On Tuesday, the tenth practice of the spring, Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall and tight ends coach Evan McKissack met with the media.
JON SUMRALL
Sumrall called Tuesday a pretty good day and said that the practices will be physical for the rest of the way as they prepare the team to get all the work they need to continue to improve from a toughness and physicality standpoint. There is a lot of work to be done.
He would like it to be more physical. He said that players are trying. They have flashed at times, but you can’t be in and out. Everyday he’s seen some plays where he has liked the physicality. Everyday he’s seen plays where it isn’t the standard.
Sumrall thought the quarterbacks operated well during Saturday’s scrimmage. Ben Hanks III had an interception. Some skills guys flashed. Duke Clark looked good. He thought the running back room as a whole looked good. The receivers, too. The defensive line flashed. He said Brendan Bett played the way they needed him to while he was out there. Singled out, DK Kalu, who made a couple of plays. He said it was cool to see LJ McCray continue to elevate his play. He still needs to work on being a striker at the line of scrimmage, but he has some slippiness. Kanye Clark did some good things.
UF will be a team to utilize tempo for their benefit. They won’t run it all the time. They won’t use tempo just for the sake of doing it. The offense has to use tempo to its advantage. He said that from a defensive perspective, it is most challenging when a team changes tempo.
Sumrall said that Ben Hanks III has elevated to the top of the cornerback room with the consistency in pass defense. Cormani McClain has flashed. They have to improve the depth of experience in the cornerback room.
He said that both Bailey Stockton and Eric Singleton Jr. are players you want to move around and see how many times you can get the ball in their hands. Stockton had a big play in the scrimmage where he reversed field on a screen pass. Sumrall said Singleton Jr. flashed on Saturday. Called him a home run threat with top-end speed.
Called Jadan Baugh a low-maintenance guy. Commented on him never being on his phone to the point that he can be hard to get a hold of.
He called the tight ends all unique with different skillsets. Called Amir Jackson a pleasant surprise. Said he has length and can run, but called him a willing blocker as well. Lacota Dippre is super physical. Evan Chieca is versatile and can do a lot of things well. Luke Harpring is the best all-around.
Behind Jadan Baugh, Sumrall said each running back has different strengths. He said Duke Clark has hit some plays this spring. He has homerun ability and some physicality. Said the other running backs are doing nice jobs. He spoke about London Montgomery in the kick return game.
Transfer defensive lineman Mason Clinton will be out for the rest of the spring. Tight end Heze Kent has an ankle issue. He has to lose some weight and get going.
Called Myles Graham super instinctive.
UF offensive linemen need to be stronger. It’s a work in progress; it doesn’t change overnight. The way to play with physicality and strength is to get stronger.
He singled out Brendan Bett and TJ Shanahan Jr. along the lines for strength/physicality.
EVAN MCKISSACK
McKissack started off by saying that he thinks his tight ends room has a long way to go. He said that the spring phase is for fundamentals. He is starting to find out what guys can do.
He said that Amir Jackson is doing some good things with his hands blocking in the run game. They need him to play with great speed in the pass offense.
McKissack called Lacota Dippre a hard worker. A Swiss Army Knife. He is getting better in a lot of ways. He understands his limitations, such as length. He is getting his body right. He needs to get faster. He said he plays with a tough edge to him.
He believes the tight ends can be downfield targets in the passing game. Since UF has top receivers outside, and even with Buster Faulkner spreading the ball around, the tight ends need to be prepared for their opportunities. The tight ends need to make some strides.
He said that Saturday was one of the best first offensive scrimmages he has been a part of.
He said that UF is tight end by committee at this point. Everyone has a role. He likes how the room is gelling. He would like to have a do-it-all type of tight end. That comes with building the room through recruiting.
McKissack visits with his tight ends on Sundays. He goes to their house, or they come over to his.
Playing knockout this weekend, Dippre won the first game. Amir Jackson and Micah Jones are pretty good shots. McKissack came in second place.
He called Luke Harpring very coachable. He said he needs to make some strides.
After the first scrimmage, McKissack told the players if you are coachable, you will play.
McKissack said that Heze Kent needs to be available. He said his challenge is to grow mentally.
He wanted a UF flag flying outside his house. He wanted people to know where he is to egg it or celebrate. He talked about having GPS on players. They have guys running 19-20 MPH, and then guys running 16 MPH. That guy isn’t fast enough, he isn’t going to be able to play as an all around tight end (didn’t call Kent by name, but…)
On Micah Jones, he said he has some really good traits. They show up at times, then fatigue sets in.
Video courtesy GatorVision | Jordyn Banks and Alyssa Britton-Harr contributed to this report
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