Brian Poole seems to be the only guy who can slow down Loucheiz Purifoy.
The sophomore made a big hit on Purifoy during Monday’s practice.
“I got blew up by Poole,” Purifoy said. “That’s a big hit he gave me.”
Poole later stripped the ball from Purifoy during a tackling drill, putting the Gators’ returning leader in forced fumbles on the unfamiliar end of a turnover.
“I’m not a violator,” Purifoy said despite coughing up the football.
Jaylen Watkins added: “[Poole] got the best of Loucheiz all day [Monday].”
Since spring practice began on March 13, Purifoy has practiced exclusively as a wide receiver and on special teams. Coach Will Muschamp hopes adding Purifoy to the mix at wide receiver will help shore up a unit that underperformed in 2012.
Though he will remain an option offensively, Purifoy will rejoin the defense following Saturday’s practice — Florida’s seventh this spring.
“He’s going to come back to defense, and we will decide then how much we will expand his role offensively throughout the rest of the spring,” Muschamp said. “He’s still going to have a role offensively, but he needs to get back and rep some on defense as well.”
Although Muschamp said that Purifoy would remain a defensive player, the junior’s performance at receiver has impressed teammates.
“He’s definitely developing every practice with his route progression and making the right reads and cuts,” cornerback Jeremy Brown said. “He’s going to be special. He’s going to make a lot of plays on offense this year.”
Quarterback Jeff Driskel added: “I was happy when they told me he was going to be on our side for the first part of spring. He’s an athletic freak, and he’s a guy we want to get the ball, and he’s done a good job so far. He’s really embraced the challenge and done a good job.”
While Purifoy has impressed on offense, switching sides of the ball has not been easy for the Pensacola native. Adjusting to offensive coordinator Brent Pease’s scheme has proven challenging.
“I’m comfortable in the routes, but now it’s just learning the play-calling,” Purifoy said. “It’s starting to grow a lot now, lately. At first it was kind of frustrating, but I’m starting to learn it faster.”
In addition to the challenge of learning Pease’s offense, Purifoy is putting up with extra attention from UF’s secondary. Brown said Purifoy is “on the dark side” when lined up at wide receiver.
“It’s competition, of course,” Purifoy said. “They see me on offense, so of course they’re going to head-hunt me.”
Even defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson got involved, teasing Purifoy when he complained about a holding call during a one-on-one drill against Watkins on Saturday.
“Come on home, Lou!” Robinson yelled while laughing.
For Watkins, Poole’s big hit on Monday was the highlight of the secondary’s new rivalry with Purifoy.
“He doesn’t like to be picked at, so we obviously took advantage of that moment,” Watkins said. “We all just get in his face a little bit and tell him he needs to be back on defense. So with Brian hitting him and stripping him, that’s kind of like us antagonizing him.”
While Purifoy will play primarily on defense in 2013, he expects to earn game reps on offense, defense, punts, kickoffs and kickoff returns.
“Yeah, that’s a lot, but I can handle it,” he said.
Contact Joe Morgan at joemorgan@alligator.org.
Loucheiz Purifoy (15) catches passes during warmups before Florida’s 17-9 loss to Georgia on Oct. 27 in Jacksonville.
