March 2, 2021
This has been a spring camp like no other. For starters, it began in February instead of mid-March. Then there’s the fact that there will be no open practices to fans or media, and there will be no spring game in the Swamp. Instead, the only way to know what the heck is going on with the Gators is to sit in front of a screen, break out a magnifying class and try to decipher some meaning out of Instagram Live videos from 30 yards away.
But at least there is spring practice this year. That shouldn’t be taken for granted after 2020.
February 18, 2021
Dan Mullen is about to enter his 13th season as a head football coach. He has grown and evolved over the years as anyone who wants to excel at a profession must.
If there’s one thing that hasn’t changed about him, however, it’s a demonstrated preference for experience and seniority. At almost every position on the field, the older players tend to start and play ahead of the younger ones.
Mullen of late has gotten good about rotating youth into the lineup at opportune times to minimize the number of experience cliffs caused by graduation and draft declarations. He also isn’t completely strict about following seniority to the exclusion of all else, as can be seen by some of the oldest players on the roster like Rick Wells and T.J. Moore solely serving as reserves so far. On the flip side of the equation, Ethan White got to play as a true freshman late in 2019 despite older interior linemen being around.
February 16, 2021
With spring football finally in sight, Gator Country is here to get you through these final few days until the Gators are back on the gridiron.
Before Florida football returns, we will preview where each position group stands as the team transitions into 2021. Continuing with defensive tackle, we will give an in-depth look at who returns and players to watch and pose three questions we need answered before the end of spring.
The Gators are hitting the reset button at defensive tackle this spring. Both starters and a key reserve from last season are gone, and they welcome in four newcomers.
January 15, 2021
Florida has added two players from the transfer portal since the 2020 season ended, and both are interior defensive linemen. First was Antonio Shelton from Penn State last week, and then yesterday Orlando native DaQuan Newkirk came over from Auburn.
With Kyree Campbell having already announced for the NFL Draft and both Tedarrell Slaton and Marlon Dunlap having walked on Senior Day, it seems likely that the Gators will lose all three senior defensive tackles from last year’s team. Campbell’s periodic absences revealed just how thin UF was at the spot to begin with, as there was a dramatic difference between him being available and not. Now, it appears that they’ll lose everyone with more than two seasons of experience on the team.