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• Mock Signing Class 2.0
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• O&B Board: Spring Practice Observations
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• Watch: DJ Lagway limited this spring
• Pre-Spring Ranking of Florida position-by-position
• 15 Pre-Spring Class of 2026 Out-of-State Names to Know
• 20 Pre-Spring Class of 2026 In-State Names to Know
• Impact Analysis: Where Florida Football Signees Come From

Florida quarterbacks coach Ryan O’Hara and offensive line coach Jonathan Decoster met with the media after Wednesday’s spring practice.

Ryan O’Hara

• O’Hara was promoted from being an analyst to the full-time quarterbacks coach. He said he has been with Billy Napier for eight years. Last year, with the rule change allowing analysts to coach on the field, he was able to do that for the first time. This is his 18th year as a coach. He is excited about the opportunity.
• With DJ Lagway not being able to throw this spring, O’Hara said that he has a passion to learn, and he has been able to take the next step this spring in becoming a coach on the field. Lagway has taken his leadership to the next level and has become more vocal this year. He isn’t afraid to get on players, good and bad.
• Aidan Warner is improving. He wasn’t with the team last spring and last summer. He started out fourth string before the injuries last year. He has been getting valuable reps. O’Hara said he has arm talent, they are working on pocket presence.
• Harrison Bailey is a guy who has bounced around a little. He caught UF’s eye in the bowl game, where he won MVP. He is a big guy with arm talent. He sees the field well. He has poise and moxy. They are focusing on his footwork and getting the ball out earlier. He has been impressed with him.
• He thinks Lagway has the best football instincts that he’s ever been around. That can’t be coached.
• Lagway forced a couple of passes last year, which won’t happen this year because of how much he has improved in coverage recognition.
• O’Hara feels like UF’s wide receiver room is deeper this year than it was last year.
• He believes Graham Mertz can battle for a No. 2 spot in the NFL. Scouts want to see him improve on his deep ball and progressions. He is smart and tough. He is a rock-solid Midwest guy. O’Hara believes that Mertz helped change the culture at UF.
• O’Hara said the goal is to make the football playoffs, and they are trending in that direction.
• This is the best team they’ve had. They are the deepest they’ve been, they have a quarterback and a great defense. They are in position. Now they have to go out and make it happen.

Jonathan Decoster

• He started by talking about Florida having great depth along the offensive line, and then singled out Caden Jones and Fletcher Westphal as coming on. He said Kamryn Waites is battling for a spot at guard and Jason Zandamela is coming along at center and Roderick Kearney at guard.
• Jake Slaughter coming back is huge. The center is the quarterback of the offensive line. The expectations for him have risen. He is challenging him to take his game to the next level, especially in the run-blocking game.
• Bryce Lovett can play all five spots. He’s moved around but has settled in battling for the right tackle spot. He has talent that can’t be coached. Foot speed. You either have it or you don’t. He has to be more consistent. He needs to make a jump in the weight room and mentally.
• Fletcher Westphal is huge, and he’s still growing.
• Overall, he thought the line played well in the scrimmage. It was clean. The second group gave up some pressure.
• Marcus Mascoll is making the transition to center. He’s learning to play the new position. He is getting better everyday.
• Decoster said whether it is DJ Lagway, Peyton Manning or his six year old daughter playing quarterback, it doesn’t matter, you have to protect your butt off. Keep the quarterback clean.
• He believes UF has three really good freshmen. He said Jahari Medlock is an offensive tackle who could just as easily play defensive tackle. He is quick twitch. TJ Dice is a tweener who could play guard or tackle, but is starting off outside. He is well-polished technique-wise. Daniel Pierre Louis is about 6-foot-4, 330-pounds with a flat belly and 35-inch arms. NFL draft picks are born, and then you develop technique, but you can’t coach that type of arm length.
• Decoster singled out Jaylen Woods as being a problem on defense.
• He said that in recruiting, he looks for arm length and footspeed, and the ability to anchor for tackles.
• For guards, they are looking for those who can anchor.
• At center, length doesn’t matter. The intangibles matter. You can’t be slow to process,
• Recruiting offensive line is a position where you have to project some. Physical attributes matter, but you have to look at the intangibles.
• He wants to see Austin Barber improve run blocking.
• Devon Manuel is progressing.
• He said don’t sleep on Caden Jones.

Videos courtesy GatorVision

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