Live Blog: Florida Gators Orange and Blue Spring Scrimmage
Photo: Billy Napier; Credit: Alex Shepherd
Under the lights in The Swamp, Florida will close out its 2023 spring training camp in front of fans on Thursday evening for the program's annual Orange and Blue spring game.
The scrimmage will not be aired on television but can be streamed on ESPN+ and SEC Network+. If you aren't subscribed to either service, then this article is the place for you to be.
Stay tuned to All Gators' live blog for rolling coverage of Florida's 2023 spring game. This page will be updated regularly throughout Thursday evening.
Gators' Orange and Blue Scrimmage Live Blog
FINAL: Smack knocks through a 36-yard field goal with time expiring to give Team Orange a walk-off victory over Team Blue in the 2023 Orange and Blue game, 10-7.
9:30 p.m.: Team Orange's Trey Smack fails to connect on a 47-yard field goal attempt with a chance to take the lead, pushing it wide right. The contest remains knotted at seven apiece between Team Orange and Team Blue.
9:21 p.m.: High snap by true freshman center Roderick Kearney over the head of Mertz hits the turf and is recovered by Team Orange on the first play of the fourth quarter. What looked to be an ample scoring opportunity for Team Blue to take the lead comes to an end with another turnover.
9:18 p.m.: A scoreless third quarter comes to an end with Team Blue inside the red zone with a chance to break the 7-7 tie. Big plays by Burke and Jean from the arm of Mertz has set up the unit with a 2nd and 8 from the 18-yard line when the fourth quarter commences.
9:13 p.m.: Mertz uncorks a deep ball down the right sideline in the direction of wideout Marcus Burke. He works back to the ball — fighting through pass interference by defensive back Ja'Keem Jackson — wrapping around the defender's body to secure the catch on the sideline for a 39-yard gain. Mertz finds Andy Jean over the middle of the field a few plays later to set up 1st and 10 from Team Orange's 18-yard line.
9:02 p.m.: The second half is now underway, with the quarterbacks having switched teams. Mertz is now the Blue team's signal-caller and Miller will be the Orange Team's passer. Our updates will be less frequent in the second half but big plays and worthwhile updates will be noted.
9:00 p.m.: Florida picked up a class of 2024 commitment from McKinney (Texas) safety Xavier Filsaime during halftime of the Orange and Blue game. Filsaime is in attendance for the scrimmage. You can read more about his commitment here.
8:42 p.m.: Mertz and the Orange Team were able to finally put points on the board just before halftime.
Mertz picked Pearsall as his favorite target on the series and connected with the senior receiver for gains of 12 and 41 yards across four targets. The big gain set up a red zone attempt in which Mertz found walk-on receiver Kahleil Jackson for a 10-yard touchdown on a slant route.
Smack's extra point was good to tie the game, 7-7. Each team went to the locker room for halftime shortly afterward.
8:28 p.m.: A 19-yard pass to Henderson and a throw-on-the-run resulting in a 13-yard toe-tapper by tight end Arlis Boardingham made Mertz appear to finally find his groove on the Orange Team's latest drive. But back-to-back incompletions by Mertz from the six-yard line on second and third down forced the unit to settle for a Trey Smack field goal attempt of 24 yards.
Smack missed. Turnover on downs.
8:22 p.m.: Miller and the Blue Team were unable to capitalize on Wilson and James' forced turnover. The unit went three-and-out and punted from its own 16-yard line.
8:20 p.m.: As soon as Mertz and the Orange offense began to find some life, the unit lost its momentum.
A 27-yard rush by Johnson set the team up in opposing territory, then a 28-yard pass from Mertz to Caleb Douglas ended in a fumble forced by safety Kamari Wilson and recovered by linebacker Shemar James.
8:15 p.m.: We have our first score of the night: Miller finds wide receiver Marcus Burke for a 16-yard touchdown to conclude a 12-play, 82-yard drive for the Blue Team. Webb rushed four times for 27 yards and Carroll added a 12-yard scamper before Miller found Burke in the end zone.
The Blue Team leads the Orange Team, 7-0, with 8:48 until halftime.
8:10 p.m.: Taking a break from charting each drive to share stats from the first quarter.
- The offenses combined for 47 yards gained across 25 plays, with the average play going for 1.88 yards.
- Graham Mertz completed two-of-four passes for seven yards and was sacked twice for a total of nine yards lost. He added six yards on the ground.
- Jack Miller completed one-of-four passes for seven yards and was sacked once for a loss of 11 yards. His first pass, however, resulted in defensive pass interference and a first down for the Blue Team. Miller added 11 yards on the ground.
- Three unique defenders posted sacks: Louisville defensive line transfer Caleb Banks, linebacker Scooby Williams and freshman linebacker Jaden Robinson.
8:00 p.m.: Although the streak of turnovers on downs from both teams is over, Mertz and the Orange Team ultimately punted on its third series. Etienne posted a nine-yard rush to pick up a first down, but otherwise, no play surpassed a three-yard gain.
We've reached the end of the first quarter. It's 0-0.
7:55 p.m.: Miller and the Blue Team offense found some life on their second drive only for things to fall apart by the end. Running back and recent Tulane transfer Cam Carroll opened the drive with a 12-yard rush then Miller followed up with an 11-yard rush of his own.
A holding penalty on Jackson and a seven-yard pass from Miller to walk-on receiver Zak Sedaros pushed the Blue Team nearly into field goal range. However, a two-yard Carroll rush put the offense in a 4th and 1 situation, and Miller fumbled the snap for a seven-yard loss when the unit attempted to convert.
After a punt on the first drive, the following three possessions ended in turnovers on downs.
7:50 p.m.: Mertz and Orange Team offense were unable to overcome strong run defense by defensive linemen Tyreak Sapp and Justus Boone and linebacker Mannie Nunnery on their second drive. Etienne rushed twice for a combined two yards, fellow running back Montrell Johnson Jr. rushed for one yard on third down, and Mertz scrambled for six yards on 4th and 7 to come up a yard short of the sticks.
7:45 p.m.: Jack Miller III served as quarterback for the Blue Team on its opening drive and opened with a deep shot to freshman receiver Aidan Mizell, which went incomplete in part due to defensive pass interference on cornerback Javion Toombs.
Freshman running back Treyaun Webb then earned back-to-back handoffs for gains of three and four yards. A combination of freshmen defensive backs made an impact on 3rd and 3 with cornerback Ja'Keem Jackson applying pressure via blitz and safety Jordan Castell breaking up a slant pass thrown by Miller to Mizell.
The Blue Team offense went for it on 4th and 3. Freshman linebacker Jaden Robinson blitzed and sacked Miller for a loss of 11 and a turnover on downs.
7:40 p.m.: The Orange Team received the opening kickoff which running back Trevor Etienne returned to the 30-yard line before the play was blown dead. Graham Mertz was the opening quarterback.
Mertz was considered sacked by defensive lineman Caleb Banks for a loss of four yards on first down, with rulings made by referees as quarterbacks are not allowed to be tackled. Mertz completed an out-route pass to Xzavier Henderson to create 3rd and 10 before linebacker Scooby Williams netted a sack for a loss of five and forced a punt.
7:15 p.m.: Everything you need to know about Florida's 2023 spring game, including how to watch and important storylines, can be found here.
7:15 p.m.: Florida expects nearly 300 recruits to attend tonight's Orange and Blue game, All Gators reports.
Five class of 2024 Gators commitments are among those that have checked in: Quarterback DJ Lagway, running backs Chauncey Bowens and Kahnen Daniels, linebacker Adarius Hayes and safety Josiah Davis. 2025 quarterback pledge Austin Simmons is in The Swamp, too.
Additionally, UF class of 2024 targets such as McKinney (Texas) High safety Xavier Filsaime, Duncanville (Texas) High edge rusher Colin Simmons, Oviedo (Fla.) High offensive tackle Tye Hylton, Ponte Vedra (Fla.) high offensive lineman Jake Guarnera, and Deerfield Beach (Fla.) High edge rusher Elias Rudolph were among the recruits on the field identified by All Gators before the scrimmage began.
The program invited an abundance of local prospects from the 2024 class and beyond to watch the scrimmage, as well.c
Class of 2023 offensive tackle signee Caden Jones, defensive lineman Gavin Hill and cornerback Dijon Johnson are also in attendance for the scrimmage. The trio is expected to enroll at Florida this summer, along with wide receiver Eugene Wilson III.
7:00 p.m.: The following members of Florida's roster will not play in the Orange and Blue game due to injuries and were spotted without equipment before the scrimmage began.
- WR Ja'Quavion Fraziars
- TE Keon Zipperer
- TE Dante Zanders
- TE Jonathan Odom
- OL Micah Mazzccua
- OL Kingsley Eguakun
- OL Jalen Farmer
- OL Kamryn Waites
- EDGE Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr.
- LB Derek Wingo
- LB Teradja Mitchell
- LB Kenny Anyaehie
- LB Justin Pelic
- CB Devin Moore
- CB Aaron Gates
- CB Ethan Pouncey
Stay tuned to All Gators for continuous coverage of Florida Gators football, basketball and recruiting. Follow along on social media at @AllGatorsOnFN on Twitter and All Gators on FanNation-Sports Illustrated on Facebook.
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