Florida Gators Release Spring Depth Chart
With every day we get closer. Just a little, but closer to football season. Basketball season is winding down. One month from now, the NCAA Tournament will be but a memory. We’ll need football information to tide us over until the fall. There isn’t much of it, and we get it in bits. The latest bit is here. It’s the Florida spring depth chart. It means little. In fact, it means virtually nothing, but it’s a starting point.
There are some surprises – yes, that’s Gerald Christian at linebacker. There is some of what we expected – no, it’s not a shock that John Brantley is the first-team quarterback. Don’t be too concerned with those missing – Jeff Demps, Omar Hunter, and Janoris Jenkins for instance – those out or limited for the spring aren’t listed.
The Offense
QB – 1: John Brantley, 2: Jeff Driskel/Tyler Murphy
* No surprises here.
HB – 1: Chris Rainey, 2: Mack Brown/Mike Gillislee
* Looks like Rainey is penciled in as a HB for now. It’s unclear if he’ll do double duty as a WR as well. If we had a vote, that vote would be full-time HB. Expect that to be a co-starter position when Demps is good to go.
X – 1: Frankie Hammond, 2: Stephen Alli/Quinton Dunbar
Z – 1: Omarius Hines, 2: Andre Debose
* The man-crush list continues to grow on almost a daily basis, but Hines has been on it for quite some time. Get that man the ball.
F-11 – 1: Deonte Thompson, 2: Robert Clark/Solomon Patton
F-12 – 1: Michael McFarland, 2: Josh Postell
F-21 – 1: Trey Burton
* No, it’s not some advance fighter jet formation. The F is a position and who fills it depends on the formation. The first number accounts for the number of halfbacks on the field. The second is tight ends. So, with one HB and one TE, the Gators will run a third WR onto the field – Thompson. With one HB and two TEs, McFarland comes in as the second TE. With two HBs and one TE, the second HB is Burton (offense, not defense for him). What’s most interesting in all of this is that it seems as of right now, Hammond and Hines will see more time with the first team than Thompson.
TE – 1: Jordan Reed, 2: A.C. Leonard
* Reed, TE, full time.
LT – 1: Chaz Green, 2: Kyle Koehne
LG – 1: Jonotthan Harrison, 2: Cole Gilliam
C – 1: Sam Robey, 2: Nick Alajajian
RG – 1: Jon Halapio, 2: William Steinmann
RT – 1: Xavier Nixon, 2: Ian Silberman
* By all accounts, Green is an absolute beast, but he may be holding the position for Matt Patchan. James Wilson and David Young are also not listed. And Robey, your time has come, make it count. Overall, depth is a concern.
The Defense
DT – 1: Dominique Easley, 2: Leon Orr
DT – 1: Sharrif Floyd, 2: Earl Okine
*Easley and Floyd will get plenty of playing time during the 2011 season, but expect Hunter and Jaye Howard to be the primary starters. Starting has meant little across the defensive line in recent years. Although there’s a new coaching staff, one of Florida’s strengths has been a heavy rotation across the line.
DE – 1: William Green, 2: Clay Burton/Chris Martin
DE/LB – 1: Ronald Powell, 2: Lerentee McCray/Lynden Trail
* You’ll also hear to this referred to as the Buck position by some. Check out Only Gators for an explanation. Basically, in the 4-3 it’s an end and in the 3-4 it’s a backer.
WLB – 1: Jelani Jenkins, 2: Dee Finley/Darrin Kitchens
MLB – 1: Jon Bostic, 2: Michael Taylor
SLB – 1: Gerald Christian, 2: Gideon Ajagbe
* Interesting to see Christian, who moved from TE, to be working with the first team so soon. We’re guessing Jenkins becomes the other MLB when in the 3-4.
CB – 1: Jeremy Brown, 2: Cody Riggs
CB – 1: Moses Jenkins, 2: De’Ante Saunders
SS – 1: Matt Elam, 2: Josh Shaw
FS – 1: Josh Evans, 2: Tim Clark
* Elam is slated to become the Nickel corner, which probably means Shaw takes his spot at safety. Expect to see plenty of Riggs as we did during his freshman year.
The Special Teams
KR – 1: Andre Debose, 2: Solomon Patton
PR – 1: Chris Rainey, 2: Frankie Hammond
* We like both of these. A lot.
K – 1: Caleb Sturgis, 2: Brad Phillips
P – 1: Kyle Christy, 2: Dave Lerner
LS – 1: Christopher Guido, 2: Drew Ferris
* Christy, you have a lot to live up to. Don’t disappoint. But, you know, no pressure or anything.
Debate as you will.