Billy Napier referred to the Orange and Blue Game as “a midterm exam” following the game. This is a chance for the coaches to evaluate the players, tell the players what they need to work on over the summer and decide which positions they want to target the most in the transfer portal.
Napier was later asked to hand out some grades for the Gators’ “midterm exam.” He declined to do so, so we’re going to do it for him.
Here is a breakdown of the projected depth chart for each position and a grade for them. Only players who were on the roster in the spring were considered. Summer enrollees had no influence on the grading process.
Defensive Line
Projected Depth Chart:
SDE: Princely Umanmielen, Tyreak Sapp, Justus Boone
DT: Gervon Dexter, Jalen Lee, Chris Thomas
DT: Desmond Watson, Jaelin Humphries, Chris McClellan
Overview: The strength of the defensive line should lie in the interior. Dexter came to UF two years ago as a massively large and athletic player whose relative newness to the sport made him a bit raw. He played OK in his first two college seasons, but he didn’t come close to matching the expectations that come with having five stars next to your name. He’s appeared in all 25 games over the past two seasons and made 5 ½ tackles-for-loss.
Dexter said that defensive line coach Sean Spencer is helping him improve at some of those small technique things that will help him unlock his full potential, and he made a sack in the spring game. If he truly has turned the corner from a fundamental standpoint, he’ll provide the Gators with that consistent interior pressure that’s been missing over the last few years.
Watson started alongside Dexter in the spring game, which is a positive sign as far as his conditioning goes. He’s listed at 415 pounds, and Dexter said that he benched 560 pounds over the winter. There aren’t too many offensive linemen that are strong enough to block him, and those that are probably won’t be athletic enough to keep him in front of them. Staying on the field is the biggest key for him, as he got winded after just one or two plays a bunch last year.
Lee is an experienced backup option who will likely play a large role in the rotation given Watson’s uncertain conditioning level.
They need to develop some depth behind those three, though. Humphries has played in all of two games in three seasons. Injuries have kept him from making any sort of consistent progress in his career. Thomas and McClellan are intriguing young players who will have a chance to crack the rotation this fall.
It’s a similar story on the outside. Umanmielen played pretty well in reserve duty the last two seasons and should transition seamlessly into a starting role. He recorded a sack in the Orange and Blue Game.
Sapp and Boone both impressed during the spring game, which was very encouraging given their lack of experience. Sapp was in the backfield a lot and made six tackles. He also forced a fumble on a tackle-for-loss. Boone made three tackles and a sack during the game. They both have the versatility to slide inside in pass-rushing situations, which will give Spencer and defensive coordinator Patrick Toney some options to work with this season.
All things considered, the defensive line took a step forward this spring.
Grade: B
Outside Linebacker
Projected Depth Chart: Brenton Cox, Lloyd Summerall, Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Chief Borders, David Reese
Overview: This has the potential to be one of the best positions on the team.
Cox didn’t do much in the spring game, but he’s hoping to use his strong close to the 2021 season (seven sacks in the final four games) as a springboard into a big 2022 campaign. His stated goal is to break Alex Brown’s school record of 13 sacks in a season.
That seems like a lofty goal, but there’s no denying that he has natural pass-rushing skills.
After being buried on the depth chart and briefly entering the transfer portal after last season, Summerall made a move this spring under the new staff. He made five tackles in the spring game.
Powell-Ryland made 1 ½ sacks against Vanderbilt last year and is an explosive player coming around the edge. He was in a non-contact jersey for part of the spring and was held out of the spring game.
Borders is a potential difference-maker for the defense. He was praised by his teammates and coaches throughout the spring. He’s a highly athletic player that could have a role as a situational pass-rusher.
How this group holds up against the run will determine whether they’re good or great. Setting the edge was a struggle for them under the previous coaching staff. Coach Mike Peterson worked on their run defense during several of the open portions of practice, and they even worked on some coverage techniques.
Grade: B+
Inside Linebacker
Projected Depth Chart:
ILB: Ventrell Miller, Diwun Black, Scooby Williams
ILB: Amari Burney, Derek Wingo
Overview: Getting a healthy Miller back was the biggest addition the Gators made to the defense this spring. He’s a tackling machine and an outstanding leader. They just need to put him in bubble wrap and roll him out onto the field on Sept. 3 for the Utah game.
Burney exited the spring as the starter alongside Miller. He looked much more comfortable in the spring game than he had in the past, and he led all tacklers with 11 stops. He also broke up a pass.
However, if Black continues to play how he did in the spring, it’s going to be hard to keep him off of the field this season. He’s an outstanding coverage linebacker, and he broke up a couple of passes in the spring game. He’s fast, strong and has a nose for the ball. He’ll probably make some mistakes in his first season in a major role, but he’ll more than make up for it by creating some big plays as well.
Wingo and Williams are both former top recruits who would probably be higher up on the depth chart at most schools.
Grade: A-
Cornerback
Projected Depth Chart:
CB: Jason Marshall, Avery Helm, Jordan Young
CB: Jaydon Hill, Jalen Kimber, Devin Moore
Overview: Cornerback depth was an issue over the past couple of seasons, but it shouldn’t be this year. Any time you’ve got a guy who didn’t give up a touchdown in nine starts last year (Helm) and a guy who might’ve started for the eventual national champions if not for a preseason shoulder injury (Kimber) coming off of the bench, you’re doing something right.
Helm didn’t play in the spring game, but Kimber looked really good while breaking up two passes and intercepting one.
Then there’s Young, who was one of the stars of the Orange and Blue Game. He made six tackles and played solid coverage throughout the night.
Marshall and Hill both turned in solid performances in the spring game. The stats are a little bit deceiving. The first-team offense led by Anthony Richardson completed 18 of 24 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns. However, eight of those completions went to tight ends Dante Zanders and Noah Keeter on plays where the offense had a schematic advantage. They also exploited a couple of injuries at nickelback, as slot receiver Trent Whittemore caught three passes for 36 yards.
The top-2 outside receivers, Justin Shorter and Xzavier Henderson, combined for four receptions for 32 yards. That was a pretty good stat line for Marshall and Hill.
Grade: A
Safety
Projected Depth Chart:
SS: Trey Dean, Mordecai McDaniel, Donovan McMillon
FS: Rashad Torrence, Corey Collier, Kamari Wilson
Nickelback: Tre’Vez Johnson, Jadarrius Perkins, Kamar Wilcoxson
Overview: The Gators should be fine at the two starting safety spots. Dean and Torrence are as experienced as they come and should be one of the conference’s top duos.
The depth behind them seems strong as well. McDaniel led the Blue team with eight tackles, and he forced a fumble on the game’s opening kickoff. McMillon made an interception in the spring game, and Wilson looks ready to contribute right away as a highly touted freshman.
Nickel is a different story. Johnson and Perkins were up and down last year, and neither of them played in the spring game. Wilcoxson started in the game and struggled a bit. Getting better play from this position in the fall is extremely important.
Grade: B-