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Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators
- 3/5/26 Practice Observations & Video
- Take Five: Spring Preview
- Projected Starting Lineup: Pre-Spring
- Pre-Spring Ranking of Florida position-by-position
- Grading the Gators: New Additions
- Tulane player goes in-depth on Sumrall
On Thursday, Florida’s first day of spring practice, Gators coordinator Buster Faulkner, Brad White, and Johnathan Galante met with the media.
BUSTER FAULKNER
- Faulkner said that he likes the command the quarterbacks have of the offense.
- Having the mock practice before actually beginning spring practice was huge in helping the players prepare for Florida’s fast paced practices.
- Aaron Philo is a different quarterback than what he was last year.
- He called Tramell Jones Jr. a great kid with some toughness and leadership ability.
- Faulkner called quarterback the most important position in football and Florida has three assistants who coach the position.
- Called Eric Singleton Jr. a fast and explosive guy, but also called him one of the smarted players he’s been around.
- Faulkner’s offense is an NFL based terminology offense, and it is difficult to learn.
- The biggest thing is coming out of spring ball with an identity. They want to be the toughest, most physical team on game day. They want to be able to run the ball when everyone knows they are going to run it.
- He talked about seeing Steve Spurrier’s energy, and throwing his visor, when he was younger.
- On Vernell Brown III, he said that in his 18 years of coaching, he spends more time studying than any receiver he’s been around. Faulkner said Brown III puts in the work.
- Dallas Wilson is in every meeting and the walk-thru’s. There’s plenty of time to get Wilson caught up, getting him plenty of mental reps.
- They want fast receivers with the ball in their hands. The type with the skillset that would make a good punt returner.
- On Micah Mays Jr., Faulkner said that he is a tough kid, who is extremely smart. Called him versatile.
- Faulkner said UF has a lot of big bodies along the offensive line. UF is looking for the best five up front. He saw a big improvement from practice one to practice two in attention to detail and intensity.
- On Heze Kent, called him extremely skilled for his size, fluid, as good as ball skills as anyone on the team. They need to get him down (weight wise) so he can go out and compete.
BRAD WHITE
- White singled out Bryce Thornton, Cam Dooley, Aaron Chiles, Jaden Robinson as having a nice couple of days of practice. He said he waits to see what’s going on up front because it’s all about pads.
- Guys who ‘turn down’ contact won’t be on the field.
- When asked about Gerald Chatman, White said you win in this league upfront. White said it is awesome watching ‘Chat’ work with his guys. His coaching style comes from love.
- Wjhen asked about Star Kanye Clark, White said you have to wait until the players are in pads to evaluate that position.
- On Lagonza Hayward, White called him a special athlete. He said that he has to put in the time to understand the defense.
- Defensive lineman Emmanuel Oyebadejo needs reps. He has seen flashes of what he is capable of in the first two practices.
- He wants to wait until the pads go on to evaluate linemen, but he said he has been impressed with LJ McCray. The commitment he made in the weightroom to change his body and get stronger. White said that he has flashed at practice.
JOHNATHAN GALANTE
Video courtesy GatorVision | Jordyn Banks and Alyssa Britton-Harr contributed to this report
