Florida 2023 Spring Camp Notebook: Observing the RBs on Day 13

All Gators' notes and observations from day 13 of Florida Gators' 2023 spring camp, focusing on Florida's running backs.

Photo: Jabbar Juluke and Florida running backs Montrell Johnson (2), Trevor Etienne (7) and Treyaun Webb (20); Credit: Zach Goodall

Florida is back on the practice field, with 2023 spring camp underway ahead of head coach Billy Napier's second season with the Gators.

All Gators serves up its notes and observations from the media viewing window of the 13th day of spring camp below, with our focus on Florida's deep group of running backs.

Check out our previous 2023 spring camp notebooks:

• Day 1: N/A
• Day 2: Focus on new quarterback Graham Mertz
• Day 3: Focus on new defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong
• Day 4: Focus on the defensive line
• Day 5: Focus on new assistant Billy Gonzales and the wide receivers
• Day 6: Focus on the offensive line
• Day 7: Focus on the cornerbacks
• Day 8: Focus on the quarterbacks ahead of scrimmage No. 1
• Day 9: No media viewing window
• Day 10: Focus on the tight ends
• Day 11: N/A
• Day 12: Focus on the inside linebackers ahead of scrimmage No. 2

Focus on the running backs

A staple position of Billy Napier's offense, Florida will depend on its running backs to create a dominant rushing attack again in 2023 with co-bell-cows Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne aiming to build upon strong debut campaigns with the Gators in 2022. 

#Gators RBs Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson Jr. cut-and-go. pic.twitter.com/j54s7ZyutF

— Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall) April 8, 2023

The duo combined for 1,560 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, following Johnson's transfer from Louisiana and Etienne's summertime enrollment as a freshman. Both made their way to Gainesville as a result of Napier's evaluation and recruitment. 

Two of the SEC's top 16 backs in yards per carry, Johnson and Etienne pushed less efficient rushers out of Florida's backfield rotation and assumed the majority of reps by Week 6 of the 2022 season.

While Florida's offense is sure to run through Johnson and Etienne again this year, the hope is that they'll have strong reinforcements when in need of a breather. The Gators acquired graduate transfer Cam Carroll from Tulane in January and signed Treyaun Webb in Dec. 2022 to balance out the running back room.

New #Gators RBs Cam Carroll and Treyaun Webb pic.twitter.com/FeCAwNRZoS

— Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall) April 8, 2023

Three running backs tallied 100+ carries in two of Napier's four seasons as Louisiana's head coach. Should Carroll and/or Webb prove efficient enough to take snaps from the established tandem, history suggests Napier would be willing to create a tertiary running back role within his offense. 

Joined by walk-ons Eddie Battle and Carlson Joseph, the running backs ran swing and curl routes and caught passes from the quarterbacks to begin individual drills during the near-15-minute media viewing period of Saturday's practice. 

The group then moved into general footwork drills with Juluke, which involved the running backs maneuvering agility bags, clearing pad-level chutes and sharpening juke moves in various patterns with instruction from their position coach. 

Several drills ended with a coach attempting to punch the ball out of the ball-carriers hands, although no assistant was successful. 

Participation report

Below are the players that were seen wearing no-contact jerseys throughout the media viewing portion of practice. An asterisk indicates that the player worked off to the side or watched practice instead of being on the field during the media viewing period. Quarterbacks will only be noted if they did not participate in drills, as they wear no-contact jerseys traditionally.

• WR Alex Gonzalez 
• OL Jalen Farmer
• LB Derek Wingo*
• LB Curran Webb*
• CB Aaron Gates*
• CB Ethan Pouncey*

Additionally, the following players were not observed at practice during the media viewing window as they nurse injuries.

• TE Keon Zipperer
• TE Dante Zanders
• TE Jonathan Odom
• OL Micah Mazzccua
• OL Kamryn Waites 

Clip of the day

Our clip of the day features Johnson, lined up out wide, running a five-yard curl route and catching a pass from quarterback Jack Miller III. 

QB Jack Miller III to RB Montrell Johnson Jr. on a curl route at #Gators spring prax No. 13 pic.twitter.com/2HPtDBGpc6

— Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall) April 8, 2023

Florida's running backs were rarely utilized in the receiving game during Napier's first season in charge. The quartet of Johnson, Etienne, Lorenzo Lingard and Nay'Quan Wright combined for just 24 receptions, 160 yards and a touchdown in 13 games.

Perhaps that could change in 2023. Juluke expressed confidence in his unit's potential to further contribute in the passing game on March 9. 

"They have really good ball skills. You know, they catch the ball when its thrown to us, they catch the ball out of the backfield, check-downs. Those guys are really good athletes," Juluke said.

"I think as a collective unit, we have good guys in there. First and foremost, you have to have good guys that want to compete with one another, that's not afraid to compete. We challenge each other every day. So, I think we're gonna be helpful in the passing game as well."

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