Alright, Gator Fans. In two weeks, UF's football team will be out on the practice field for its first spring practice, which start March 19.
Urban Meyer met with the media Wednesday and here's what he said about all the ins and outs so far this spring.
New assistants:
Meyer said one of the strengths of the old staff was that they had being together for so long. But now it's out with Greg Mattison (Baltimore Ravens for more money), Doc Holliday (West Virginia) and Stan Drayton (Tennessee) and in with Dan McCarney, Vance Bedford and Kenny Carter.
On McCarney:
"Dan McCarney is a clone somewhat of Greg [Mattison]. He's not short on energy."
"He'll be probably taking over the position that needs the most development. It's not fair to single people out, but I'm going to single him out. He's got a helluva job to do."
On Bedford, whom Meyer coached with while at Colorado State in 1990:
"Vance is an extremely competitive guy."
" I don't necessarily want to see arrogance in that position. I want to see confidence. There's a lot of depth there now finally."
Meyer also said he got in several "heated arguments" with Bedford during drills during their time coaching together and Meyer said he liked seeing that fire out of a coach. Bedford will handle the recruiting in the Miami area.
On Carter:
"We wanted to hire the best running back coach in college football. When we say the best running back coach in America, it's much more than just coaching the position. It's the development of confidence and improvement. I am very proud of the way Kenny's handled it so far."
"It's being very disappointing as far as production (at the RB spot). There's some good players there. I think there's some that could become great players."
Carter will handle the recruiting in the Northern Georgia/Atlanta area, a new point of emphasis for the staff.
Injuries:
DT Brandon Antwine is still struggling with a back issue that plagued him last season. Meyer said they are hoping to get him back for the fall.
OL Simon Codrington is out with a wrist injury and probably won't be ready for the fall.
DT Javier Estopinan, coming off a third ACL surgery, is expected to be back for the fall and will probably regain his starting duty if fully healthy.
OL James Wilson: left ankle sprain and will not practice this spring.
QB John Brantley: Will probably be back the second week of spring after suffering a shoulder injury during offseason drills.
OT Phil Trautwein: After missing last season with a stress fracture in his foot, Trautwein will not practice this spring because of bone spurs in his right ankle. He's still expected to start in the fall.
LB Ryan Stamper: Will be evaluated in the second week of practice and should be fine. Nothing major here.
OL Mo Hurt: Should be back from bone spurs in the fall. Meyer called him a "critical guy" and that he had improved greatly before getting hurt.
OL Matt Patchan: The new freshmen had shoulder surgery and will be "eased into" spring practice. Meyer said he expects him to play in the fall.
More on James Wilson:
It's no secret that Wilson (the No. 1 rated offensive guard by Rivals coming in as a freshman and No. 2 overall prospect) wants out. The rumored destination is Wake Forest, but for that to happen Meyer has to let him go. It doesn't look like that's happening anytime soon.
Meyer cited other offensive linemen such as Jason Watkins, Drew Miller, Steve Rissler and Jim Tarrt as players that wanted to quit several times but stuck it out and had/are having successful careers.
"All young players go through issues," Meyer said "We're not going to stop trying to get him to come back. He's a quality guy, and I think he could be a heck of a player. He's going through a funk like a lot of young people do."
Torrey Davis update:
Meyer said he is with the team, but "has a lot of work to do academically." Meyer said he and his staff knew this would be an issue when they recruited him.
Workout Warriors:
These are players Meyer singled out as people that have impressed him so far this spring.
Watkins-Meyer said he'd end up graduating and is a future NFL player.
QB Cameron Newton-It was expected Newton would lost the backup job to Brantley this year, but maybe not if Newton continues to impress.
WR-Deonte Thomson- has impressed Meyer and the training staff with working out in the mornings and then running for the track team in the afternoon.
Perhaps rising up to be the No. 3 receiver behind Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy?
TE Cornelius Ingram- After spurning the NFL for one more year, Ingram has being impressive in the weight room. With his body, it's obvious he's spent some time lifting.
DE Carlos Dunlap: Meyer said he started off at a -3 in the weight room, but he's come up to a 5 or 6. DT John Brown: After not playing at all last season, Brown finally appears on the right track.
DE Lawrence Marsh: Also impressed.
CB Jacques Rickerson: Went from negative numbers, like Dunlap, and is now an 8 or 9 as to how he approaches the game.
LB AJ Jones: Brandon Beal might not take his job yet. Jones has really impressed the strength and conditioning coaches.
RB Chris Rainey: Is up to 174 pounds, up from the 160 he weighed coming in, and Meyer said he now "looks like a human being. He shaves. It's really neat." Rainey has even beat Harvin out in a few races. Although Harvin does win most of the time
Pouncey back to offense: After a stint on the defensive side of the ball, Mike Pouncey is set to regain his duties as a right guard. Meyer said the move was made for the betterment of Pouncey in the long term.
CI's Decision: One of the most interesting points came away from the subject of UF football. After Ingram made the decision to come back, Meyer sent a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell complaining that the NFL gives college players too much hype coming out. When Ingram got his pre-draft papers, they listed him as a third-round pick. Meyer said, however, that if there was any doubt about a player's value the league should go more conservative and call them a fifth or sixth round pick. The papers don't include what type of person they are or any actual statistics, Meyer said.
"College degree and a senior year of football you're giving up-put a pricetag on that," Meyer said. "To go be a sixth, seventh rounder and get cut in a year? That's not fair to those guys."
