Urban Meyer wasn’t the only Gator who put the offseason to good use.
As training camp began Thursday, many of the players looked a little different.
This offseason’s conditioning regimen whipped players into shape and helped some cut weight.
The most noticeable change was in the physique of nose tackle Omar Hunter, who dropped 35 pounds from last season by running and eating a lot of baked chicken.
Left guard Carl Johnson wasn’t far behind. He dropped 15 pounds, added eight pounds of muscle and is now tipping the scales at 340 with just 22 percent body fat.
“I’m trying to get big, man. I like it. I’ve got a good beach body,” Johnson joked.
But the transformation wasn’t just seen in the linemen. Cornerback Janoris Jenkins and linebacker A.J. Jones also reported to their first practice in improved shape.
Jenkins lost 10 pounds from his playing weight of 195 by logging a lot of hours on the treadmill and watching his diet.
“I’m moving quicker,” Jenkins said. “I ran a 4.4 (in the 40-yard dash) over the summer. I feel good.”
Meanwhile, Jones did not stay active in the offseason as he watched his weight balloon from 223 pounds, all the way up to 233. But he has since dropped all of that and more. He came into Thurday’s first practice at 206 pounds.
“Mickey Marotti wanted to keep me on a plan where I can try to keep my speed up because all of the other linebackers are blazing,” Jones said. “He didn’t want me to fall far behind.”
LINEBACKERS FIGHT FOR STARTING JOBS: Everybody assumed Jones and Brandon Hicks, both seniors, had already locked up the starting outside linebacker spots for the upcoming season.
But that isn’t the case.
All three of the linebacker positions are still up for grabs. Although, Jones and Hicks are still the leading candidates for the outside linebacker positions.
“Everything is still up in the air,” Hicks said. “Nothing is solidified. That’s why everybody is playing all three positions.”
Jones and Hicks are competing for starting roles with Jonathan Bostic and Jelani Jenkins. All four players rotated between the two outside linebacker positions and the middle linebacker spot.
“There is a whole lot of competition out here,” Jones said. “Nobody is safe.”
HEALING UP: Running back Emmanuel Moody said that he had a second surgery on his right ankle because of bone spurs after spring practice. But he expects to be at 100 percent by the first game of the season against Miami (OH) on Sep. 4.
However, defensive tackle Terron Sanders already proclaimed himself 100 percent after tearing his ACL in January because of a “freak scooter accident” — an injury which kept him out of last season’s Sugar Bowl.
“The rehab time varies for different people,” Sanders said. “I practically lived in the training room and I wanted to get back because this is my last year — I didn’t want to miss it for anything.”
QUICK NOTES: Meyer decided to close all of UF’s practices to the media and the public in order to prevent his players from engaging in contact with agents or any outside distractions.
“That’s my fault. For five years (I allowed that). That’s crazy. Think about that,” he said.
Also, according to Meyer, wide receiver T.J. Lawrence has decided to transfer from Florida because of a lack of playing time.
Meanwhile, incoming transfer Chris Martin was at UF’s first practice. The freshman linebacker announced his intention to leave California and come to Florida on July 21. He will be forced to redshirt this season.
Meyer noted that Frankie Hammond Jr., who had briefly been kicked off the team after a DUI arrest, is back with the Gators. Although he had his scholarship taken away, Hammond practiced with the team Thursday.
