Gators Fall Camp 2023: Sen. Marco Rubio, Scouts Attend First Scrimmage
Photo: Billy Napier; Credit: Zach Goodall
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Back in The Swamp, the Florida Gators held the first intrasquad scrimmage of their 2023 training camp on Thursday, marking the second practice the program has held inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium this fall after opening the gates for fans to attend on Saturday.
Several high-profile guests made their way to Gainesville to watch the practice, and numerous participation report updates could be made during the media viewing window before the scrimmage got underway.
Find All Gators' notebook from the session below, as well as our observations, takeaways and highlights from previous fall practices.
Day 1: Notes and Photo Gallery
Day 2: Notes and Quarterback Video
Day 4: Notes and Inside Linebacker Focus
Day 5: Notes, Takeaways and Highlights From Open Practice
Day 6: Practice closed to media
Day 8: Participation Report Skake-Up
Gators Fall Camp 2023: Day 9 Notes and Observations
- Senator Marco Rubio of Florida joined the parents of players in observing Thursday's scrimmage inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. His son, Anthony Rubio, is a freshman running back who joined the Gators as a preferred walk-on this offseason. The younger Rubio rushed 229 times for 1,474 yards and 14 touchdowns in three varsity seasons at Miami (Fla.) Belen Jesuit Prep.
- Scouts from the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs also attended the fall camp practice. At one point, the Texans' and Chiefs' personnel were witnessed watching the Gators' defensive linemen as they performed individual drills.
- Upgrades on the participation report compared to the previous practice include sophomore wide receiver Caleb Douglas (unknown injury or reason for previous limitation), redshirt senior Lyndell Hudson II (concussion) and junior Richie Leonard IV (unknown).
- Hudson, who has mostly been absent from practice since day two following a minor car accident, was seen in the weightlifting area in a no-contact jersey without pads on Wednesday. He wore shoulder pads and a helmet before the scrimmage but did not participate during individual drills.
- For the second practice in a row, junior offensive lineman and projected starting guard Micah Mazzccua (shoulder) was a full participant.
- Tight ends, junior Jonathan Odom (knee), redshirt freshman Arlis Boardingham (unknown) and walk-on redshirt freshman Scott Isacks (unknown), took part in individual drills while donning no-contact jerseys.
- Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Kamryn Waites (Achilles), redshirt sophomore linebacker Scooby Williams (unknown), junior cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. (unknown) and walk-on freshman defensive lineman Andre Morris (unknown) were witnessed in no-contact jerseys and tennis shoes during stretch lines, but moved to the sidelines for rehabilitative drills with a trainer when each position broke into individual drills.
- Additionally, sophomore cornerback Devin Moore (upper body) was seen in a no-contact jersey and tennis shoes. He watched the team go through drills.
- Not observed in attendance during the media viewing window were redshirt senior tight end Dante Zanders (unknown), freshman offensive tackle Caden Jones (unknown), freshman defensive lineman Kelby Collins (unknown) and redshirt junior cornerback Jaydon Hill (undisclosed illness). A source informed All Gators following the media viewing period that Collins was in attendance wearing a no-contact jersey.
- Tight end Keon Zipperer, who suffered a major knee injury during spring camp, was seen in the stands with practice observers, watching the team prepare for the scrimmage.
- Below is our lone highlight clip from the viewing period, of redshirt freshman quarterback Max Brown connecting with freshman wide receiver Andy Jean on an out route near the sideline.
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