Projecting Florida's depth chart after spring
The Gators entered spring needing to find new starters at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, defensive tackle, defensive end, linebacker, cornerback, safety and kicker. Bringing in 12 early enrollees, a mix of true freshmen and junior college transfers, helped in some areas. Other positions appear to be filled with former backups.
Some freshman signees could shake things up in the fall, but here’s how Florida looks on the two-deep depth chart heading into summer workouts and fall camp.
OFFENSE
QB1: Luke Del Rio
QB2: Austin Appleby
Del Rio has the most familiarity with the scheme used by coach Jim McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, and it showed this spring. McElwain praised Appleby for how he handled the spring game matchup of the the second-team offense against the first-team defense.
However, true freshman Kyle Trask could make a strong push for the backup job in fall camp. Multiple practice observers, and Gators players, have said that Trask throws the best ball of the four quarterbacks. Fellow true freshman Feleipe Franks seems destined to redshirt unless needed in an emergency.
RB1: Jordan Cronkrite
RB2: Mark Thompson
Thompson looked like the most complete back in the Gators’ spring game, but he also fumbled. Cronkrite can do a little bit of everything and has better ball security, but he’s not going to mow over linebackers or defensive backs like Thompson. McElwain has implied that the running back position will likely be a committee approach in 2016, with sophomore Jordan Scarlett another name to keep in mind.
X WR1: Antonio Callaway
X WR2: Freddie Swain
Y WR1a: Dre Massey
Y WR1b: Brandon Powell
Z WR1: C.J. Worton
Z WR2: Ahmad Fulwood
TE1: DeAndre Goolsby
TE2: C’yontai Lewis
It was made clear in the spring game that the Gators are desperately missing Callaway. Even while suspended indefinitely, Callaway remains the No. 1 wideout on the depth chart.
Without Callaway, the receiver picture is full of question marks on the exterior. Highly touted signee Tyrie Cleveland will arrive in the fall and should have the opportunity for early playing time.
In Callaway’s absence, UF’s areas of strength in the receiving corps are in the slot and at tight end. Massey, Powell, Goolsby and Lewis are all playmakers at their respective positions and could help mask a lack of production at wideout.
LT1: David Sharpe
LT2: Martez Ivey
LG1: Antonio Riles OR Martez Ivey
LG2: Richard Desir-Jones
C1: Cameron Dillard
C2: T.J. McCoy
RG1: Tyler Jordan
RG2: Nick Buchanan
RT1: Martez Ivey OR Fred Johnson
RT2: Andrew Mike
Ivey, who missed spring practice recovering from shoulder surgery, is a big piece to the Gators’ offensive line puzzle. The good news is that Sharpe is performing well at left tackle, the most important position on the line. When Ivey returns, it’s uncertain if the Gators will line him up at left guard or right tackle. He has the size to play tackle but performed well at guard last season.
The rest of the line should benefit from a year of maturing and getting bigger in the weight room. Position coach Mike Summers definitely has decisions to make finding the lineup that works best.
DEFENSE
WDE1: Jordan Sherit
WDE2: Keivonnis Davis
DT1: Caleb Brantley
DT2: Joey Ivie
DT1: CeCe Jefferson
DT2: Khairi Clark
SDE1: Bryan Cox Jr.
SDE2: Jabari Zuniga
It’s no easy task replacing two NFL draft picks (DT Jonathan Bullard and DE Alex McCalister), but Brantley, Jefferson and Cox make for a sound group up front. Ivie and Sherit both contributed last season and should see even more playing time. Position coach Chris Rumph might tinker with different configurations, but those five players will be on the field the most.
All eyes will be on Jefferson in the fall as he makes the move from defensive end to defensive tackle. Jefferson has proven ability to get around the edge and get to the quarterback, but he’ll face a new challenge pushing his way through guards and centers.
SAM1: Matt Rolin
SAM2: Alex Anzalone
MIKE1: Kylan Johnson
MIKE2: Alex Anzalone
WILL1: Jarrad Davis
WILL2: Rayshad Jackson
Florida coaches are relieved to have Davis back this season. Without him, the linebacker position would be an area of major concern. Anzalone is extremely talented but has had injury problems throughout his career and was a non-contact participant this spring. Johnson, a converted safety, was a spring game standout and will be a fixture in the rotation.
While three linebacker positions are listed on this depth chart, defensive coordinator Geoff Collins has a tendency to employ nickel and dime coverages, meaning three linebackers won’t be a common configuration. If Anzalone is ready to go in the fall, he and Davis will take the majority of snaps at linebacker.
CB1: Jalen Tabor
CB2: Chris Williamson
FS1: Nick Washington
FS2: Chauncey Gardner
SS1: Marcus Maye
SS2: Marcell Harris
CB1: Quincy Wilson
CB2: McArthur Burnett
NB1: Duke Dawson
NB2: Chauncey Gardner
Two Gators defensive backs (CB Vernon Hargreaves III and S Keanu Neal) were just picked in the first round of the NFL Draft, but the secondary could still be the strength of the defense in 2016 with the return of Tabor, Wilson and Maye. Tabor was considered by many to be Florida’s best cornerback last season, and Wilson has flashed excellent coverage and takeaway skills. For better or worse, Maye is a linebacker in a strong safety’s body.
Free safety will be a position of concern as Washington has previously struggled in limited playing time. Gardner is only a true freshman but had a solid spring and will definitely see the field in the fall, most likely at safety or nickel. Dawson seems to be fitting in well at nickel with two picks in the spring game.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K1: Eddy Pineiro
K2: Jorge Powell
P1: Johnny Townsend
P2: Jon Gould
KR1: Brandon Powell
KR2: Chris Thompson
PR1: Antonio Callaway
PR2: Dre Massey
Pineiro hasn’t kicked in a real college game yet, but that hasn’t stopped him from already being a big deal in Gainesville. Pineiro’s shared videos on social media of McElwain enthusiastically reacting to his commitment and booming field goals of 60-plus yards have made him something of a celebrity at UF. His 3 of 5 field goal performance in the spring game, which included makes from 56, 52 and 43 yards out, led to some of the loudest cheers of the night.
Pineiro doesn’t have the only big leg in Gainesville. Townsend routinely puts opponents deep in their own territory, the perfect setup for Florida’s ballhawking defense. In 2015, Townsend averaged 45.4 yards per punt on 83 attempts, 10th-best in the country.
Callaway, with his excellent speed and vision, is a natural as a punt returner, notching two touchdowns as a freshman. Massey, Powell and Chris Thompson are other speedsters to watch in the return game.