The Florida Gators held their annual football media days on Wednesday, as the Gators get ready to open fall camp on Thursday.
Head coach Jim McElwain took to the microphone to get things started on Wednesday and he had plenty to say about the team heading into camp.
GatorCountry was live at the press conference and brings you a notebook to recap what McElwain had to say.
Here are the key things he had to say.
- The first few days of practice will be a little messed up because of guys finishing school but that sort out by Saturday.
- Like the past two years, the Gators will run split practices so that the young guys can get caught up on things before starting to work with the older guys.
- McElwain says this year’s camp will be different a lot tougher because he wants guys to be uncomfortable. He wants to see how guys will react to the situation so the situation isn’t new to them.
- Florida is still waiting on some things to clear up on James Robinson before he’s able to enroll at Florida.
- At this time McElwain doesn’t expect anyone to miss the Michigan game but did say that guys still have stuff to finish up before then.
- Rick Wells, Nick Smith and McArthur Burnett will be going through treatment this fall. Jordan Sherit will be limited while Antonio Riles and Kavaris Harkless will split reps and be limited.
- So far the reviews are that Malik Zaire is a good teammates and is on a mission to win a lot of games.
- To help the secondary Randy Shannon has simplified things to make it easier for the guys.
- In year three Mac says the offensive line has dramatically improved and the running back room is real now.
- With the 25th anniversary of the Swamp, Mac has brought in former players to help the team understand the importance of the name. Mac says “The Swamp means everything.”
- Luke Del Rio is in the plans but the staff wants to see how he does coming off of the injury.
- Feliepe Franks sees Zaire as another challenge and Mac believes it will elevate his game even more.
- Mac believes the team is at the point where they have the pieces to compete for a championship.
- No spot is safe on the offensive line because of the competition and that’s something that will help them.
- Mac says they will play CeCe Jefferson inside and outside depending on the team and offense they play.
- Antoneous Clayton, Taven Bryan and Khairi Clark are all guys Mac wants to see step up on the defensive line.
- Kadarius Toney and Dre Massey will play a little bit of everywhere this spring. That will include running back, quarterback and receiver.
- Mac says he really saw a turning point for the offensive line this spring after Brad Davis arrived. He says he’s excited for Davis and the energy he brings to the table.
- Despite being a quite guy, Mac says the team listens when Martez Ivey talks.
- When T.J. McCoy came into the line-up for Florida last year, Mac says he was a “lighting rod” for the team.
- Chauncey Gardner is expected to stay at cornerback but could see time at nickel or safety as well.
- Jeawon Taylor and Quincy Lenton are two guys that Mac says he thinks can help the team this year.