Everybody knows John Brantley will replace Tim Tebow at the quarterback position, but nobody is sure whom the Gators will turn to in the short-yardage situations that Tebow specialized in.
But Florida will have plenty of options to experiment with. Running backs Jeff Demps, Emmanuel Moody and Mike Gillislee are all expected to have an opportunity to earn that role in the offense this season.
Moody, who weights 215 pounds, could end up as the best choice in these situations because Demps and Gillislee are both under 200 pounds.
“They are improving,” running backs coach Stan Drayton said. “We have an issue with pad level. Anytime you talk about short yardage and goal line, there is a demeanor that we are talking about. Your pads have got to be low and the ball has to be tight. I grade ourselves probably at like a C in those two areas right now.”
Another player UF could turn to is redshirt freshman tight end Jordan Reed, who came onto campus as a quarterback and is 6-foot-3, 240 pounds. He has seen time in the wildcat package and in goal-line situations in practice.
Drayton has implemented a new 1-on-1 drill in which the running backs face off against a linebacker and attempt to get into the endzone from the two-yard line.
“Are we ready to go into a game in a goal line or short yardage situation? No, but we got to get there in a hurry,” Drayton said.
BROWN SHINES IN PRACTICE: Freshman running back Mack Brown had his best practice at UF on Thursday.
“Today was the day where it was his coming out party,” Moody said. “He broke a lot of long runs and had a lot of tough runs.”
Brown is behind Demps, Moody and Gillislee on the depth chart, but is expected to see some playing time this season.
FRESHMEN EARN RESPECT: Linebackers Neiron Ball and Michael Taylor, and wide receiver Robert Clark were the first three freshmen to have their stripes removed.
“They are officially Gators now,” defensive line coach Dan McCarney said. “There have been guys around here that have had them on for three years in the past.”
NOTES:
*Florida’s associate athletic director Greg McGarity is expected to be introduced as Georgia’s new athletic director on Friday. He has worked at UF since 1992.
*UF tight ends coach Brian White said wide receiver Omarius Hines has seen time at tight end in practice.
*Former Gators wide receiver T.J. Lawrence announced on Wednesday that he will transfer to Florida A&M.
