2012 Statistics

ASST. COACHES

Off. Coordinator/QB-WR Coach: Brent Pease (2nd season)
Previous: Boise State Off. Coor./QB Coach

Def. Coordinator/LB Coach: D.J. Durkin (4th season)
Previous: Stanford DE/Sp. Teams Coach

Running Backs: Brian White (5th season)
Previous: Washington TE/Sp. Teams Coach

Receivers: Joker Phillips (1st season)
Previous: Kentucky Head Coach

Tight Ends: Derek Lewis (3rd season)
Previous: Minnesota TE Coach

Offensive Line: Tim Davis (2nd season)
Previous: Utah OL Coach

Defensive Line: Brad Lawing (1st season)
Previous: South Carolina DL Coach

Outside Linebackers/Sp. Teams: Jeff Choate (1st season)
Previous: UTEP Def. Coor.

Defensive Backs: Travaris Robinson (3rd season)
Previous: Texas Tech DB Coach

    QUARTERBACK  

• Jeff Driskel is undoubtedly the No. 1 guy behind center. His dual-threat ability is his greatest asset. However with his uncertain history of inconsistent passing ability and potential injury issues it will be interesting to see just how much Florida coaches decide to rely on his legs.
• Driskel's pocket presence and read progressions have improved according to coaches minus a poor spring game showing, but until real passing success transcends to fall Saturdays there is still going to be plenty of skepticism. After all this was the SEC's worst rated passing offense last fall.
• With Jacoby Brissett transferring to NC State the Gators have a massive concern if something happens to Driskel. The back up situation appears to be dire.
• Both backups Tyler Murphy and Skyler Mornhinweg struggled mightily in the spring. Murphy gets the edge but will be way over his head if he is forced into a starting role.
• It was no coincidence the Gators added 23-year old baseball pitcher Chris Wilkes to the roster on the same day as the spring game in hopes of securing a better back up situation. Wilkes hasn't played football since high school.

    RUNNING BACK  

• Sophomore Matt Jones used his size and strong momentum carrying over from his freshman season to smash mouth the competition. No player on this offense did more to earn a starting role as a natural replacement for Mike Gillislee.
• True freshman Kelvin Taylor, son of former Florida and NFL running back Fred Taylor, was an early enrollee who took full advantage of the additional spring reps. He was the feature back at the Orange & Blue Debut shining for the first time. Kelvin has a nice combination of power and vision. He rushed for 2,423 yards and 41 touchdowns as a high school senior surpassing NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith as the state of Florida's all-time leading rusher.
• Apparently for the second straight year redshirt junior Mack Brown has been leapfrogged on the depth chart by a freshman (see Kelvin Taylor above).
• At fullback Hunter Joyner has secured his starting spot. Joyner is crucial for success in the running game although coaches continue to tease his use as a goal line runner. Two new players from the defensive side have been moved to fullback in Gideon Ajagbe and Rhaheim Ledbetter.

    RECEIVER  

• For the fourth straight spring Quinton Dunbar has captured the limelight as the hype machine keeps growing. The team's leading returning receiver still has yet to see his skills transfer over to all-star status during the fall. He may be the Gators only receiver who can consistently beat press coverage. With Jordan Reed gone Dunbar may become the quarterback's top option.
• Demarcus Robinson may only be a freshman but his combination of size, speed and athleticism were evident as an early enrollee this spring before suffering a high ankle sprain. Florida's passing success could hinge on Robison's progress come fall.
• Versatile senior Trey Burton is still playing musical chairs in regards to where he might line up. Slot, tailback, H-back or Wild-Gator QB? After catching 32 passes as a freshman, Burton hasn't come close to the same type of production. Don't expect Burton to be done taking snaps given the depth situation at quarterback.
• Disappearing acts include Raphael Andrades who doubles with the baseball team and Andre Debose who also doubled as the team's top return specialist. Debose caught just two passes last fall and could find himself buried on the depth chart despite he tantalizing talent and speed.
• Starting cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy is a dynamic athlete who will be a two-way player defending passes and catching passes when the Gators take the field.
• Florida is desperately missing a deep play threat as evident in the numbers of a year ago. The highly anticipated improvement were not on display for the spring finale as Driskel never even attempted a pass longer than 15 yards until the final no-huddle drill.

    TIGHT END  

• Don't expect the tight end position to offer much help in regards to the lagging passing numbers. Florida may be better suited to using three-to-four receiver sets and skipping this position in passing situations.
• Replacing Jordan Reed's production looks like an impossible concept. The four primary tight ends didn't give coaches much to be excited about entering the fall and no real reason to put one at the top of the depth chart. Former defensive end Clay Burton who was used as a jumbo-package specialist last year surfaces as the best of the bunch. His blocking skills are his best attribute, catching the ball isn't.
• Either Kent Taylor, Tevin Westbrook or Colin Thompson could see the field depending on the situation. Taylor is the most talent in the receiving category with the later two considered better blockers.

    OFFENSIVE LINE  

• Jon Halapio is still considered the leader on this line of scrimmage. The fifth-year senior is one of Coach Muschamp's favorite players with his blue-collar approach and reliability as a run blocker.
• The Gators received two huge transfers just in time to participate in the spring and both have earned starting spots.
• Maryland transfer Max Garcia has become an immediate upgrade at left guard. The former left tackle dominated individual drills and scrimmages, something sorely missing in years past at this spot.
• Nebraska transfer Tyler Moore also had a solid spring showing the coaching staff why he was the first true freshman in Cornhusker history to start at left tackle.
• Last year's predominant starter at left tackle Chaz Green missed all of spring camp with a shoulder injury. Green is a talented tackle but has been hampered by a large array of injuries. He could regain his spot from Moore in the fall.
• Former five-star prospect D.J. Humphries will protect Driskel's blindside. The first time starting sophomore is still on the light side at 280 pounds.
• Injuries have wreaked havoc with this unit as evident at the Orange and Blue Debut. With only six healthy offensive linemen the spring game basically amounted to nothing more than a modified practice.

    DEFENSIVE LINE  

• While the experience factor isn't grand, especially at both tackle spots where Omar Hunter and Sharrif Floyd left some big shoes to fill, there is still an overwhelming cast of highly decorated prep stars through out this unit.
• There may not be a single player that brings more excitement to the table than Buck linebacker Dante Fowler. He has dropped his weight to 263 pounds and was the most explosive pass rusher all spring. Fowler's freakish abilities make him a shooting star and will bolster Florida's feeble pass rush.
• Defensive end Dominique Easley would start at tackle if the season started today says Coach Muschamp. With Sharrif Floyd gone the Staten Island, NY high school All-American Easley will be counted on to anchor the interior of the line.
• One of the reasons coaches feel comfortable moving Easley inside has been the maturity of five-star prospect Jonathan Bullard at end. He led the team in quarterback hurries last fall as a frosh.
• Bryan Cox has found a spot in the end rotation. The converted linebacker has added 25 pounds and saw extended reps this spring.
• The former No. 1 recruit in the country at any position in 2009 according to Rivals.com (Ronald Powell) is still recovering form a torn ACL suffered in last year's spring game causing him to miss all of the 2012 season. He expects to be ready in the fall but has still not been cleared for contact.

    LINEBACKER

• Much like the defensive line, the linebacker unit is void of a full-time starters from last season.
• Filling in for All-SEC performer Jon Bostic in the middle will be Antonio Morrison, a nasty hitting sophomore with a propensity for knocking out ball carriers.
• Michael Taylor was hardly heard from last fall but with some departures has found a starting spot at Will linebacker. Don't count out true freshman Daniel McMillian who was easily the most impressive of all the early enrollees this spring. The youngster can quickly and easily become an explosive playmaker when it counts.
• At Sam linebacker Neiron Ball has pass rushing skills which could force coaches to stick with a more traditional three-linebacker set in an effort to get the best 11 guys on the field.

    DEFENSIVE BACK  

• Marcus Roberson has the best ball skills of anyone in this talented secondary. After putting on 15 pounds this off-season the junior is primed to be more than just an All-Conference performer.
• At the other corner Loucheiz Purifoy is a playmaker, which explains why coaches will also be using him as a receiver. His coverage can be suspect at times but his physical skills are unlimited. The only question his how many snaps this staff envisions Purifoy playing.
• Jaylen Watkins, the most consistent cover guy in 2012 (returning interception leader), was destined for a position change in another effort to get the best 11 players on the field. There is extensive depth at corner which makes the move seem that more logical.
• When Florida is in the oft-used nickel package spring star Brian Poole is the guy. In the spring game Poole made a habit of disrupting everything from pass coverage to sack production.
• The nation's top rated defensive back Vernon Hargreaves among others will enroll in the fall making this group second-to-none when discussing resumes.