Florida football notebook: High hopes for Tre Wilson, Joey Slackman as Gators OL remains work in progress

Image Credit: Ashley Ray, UAA

Tensions have been ratcheted up as the Florida Gators await the start of the 2024 season with the No. 19 Miami Hurricanes visiting Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida, on Saturday afternoon. What has become the marquee game of Week 1 stands as the first of four the Gators will play against in-state opponents, and suffice to say, head coach Billy Napier is ready to get going.

While there has been consternation about a marketing effort from Florida and plenty of trash talk going both ways, the Gators depth chart is now set with Napier confident a covenant has been built between the players ahead of the start of the season. All that’s left, really, is clanking helmets and an effort to protect The Swamp.

That also presents an opportunity to clear out the notebook and wipe the slate clean for Florida as it prepares to begin the toughest schedule in college football history. Only Gators will touch on that subject later this week and take a closer look at the team’s quarterbacks on Friday. For now, let’s get back to that notebook and straighten the deck before the season.

True bell-cow back?

It has been a long time since the Gators have been willing to allow a primary running back to tote the rock without a significant timeshare in the backfield. While redshirt senior Montrell Johnson Jr. will certainly have help from a rapidly developing group of reserves, the departure of Trevor Etienne has sent Johnson from “1A” to “No. 1 with a bullet.” His ascension has not been without concern, however, as Johnson required minor surgery to clear out a nagging knee issue. It was a procedure that put his start to the season in question for a few weeks.

Johnson was cleared to play in Week 1 this week after making consistent progress without any setbacks over the last month. It sounds like Napier is prepared to increase his utilization, too, which should give Johnson the ability to prove to NFL scouts that his talent is deserving of significant consideration next April.

“He has tremendous experience. It’s his fourth year in the system. He’s one of the few rushers in the country whose approaching 2,500 yards,” Napier said of Johnson. “He’s a smart player. He’s got poise, composure, he’s one of the best practice players we have. And he has character; the players respect him. He’s a voice on our team.”

An injury to a star player is never a positive, but the blessing in disguise — in terms of Johnson’s absence — has been additional reps for a bevy of young rushers who have made the most of that opportunity. Sophomore Treyaun Webb, the best blocker in the group, will sit behind Johnson as the second stringer, while freshmen Jadan Baugh and KD Daniels are most likely to get snaps behind him. Even redshirt junior transfer Ja’Kobi Jackson, though, has proven to be a capable playmaker in fall practice. “We feel good about that room,” Napier said.

Déjà vu: Untimely offseason loss

Florida saw a projected starting defensive lineman lost for the year during a second straight offseason when redshirt sophomore Jamari Lyons went down with a broken ankle less than three weeks ago. Lyons, expected to make a huge jump coming out of the summer, was playing defensive end and nose tackle. His versatility was needed on the unit, and his absence has drastically changed the depth chart.

Redshirt junior Justus Boone tore his ACL last offseason — the exact same week Lyons got injured this year — creating a significant hole in the Gators’ pass rushing ability 12 months ago. Florida’s improved depth should allow it to fill in the hole created by Lyons easier this time around, but the parallels between the losses of both players were obvious within the organization.

Still an offensive line?

The quality of the Gators’ offensive front almost takes a consistent slope from left tackle to right tackle. Whereas the left side of the line is solidified and redshirt junior Jake Slaughter easily slid into the starting center role — a position he played plenty in 2023 — the right side has been a significant work in progress throughout the offseason. Napier has stressed increased depth up front and improved strength from the weight room noting that there will be competition for starting jobs and snaps throughout the season. However, even a casual observer knows it is preferred to have starters locked down and roles defined given acquisitions out of the transfer portal.

Redshirt junior Damieon George Jr. shifts inside as the Week 1 starter at right guard, a more natural position than he played in 2023. Redshirt senior transfer Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson (San Diego State) was expected to lock up the right tackle job; instead, he opens as a second stringer behind redshirt junior Kamryn Waites, a former AAU basketball player who made strides this offseason having finally been able to compete an entire camp while healthy. (Redshirt freshman Roderick Kearney, who also received reps on the right side, will begin the season as Slaughter’s backup.)

“We’ve got depth,” Napier said. “We’ve got multiple players who can play each position. It’s very competitive. A lot of roles are going to be competitive each week relative to who starts the game, how many plays they play. It’s a battle out there. … The competitive depth has helped.”

Player evaluations, updates

Sophomore WR Eugene Wilson III: The clear-cut No. 1 pass catcher, Wilson will continue holding a role in the return game, though Florida has more options than in years past. Napier said Wilson has focused on his across-the-board consistency when it comes to film, practice, discipline, taking care of his body and not buying the hype he heard when entering as a freshman. Ricky Pearsall provided an example for the type of trajectory Wilson can take from Year 1 to Year 2 in this sytem.

Senior CB Jason Marshall Jr.: The clear-cut No. 1 pass defender, Marshall took a step forward as a leader this offseason. His practice habits have improved and there is more confidence than ever that he will be able to lock down one boundary helping improve the totality of the Gators’ secondary. Napier joked that Marshall is about to start a “contract year” — given his NFL aspirations – and it’s his belief fans will see that level of performance from him in 2024.

Sophomore DB Jordan Castell: If not Marshall, Castell is the straw that stirs the drink in the among the Gators defensive backs. Napier called him “one of the better secondary players in the country” noting that veteran additions to the unit have allowed him to play more freely. Coupling the improved talent around Castell with expected growth in Year 2, it could be a special season.

Senior DL Desmond Watson: Now standing 6-foot-5 and 449 pounds, Watson will still appear to be a behemoth lined up in the middle of Florida’s defensive front on Saturday. But for a player who has struggled to keep off the weight and stay on the field (for the number of snaps his coaches desire), Watson appears to have turned a corner with his preparation and mindset. “He’s had a good offseason,” Napier said. “He’s lost a significant amount of weight. His body composition has changed in a drastic way. He’s moving around better. He’s in football condition. I don’t know that he’s ever going to be a conditioning test all-star, but this is what he does: He plays football. … Des has got a good look in his eye, and this is a big year for him.”

Redshirt senior DE Joey Slackman: The Ivy League graduate has perhaps stood as the most-hyped transfer UF brought into the program. And for good reason: Slackman is a co-starter with a ferocious attitude cultivated from competing in wrestling for two years before stepping on the gridiron. Napier referred to the eye-black-wearing, smelling-salt-sniffing, Ultimate Warrior-mirroring defender the “most football guy on the team”  for his ability to motivate others and serve as a consistent presence along a unit that needs to make strides. Slackman took some time off to nurse a sore knee but remains cleared to start the season.

“I’m a Joey Slackman guy,” Napier said. “Joey brings a maturity and awareness. He’s extremely bright and motivated and driven. He’s a self-starter, and he’s an alpha. He brings other things besides [his size] to the table. … He’s consistent. His motor is always running. He has the ability to affect other people; that’s one of the reasons we brought him here.”

Redshirt junior DE Caleb Banks: Splitting duties with Slackman, he made a significant jump over the last couple months. Banks has basically zero playing experience to start last season but continues to gain confidence and maturity alongside his natural talent.

Redshirt senior EDGE Ja’Markis Weston: Having originally signed with Florida as a wideout, Weston made the uncommon switch to the defensive front seven after spending much of the last two seasons as a special teams standout. He considered jumping to the NFL last offseason only to change his mind and give college football another go. The new Gators strength program helped Weston increase his weight to 235 pounds, and Napier is completely bought in believing he can make a major impact in 2024.

“This guy is one of the best special teams players in the country,” he said. “… He’s a good teammate. He’s got some leadership traits. … He’s a guy that can rush the passer, and I think we can create some value for him on the edge as a normal-down player that can help him in his career. … This guy is going be a weapon for our team, and he’s got an NFL future as a core special teams player. We need more guys like him for sure.”

Redshirt freshman WR Aidan Mizell: Making one of the team’s biggest jumps in his second season, Mizell has improved across the board: route running, hand placement, ball skills. “He’s made some very impressive, challenging catches the last couple days,” Napier said Monday. “He brings a speed element to our team that we need, and we’re hopeful he can make an impact.”

Redshirt junior WR Kahleil Jackson: Having improved his communication and on-field leadership significantly, it was thought Jackson might have a chance to steal a starting job coming out of fall camp. Instead, he will rotate alongside senior transfer Elijhah Badger (Arizona State) at the third receiving position.