DE: Dominique Easley, Earl Okine
DT: Sharrif Floyd, Damien Jacobs
NT: Omar Hunter, Leon Orr
Buck DE: Lerentee McCray, Dante Fowler, Jr.
Sam LB: Darrin Kitchens, Neiron Ball
Mike LB: Jon Bostic, Michael Taylor
Will LB: Jelani Jenkins, Antonio Morrison

CB: Jaylen Watkins OR Louchiez Purifoy
CB: Marcus Roberson OR Cody Riggs
S: Matt Elam, Valdez Showers
S: Josh Evans, Jabari Gorman
Nickel CB: Matt Elam, Jaylen Watkins
Dime CB: Matt Elam, Brian Poole

K: Caleb Sturgis, Brad Phillips
P: Kyle Christy, Todd Fennell
H: John Crofoot, Tyler Murphy
LS: Drew Ferris, Kyle Crofoot
KR: Andre Debose, Solomon Patton
PR: Marcus Roberson, Andre Debose

OUT SATURDAY: Redshirt junior tackle Matt Patchan (pectoral), sophomore defensive back De’Ante Saunders (hamstring), junior Buck linebacker Ronald Powell (ACL), freshman tight end Colin Thompson (foot), senior defensive lineman Nick Alajajian (knee), redshirt junior DL Kedric Johnson (knee)

POSSIBLY OUT SATURDAY: Redshirt junior DB Jeremy Brown (wrist), freshman LT D.J. Humphries (MCL), freshman DB Marcus Maye (knee), redshirt freshman OL Tommy Jordan (shoulder)

NOTES
- Debose is not listed as a starting receiver.
- Koehne and Thurman are inserted as reserve tackles because Patchan is out.
- Silberman is listed as the second-string left guard because Koehne is filling in at tackle.
- Taylor is at Mike LB and Morrison at Will LB as reserves but both are interchangeable.
- All four cornerbacks are expected to see 75 percent of the snaps in a particular game.
- Phillips beat out freshman Austin Hardin for the No. 2 kicker job.
- Murphy is the back-up holder after working on that during the fall.

» Redshirt juniors DB Tim Clark and offensive lineman Cole Gilliam and redshirt senior running back Scott Peek are three walk-ons that were awarded scholarships this week.

» Redshirt sophomore Mack Brown and freshman Matt Jones are competing for the back-up running back job behind senior Mike Gillislee.

» On Gillislee stepping up this offseason: “Mike has always been a hard worker, but I think as much of anything [he stepped up] in spring. You watch some of the carries; we got a decent front, running through some tackles and doing some things. I was very impressed with his lunch pail attitude. He goes out and works. He goes out and puts his time in. He goes and works. A guy that, again, I’ve just been really pleased with his approach, his physical mentality. I’ve just been overall very pleased with him as a player and as a person.”

» Muschamp said he expects to have 5-6 defensive backs on the field 90 percent of the time over Florida’s first three games against Bowling Green, Texas A&M and Tennessee.

» On redshirt sophomore LB Neiron Ball playing so well after missing an entire season: “What a wonderful young man. Handled it very maturely; has been through a tough road, not just with the injury but a lot of things. He has responded as maturely and as well as you can respond to a tough situation. To have a guy that is as happy as he is to play football again, he’s a great example for our guys. On those days when you don’t want to practice, this was a guy that had it taken away from him for a year. He’s very appreciative of his opportunities; I know that.”

» Muschamp said that redshirt senior James Wilson will start at left guard mostly because redshirt junior Kyle Koehne (who was competing for the job) can play all five positions on the line and will be filling in as a reserve tackle with Humphries (likely) and Patchan out for the game.

» “I think we’ve improved tremendously. [...] Talk is cheap. We need to go line up and play. I can sit here and tell you how I feel, but at the end of the day we’ll be judged on September 1st and how we perform and then the following weeks from that on Saturday.”

» On redshirt junior wide receiver Andre Debose: “He needs to be more consistent as far as his assignments are concerned and finishing plays down the field. [He has to] continue to work at those things. He certainly has the ability, but you got to do it all the time, you can’t just talk about it.”

» On if playing two quarterbacks means a team has no true quarterback: “I don’t know. I look at two talented guys we can win with. It didn’t seem to affect LSU last year, so…”

Though Muschamp would not go into too many particulars, he said that both signal callers are completing 63-65 percent of their passes and are about even statistically in their attempts and completions. They have been taken out of the red protective jerseys as of Sunday’s practice.

“Obviously the quarterback I’d like to be a little more settled,” he said when asked which position he is most concerned about as of now. “But again, my confidence level is overly high in both guys. I would just like to settle in where we are as far as that’s concerned. You’re always concerned in camp when you got guys banged up here and there as far as injuries are concerned. I worry about everything, I guess. I don’t know if there’s one thing I could say. How much time do you got?”

PLAYER UPDATES, NOTES AND QUOTES

» Redshirt junior tight end Jordan Reed twisted his knee and will miss 3-4 days of practice. Muschamp said that he is a little sore but perfectly fine otherwise.

» Freshman defensive back Marcus Maye (knee) participated in his first practice on Sunday. “He looked good for the first time out there,” Muschamp said.

» Praised was heaped on freshman wide receiver Raphael Andrades, one of the last players to join Florida’s 2012 recruiting class. “Raphael Andreas had a good day from a receiver standpoint. [He] caught a bubble screen and made a couple guys miss, caught a ball down the field for a jump ball, 50-50 ball,” he said. “I know he’s only a two-star so he’s not supposed to be a good player, but we had the guy in camp and the guy’s got great ball skills. He judges the ball well, catches the ball well, and he’s a guy we need to get more reps to.”

» Redshirt sophomore RB Mack Brown showed flashes on Saturday but still must become a more consistent player especially when it comes to his blocking and pass protection. “He ran the ball extremely well, protected well. He didn’t do a lot of dancing. He stuck his foot in the ground and got north and south, which is something that he can do very well. He’s a strong guy, he’s got a strong lower body. That was very pleasing,” Muschamp said.

» On redshirt sophomore tight end Omarius Hines: “I think he plays very well in the slot. He’s a guy that you can get the ball to on the edge and he can create some things down the field. He’s an explosive athlete. He catches the ball well. He does get on the perimeter and runs well. There is certainly a place and package for him with what we’re doing, and he will have one.”

» On freshman TE Kent Taylor: “Athletically in the throwing game he’s a really good athlete, catches the ball well. We need to get better at some point of attack things, which we knew that coming in and he did, too.”

» On freshman Buck linebacker Dante Fowler, Jr.: “Through 10 practices, he’s done a nice job. He’s been a guy that has produced well and been very productive. He’s very attentive in meetings. He asks questions; he asks the right kind of questions. He plays hard. It’s hard for a young man to come in in the summer and understand the tempo and understand all of the mental gymnastics you have in playing the game and the different things that happen. He’s working very hard at it.”

» Muschamp said redshirt senior Frankie Hammond, Jr. has been the team’s most consistent receiver.

» On junior defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd playing inside: “He eats a lot of space in there.”

» Muschamp said “right now Marcus Roberson” would be starting as the team’s punt returner with redshirt junior WR Andre Debose and sophomore DB De’Ante Saunders next in line. He added that Saunders is rotating as the third safety and fifth cornerback in practice right now.

» Muschamp said the primary starting offensive line included senior Xavier Nixon at left tackle, a rotation of redshirt junior Kyle Koehne and redshirt senior James Wilson at left guard, redshirt junior Jonotthan Harrison at center, redshirt junior Jon Halapio at right guard and redshirt sophomore Chaz Green at right tackle.

» On how the team looks at this point in the fall: “I’m very pleased after 10 practices where we are [with] he commitment level, the toughness, the things that we’ve identified that were major issues for our football team a year ago. I’m very pleased with where we are but we still have miles to travel, you know?”

DE: 73 Sharrif Floyd*, 91 Earl Okine
DT: 44 Leon Orr*, 4 Damien Jacobs*
NT: 99 Omar Hunter, 58 Nick Alajajian
Buck DE: 7 Ronald Powell, 25 Gideon Ajagbe*
SLB: 49 Darren Kitchens, 55 Graham Stewart
MLB: 1 Jon Bostic, 51 Michael Taylor
WLB: 3 Jelani Jenkins, 72 Antonio Morrison

CB: 15 Louchiez Purifoy, 27 Willie Bailey
CB: 31 Cody Riggs*, 14 Jaylen Watkins
Nickel CB: 22 Matt Elam*, 31 Cody Riggs
S: 22 Matt Elam*, 26 De’Ante Saunders
S: 9 Josh Evans, 10 Valdez Showers*

K: 19 Caleb Sturgis, 97 Brad Phillips
P: 44 Kyle Christy
H: 47 John Crowfoot, 44 Kyle Christy
LS: 46 Drew Ferris, 43 Kyle Crowfoot
KR/PR: Not listed

LIMITED FOR SPRING: LB Neiron Ball (vascular condition), CB Marcus Roberson (neck)

OUT FOR SPRING: CB Jeremy Brown (knee), DT Dominique Easley (ACL), OL Cole Gilliam (shoulder), DE Kedric Johnson (shoulder), OL Tommy Jordan (shoulder), LB Lerentee McCray (shoulder), OL Ian Silberman (shoulder)

*BEING CROSS-TRAINED: Floyd – DE/DT/NT, Jacobs – DT/NT, Riggs – S/CB/NCB, Elam – S/NCB, Hines – RB/TE, Patchan – LT/RT, Orr – DT/DE, Ajagbe – SLB/Buck, Jabari Gorman – S/NCB, Showers – S/NCB, Robey – C/G, Koehne – G/C

OGGOA NOTES
- TE A.C. Leonard remains indefinitely suspended from the team for his recent arrest for misdemeanor domestic battery. He would fit in at the first or second slot at his position.
- Wilson was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, a big win for the Gators and their lack of depth and experience on the offensive line.
- Freshman D.J. Humphries, expected to make an impact at offensive tackle, is not yet on the two-deep depth chart likely due to an off-the-field reason like weight or conditioning.
- Brown (CB), Roberson (CB), Easley (DT), McCray (SLB) are four other starters/potential starters who are currently off the depth chart due to injury.

Redshirt senior wide receiver Deonte Thompson: “He’s really helped himself as far as playing on special teams. He’s done a nice job on teams for us. Given his opportunities, I think he’s made some plays for us when given the opportunity. I think he’s played consistent for us. He’s blocked extremely well for us this year. [...] Deonte’s worked extremely hard. He’s done everything we’ve asked. He’s had an outstanding career here. He’s going to graduate in December. He’s done all the right things, and I’m very pleased with Deonte. He can run – that’s the one thing – he can run vertically down the field, and he’s a very physical player. You look at most NFL rosters, they’re going to carry at most six receivers. If you’re not the top one or two, you got to play special teams. I think he’s helped himself this year on our coverage units – punt, punt block – and the different things that he’s been able to contribute to our football team. I think he’s really helped himself as far as those things are concerned.”

Redshirt senior running back Chris Rainey: “I try to judge things with my own eyes. I don’t really like to form an opinion on something that you hear. In my eyes, since I’ve been here, I’ve seen a guy that loves the University of Florida. He loves to compete. He goes out to practice and in the weight room and everything he does, he does 100 percent. He’s got a great sense of humor. He positively affects everyone around him. This team loves him. It’s very obvious to see that. He’s banged up. He’s hurt. His ankle’s bad. We’re sitting there in the Vanderbilt game down on the goal line and we had decided in pregame not to play him. He’s tugging on my back telling me, ‘Put me in the game. Let me carry the ball.’ That’s the type of guy you’re dealing with. That, to me, is a competitive, tough guy that you want playing on Saturday and the type of guy you want on your football team. You need more of those kinds of guys.”

Redshirt senior guard Dan Wenger: “He’s a guy that ahs bonded very easily with our players, very quickly with our players. Maturity, knowledge of the system and what was expected. He’s been a very valuable member for us. He’s a guy that wants to be a strength coach, so he’s in graduate school right now doing very well. He’s a guy I think will be an outstanding coach because of how he deals with people.”

Freshman fullback Hunter Joyer (and his maturity): “The year he has had this season has been very somewhat unnoticed maybe outside of the building. In the building, he’s as appreciated a football player on our football team for what he’s accomplished as a freshman. To come in, block, carry, catch and do the things he’s done offensively and step into the role, he’s a good football player right now but his best football is ahead of him. He’s an outstanding young man and an outstanding student-athlete.”

NOTES AND QUOTES

» Muschamp said all nine scholarship seniors are set to graduate in December.

» Muschamp on the season so far: “We’re certainly not pleased with the season in any respect. It’s totally unacceptable here at Florida and I realize that. Our goal is to go to Atlanta. In all areas we need to improve.”

» Muschamp on the recruiting importance of UF-FSU: “I don’t think that any young man makes his decision based on the outcome of one game. I’ve never felt that way. At the end of the day, young men make their decision based on the opportunity that they have at a certain school from an education standpoint, a football standpoint, a playing time standpoint, a coaching standpoint, the position coach. I don’t think that three hours on Saturday make a decision for young men. Those ones that it does, I don’t know if you want them in your program.”

» Muschamp on not blaming players for mistakes/losses: “At the end of a game, I’m not like a lot of coaches. I’m not going to come in and blame all of our players. There are a lot of coaches that do that. I’m not going to do that. When we play well, it’s because our players played well. When we don’t, it’s my fault. That’s just been my approach all the time, and the players understand that, too. I’m the first one that’s going to stand up and say I need to do a better job. I think it’s very unprofessional for a grown man to come up here and blame a 19-20-21-year-old kid for a mistake. I think that’s ridiculous, and I’m not going to do that. So if it makes somebody mad, let me know.”

» Muschamp on what he told his team for Thanksgiving: “I love this time of the year, and I told the players this morning, ‘I want everybody to call somebody in your life and thank them. We’re in such a society of self-entitlement and how does it affect me. Somebody has helped you get to the University of Florida. Somebody has helped you accomplish the things you have accomplished in life. I want everybody in the room to call somebody and thank them for what they’ve done for them.’ I love this time of the year from the standpoint of rivalry games and Thanksgiving is a lot of fun.”

» Muschamp on if he considered selling the beach house he owns with Jimbo Fisher: “Have you seen the market up there? Do you want to buy it? The market is not real good right now. It’s a buyer’s market though, you’re more than welcome. Jimbo will cut you a heck of a deal.”

» Muschamp on leadership: “Leaders don’t have bad days. Leaders have maybe one a little tougher than another one, but leaders don’t have bad days. They step up every day and they bring it every day. For younger guys, that’s hard to understand. They’ve got to understand it’s an everyday process about being a good football player, about being a leader, about positively affecting everybody around them. You don’t have bad days. That doesn’t happen.”

» Brantley on everything coming full circle: “Me, Rainey and Deonte, it just seems like yesterday that we were sitting in the back row being freshmen. We’ve had a lot of great times and we’re just excited for our last game in The Swamp being against FSU.”

» Brantley on his health: “I’m feeling a lot better. I’m really close to 100 percent, just feeling better each week.”

» Rainey on his favorite player in the Florida-Florida State series growing up: “Emmit Smith. I got a chance to meet him. That’s all that matters to me.”

» Rainey on what was discussed in Monday’s meeting: “If you study on something on film and somebody comes out with a different formation, you just got to be alert to it, be focused all around. Give it all for the seniors and let them leave the right way.”

» Rainey on spending Thanksgiving with the Pouncey brothers: “They sure do eat a lot.”

» Redshirt senior quarterback John Brantley on the young QBs: “These young guys are maturing faster than usual because of these tough times. You learn from these times. Just like Jacoby [Brissett], [Jeff Driskel is] growing up and maturing each week. [...] They’re going to have a good battle come springtime.”

» Howard on his NFL prospects: “Right now I’m just concentrating on winning. I want to win for my program and do it for Coach [Will] Muschamp. He really has been a tremendous change for me in my life. I just want to see him win and be successful. He motivates me. I talk to him every other day. He always has something positive to say. I needed that change.”

» Howard on what changed for him this year: “I took advantage of my time this year. I’m not taking any class so I’m in watching film with my classes every day, trying to get better. I have certain areas that I need to improve on. I’m still young. I’ve only been playing football since my freshman year in high school, so I still have a lot to learn.”

» Howard on which young defenders are improving the most: “Especially the [defensive backs]. They’ve really grown up over the last couple of weeks. you can just see them coming in, getting extra film work and carrying themselves like professionals.”

» Howard on his most improved player: “Dominique Easley. He is completely a different guy from what he was last year. He’s all about football. That’s what he loves to do.”

» Howard on sophomore Buck linebacker Ronald Powell: “He’s just learning the game also. That defensive line is going to be real good in the next two years. They’re probably going to be unstoppable.”

» Debose on the mood of the team after the win: “We’re definitely happy about the win. We’re a little bit more cheerful coming out to practice and stuff like that. We’re feeling more confident from losing four games straight.”

» Debose on losing so much this year: “You come to Florida to win. For you to just lose four-straight in a row, that’s not a fun feeling at all.”

» Koehne said redshirt junior center Sam Robey took first-team reps on Monday.

» Koehne on Brissett’s presence in the huddle: “He’s a calm guy. He’s slowly building confidence with us all and is taking the lead as a young quarterback.”

» Koehne on redshirt sophomore C Jonotthan Harrison being pulled: “We all wanted to help him out and pick him up. It’s up to him and how he responds to it to decide how he’s going to be in the future.”