Florida 2023 Spring Camp Notebook: Observations From Day 3
Photo: Austin Armstrong; Credit: Zach Goodall
Florida is back on the practice field, with 2023 spring camp underway ahead of head coach Billy Napier's second season with the Gators.
All Gators serves up its notes and observations from the third day of spring camp below.
First look at D.C. Austin Armstrong
All Gators got its first look at new Florida defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong on Thursday, who primarily worked with the safeties and STAR nickel corners during the 18-minute media viewing window of practice.
The young coordinator, hired to replace former UF defensive play-caller Patrick Toney in February after a one-month stint on Alabama's assistant staff, doesn't oversee a position specifically within the Gators' defense and is able to move around, unit by unit, as he pleases.
He instructed the defensive backs through run-pass option and coverage recognition, manning the role of quarterback in each drill by lobbing up passes for defenders to high-point in the former and choosing to either hand the ball off or tuck in and run in the latter.
Sophomores Kamari Wilson and Miguel Mitchell noticeably led the safeties through several drills. The duo, despite their roles as second-teamers last season, combined to take the field on 418 snaps as freshmen in 2022 and are projected to start in the Gators' defense in 2023.
Offensive line vs. defensive line
Offensive and defensive linemen competed in one-on-one drills near the end of the media viewing period, not in the pass-rushing style as often seen in high school recruiting camps but instead a version of run-blocking reps that appeared to favor offensive linemen.
Defensive linemen would bull-rush the opposing offensive linemen, who down-blocked to maintain their power and leverage compared to having to create it while retreating in pass protection.
As a result, the majority of the offensive linemen bested their defensive line opponent throughout the drill. Right tackles Kiyaunta Goodwin and Damieon George Jr. posted standout reps against projected starting edge rushers Princely Umanmielen and Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr., respectively.
So did second-team guard and true freshman Knijeah Harris, stonewalling redshirt freshman Caleb Banks, a defensive lineman who stands three inches taller than Harris.
Participation report
Below are the players that were seen wearing no-contact jerseys throughout the media viewing portion of practice. An asterisk indicates that the player worked off to the side or watched practice instead of being on the field during the media viewing period. Quarterbacks are only noted if they did not participate in drills as they wear no-contact jerseys traditionally.
- RB Cam Carroll
- OL Jalen Farmer
- LB Scooby Williams
- DB Kamari Wilson
- CB Devin Moore*
Only Wilson and Moore returned to the participation report on Thursday, maintaining their status from the first two days of practice. Wilson continued to work with the safeties on Thursday despite his no-contact ruling while Moore did not take part in drills.
Carroll, Farmer and Williams are new additions to the participation report with undisclosed injuries. Each player participated in drills with their position groups throughout Thursday's media viewing period.
Linebacker Derek Wingo and cornerback Aaron Gates were not observed at practice.
Clip of the day
Our clip of the day features the one-on-one rep between Kiyaunta Goodwin and Princely Umanmielen mentioned above.
Goodwin has reportedly struggled with maintaining a healthy playing weight during his football career but appears to be in excellent shape right now, standing at 6-foot-8, 353 pounds per UF's roster. Offensive line coach Rob Sale has been pleased with his progress and suggested he could weigh even less now.
"He's done a phenomenal job with his weight since he's been here," Sale said of Goodwin on Tuesday. "I mean, the guy's here a little bit after six every morning. He's lost like 22 pounds since he's been here. So it's important to him, that's what I liked."
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