Senior Day is for celebrating the careers of the many players who dedicated four years — five in the case of six Gators — toward working hard and keeping strong the tradition of suiting up in the Orange and Blue. But the celebration also comes as a passing of the torch to the younger players.
The 2018 season’s final home game against Idaho will be a big opportunity for young talents, especially freshmen, to get on their home field.
Quarterback Emory Jones is an obvious candidate for significant playing time. But he’s not the only freshman riding a redshirt and hoping to play on the green grass of the Swamp. There are plenty of others with bright futures looking to make an impact against the Vandals and foreshadow what is to come.
Here are a few to keep your eyes on.
Iverson Clement, Running Back
Dameon Pierce is the freshman running back who has received a lot of attention, and rightfully so. He has filled in nicely for the injured Malik Davis as the Gators’ third running back option.
But Iverson Clement, a four-star recruit from Mount Holly, New Jersey, is full of promise.
The 5-foot-11 freshman will potentially make his second appearance of the season against the Vandals, meaning he could play in all of Florida’s remaining games and still preserve his redshirt. He played against Charleston Southern in the first game of the season and had one carry for five yards.
Clement’s electrifying speed makes him a game breaker, but what’s exciting about him is his well-roundedness. He fits a mold similar to Lamical Perine. Clement is big enough to run over defensive backs and has plenty of skill in the receiving game to punish defenses on both short and long passes.
Assuming Jordan Scarlett makes the shift to the professional ranks, Clement could round out a four-headed monster in UF’s backfield next season.
Jacob Copeland, Wide Receiver
Florida fans have been begging all season to see what Jacob Copeland can do, and Saturday will likely be the chance.
The 6-foot freshman from Pensacola, Florida, lit up high school football fields in the panhandle with his torching speed. He’s a deep threat who can showcase the arm talent of whoever is throwing to him, whether it be Feleipe Franks or Emory Jones. Copeland also impresses with his ability to make quick, decisive cuts after he receives the ball, helping him turn short slants or curls into chunks of yardage.
Copeland struggled with injury this season, but he’s finally healthy. Florida’s got a lot of depth at receiver, causing the freshman to be sidelined in SEC games, which hold restrictions on how many players can dress. Expect him to get a chance now that there’s no player limit.
Richard Gouraige and Chris Bleich, Offensive Linemen
Three seniors on the starting offensive line will celebrate Senior Day, meaning there will be a lot of new faces on UF’s O-Line next season.
Senior guard Fred Johnson said on Tuesday he’s most excited to see freshmen Richard Gouraige and Chris Bleich.
Gouraige, a 6-foot-4 tackle from Tampa, and Bleich, a 6-foot-6 guard from Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, are at different stages in their Florida careers despite both being first-year players.
Gouraige has a lot of depth in front of him at tackle with Stone Forsythe or Noah Banks looking to fill in for the departing Martez Ivey. However, the four-star recruit will at least be able to compete for a starting spot following his redshirt season.
Bleich will likely step into a starting role in 2019 with Johnson and guard Tyler Jordan both leaving at the season’s end.
The three-star recruit earned a backup role this year behind Johnson, who noted the freshman’s work ethic.
“It bothers him when he doesn’t do something right,” Johnson said, “and I can see he’s putting in extra work after practices and stuff, and it doesn’t go unnoticed.”
Follow Mark Stine on Twitter @mstinejr or contact him at mstine@alligator.org.
Gators running back Iverson Clement played against Charleston Southern in the season opener. He had one carry for five yards.
