GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators celebrated last season Saturday by getting their national championship rings, then took a look at what’s in store for the future.
With 16 starters sitting out, many of them for precautionary reasons, Florida’s spring game turned into a showcase for young players who might not even make an impact this fall.
Sophomore John Brantley threw for 265 yards and three touchdowns, ran for two scores and led the Orange team to a 31-21 victory over Tim Tebow’s Blue squad.
“He had a great spring,” offensive coordinator Steve Addazio said. “You watch his presence in the pocket, his poise. He took a shot under the chin and delivered a strike. All the signs and evidence of a guy that’s really developing into one heck of a football player.
“He’s a legitimate player, and we have a lot of confidence in him. That was a major deal for the spring, and I think the exclamation point was out there for him today.”
Brantley was 14-of-23 passing, with completions of 26, 47 and 50 yards. His 47-yarder to Frankie Hammond Jr. highlighted a 90-yard touchdown drive in the first half. They also hooked up on a 50-yard score on the second play of the second half.
Hammond caught the ball in stride, then juked Adrian Bushell near the goal line and coasted into the end zone. The redshirt freshman finished with four catches for 131 yards and two scores.
“It feels good, but I still made some mistakes,” Hammond said. “I’m just trying to contribute and trying to fit in wherever it may be.”
The receiver position was one of Florida’s main concerns this spring. The Gators lost their top two wideouts, Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy, after beating Oklahoma in the national title game in January and weren’t sure who would replace them. But Hammond, Deonte Thompson (four catches for 44 yards), Carl Moore (two for 49) and T.J. Lawrence (five for 59) looked to be capable pass-catchers.
“We do have guys,” Tebow said. “There’s a lot of different guys. There’s no one guy. It’s a lot of guys competing for the ball, competing for catches. I think that’s great because it’s going to make these guys work really hard this summer.”
Tebow only played the first half and was 7-of-9 passing for 81 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. He also ran three times for 21 yards.
Tebow, Thompson, running back Chris Rainey and three offensive linemen were the only starters who played in the spring game. The entire first-team defense got the day off, which might have benefited Brantley the most. Instead of going against the first unit, he faced second- and third-teamers.
Nonetheless, he showed the kind of game-management skills of an experienced quarterback.
“It’s really clicked for me that I can do this,” said Brantley, who played for both teams in the second half and actually scored once for the Blue squad. “Once Tebow leaves, and if I’m fortunate enough to get the starting job, I can run the show.”
Tebow took Brantley around Florida Field for a victory lap after the game, with the duo getting high-fives from some of the about 50,000 on hand.
The day started with players getting one of their three rings. They are still waiting on national championship rings that players designed. This one was a huge silver one with an orange and blue “No. 1” etched between “National” and “Champions.”
“My arm’s already a little bit sore and I’ve only had it on a couple of minutes,” Brantley said.
With the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner and the team’s entire defense back from last season, the Gators expect to compete for another title this fall. Even coach Urban Meyer acknowledged the program is in great shape right now.
“What we can’t do is lose our edge,” Meyer said. “If we didn’t have all those minor dings, you would have seen a hell of a team jog out there today. What did we envision? This is it. This is where we want to be. We just have to be careful, put the pedal to the metal. ... We’ve got this thing about where you want. Now we’ve just got to stay and keep recruiting our tails off and keep working.”
Meyer said he plans to make summer drills and fall practice the most difficult workouts his players have ever faced, figuring that’s the best way to keep them from paying attention to any preseason accolades and lofty predictions that might come their way.
“We’ll be hungry and we’ll keep that edge because we have great senior leaders,” Tebow said. “That’s the most important thing. What makes us a good team is that edge, wanting to win, wanting to go out there and fight and dominate teams.”
And if Florida stays on edge?
“If we play the way we’re supposed to play, we’ll be right back in the big game,” Brantley said.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 53
OrangeMan_86 writes:
The #3 quarterback in his recruiting class.
kjneel#238751 writes:
dont care
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Crazy, I thought UT had a spring game today too but there's no news of that on this UT site so I'm not sure.
sebfootball_39 writes:
I think they got the site mixed up. This is "BIG ORANGE!", not gator orange!
MrBamSeydu writes:
It'd be nice to read an article on the Tennessee spring game instead of this garbage.
Why do they post Florida articles on a UT website? I know Kaplan tried the "this is a news website" excuse, but the truth of the matter is this is OBVIOUSLY a UT news info website. I'd like to know if Gainesville's news site offers so much UT information? That's a big no.
sebfootball_39 writes:
We must have our article writers speechless after the stunning performance from "The NEW UT!!!"
DennisVols writes:
Looks like the Gator defensive was pretty porus this afternoon. Couldn't create many turnovers and let a back up QB tourch them. With all the injuries the Gators already have in spring things could get ugly in the Swampy this year.
AustinTX_Vol writes:
I'm thinking the same thing. Maybe if we go to GatorBait.net they'll have a rundown of the Vols spring game. If they want to put this gators news up here that's fine. But don't you think they should focus more on the spring game of the school they follow.
19SEP09 writes:
Top 3 quarterbacks in the SEC.
1) Tim Tebow
2) Jevon Snead
3) John Brantley
The reason UT runs articles like these is that don't watch you guys saying "WTF, how come no one mentioned this guy" when he torches you for 3 TD's after Tebow exits the game on Sept 19.
btw - fantastic pickup on that Broussard kid. If you keep him away from Miles, he's gonna be all SEC for you guys.
sebfootball_39 writes:
Dang, Gator tail sounds great this year for the tail gate grill! We eat it before we go and beat it!
VolInIndy writes:
yfyifikgfkyfgvk
101st_AIRBORNE_VOL (Inactive) writes:
Laughable. Entire first team d got the day off. Brantley lit up 2nd and 3rd stringers. Hahahahaha! Our d was better than yours last year, don't even try to argue, you'll look stupid. Looks like we know which team is working harder for next year. If UF was trying to keep an edge, they would've thrown 1st team o against 1st team d, looks like they're scared to hit. Hahahahaha!!
DennisVols writes:
Hard to take it that the Gators weakness is being exposed isn't it.
Your defense is hurt and weak in depth. UT's defense won't allow 20 points against them in the swampy and walk out singing Rocky Top all the way back up I-75.
19SEP09 writes:
Gator defense is weak in depth?
There ain't squat between yo' ears son. If you lak, we'll gitcha sum readin' lessins.
19SEP09 writes:
Z4,
We got us some low hangin' froot here. Some nukklehead sayin' Gator D ain't good.
Sheet, I bet they caint spell none too good in knocksville.
DennisVols writes:
UT 34
UF 20
Game Summary: Tebow was intercepted twice by Berry with returns of 64 and 58 and one TD.
UF's defense gave up over 300 yards in rushing to UT top 3 running backs and Crompton completed 14 of 23 for 195 yards and 1 TD with no interceptions.
101st_AIRBORNE_VOL (Inactive) writes:
1. Special teams scored on us, and when the offense keeps giving it up at midfield, it's a little too easy. Offense didn't put up 30, quit talking out of your azz.
2. Poor discipline, qb play, out of shape lineman, I can go on and on (and yes, it was all offensive players). Coaching staff sucked.
3. I agree Brantley will play against us next year. He'll have too when EB proves that he is, indeed, made of Kryptonite when he knocks that fruitcake out of the game.
Oh yeah,
WRITE IT DOWN.
mjaichele writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
19SEP09 writes:
Jes tryin' to fit in wid the lokals.
They git a bit ornerie whin you talk fancy an all. Makes 'em feel inadakwate. Dont wannem chokin' on a poke rind. No wudda mean?
yeavols#228407 writes:
It's quite obvious that NO ONE cares about what is going on in florida other than someone from florida. KNS posts this article knowing that no one cares, but only to get a full glowing report from gator fans which in turn elicits a response from VOL fans. How obvious can it be?
101st_AIRBORNE_VOL (Inactive) writes:
Think that maybe, possibly, the offense has been whipped into shape? Seems UF's offense kinda sucked until Meyer showed up.
Yet again you sound like an idiot.
BTW, if you didn't listen to the game, maybe you'd realize the d scored points for stopping drives, int's, etc. It wasn't half the team against the other half, it was o vs. d.
19SEP09 writes:
You jes been smellin them gators dat hangin' out in yo neck uh da woods.
dats voluntear sheet you smellin.
TommyJack writes:
You gator lopers are a disgrace to UF.
DennisVols writes:
Oooooooooo Someone is getting a little ruffled isn't he/she.
UT will not be the only team in the SEC to take it to the lil-gators this year.
Percy is no longer there to save your day or QB and it is obivious by the fact the UF 1st team sat out today they are afraid of getting hurt.
I could hear them crying just like their coach all the way up here in ATL.
Sit back and watch how they crumble under UT's defense this year and watch the new offense pound it down your lil throat.
MattDillon writes:
Did you mention throttling back and not taking a knee in the same post. this post alone shows your stupidity. Stupid BOY
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
Hate to break it to you but FL offense only scored 16 on TN defense last year.
And to say Meyer EVER throttles back is laughable. He can be up by 30 with 5 min to go and Tebow will still be running for 1st downs.
19SEP09 writes:
man, whats you too arguin' 'bout anyways? its a dang scrimmitch. one side got to do good and the other not so good.
i sez yoo look at lass year and see whats da difference. y'all got mostly the same players and a now you got a piece of sheet coach te boot. I wouldna be braggin' on the voluntears til ya show what ya kin do 'gainst a nudda team.
make mo sense to try en sneak up on a gater then to iratate his azz.
mjaichele writes:
No, that'w where there heads are most of the time. Come out of the dark sometime, clean up and join the human race, you might learn something.
SGidds writes:
Um, hate to point out the obvious here, but even if the defense holds the opponent to ZERO points you won't win the game unless you score. So, whether or not you "accept it", OFFENSE is important. Look at where UT's offense ranked in division I; we were not just bad, we were catastrophic. It seemed like our offense gave the opponents almost as many points as it scored for UT.
I have a question for you. If Florida and UT traded offenses last year, how many games do you think Florida would have won? Honestly.
As for the "drop 30 on you" comment, did you even watch the game? As I recall, Tennessee kept giving Florida short fields due to turnovers and horrible special teams play/decisions. Heck, if UT kept starting on the opponent's 15 or 20 yard line, even our pathetic offense might have scored some points. On second thought, maybe not.
19SEP09 writes:
you thin' civlized peeple is where ya do da learnin'. Im sorry suh, but y'all civlized peeple be messin' up da planit.
Im happi heah in da swamp. Bin 300 hunderd millyin yeahs dat de gater bin around widout help from no peeple. If i gotsta, i eat up a man, but y'all eat meat an dont taste no good. Bozz man Urban sez I gotta keep a empty stumich on 19 septembuh. Eet me a hole lotta voluntear meat.
Fossilfiction writes:
Want some real talk?
Our defense made a goal line stand today from inside the one!
Nothing new there really...
The recievers made some great catches.
Just a couple of drops(they will happen)...
Williams and Poole are some great runners. They had some nice long runs with spins jukes and power.
They were impressive.
Our recievers block 10x better than last year. When threw a screen we got more than one or two yards. Probably about 7 on average.
That's nice....
Stephens looked a little rusty but played better when the game went on.
To be expected with the time out of practice....
Coleman looked like a true gun sling. He seemed to struggle more inside the 20 and threw high a couple times. The defense dropped two interceptions from him. Overall he needs more time with the first string to see how good he is.
Crompton started out okay. He threw behind the recievers at the started and threw a bad pass four yards behind the reciever for a pick. However he rebounded great. He threw a couple into the endzone. And moved the ball well most of the time. Don't hate he played better today than he did all of last year.
The bad?
We had to run a lot of bootlegs. That makes me worry about our line. Every pass play was some form of rollout. I don't think they want the QB standing still in the pocket.
Some fans booed crompton badly after his int yet didn't think to clap when he hit the recievers in the end zone. Bottom line is the kid is coming along. The coaches are doing great and we are going to win alot this year. Keep getting better crompton!
MattDillon writes:
Florida had the ball for 6 minutes and 2 possessions in the throttle back, a punt and a 8 play drive for their second td of the day, in the third quarter of lasts years game. UT kept the ball 9 minutes with 2 punts and an 11 play scoring drive in the third. Get real stupid
the10sevol writes:
Berry with returns of 64 and 58 and ONE touchdown? If EB runs that kind of distance, they won't deny him the zone, LOL, he can finish!
GBO!
SGidds writes:
When you have no answers on your roster at QB, what difference does it make when you notice the problems?
I wasn't giving excuses why we lost, genius, I was explaining how it's not too hard to give up 30 points with a very good defense when your special teams and offense hand the ball over to the opponent near the goalline.
Stay on topic, please. The discussion question is, "Which defense was better, UT's or Florida's?". I know what your answer will be, and honestly I have to agree with you. Florida's was JUST A LITTLE BIT better.
Down_The_Field writes:
he was comparing the flar-duh offense with the flar-duh defense. you're the one comparing ut and uf. learn to read before you go off all half cocked.
for someone who's so confident you seem to care so much about ut. just and observation.
Down_The_Field writes:
btw, i doubt jay barker was in the top 5 of sec quarterbacks in 1992.
basically, if you have the horses up front and average 3.34 yd/carry, all you need in a qb is someone who can hand off.
Down_The_Field writes:
i've got $2K that says they do. you? this is the part where you ignore me cause you won't put you money where your mouth is.
Down_The_Field writes:
yep, they just didn't show in the national rankings and surely didn't deliver when ole miss came knocking.
flar-duh, the tradition of ND.
volpreacher writes:
They didn't drop 30 on the defense last year. They scored a defensive touchdown on a turnover by our pathetic offense and a kick run back. 16 points against the defense and nothing was scaled back. Sorry to burst your bubble. Whose defense was ranked higher. I'll answer that UT. A lot higher.
kman29 writes:
Im sorry had to try to contain myself from laughing at that. The Gators weakness being exposed??? LOL! Oh my goodness. Yeah buddy um what ever helps you sleep at night. All those "banged up" players would easily have played if this was a regular season game. But no coach in the country is going to play established starters in a spring game if they have the slightest minor injury. Players like Joe Haden do not gain a thing from playing in the spring game. Its backups and bench players who never see the field that gain from playing in spring.
Is this really what you all have resorted to? Your trying to analyze UFs spring game to guage their 2009 season???? Oh man! Some of you are in for a looong season of hating UF.
halloffamebowler writes:
If you want to believe it has not improved,go ahead.
belayvol writes:
The wife won't let him bet on gator football. She needs some new dentures this year.
belayvol writes:
The thing is DC, flip top beer bottles "impress" you.
belayvol writes:
I finally figured out why you three gators all show up here at the same time. In reality, you are Larry, Daryl and Daryl from the old Bob Newhart show.
MarbleVol48 writes:
Brantley would not have to do too much to be the best QB at UF. If he can accurately throw the ball 20 yards he's the best they have. Its his surrounding cast that makes the difference! Good grief - come on Urban (POS) Meyer you don't have to recruit at Florida. Steve Spurrier took care of that years ago - so just shut the **** up!
GahLee writes:
WHO CARES?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!
OrangePower11 writes:
Bucs season ticket holder here, allow me to give you a quick lesson...
Dungy himself gives Monte credit for the "Tampa 2" which is NOTHING even close to a traditional cover 2, which Dungy brought with him from Minnesota...
The defense did indeed fold the final 4 games of the season last year (top 2 D tackles hurt, offense going 3 and out 47% of possesions final 4 games) and trust me when I tell you that the collapse was not on the coordinator....Be careful what you ask for friend, your gators are far from unbeatable.......
I think Tommy Frazier just broke another UF tackle.
OrangePower11 writes:
Channing Crowder...
Do you really want to go there?
Vol_atile writes:
In the words of YOUR Florida politicion. You gator are to be gradulated on winning you spring game.
utvol2485 writes:
This was pretty impressive to read...
"Brantley was 14-of-23 passing, with completions of 26, 47 and 50 yards. His 47-yarder to Frankie Hammond Jr. highlighted a 90-yard touchdown drive in the first half. They also hooked up on a 50-yard score on the second play of the second half."
Then the truth reared its ugly head...
"The entire first-team defense got the day off, which might have benefited Brantley the most. Instead of going against the first unit, he faced second- and third-teamers."
That says it all. Good luck in 2010, Mr. Brantley. I somehow doubt you will be facing "second- and third-teamers" in the SEC.
Every team in God's conference will be looking for revenge on the Gators after Tebow is gone. I feel bad for this kid because he is gonna get knocked silly in 2010. Maybe Tebow can rise from his D.O.A. NFL career and heal Brantley's wounds every single week.
I still think Meyer jets to ND after this 2009. So, here's to another year of bad ND football.
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