With two days until their first game against Hawaii, the Gators solidified their kicker position and narrowed down the starting defensive tackle candidates.
Senior Jonathan Phillips will be the starting kicker, replacing graduated senior Joey Ijjas.
"When I came in, I was a little bit too young. I didn't really know what was going on," Phillips said. "Then when I was ready to kick, I got hurt and that took a whole year. …
(UF coach Urban Meyer) said, 'Stay. I really think you can do it.' And I said, 'All right,' and it's happened to work out."
Freshman Caleb Sturgis will take the backup spot.
Meyer said on Thursday he was still deciding between sophomore Terron Sanders and freshman Matt Patchan for the second defensive tackle spot.
Patchan, who had missed much of preseason with an injured shoulder, has come on strong in the last week.
He has gone from not participating to potential starter. During summer, he was practicing with the first team.
Sophomore Lawrence Marsh has had a starting job locked up for weeks.
Meyer was unsure, however, of the backup quarterback role.
Cameron Newton and John Brantley have been in competition for that spot all summer, but there is no clear-cut winner.
"They're both fairly even, and hopefully we get them both in the game," Meyer said.
MEYER CONFIDENT: Without wide receiver Percy Harvin, Meyer is not worried about the quality of the wide receivers he will put on the field Saturday.
"You've got Riley Cooper, you've got Louis Murphy, Carl Moore has had a brilliant camp," Meyer said.
He is also high on the rest of his offense.
"You have four running backs right now who can basically go into the game, excellent quarterback play and a strong offensive line. Yeah, we'll be okay."
SWEET REWARDS: Thursday was candy day at practice, and all the football players could be seen carrying some munchies out of the practice fields.
They were carrying Skittles, Kit Kats and Butterfingers, but the best reaction was from offensive lineman Mike Pouncey.
As he walked past the media with a Twix bar in hand, he happily proclaimed, "Gotta have Twix."
