<rolls eyes that Jake Allen is listed last on the depth chart>
On Mon, Jul 10, 2017 at 10:05 AM, Shane Ford <[email protected]> wrote: > UF position breakdown: Backfield > > After redshirting last season and having a productive spring, Florida > quarterback Feleipe Franks will open preseason camp atop the depth chart. > *Brad McClenny/Staff photographer* > Published: Sunday, July 9, 2017 at 3:58 p.m.Last Modified: Sunday, July > 9, 2017 at 3:58 p.m. > *Gainesville SUN * > > *The upside:* The addition of Notre Dame graduate transfer Malik Zaire > brings a new dynamic to the backfield, and it has more to do than just the > fact he is a dual-threat quarterback who can make plays with his arm and > his legs. He also brings leadership skills and much-needed experience to > the position. He is clearly a positive addition to the quarterback room > whether he starts, plays coming off the bench, or doesn’t play at all. > FactsUF’s Possible Depth Chart > > *Quarterback* > 13-Feleipe Franks > 8-Malik Zaire > 11-Kyle Trask > 14-Luke Del Rio > 17-Kadarius Toney > 12-Jake Allen > > *Running back* > 25-Jordan Scarlett > 22-Lamical Perine > 24-Mark Thompson > 31-Malik Davis > 32-Adarius Lemons > > > *Ranking the SEC backfields* > > 1. Alabama > > 2. Georgia > > 3. Auburn > > 4. LSU > > 5. Arkansas > > 6. Mississippi State > > 7. Florida > > 8. Missouri > > 9. Mississippi > > 10. Vanderbilt > > 11. Kentucky > > 12. Tennessee > > 13. South Carolina > > 14. Texas A&M > > Zaire has been promised nothing by Florida coach Jim McElwain and > offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier other than he will have a chance to > compete for the starting job, which he will start doing in less than a > month. > > Zaire has an edge in playing experience, but he’ll have some catching up > to do in a new offense against three players who have already grown > comfortable in it -- presumptive starter Feleipe Franks, fellow redshirt > freshman Kyle Trask and junior Luke Del Rio, the former starter who missed > the last half of last season with shoulder injuries. > > Franks will enter preseason camp at the top of the depth chart following a > solid spring where he demonstrated a good command of the offense. He and > Trask were engaged in a tight competition throughout the spring, with both > displaying potential big-time arm talent. > > Although pretty much forgotten after missing the spring, Del Rio could be > a factor if his shoulders hold up. He knows the offense and is highly > respected by his teammates. True freshman Kadarius Toney also will be in > the mix, at quarterback and possibly slot receiver. > > Whoever the QB turns out to be, he will be handing off to a talented and > proven trio of tailbacks -- Jordan Scarlett, Lamical Perine and Mark > Thompson. > > After emerging as the starter in the second half last season and leading > the Gators in rushing with 889 yards, Scarlett appears primed to have a > breakout season in 2017. He’s a tough and determined runner between the > tackles who also has the vision and speed to go the distance. > > Perine flashed plenty of potential as a true freshman last season and > showed he can make plays as a runner and a receiver. > > Thompson rebounded from a tough second half last season with an 85-yard > catch-and-run for a touchdown against Iowa in the Outback Bowl. It is a > play that seemed to restore his confidence -- and give everyone a chance to > see what he is capable of when he holds onto the football. > > *The downside:* Del Rio, who started six games last season, had surgery > on both shoulders in the offseason and there is still no timetable for his > full return. If the shoulders remain an issue and Del Rio is not cleared > medically, it would leave Zaire as the only QB with any experience at all. > And he really hasn’t played all that much over the past two seasons. He > started the first two games at Notre Dame in 2015, but missed the rest of > the season with an ankle injury. Last season, he played in seven games as a > backup and threw only 18 passes, completing eight for 92 yards. > > Franks and Trask appeared to have a big upside, and Toney is an intriguing > prospect, but none have played a down of college football heading into the > season. And you have to wonder how the young quarterbacks are going to > react to the presence of the newcomer, Zaire. > > The quarterback position has been a huge question mark at UF since Tim > Tebow departed after the 2009 season. It will remain that way until someone > steps up and is productive in the offense. > > *Young player to watch:* Toney electrified The Swamp with some dynamic > runs in the second half of the spring game. He also showed he’s a > legitimate threat with his arm. He’s still very raw, and still learning the > offense, but he has the speed and elusiveness (and skill set) to have an > impact in some capacity. > > *Don’t be surprise if …* The Gators play at least two quarterbacks during > the normal flow of games, at least early in the season. Regardless of who > wins the starting role, Zaire and Toney bring a different dimension with > their ability to make plays with their legs, and there’s a chance one or > both will have a package of plays for each game. Toney also could line up > at running back and slot receiver. And don’t be surprised if Toney is given > an opportunity to throw the football. Even though his high school tape is > filled with dynamic runs and scrambles, he also was an accomplished passer. > During his junior and senior seasons, he combined to throw for 6,598 yards > and 69 touchdowns, so opposing defenses will need to respect him as a > passer. > > *Contact Robbie Andreu at 352-374-5022 <(352)%20374-5022> > or [email protected]. Also check out Andreu’s blog at > Gatorsports.com > <[email protected].+Also+check+out+Andreu's+blog+at+Gatorsports.com>.* > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Sent From Shane's iPhone > Go Gators! & Skål Vikes! > ALPCA #8756 > Europlate #1045 > > -- > -- > GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! > 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 > National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 > National Football Champions | > Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel > (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "GatorNews" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorTalk" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
