FOUR BITS: Will, Jones, Macklin, WR recruits

1 » Three Florida Gators competed Thursday in the first round of the ITA National Indoor Tennis Championships at the Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center. Freshman Allie Will defeated Yale Bulldogs player Jessie Rhee in straight sets 6-3, 6-1. Will has advanced to the round of 16 and will face Boise State Broncos competitor Pichittra Thongdach on Friday at 10:30 a.m. The news was not so good for Alexandre Lacroix, who dropped straight sets to Wisconsin Badgers player Marek Michalicka; however, he did bounce back with partner Antoine Benneteau to win a doubles match over Aleksey Bessonov and Oleksandr Nedovyesov of the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The duo will compete in quarterfinal action Friday at 9 a.m.

2 » In case you didn’t already realize it, Florida redshirt junior linebacker A.J. Jones is having a breakout season. Grabbing three interceptions combined in the last two games, Jones’ teammates are surprised. Not because he is not a good player, but because he is one of the clumsiest on the team. “I’ve seen him in practice where he’s covering a running back and he’ll trip over his own feet,” junior cornerback Joe Haden said. “We sit and laugh at A.J. sometimes, because sometimes he’s real clumsy.” Clumsy he may be, but an improved work ethic and healthy competition have raised his game to a new level.

3 » Having not played in a college basketball game in over a year, Gators junior transfer center Vernon Macklin “got off to a jittery start” during Florida’s exhibition game Monday night against Saint Leo. “I hadn’t played a game in a long time, so I was nervous,” Macklin said. “I don’t think it really kicked in all of the way. I was still trying to get into the rhythm of the game. It was just all in my head. I just should have gone out there and have been ready to play no matter what, first game and treat it like I do in practice.” As the Gators’ starting center, Macklin will have more than enough opportunities to get it together this season. Hopefully sooner than later.

4 » Updating our story on four-star wide receiver recruit Chris Dunkley (Pahokee, FL), Rivals is reporting that “Florida appears to be in good shape” to receive his commitment. While Dunkley said he had a good time visiting Tennessee last weekend, sources told Rivals that “the Vols are almost totally out of it for Dunkley.” He has visits remaining but is also coveted by head coach Urban Meyer and considered a major piece to the 2010 recruiting puzzle.