Florida Football: Latest News, Injuries and Updates on the Gators

With spring practice and the 2012 Orange and Blue Debut now in the past, the Florida Gators are now entering a dead period when it comes to football operations. 

The coaching staff, other than strength and conditioning coordinator Jeff Dillman, cannot have contact with the players as it pertains to football. Players will participate in player-organized and player-run practices, and they will continue with a lifting program. However, they cannot practice in front of coaches until the summer. 

With this slow period, the responsibility really falls on the shoulders of the players and Dillman to make sure that each individual is doing the necessary things to ensure they are going to be ready for the summer and fall camps. 

Let's take an inventory as to where the Florida program is heading into the summer. 

Latest News

News as of April 15, 2012

The Gators had a productive spring, but ended with a major setback. Starting BUCK linebacker Ronald Powell tore his ACL in the first half of the spring game. Powell has been given a timetable of 4-6 months—optimistic, if you ask me—before he can return to football activities. 

Nick Alajajian recently made the move from offense to defense and also suffered a setback. Alajajian underwent surgery on his wrist April 10, but he should be ready for fall camp. 

The spring provided new offensive coordinator Brent Pease with a first look at his two new quarterback options. Neither Jacoby Brissett nor Jeff Driskel were able to win the starting job during the spring, and this is beginning to look like a battle that will go down to the wire. 

Mike Gillislee locked up the No. 1 running back spot during spring practice and will go into the summer and fall in that role. It seems that Gillislee has shown the coaches that he has improved his pass-blocking and durability from a season ago. He will feel the heat from freshman Matt Jones when he enrolls in the summer, but Gillislee should be able to hold off the freshman and remain the top dog in the backfield. 

Injury Updates

Updated April 19, 2012

Ronald Powell will undergo surgery to repair his ACL on Monday, April 23. 2012. 

Injury Updates as of April 15, 2012

Ronald Powell is currently waiting for the swelling in his knee to go down before he can undergo surgery. His surgery is expected to take place sometime this week, and I will update this slide accordingly at that point. 

Dominique Easley is also recovering from a torn ACL, but is fully expected to return in time for summer practice.

Nick Alajajian underwent surgery on his wrist April 10 and is expected to miss summer workouts. He should be ready in time for the fall, though.  

Neiron Ball, who suffered a scary neck injury against Florida State, was cleared for contact and was a full participant in spring practice, but sat out the spring game. Ball did not suffer any setbacks and should continue making an impact on special teams and defense. 

The following players did not play in the spring game, but should be back for either summer or fall:

Neiron Ball (vascular condition)

Jeremy Brown (knee)

Dominique Easley (ACL)

Matt Elam (groin)

Kendric Johnson (shoulder)

Tommy Jordan (shoulder)

Earl Okine (back)

Ja'Juan Story (ankle)

Lerentee McCray (shoulder)

Ian Silberman (shoulder)

General Updates

Updated April 19, 2012

While speaking with boosters today Muschamp said that if the season started today the starting offensive line would be as follows:

LT - Nixon, LG - Wilson, C - Harrison, RG - Halapio, RT - Patchan

Updated As of April 15, 2012

Following the Orange and Blue Debut, new offensive coordinator Brent Pease took some time to sit down with Scott Carter of GatorZone. Pease discussed the offense and how he feels they have progressed in the short amount of time he has spent with them. 

Some of the things touched on in the interview were the quarterback battle, establishing a power running game and comparing the talent Pease coached at Boise State last season to this year's Gator squad. 

Overall, Pease seemed pleased with the amount of information that the players were able to absorb in just 15 practices. As the players become more comfortable with the offensive scheme, they will be able to think less on the field, play faster and become more instinctual:

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"They were learning so much. They've learned a lot, so now it should become repetitive to them and they understand the language and what we expect. The next go-around will be a lot quicker and faster and more consistent."

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Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn also sat down with Carter post-spring game to talk about the progress the defense has made. The interview touched on Antonio Morrison, Damien Jacobs, Ronald Powell's knee and where the defense is headed. 

Both Muschamp and Quinn have been very high on true freshman Antonio Morrison. Morrison is a player who probably had already earned himself playing time this season, but with Powell out for the foreseeable future, Morrison could find even more playing time in the fall:

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"I think he was ahead of the curve a little physically and also, to his credit, he’s got a pretty good football background. In terms of picking up the concepts and knowing how to play, there weren't the normal mistakes that you may see with a new player going into a new system. I thought he worked extremely hard in the offseason trying to learn it."

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A big hurdle for a young player to overcome is earning the trust of his coaches. It seems that Morrison is showing the coaches his dedication off the field by getting in his playbook and dedicating himself to the weight room. If Morrison can play the SAM linebacker spot, Lerentee McCray can fill in at BUCK while Powell rehabs his knee. 

The defense most definitely took a hit with Powell's injury, but Morrison could considerably soften that blow. 

Recruiting News

Recruiting News as of April 15, 2012

The Gators are off to a fast start in recruiting the Class of 2013. 

Florida already has 15 recruits committed to the class and is nowhere near done. 

Highlighting the class so far are RB Kelvin Taylor, LB Daniel McMillan, WR Ahmad Fulwood, S Nick Washington and DT Caleb Brantley. 

Taylor, the son of former Gator Fred Taylor, had already surpassed Emmit Smith as the all-time leading rusher in Florida high school history. Taylor was heavily recruited and chose Florida over Alabama. 

The Gators are still in the mix for several highly rated recruits and would love to add players such as DE Joey Bosa, WR Robert Foster and LB Matthew Thomas, among others. 

Recruiting efforts are still in the infancy stages, but the Gators have already made an impact on the 2013 class. 

Gators in the Draft

Draft News as of April 15, 2012

The Gators have several players who are draft-eligible this year. Of the draft-eligible players, only three are projected to be drafted this year.

Chris Rainey, Jaye Howard and Janoris Jenkins are all projected to be selected, while John Brantley, Dan Wenger, Deonte Thompson and Moses Jenkins participated in Florida's pro day. 

Let's take a look at the main three who will definitely be drafted:

Janoris Jenkins

Jenkins is arguably the best cornerback in this year's draft. Morris Claiborne has great size and ball skills, but people forget how Jenkins shut down the likes of Julio Jones and A.J. Green during his time at Florida.

Unfortunately, after Urban Meyer's departure, Jenkins was arrested twice for possession of marijuana. He was dismissed from the team and transferred to North Alabama, where he has admitted to continuing his use of marijuana. 

The off-the-field concerns about him have NFL teams backing off. Jenkins has Top-10 talent, but could fall out of the first round. 

Chris Rainey

Rainey was the Gators offense in 2011 and will be an impact player in the NFL due to his speed, agility and quickness. 

Mel Kiper has Rainey going between the second and fourth rounds. 

Jaye Howard

Howard is a physically imposing player at 6'3'' and 301 pounds. He is getting the least hype out of these players, and the earliest I have seen him mocked is the fourth round. Howard should expect to hear his name called between the fourth and sixth rounds. 

Howard will be a good professional. He didn't have any off-the-field issues while at Florida, he is a hard worker and is determined to show NFL teams that he has what it takes to be a productive player in the league.