The lasting image from Jordan Reed’s college career might be his fumble in the fourth quarter against Georgia last season.
But his value to the team is even more apparent after watching the struggles of Florida’s current crop of tight ends.
Offensive coordinator Brent Pease said Tuesday that sophomore Kent Taylor will likely redshirt this year — a disappointing end to the season for a player the Gators once counted on to replace Reed’s production.
“You got to be able to block in that position and run routes,” Pease said. “You got to see that you can perform and your performance has got to show up, but I don’t know if his development is totally there, and not every kid is going to be an immediate guy.”
Taylor came into the season as Reed’s heir apparent after the redshirt junior played his last game in a Gators uniform.
Following Florida’s loss to Louisville in the Sugar Bowl, he and Reed shared a long embrace in the locker room.
It looked like the torch was passed, but that succession has failed to materialize.
An offseason ankle injury kept Taylor on the sidelines early. A need for better blocking along the offensive line doomed any chance for the tight end from Land O’Lakes to see the field.
“He’s a kid that’s got to maintain weight to play in that position,” Pease said. “He can’t be too light, and sometimes I think in this sport, and at this level, you’ve got to give kids a chance to develop.”
Muschamp winless in series: As a former Georgia safety, coach Will Muschamp is no stranger to the annual Jacksonville slugfest between the Gators and the Bulldogs. It has been 19 years since he played his last Florida-Georgia game, but he has still not come out on top.
Georgia has won the last two matchups. Do not ask the third-year coach if this game means more to him. It is bigger than that.
“Not for me, (but) for our players and for the Gator Nation, absolutely,” Muschamp said Monday.
“I hate to give you the boring answer, but I don’t approach this one any different than the other ones. It’s a critical game for us, obviously being a great rival with the University of Florida and a great rivalry game. It’s one of the best college football games, year in, year out, to be a part of.”
Follow Adam Pincus on Twitter @adamDpincus.
Offensive coordinator Brent Pease watches warm-up drills prior to Florida’s 36-17 loss to Missouri on Oct. 19 at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo.
