Gators 2024 Spring Camp Notebook: Day 2 Observations
Photo: Florida edge rusher Justus Boone; Credit: Zach Goodall
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The Gators were back out on the Sanders Football Practice Fields again on Saturday, holding their second session of spring training camp practice before Florida's March 9-16 spring break.
Florida has not yet dressed in full pads for these workouts and will do so upon its return to the gridiron post-spring break, with 13 practices remaining until the conclusion of spring ball.
Find All Gators' notes and observations from day two of camp below.
Gators Spring Camp 2024: Day 2 Notebook
Participation report
- Participating in no-contact jersey: RB Cam Carroll (knee), WR Chimere Dike (undisclosed), EDGE Justus Boone (knee), DL Joey Slackman (arm), LB Shemar James (knee), LB Derek Wingo (undisclosed), EDGE Bryce Capers* (lower body)
- In no-contact jersey, did not participate: TE Keon Zipperer (knee), OT Austin Barber (upper-body), EDGE Jack Pyburn (knee), EDGE Layne Swafford* (undisclosed), DL Nicolas Flynn* (undisclosed), QB Aidan Warner* (undisclosed)
- Not observed in attendance: DB Jordan Castell (undisclosed)
* indicates walk-on status
Notes and observations
All Gators kept an eye on the Gators' trenches on day two of camp. Although Florida is not yet sporting full pads in practice, the first-step athleticism and upper-body strength of these players were capable of being assessed in various drills during the media viewing window.
On the defensive side of the ball, Justus Boone has made his return to action at "F' strong-side defensive end, in a limited capacity while continuing to nurse a torn ACL, suffered during fall camp in 2023. Boone was first in line for reps at his spot.
Also performing at F was redshirt junior Tyreak Sapp, who started at the position last season, junior Brien Taylor Jr., an offseason junior college transfer, freshman and consensus five-star recruit LJ McCray and sophomore Kamran James.
At JACK, weak-side edge rusher was most of the remainder of Florida's EDGE group: Sophomore TJ Searcy, redshirt junior George Gumbs Jr., junior Quincy Ivory and redshirt senior Ja'Markis Weston.
Sophomore EDGE Kelby Collins was witnessed away from his listed position and working with the interior defensive line group, led by recently hired assistant Gerald Chatman.
For the back half of the open portion of practice, in the opposite trenches, the offensive line worked in pairs on reach blocks while being split up into groups overseen by each of UF's two on-field offensive line coaches.
Working with co-offensive coordinator and primary offensive line coach Rob Sale, Damieon George Jr. was seen at guard, paired with transfer tackle Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson. Redshirt freshmen Bryce Lovett and Caden Jones were paired behind George and Crenshaw-Dickson, with Lovett inside and Jones outside.
New Gators assistant offensive line coach, Jonathan DeCoster, worked with the second group of blockers, which included transfer tackle Devon Manuel, sophomore guard Knijeah Harris, and centers Jake Slaughter and Roderick Kearney.
Once again, veteran tackle Austin Barber donned a black non-contact jersey at practice. He did not participate in drills and was seen helping coach the group, led by Sale.
Clip of the day
After viewing 2024 Florida five-star recruit, quarterback DJ Lagway, on Thursday, All Gators flipped sides to watch the Gators' other 2024 five-star signee, McCray.
Listed as a 6-foot-6, 274-pound edge rusher on Florida's spring roster, McCray worked with the F defensive ends during individual drills. Below, he can be observed working on hand usage and explosion out of his stance under the guidance of EDGE coach, Mike Peterson.
All Gators spring camp notebooks
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