Florida Head Coach Billy Napier met with the media on Monday night to recap Saturday’s scrimmage, provide injury updates, and detail position battles as the Gators wrap up fall camp.
Gator Country provides you with five takeaways from Monday’s presser.
Injury updates
Gator Country has highlighted several injuries over the course of fall camp, including running back Montrell Johnson, wide receivers Tank Hawkins and Ja’Quavion Fraziars, and cornerback Devin Moore.
Napier provided encouraging news on Florida’s starting running back on Monday night.
“Montrell is doing fantastic. He’s been able to do a few things. We expect him to be able to participate in practice, whether that’s modified and at some point full speed,” Napier said on Johnson’s recovery. “We have confidence that Montrell’s doing great and feel good about his return.”
True freshman wide receiver suffered a minor shoulder injury during Saturday’s scrimmage and is considered ‘day to day’, according to Napier.
“We will see where he’s at, but nothing long term for Tank.”
Wide receivers Ja’Quavion Fraziars and Andy Jean both have lower body injuries that will keep them out for an extended period of time.
“Lower body injury for Baby J,” Napier said. “Andy Jean is the other player that has a lower body injury that will probably take a little bit of time.”
Junior cornerback Devin Moore is expected to return soon as he’s been dealing with an abscessed tonsil.
Scrimmage Notes
Florida logged 160 snaps in Saturday’s scrimmage, a small increase from last week’s total of 120.
On the defense: “I thought the defense was much better, less mental errors,” Napier said. “I think the run fits were polished up and better. Think that we did a good job playing red zone defense, and we got some takeaways.”
The one negative takeaway from the scrimmage were defensive penalties, which Napier says they have to “work on.”
On the offense: “I do think offensively we had a good day on first down. You know, overall, much cleaner, and I thought we were much more efficient. “We had some explosives, we did. I do think the defense did a good job of limiting explosives, but there’s no question that we had some throughout.”
Defensive lineman Tyreak Sapp scored on a 70-yard pick six during the scrimmage.
“It was a great fundamental play by Jack Pyburn. It was a near hand bat, off the quarterback’s hand, it was actually an RPO that got tipped up into the air and then it was Christmas Day for the one Tyreak Sapp.”
Offensive line position battles
Florida’s offensive line has had some ups and downs throughout fall camp, but Napier has been pleased with the depth and competition at the position to this point.
“I’ve been very pleased. I think that we have more depth, there’s more competition. We definitely have a two-deep that we have confidence in, but there is competition,” Napier said.
One player that is making some noise is redshirt sophomore Rod Kearney, who has the ability to play all three interior positions. Napier praised the improvement Kearney has made since arriving at UF last season.
“He showed up at 265 pounds and now weights 310 pounds and looks great,” Napier said. “Rod is one of our leaders. He sets the tone around here.”
Teammate Austin Barber has claimed that Kearney is one of the hardest workers he knows, and that is showing up in fall camp.
Napier feels strongly that Florida has improved in pass protection this offseason, which was one of their downfalls in 2023.
“I do think I feel really confident, in particular the pass protection has been much better.”
The left side of the offensive line seems to be set in stone, while the right side of the line is still up for grabs.
The strength of Florida’s running back room
While Florida is waiting for the return of Montrell Johnson, there’s no concern with the next four running backs shall Johnson miss time.
“I do think that the four other kids have had fantastic training camps. It is extremely competitive; like I couldn’t tell you who’s running out there next right now,” Napier said on Florida’s running back room.
“Treyaun Webb has game experience, and I trust him – he’s by far the best protector. He’s tough, he’s durable, he’s smart. I’m watching Jadan Baugh an Ja’Kobi and KD in these two scrimmages, we feel good about that room. They’re young, they’re inexperienced, it’s important for those players to understand that they have to play without the ball.”
Florida is simply trying to get their young running backs up to speed before the start of the regular season, but Napier doesn’t seem concerned in the slightest.
“That’s a good room,” Napier said. “Coach Juluke continues to produce. That’s just what he does. I don’t think we’re going to have to worry about the running backs. Those guys are always ready to play.”
Kick and punt return specialists
Napier provided the media with some insight on who’s been working as the kick and punt returners this fall.
Punt return team: Chimere Dike, Tre Wilson, Tank Hawkins, Montrell Johnson, Jadan Baugh.
Kick return team: Jadan Baugh, Tank Hawkins, Aidan Mizell.
“It’s really competitive. We got options,” Napier said.
The two key factors for evaluating players for Florida’s return team are ball security and decision making.
“I think that the kick returner and the punt returner, that’s part of their job. We have some good players who can do that well and then we have some talented players that need to improve in those areas.”