What will Florida football's depth chart look like in its opener? Here's our prediction
Florida football wrapped up fall camp last week with more decisions to be made on the depth chart entering its opener Aug. 31 at No. 14 Utah,
Florida Gators football coach Billy Napier announced Graham Mertz as the starting quarterback last week, but more position groups remain unsettled. Overall, Florida added 32 new players as incoming freshmen or transfers that could wind up contributing heavily this season.
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UF's depth at running back took a hit with the loss of Cam Carroll to a torn ACL in fall camp and its defensive line depth took a hit with the loss of Justus Boone to a torn ACL.
"We have more depth," Napier said. "I do think that some positions in our team, maybe we don't. But I do think that we're just young, and I think that two-deep is made up of rookies or portal players."
Here's our projection of UF's depth chart heading into the 2023 season:
Quarterback
The starter(s): Graham Mertz, jr.
The reserves: Micah Leon, sr.; Jack Miller, so.; Max Brown, so.
The Gators will ride with Mertz based on his experience with 32 career starts at Wisconsin. Don't be surprised to see Leon, who has impressed coaches this fall with his arm strength and ability to move the ball in scrimmages, as the week one backup.
Running back
The starter(s): Trevor Etienne, so,; Montrell Johnson Jr., so
The reserves: Treyaun Webb, fr.
Etienne and Johnson, who combined for more 1,560 yards and 16 TDs last season, project to split carries again. The injury to Carroll opens the door for Webb, who has impressed coaches with his speed and toughness.
Wide receiver
The starter(s): Ricky Pearsall, sr,; Caleb Douglas, so; Marcus Burke, so.
The reserves: Andy Jean, fr.; Eugene Wilson III, fr.; Ja'Quavion Fraziars, jr.
Pearsall leads a group of receivers that need to become more consistent catching the ball and making big plays. Douglas is coming off a strong spring and Jean and Wilson have playmaking ability after the catch.
Tight end
The starter(s): Arlis Boardingham, fr.
The reserves: Dante Zanders, sr.;, Jonathan Odom, jr.; Hayden Hansen, fr., Tony Livingston, fr.
Zanders is the best blocker of the group, while Boardingham has the highest receiving upside. Hansen and Livingston are two more big targets who have impressed Napier in fall camp.
Left tackle
The starter(s): Austin Barber, so.
The reserves: Jordan Herman, so.
Barber graded as one of the top young offensive linemen in the country last season and will be tasked with protecting Mertz's blind slide in 2023.
Left guard
The starter(s): Micah Mazzccua, jr.
The reserves: Knijeah Harris, fr.
Mazzccua, a transfer from Baylor, returned from shoulder surgery in the spring and brings a physical, run-blocking presence to the interior of the offensive line. Coaches have been impressed with Harris's ability to pick up blocking schemes as a true freshman.
Center
The starter(s): Kingsley Eguakun, jr.
The reserves: Jake Slaughter, so.; Rod Kearney, fr.
Eguakun returns as a third-year starter, but he's been banged up late in fall camp. That could open the door for Slaughter to start the season opener at Utah.
Right guard
The starter (s): Richie Leonard IV, jr.
The reserves: Jalen Farmer, fr., Christian Williams, fr.
Leonard IV made his first career start last year against LSU for injured All-American O'Cyrus Torrence and held his own against a tough defensive front. He's another cerebral player with solid run blocking ability.
Right tackle
The starter(s): Damieon George Jr., so.
The reserves: Lyndell Hudson Jr., sr.
At 6-foot-6 and 368 pounds, George, an Alabama transfer, gives UF length and size at tackle. Hudson was banged up early in camp but is back healthy and brings experience as a transfer from FIU.
Defense
Edge Rusher (Jack)
The starter(s): Princely Umanmielen, jr.
The reserves: Jack Pyburn., so., T.J. Searcy, fr.
Umanmielen is poised for a breakout season at the edge rush spot after recording 9.5 tackles and 4.5 sacks last season. Pyburn has impressed coaches as well with his athleticism and football IQ.
Defensive tackle
The starter(s): Desmond Watson, jr.
The reserves: Chris McClellan, so.
Watson started 10 of 13 games for the Gators last season and at 6-5, 439 pounds is a run stuffer inside. McClellan, at 6-3 and 315 pounds, will spell Watson frequently in the tackle rotation.
Defensive tackle
The starter(s): Cam Jackson, Jr.
The reserves: Caleb Banks, fr.
Jackson is another big body inside at 6-6 and 366 with a wingspan capable of deflecting passes inside. Banks bulked up to 325 pounds to play inside but could help on the edge as well this season.
Defensive end
The starter(s): Tyreak Sapp, so.
The reserves: Kelby Collins, fr., Caleb Banks, fr.
The season-ending injury to Boone hurts at this spot, but Sapp is another experienced player (0.5 tackles for loss, 2 QB hurries in 2022) capable of applying pressure from the edge. Collins has been banged up in camp but possesses high upside as a top 100 national recruit coming out of high school.
Linebacker
The starter(s): Shemar James, so.
The reserves: Scooby Williams, so.
James was banged up early in camp with a knee injury but brings experience with 47 tackles and 2 sacks in 5 starts last season. Williams is coming off a strong spring and has the ability to make plays as well.
Linebacker
The starter(s): Teradja Mitchell, sr..
The reserves: Mannie Nunnery, jr., Derek Wingo, jr.
Mitchell brings size (6-1, 243) and hard-hitting ability to the linebacking corps as a transfer from Ohio State. Nunnery, a transfer from Houston, was all over the field in the spring game (5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 pass breakups, 1 QB hurry) and has carried that intensity over to fall camp.
Star
The starter(s): Jaydon Hill, jr.
The reserves: Jadarrius Perkins, sr.
Hill and Perkins will split time at the spot, with Perkins deployed on run downs and Hill on passing downs as a nickel corner. Hill recorded two interceptions for UF last season, including one returned for a TD.
Cornerback
The starter(s): Jason Marshall Jr., jr.
The reserves: Ja'Keem Jackson, fr.
Marshall was UF's best cover corner last season and one of the best in the SEC with eight pass breakups and an interception. Jackson is a true freshman with advanced coverage instincts and athletic ability.
Cornerback
The starter(s): Jalen Kimber, jr.
The reserves: Devin Moore, so.
Kimber returned an interception for a TD last season and is ready to step into a bigger role on defense. Moore is a talented corer who needs to prove he can stay healthy after coming off offseason shoulder surgery.
Strong safety
The starter(s): R.J. Moten, jr.
The reserves: Kamari Wilson so., Bryce Thornton, fr.
Moten, a transfer from Michigan, brings experience and coverage ability against opposing tight ends and running backs. Wilson is a hard hitter who is strong supporting the run defense.
Free safety
The starter(s): Miguel Mitchell, so.
The reserves: Jordan Castell, fr., Sharif Denson, fr.
The Gators will rely heavily on Mitchell in the back of the defense after he finished last season with 15 tackles. 1 tackle for loss and one forced fumble. Experience at this spot is thin with Castell and Denson both true freshmen.
Specialists
Kicker
The starter(s): Adam Mihalek, so.
The reserves: Trey Smack, so.
Mihalek is back to kick field goals after going 14 for 21 overall on field goal attempts and 6 of 11 on kicks from 40 yards or longer in 2022. Smack will handle kickoffs.
Punter
The starter(s): Jeremy Crawshaw, jr.
The reserves: Jacob Watkins, sr.
Crawshaw enters his third year as a starter after averaging 47.9 yards per punt last season.
Other specialists
Punt returner: Ricky Pearsall, sr.
Kick returner: Trevor Etienne, so.
Long snapper: Rocco Underwood, so.
Etienne averaged 24.8 yards on kickoff returns last season with a long of 48. Pearsall will replace the departed Xzavier Henderson to return punts.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Predicting depth chart for Florida Gators football
