Notebook: Dan Mullen talks Florida Gators spring football

Spring practice gets under way this week for Florida Gators football. Head coach Dan Mullen took the podium on Tuesday to talk about his thoughts on the team, including quarterbacks, the conditioning program and injuries.

Here’s what he had to say:

• Mullen is going to use spring as a way for the guys to learn how to play hard and understand the new staff’s offense and defense more than a way to define the depth chart.

• “If we have more than one guy that earns playing time at quarterback, we might play more than one.”

• Quarterback Feleipe Franks was elected to the team’s Leadership Council by his teammates. Mullen said he thinks that will help him on the field as well because he knows his teammates have respect and confidence in him.

• Mullen said he really enjoys being a part of the Gator family. “I love being here.”

• The players really bought into the offseason conditioning program.

• “I know they’re gonna play hard, because they’re not gonna have an option.”

• Kyree Campbell, Brett Heggie, Malik Davis and Keivonnis Davis are all out/limited during spring. Keivonnis Davis is the furthest behind in his recovery and just started working out lightly again.

• Freshman Amari Burney will start out playing safety, but Mullen believes he has potential to play three or four different positions on defense as he matures.

• Chauncey Gardner will stay at safety and play some nickel as well.

Bailiegh Carlton
A lifelong sports fan, Bailiegh Carlton knew from a young age that she wanted to work in sports in some capacity. Before transferring to the University of Florida to study journalism, she played softball at Gulf Coast State College. She then interned for Gator Country for three years as she worked toward her degree. After graduation, Bailiegh decided to explore other opportunities in the world of sports, but all roads led her right back here. In her time away, she and her husband welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. When she isn't working, she can almost always be found snuggled up with sweet baby Ridley, Cody and her four fur babies.