Florida Gators redshirt report: Ryan Sousa

Name: Ryan Sousa
Height: 6-0
Weight: 194
Position: WR

Why did he redshirt?

Sousa came to Florida at a position where the Gators needed playmakers. Still, he needed to take a redshirt despite Florida’s glaring lack of playmakers on offense. Sousa’s skillset makes him a slot receiver at Florida and last year he was simply beaten out by Latroy Pittman and CJ Worton.

 

Depth at the position?

Florida’s need for playmakers at receiver has not changed. However, both Pittman and Worton return to the fold. On top of that, Brandon Powell will be used in the slot this season and freshman Antonio Callaway — who has started running and working out since a knee injury — will be in the mix as well. Playing in Sousa’s favor is the fact that this coaching staff will have no preconceived notions heading into spring camp and he has a fresh slate to work with.

 

Player Evaluation:

Sousa isn’t the most physically gifted player but he is a solid receiver. He doesn’t get the “freak” label like Demarcus Robinson does but Sousa is a very solid route runner, he’s tough and has solid hands.

Sousa doesn’t have great top end speed but he is very quick. He gets in and out of his cuts with ease. Sousa is a natural receiver who catches the ball away from his body and doesn’t need to double catch passes. He’s also a physical receiver and is not easily shoved off of the line of scrimmage at the snap.

 

2015 Prognosis:

My front-runner to win the starting position in the slot is Worton. Worton — like Sousa — isn’t a physical freak like Robinson but both are very well rounded. Sousa will have trouble getting in front of Worton but he can get into the mix. McElwain’s offense remains to be seen so how many receivers he uses and how often he rotates receivers remains to be seen. Sousa may have another year of waiting before he makes a real impact for the Gators but he is a talented player with a lot of upside.

Nick de la Torre
A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGC

5 COMMENTS

  1. Sadly, it is going to take three (3) years to clean out the offensive mess left by the Muschamp-Foley era and make the Gators relevant again in the SEC. The reasons are manifest: (1) Under Muschamp-Foley the program recruited little or talent on offense. The OL is lacking in numbers, experience and talent, (2) There has not been an SEC-caliber WR at Florida for years, (3) There are no SEC-caliber RBs on the current squad (Adam Lane may be an exception and naturally never saw the field under Muschamp-Foley). Kelvin Taylor is a nice kid but would be a ‘back-bencher’ or a career special teamer at Alabama or Georgia, (4) The QB position is an unknown. How many will transfer after spring practice? For the first time in four years I have hope about the future of the program. But I am also realistic about the state of the program and damage done to it during the past four years. It is going to be a hard road back but it can be done; at least I hope so.

    • The no talent argument is a complete myth. To say Taylor is a “bench” player is ridiculous. He was the #1 RB out of HS,, but horribly coached. I get worked up when people say we don’t have a QBS either. between Brantley, Driskel, Brissett and Grier that’s the #4, #1, #7 and #1 QBS from their respective classes that we’ve had on campus during the WM era. That can’t all suck…they were poorly developed. I know depth is an issue, but please stop saying we don’t have talent. There is enough there to get us to Atlanta.

    • I am sorry. I was incorrect. (1) Actually, the Gators are three deep along the OL, (2) Kelvin Taylor would start at Alabama ahead of T.J. Yeldon, Derrick Henry and Kenyon Drake (everyone knows that). I am sorry. I was incorrect. And, finally, as we all know, under Will Muschamp the Gators had a championship caliber offense. I am sorry. I was incorrect. Please forgive me. And, Go Gators!!