Alex Shepherd
Gators Schedule 2023 Fall Training Camp Report Date, Scrimmages
The Gators have marked their calendars with the unofficial start date of Billy Napier's second season as Florida's head coach.
Players will report to the James W. “Bill” Heavener Football Training Center at UF on July 30 and begin fall training camp the next day, July 31, All Gators has learned. Florida will hold its intrasquad scrimmages on Aug. 10 and Aug. 18, and the final day of camp will be Aug. 22 before fall semester classes commence on Aug. 23.
Practices will be closed to the public. Media will be permitted entry for limited practice viewing windows.
The schedule has shifted slightly compared to last year's as a result of Florida's 2023 season opening on Thursday, Aug. 31, at Utah, rather than on a Saturday as the program is accustomed to. Last year, players reported to the practice facility on Aug. 2 and began practice on Aug. 3.
Napier proposed that the team had already begun preparing its practice schedule tweaks while discussing the matter with reporters on May 22.
"I mean we just slide everything back," Napier said before his final speaking tour event, in Gainesville. "Very much the same time allocation. I think this year, we're going to change up practice times a little bit, a little bit more variety. So you know, I think we'll have some A.M. practices, some mid-afternoon practices, and then P.M. practices to kind of replicate game times.
"We've done a ton of research about the Utah trip and, you know, all that's planned out and ready to go."
As a nearly complete team, Florida began its "Regimen" offseason workout program on May 30 with its entire 2023 class in tow sans junior college transfer edge rusher Quincy Ivory, who committed to the team in June. Only one scholarship roster spot is vacant at this time.
Following a spring training camp in which Napier believes Florida "fundamentally took a huge step forward," he shared his pleasure with the team's progress but admitted there is work left to be done as the Gators aim to snap a two-season streak of losing records both in the SEC and overall.
It will involve continuing to integrate a total of 14 offseason transfers — 10 from the winter portal period and four from the spring — and multiple members of Florida's freshmen class into a squad in need of a talent boost and continual unification, the latter having been suggested by the head coach this offseason.
Quarterback Graham Mertz (formerly of Wisconsin) and defensive tackle Cam Jackson (from Memphis) figure to take on prominent roles as veteran transfers. Returning players in running backs Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, left tackle Austin Barber, edge rusher Princely Umanmielen and cornerback Jason Marshall Jr., meanwhile, are among those who are likely to assume leadership positions if they haven't already.
Most other positions don't feature clear-cut favorites to start, and the current and upcoming training phases will offer players the opportunity to secure first-team jobs or meaningful rotational duties.
"We got areas of our team where we’re going to be young. But we have some talented players," Napier stated. "We’re halfway through the off-season at that point. Summer is going to be critical. Training camp is always important. But I think this team, certain position groups the summer training camp is going to be more important.”
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