A revamped Florida offense seemed to be missing a piece coming out of spring practice. In the crippled passing attack that threw for only 2051 yards in 2013 -- 12th in the SEC and 109th in the nation -- tight ends weren’t much of a focal point if any could be found in an inept offense.
It was a precipitous dropoff from 2012 where Jordan Reed’s 45 catches accounted for 24.6 percent of Florida’s receptions and Reed’s 559 yards in his final collegiate season were also good for 29.4 percent of UF’s yardage output through the air. In Reed’s absence, the position group was silent with only four total receptions for 42 yards coming from Clay Burton and Tevin Westbrook.
There is a giant void, and in to fill it is former Virginia tight end Jake McGee. On May 19, he was formally announced as part of the team and Thursday the former Cavalier met with the media to talk about — among other things — how his transfer process to Florida unfolded.
“I sat down with my family and once I got my release and everything,” McGee said. “(Florida was) a school I reached out to, it just seemed to be a pretty good fit with sort of having a relationship with Coach (Kurt) Roper from recruiting me out of high school and then playing against Duke the last four years.”
A personable 6-foot-6 athlete entering his fifth year in college, McGee was comfortable with cameras and reporters badgering him with questions for almost 17 minutes, quipping that it was just like his days at Virginia, only the reporters’ faces are different. He lives off campus with offensive lineman Trip Thurman, punter Kyle Christy and quarterback Jeff Driskel.
The living situation with Driskel in particular is one he hopes he can parlay into at least a few more catches this fall.
“You’re always in your quarterback’s ear,” McGee said. “He’s been teaching me everything so I’m on the same page as everyone else. There’s a lot of guys that are good football players downstairs so I’m excited to see how it works out.”
McGee led his Virginia team in average yards receiving per game (35.9), total receiving yards (395), and total receptions (43). He acknowledges that what the raw numbers say are true — he’s a pass catcher by trade who needs to become more of a well-rounded player to succeed at the next level.
He received a mid-round grade from the draft advisory board when deciding whether to stay in school or go to the NFL after last season. The decision was also aided by the fact that he didn’t think he was ready on a personal level, but he won’t be just working on blocking this season.
“I’m really just trying to improve everything, really, and become the best player I can become," McGee said. "It’s an offense that, I think, will have the ability to utilize my skill set."
Much of the cast of characters remains the same on Florida’s offense, and while many are coming off of injury, most of Florida’s projected starters have played at least one game together.
But the Gators are hoping a fresh face in McGee can help a struggling position unit, and hopefully have an impact on an offense that was just that last season — offensive.
Follow Richard Johnson on Twitter @RagjUF
Tight end Jake McGee speaks to reporters on Thursday. McGee, a Virginia transfer, led the Cavaliers in receptions and receiving yards in 2013.
