Gators’ open practice showcases youth, Orlando talent at UF under Billy Napier
UF opened practice and invited fans to the Swamp Saturday to watch the Gators’ fifth of 15 practices during fall camp as coach Billy Napier prepares for his second season in Gainesville.
Around 1,500 fans viewed the nearly two-hour session. Some then participated during a post-practice autograph session staged by Florida Victorious, the Gators’ fundraising collective for name, image and likeness since late April.
Napier’s squad ran through 14 periods during 115 minutes, including plenty of position drills and some 11-on-11 work. UF restricts reporting on personnel groupings and starting lineups, along with strategy and schemes.
Plenty of takeaways were nonetheless available.
Time will tell
Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz is the clear front-runner at quarterback, but timing and chemistry with his pass-catchers remain hit or miss. Mertz was generally on point when the Gators relied on a lot of quick throws and checkdowns, but anything beyond 20 yards was an adventure.
Mertz did settle down as the day progressed, highlighted by a deep out on the sideline to Marcus Burke, a 6-foot-4, 198-pound redshirt sophomore from Jacksonville who could be poised to break out. Given the potential of UF’s run game, a conservative pass game, while not exciting, could be effective.
A battle could be brewing to back up Mertz. Redshirt freshman Max Brown, not Jack Miller III, handled the first snaps after Mertz. Brown’s running ability stood out while he made a handful of notable throws.
On the other side of the ball, nose tackle Cam Jackson has work ahead. Expected to anchor the middle of the defense, Jackson wore down in the heat and humidity and displayed shoddy footwork in drills. Listed at 355 in the spring, the 6-foot-6 junior is now listed at 371.
The Gators will need a better version of Jackson by the Aug. 31 opener at Utah.
It also was a tough day for cornerback Dijon Johnson. The Tampa freshman was out of position and beaten several times, earning an earful from secondary coach Corey Raymond.
Local flavor
Napier and his staff tapped the Orlando area for some top talent in the 2023 class. Saturday showed why. Cornerback Ja’Keem Jackson, receiver Aidan Mizell and safety Jordan Castell each made head-turning plays to build a case for snaps.
During red-zone drills Jackson and Castell had notable pass break-ups in 1-on-1 match-ups that typically favor the offensive players. Jackson, a top-50 recruit from Kissimmee Osceola, stripped the ball out of Burke’s hand. Castell, who starred at West Orange, would not be denied as he finally pried loose the ball from receiver Thai Bowman. The play led high-energy defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong to sprint to the goal line and chest-bump Castell.
Mizell, who was virtually unstoppable in 2021 at Orlando Boone but injured in 2022, had a few nice moments, including a long touchdown catch displaying his top-end speed. No play was more impressive than a leaping one-handed catch topping the list of the day’s offensive highlights. While lanky 6-foot-1½, 167-pound Mizell needs to fill out and drops an occasional pass, his potential and explosiveness are undeniable.
Youth movement
Beyond the Orlando trio, several first-year players were in the mix.
Intriguing Tampa freshman Eugene Wilson III appears as explosive as any skill player on the Gators’ roster. After nursing a leg injury the first three practices, Wilson — the son of Super Bowl champion safety Eugene Wilson II — made plays in the passing game the past two practices. On Saturday, he also worked on kickoff and punt returns as Napier aims to get the ball in the hands of his playmakers.
Wilson, though, did drop a punt return as the coverage team bore down on him.
With Baylor transfer Micah Mazzccua (shoulder) not yet able to participate in contact drill, first-year freshman Knijeah Harris lined up at starting guard when Mertz was in. Last Sunday, offensive line coach Rob Sale praised the readiness of Harris, an IMG Academy product from Port St. Lucie.
“Football comes easy to him,” Sale said. “He looks like he’s been around here three or four years.”
Defensive tackle Will Norman, another Gator with IMG Academy experience, flashed agility, balance and explosiveness at 6-foot-4, 293 pounds. He could fit in the rotation with a defensive front seeking depth.
Surprise surprise
Redshirt sophomore receiver Kahleil Jackson arrived at UF as a walk-on, but had plenty of pedigree. The son of former Gators standout Will Jackson Jr. showed why he earned a scholarship this offseason. Jackson had a leaping catch in traffic and was on the field with the Gators’ front-line players all day, signaling a key role in the rotation.
Senior Jadarrius Perkins appears a step ahead of fourth-year Gator Jaydon Hill in the competition at the STAR position, where playmaking opportunities abound. Perkins made his share Saturday.
The same goes for Houston transfer linebacker Mannie Nunnery. Known as a special-teams demon, the 6-foot-1¼, 231-pound Nunnery has speed, range and a nose for the ball. He made a handful of stops and was sticky in coverage.
Missing in action
Top receiver Ricky Pearsall sat out practice with an undisclosed illness. Meanwhile, promising sophomore cornerback Devin Moore missed practice with an undisclosed upper-body injury. Moore is coming off shoulder surgery.
Sophomore linebacker Shemar James, the team’s leading returning tackler, was day-to-day after he suffered a leg injury Wednesday. He arrived to Saturday’s practice wearing a brace on his left knee but walking without a noticeable limp.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
