really have. I’m ready to roll. Tell everybody where they can find us.

Nick:                         You know, as always on Twitter NickdelaTorreGC, AndrewSpiveyGC, GatorCountry. Follow us on Instagram at TheGatorCountry. We have had some fire edits this year, some really great guys working on those for us. It is going to be a very buys week for us next week with the bowl game, with Under Armor. We will be all over the place. I will be exhausted. Andrew will be exhausted, but we will have a ton of stuff. Make sure you check us out. It’s been a fun season. We want to thank everyone for following along with us. We’ve got one more game, and then a crazy run down to Signing Day. Thank you all for joining us. That’s all I got.

Andrew:                 Nick, kind of muted myself here for a second. That’s my fault. Real quick, we’ll have more podcasts this week. Happy Holidays to everyone. Nick, I know you’ll say the same to everybody. We appreciate you guys all year. Let’s make this next year’s podcast better, and even though it’s the holidays, Mark and Butch, you know the drill. Go Braves and chomp, chomp.

Nick:                         You stay classy, Gator Country.

Andrew Spivey
Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.

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