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Friday, March 29, 2024
<p>After struggling to find his way onto the field during his first three seasons, Omarius Hines, seen running during a recent practice, is making the switch to running back.</p>

After struggling to find his way onto the field during his first three seasons, Omarius Hines, seen running during a recent practice, is making the switch to running back.

Throughout Omarius Hines’ career, coaches have opined about getting him the ball more.

After two years at wide receiver, however, the touches came at a crawling, 1.31 reception-per-game pace. Last season, they trickled into Hines’ hands even slower when he was moved to tight end.

Now, as a redshirt senior, Hines is trying his hand at running back in offensive coordinator Brent Pease’s first spring at the helm of Florida’s offense.

While Hines said he played running back only sparingly in high school, he has impressed both coach Will Muschamp and Pease in the Gators’ early practices.

“He’s such a gifted athlete, it’s kind of learning different spots of where he’s going to be,” Pease said. “He’s got that ability now. He’s natural. ... He’s got a lot of abilities knowing his hands and his explosion just running the ball — his physical attributes.”

Hines said his most recent position switch came from frustration with his lack of playing time.

After redshirting, he caught 41 passes for 559 yards and just two touchdowns in three seasons. He also has carried the ball 13 times for 164 yards and two scores, with his longest rush coming in 2010 against Tennessee on a 36-yard fake punt.

“You come to a place like this expecting to play a lot, and when you don’t play you get kind of down or whatever,” Hines said. “But the coaches have been keeping my head up and letting me know, just be patient and that’s what I’ve been doing.”

The 6-foot-2, 223-pound Hines gives UF added depth at the running back position after the departures of Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps. Though the Gators have tailbacks Mike Gillislee and Mack Brown returning, Florida’s staff has also converted former safety Chris “Juice” Johnson to play in the backfield.

Purifoy battling: Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said sophomore cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy is making strides in the competition to start alongside Marcus Roberson.

“He really came on and played some (late last season), and all the way through the bowl preparations is when you really see the guy break through,” Quinn said. “That game, he played a bunch. So going into the offseason we were saying,‘Alright, now the light’s gone on,’ so to speak, for him.”

Coming off a 27-tackle season with one forced fumble as a freshman, Purifoy has dealt with a sprained right shoulder for the last 10 days but has continued to practice.

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Purifoy is mainly competing with juniors Jaylen Watkins and Cody Riggs — last year’s starter opposite Roberson — for playing time.

“Purifoy has really improved from Day 1 when I met him,” Watkins said. “He’s starting to understand the defense. He’s starting to make plays on the ball, he’s real physical. He’s trying to get strips. He’s out there doing what he needs to do.”

Defensive playmakers: Despite ending last season as two of Florida’s three top tacklers, linebackers Jon Bostic and Jelani Jenkins are being challenged to produce even more on defense.

While Muschamp described both players’ performances as solid so far in spring practice, he wants to see more big plays out of the pair. UF tied for 112th nationally last season in turnovers forced, leaving room for improvement in Quinn’s second season coaching the defense.

“We are really counting on these linebackers to really make some plays,” Quinn said. “To be in coverage and get a batted ball or an interception, that kind of production is what we’re talking about. ... Both of those guys have the explosiveness to create big plays.”

Contact John Boothe at jboothe@alligator.org.

After struggling to find his way onto the field during his first three seasons, Omarius Hines, seen running during a recent practice, is making the switch to running back.

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