Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen met with the media Monday after the Florida Gators second and final scrimmage of fall camp. Mullen had updates on the team, injuries, when the Gators will turn its focus to Miami and new linebacker Brenton Cox.
Check out what Mullen had to say below
Scrimmage notes
The Gators had two scheduled scrimmages for fall camp. Mullen and his coaching staff set the two scrimmages up differently, with Sunday’s scrimmage looking more like a real football game.
“It is a little more situational in the second scrimmage, in more terms of a realistic game. Every drive starts in a set field position in the first scrimmage, so you make sure to hit everything, while in the second scrimmage you play more like a game,” said Mullen. “You got to punt in between series instead all in the beginning or a special teams scrimmage period, team scrimmage period. Special teams is mixed in and more game like and you have to transition from one to the next.
The Gators are always trying to have their first team defense and first team offense on the field against each other in scrimmages but the second scrimmage was a chance to get more of those guys that might not be starters but who will be heavily involved in the gameplan more reps.
One of the players that took advantage of that was Shawn Davis. The junior had an interception and touchdown in the first scrimmage and continued that high level of play in the second scrimmage with a few explosive plays.
Feleipe Franks
On Monday the University of Miami announced that Jarren Williams had won its starting quarterback battle and FSU announced that the NCAA and ACC granted Louisville transfer Jordan Travis immediate eligibility. Meanwhile, in Gainesville the gators have had their starting quarterback set since last year.
Feleipe Franks continues to come along and progress in development.
“He is just comfortable with the offense. Now it’s a transition. He is comfortable with the offense, now it’s really applying it, about applying it on game day,” Mullen said.
Brenton Cox
The Gators added a linebacker transfer from Georgia last Friday when Brenton Cox was admitted to the university of Florida. The sophomore is not currently eligible but Florida will file a petition for a waiver to the NCAA and to the SEC in an attempt to get a waiver to allow Cox to play this year. In 2018 the SEC relaxed a rule that required league approval for a player to be eligible when transferring intra-conference but that only applied to graduate transfers or players leaving a school that was under NCAA sanctions. Cox doesn’t fit that criteria, so it’s really a two step process for him to play in 2019.
Next man up
With John Huggins’ dismissal from the team the Gators have just six cornerbacks heading into the season. Three of those six are freshman and they will all have to play right away.
We expect them all to play (against Miami). They’re learning, you know they’re getting a lot of reps, getting rotated in to different situations,” Mullen said. “Obviously to get to see them get into the game when the season starts, it’ll be a little bit different than practice. You know, but they’re gonna get the opportunity to grow up right away this year. A bunch of freshmen I’ll probably play and get opportunities this year.”