Gators Fall Camp 2023: Notes and Observations From Day 7

Updates to the participation report and observations of running back and wide receiver routes run during day seven of Florida Gators' fall training camp.

Photo: Ricky Pearsall; Credit: Zach Goodall 

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The Florida Gators retook the practice field on Tuesday for day seven of their fall camp practice regimen in preparation for the 2023 season, after receiving a rest day on Monday.

The media viewing period of Tuesday's practice offered significant changes to Florida's daily participation report. It also granted All Gators the opportunity to observe the running backs and wide receivers develop their route running and practice some unique passing concepts.

Our notes and takeaways from the practice can be found below. 

Check out AG's takeaways from Florida's previous fall practices:

Day 1: Notes and Photo Gallery

Day 2: Notes and Quarterback Video

Day 3: Notes and Observations

Day 4: Notes and Inside Linebacker Focus

Day 5: Notes, Takeaways and Highlights From Open Practice

Day 6: Practice closed to media

Gators Fall Camp 2023: Day 7 Notes and Observations

• Sophomore linebacker Shemar James (knee), graduate transfer offensive lineman Lyndell Hudson II (concussion) and sophomore cornerback Devin Moore (upper body) remained absent from practice on Tuesday.
• Additionally, redshirt senior tight end Dante Zanders was not observed practicing during the media viewing window.
• Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall returned as a full participant after dealing with an undisclosed illness over the weekend.
• Redshirt freshman tight end Arlis Boardingham and junior offensive guard Richie Leonard IV were limited participants for the first time this fall, joining junior tight end Jonathan Odom (knee) and junior offensive guard Micah Mazzccua (shoulder) in black no-contact jerseys. Leonard performed rehabilitative drills on the side of the field while Boardingham took part in individual drills. 
• Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Kamryn Waites was observed in a helmet, shoulder pads and tennis shoes participating in rehabilitative drills. He was without any noticeable protection surrounding his Achilles, which he reportedly tore during a non-contact offseason workout in January. 
• Freshman walk-on wideout Brian Green Jr. has shed his no-contact jersey, operating as a full participant with assistant Billy Gonzales' group. 
• Freshman walk-on defensive lineman Andre Morris worked off to the side for the second straight media viewing session. 

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• All Gators primarily focused on the routes on-air run by running backs and wide receivers during the media viewing period. 
• The running backs were up first, split into two groups with the scholarship and walk-on quarterbacks. AG observed the first group, featuring junior Montrell Johnson Jr., sophomore Trevor Etienne, redshirt senior Cam Carroll and freshman Treyaun Webb.
• The group ran two sets of swing passes, one to the side of their pre-snap alignment and the next to the opposite side following a fake handoff out of the shotgun, with a simulated edge rusher to affect the route track. Etienne notably made a spinning reception on a pass thrown slightly behind him on the latter route. 
• Each running back also performed an angle route into what would be the short-middle zone of the defense. Those four reps can be watched below: 

#Gators RBs Montrell Johnson Jr., Trevor Etienne, Cam Carroll and Treyaun Webb repping angle routes. pic.twitter.com/KT0JEFvsCw

— Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall) August 8, 2023

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• An intriguing aspect of the wide receiver routes on-air came at the end of the viewing period. Pearsall, redshirt sophomore Kahleil Jackson, and freshmen Eugene Wilson III and Aidan Mizell stepped into the backfield and aligned as running backs before running a short corner route upon the snap of the ball. Each rep is highlighted below.
• With an influx of speed and agility at wide receiver in the freshman class, paired with Pearsall's return for a second season with the Gators, Florida has begun to develop an arsenal of unique offensive skill talents that it could deploy this season in ways previously unseen within Napier's UF offense. 

Florida had some receivers run routes out of the backfield during today’s practice viewing period. Consider me intrigued.

Ricky Pearsall, Kahleil Jackson, Eugene Wilson III and Aidan Mizell: pic.twitter.com/Nru2zM1eNw

— Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall) August 8, 2023

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