Takeaways From Florida's Week 1 Depth Chart

What stands out about the Gators' week one depth chart heading into their contest with Utah?

At press time, the Florida Gators are just over 24 hours away from kicking off the 2023 campaign in Salt Lake City, Utah.

In preparation for their season-opening contest, the Gators finalized their first official depth on Monday. The list included several intriguing players in starting or key backup positions. 

All Gators analyzes Florida’s depth chart heading into its week one bout against the Utah Utes on Thursday night by presenting four takeaways.

Several surprising starters

Head coach Billy Napier has stressed the team's dependence on young and/or inexperienced talent entering 2023 consistently throughout the offseason. His words turned to action on Monday, as three unexpected names appeared in starting spots.

Offensively, wide receiver Kahleil Jackson and tight end Tony Livingston earned the nod at the top of their respective positions.

Jackson, who will control the Z-receiver spot for Florida, is freshly removed from obtaining a scholarship for his excellence on the practice field. Despite his limited in-game showings, the Hawthrone (Fla.) High product has consistently made waves as a dynamic receiving option

It culminated on July 30, as running back Montrell Johnson coined him as the most talented player on Florida's roster.

Quarterback Graham Mertz also spoke glowingly of the former walk-on as he gears up to be one of the offense's top weapons.

“I saw it quick," Mertz said on Jackson's talents on Monday. "I think the great thing about K Jack is he did play quarterback so he understands how to get open. I mean quick little shifty moves to make defenders get to the right level he wants to get open. He just understands it. Like you get a guy who played quarterback who understands coverage and understands the leverage. 

"He's just a ball player. He’s shifty. You turn on the tape and it feels like the ball always finds him. With a lot of our guys, you see that. I just love K-Jack’s approach. 

"He's kind of that silent assassin guy that he's always going to do the right thing. He understands the right looks how to get open, how to work his leverage, so he’s definitely a ballplayer.”

Meanwhile, Livingston will control H tight end duties after an impressive first offseason in Gainesville. He joins the group following a gray-shirt year in 2022 and has quickly proven himself as a high-upside pass catcher with adequate blocking prowess to meet the criteria for the H spot in Florida’s offense.

On Monday, Napier broke down Livingston’s skill set, commending his adjustment back to the game after a near-two-year hiatus from football activity.

"Tony's got a motor, he practices hard, he's tough, he's not scared, he's durable and he's got some physicality," Napier said. "He will put his face in there and he's got some athleticism that makes him effective in the passing game. He's hard to tackle and I think he's still growing as a player relative to knowledge of the system and football IQ, details and fundamentals but I think Tony's got a bright future."

Finally, on the defensive side of the ball, Florida made the unexpected decision to place freshman safety Jordan Castell over expected starter in Michigan transfer RJ Moten.

Despite the veteran presence Moten brings to the unit — a priority factor Florida targeted in the portal at the position this offseason — secondary coach Corey Raymond and defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong voted in favor of potential rather than experience.

Cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. was pleased with the choice.

“Just his ability, he came in grasped on to the defense very quickly, adapted very well, he communicated very well, things like that. So, for him to be able to get the starting job, as a freshman is big, the future is bright for him.”

Marshall continued to praise "his range [and] ball-hawking skills" and the safety blanket it can provide him in coverage.

“It’s very important because as you know, me, as a guy that’s being on the field most of the time, having him back there, he can play sideline to sideline, it’s very important because it helps me, benefits me and helps him as well.”

Gators freshman Knijeah Harris commanding backup role in all three interior OL spots

Former IMG Academy prospect Knijeah Harris has garnered considerable praise for his acclimation to the collegiate level since he arrived on campus as an early enrollee this January.

“I think it just comes natural to him,” starting left tackle Austin Barber said when asked about Harris on Aug. 1.

“Playing at IMG with the best coaches in high school football, a lot of them guys worked in college and they got some in the NFL. That’s what he really benefitted from, learning the college mindset, college plays, stuff like that and I think coming in, I think it was easy to him and I think it’s shown.”

Early on, he’s shown the polish required to see the field in his freshman campaign. The rapid progression is a direct reflection of his time with the Ascenders on the pre-stage, one of the nation’s top production powerhouses.

It won’t come in a starting spot, but Florida’s positioned Harris to take on a key versatile role for the Gators on the interior offensive line.

Harris will occupy both the backup guard spots for Florida and serve as a relief player for the center position behind Kingsley Eguakun and Jake Slaughter.

His aptitude at the latter position could be put to the test sooner rather than later, as Eguakun is listed as questionable for the week one contest while dealing with a lower-body injury.

Offensive personnel is largely set in stone

There are a lot of questions still to be answered as it pertains to the defense’s starting lineup and rotation in 2023.

On Monday, the depth chart indicated 11 spots, including several starting positions, remaining open for the taking with “OR” designations. Namely, the secondary maintains several positional battles that have stood out throughout the offseason.

The boundary cornerback opposite Jason Marshall Jr. is deadlocked at the top as Jalen Kimber and Devin Moore continue to battle for complete control of CB2. Jaydon Hill and Jadarrius Perkins are both listed as potential starters at STAR.

The offense, on the other hand, is a different story. It’s set in stone. The roles are clearly defined.

Only the backup left tackle role behind starter Austin Barber is labeled as in flux at this stage, with redshirt Jordan Herman and true freshman Bryce Lovett vying for the role.

Herman, in his second year with the team after transferring in from Butler Community College last offseason, is listed above Lovett.

A first-year player out of Rockledge High School, Lovett has followed the trend of young talent building strong impressions in the coaching staff in their first offseason on campus. With a glaring lack of depth at the spot, Lovett has the potential to fill a crucial role for the Gators in 2023 and beyond.

Now that’s evident as he jockeys for the backup position with Herman.

Although, barring injury, it’s unlikely either player will command snaps outside of garbage time or on special teams.

The decisiveness of the offense is a positive factor for UF after the immense turnover it underwent at every position but running back this offseason. Mertz and Co. will look to capitalize on the well-defined offensive depth chart this season. They will get their first opportunity to do so on Thursday.

Scooby Williams officially joins the starting LB competition

The competition for sophomore Shemar James’ main partner in the second level remains open prior to week one.

Throughout most of the fall, the expectation for the spot was that it was a two-man battle between Ohio State transfer Teradja Mitchell and the backup to Ventrell Miller a year ago, Derek Wingo.

On Monday, it became evidently clear that is not the case. There is a three-way tie for the top spot.

And, redshirt sophomore Scooby Williams has emerged as a legitimate option to fill the void. The top option even.

It may come under an ‘OR’ designation, but Williams’ inclusion as the top middle linebacker option on the Gators depth chart catches the eye.

All Gators was privy to his expected usage in passing scenarios — reflected as such in our linebackers' depth chart projection. His impressive display as a pass rusher in the creeper system Austin Armstrong deploys paired with notable athleticism created the buzz surrounding his surge into a significant role.

However, the unforeseen placement at the top of the MIKE depth chart suggests his presence on early downs as well.

He struggled in his limited opportunities last season, — undergoing the transition to the off-ball linebacker spot after mainly controlling edge duties throughout his high school career — as he failed to diagnose and fill rushing lanes at an adequate rate during the lone start of his career against the USF Bulls in week three in the absence of the incumbent starter in Miller.

But, with the added experience under his belt and growing polish as a true backer, Williams is positioned to be a frequent contributor to the Gators' defense this season.

“Scooby’s another guy much like Kahleil, who maybe got some playing time last year but it was the first playing time of his career and now has had an entire offseason to put in the time and effort and energy and knows what it looks like to go out there and play,” Napier said on Monday. “I think, in particular, he had a really good spring and he started strong in training camp.

“There’s a role for him on our team. That’s a very competitive room, our linebacker room.”

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