With less than two weeks until Florida football's annual Orange and Blue game, the Gators are beefing up their defense and getting used to the freshmen and freshmen as the spring game approaches.
The roster is a mix of veterans looking to continue their strong performance in the 2023 season and freshmen and transfer talent competing for a chance to make an impact on the field.
The university held its first intrasquad scrimmage on March 30, about halfway through spring practice. This scrimmage showed an effort to improve Florida State's lackluster defense.
During the 2023 football season, the Gators conceded an average of 27.58 points per game. In the first four games of the season, UF's defense held opponents to an average of 13.5 points, but in the final eight games they allowed 34.6 points.
On March 26, assistant outside linebackers coach Mike Petersen emphasized the importance of defensive cohesion before a scrimmage.
“I don’t think the whole defense is where it needs to be,” he said. “Sometimes certain categories may be a little lower than you'd like, and we're working on that…We want to be completely defensive.”
In a continued effort to strengthen their defense, the Gators have hired Ron Roberts as co-defensive coordinator.
Roberts served as Auburn's defensive coordinator in 2023. He led the team to a top 25 ranking in third down defense and first down, and ranked first in the SEC in red zone defense.
“His knowledge will be a benefit to our staff and the team as a whole,” Petersen said. “We can all put it together to deliver the best product on the field.”
With areas for improvement identified and fresh blood on the field, expectations are high for the defense. Additionally, Petersen said he is excited about the group as a whole.
Hard work paid off. During the March 30 scrimmage, head football coach Billy Napier said the defense played on that side of the ball, forcing turnovers and making good tackles.
Napier said he was pleased with his team's progress but believed the next two weeks were a key period to find areas for improvement.
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“We may have some veteran players, but they're all still growing and developing,” Napier said. “There's still a lot to learn. So at this point, we're trying to talk specifically with each player.”
Freshman quarterback DJ Ragway and freshman linebacker Myles Graham are among the new contributors to the team. The roster added 32 new players during the offseason, with the goal of ensuring the Gators are ready for a formidable 2024 season.
“I see the young guys, some of them were here last year, some of them just got here, continuing to run,” Napier said.
Graham, a five-star recruit, will miss the remainder of spring practice. Although he is recovering from surgery on his back, it was an issue that existed before the inside linebacker enrolled in the spring semester.
Other than Graham, the Gators have been fortunate to avoid major injuries and put pressure on the remaining rookies to be ready for next season.
One of the university's most anticipated recruits, Lagway has quickly adjusted to university life, Napier said.
“Every day is a new learning experience for him, but he's a quick learner and he did very well today. I think he made some plays with his feet, he plays in groups and most of the team I think we played two,” Napier said. Day. “
Thirteen starters return, including standouts like redshirt senior quarterback Graham Mertz and sophomore edge rusher TJ Searcy, and the newcomers benefit from a core of experienced players to lead them forward. ing.
“We have a group of veterans here. They've done a good job of setting the tone and are setting really good examples,” Napier said.
Senior running back Montrell Johnson Jr. is in his third season in college and looks to lead the team alongside Mertz.
“It's like telling the players, 'Take it slow, you've got to be patient,'” Johnson Jr. said. “They look up to me as a role model and I just follow that.”
Johnson Jr. said he doesn't feel any different, the team has always believed in him and he's excited to take on the leadership role.
“I think the team will rely on me more,” he said. “Me and Graham have talked about it a lot and we’re ready for it.”
The Gators will showcase their talent in the Orange and Blue spring football game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on April 13th at 1 p.m.
Please contact Krisha Sanghavi at ksanghavi@alligator.org. Follow @krishasang on Twitter.
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Krisha Sanghavi is a third-year public relations economics major. In his free time, he loves playing Miami sports, rooting for his team and spending time with friends.
