Florida Gators
We’ve always felt Rex Grossman has the tools to be a big time
player and ranked him as the sixth quarterback prospect in the nation last
August. Grossman owns an adequate arm, for the most part makes good decisions in
the pocket and is
very, very accurate, which one of the more exciting parts of his game. He likes
to challenge the vertical game, takes chances down the field and is very poised and
patient in the pocket. Grossman buys as much time as possible, surveys the field
and takes what the defense gives him, going to the safe underneath routes if
primary targets are covered. He must learn to use his tight ends more and
unfortunately on occasion Grossman will try 
and thread the needle or force the
pass into
coverage. If you overlook his lack of height Grossman has the physical skills,
mental abilities and intangibles to effectively play at the next level as a
starting signal caller. Another we’ve been high for three years is ball
carrier Earnest Graham, a hard running interior back with power and the
ability to pick up yardage off initial contact, while also being a good receiver
out of the backfield, something you expect from a UF skill player. Graham is
best between the tackles but like Grossman, lacks the pure size/speed numbers
for his position and will be downgraded accordingly. Still, he is a legitimate
prospect in the first two rounds of next years’ draft and has the skills to be
a number one back at the next level. UF is known for putting
a plethora of talented receivers on the field and that will change somewhat next
season. Wide out Taylor Jacobs is a prospect ready to bust at the seams
and now moves into the starting slot. A track athlete, Jacobs has adequate playing
speed, seems to be a natural receiver and has improved his overall football
skills the more playing time he’s been given. Case in point; when afforded the
opportunity to see extensive action last January in the Orange Bowl all Jacobs did
was break the record for receiving yards five minutes into
the third quarter during that annual post season classic. What stands out
to us is the overall awareness Jacobs displays on
the field and the way he continually makes himself an available target for the
quarterback. He is a player that could make a big move up draft boards this year. Along with receivers, talented offensive linemen continually come out of
this program and Max Starks is the next to carry the mantle. Starks, a big,
powerful, dominant tackle, destroys opponents run blocking and does not give up
an inch in pass protection.
Only a junior, Starks carries a first round grade now as
a right tackle but will move to the blind side of the line for the upcoming
campaign. If he performs well and handles the left tackle duties Starks is
poised to move into the top 15 choices when he enters the draft. Senior center David
Jorgensen has some size on the pivot but is a limited athlete not overly
effective in space and likely to be a rookie free agent. The Gators have a pair
of very good tight ends in junior Ben Troupe and Aaron Walker, a senior. Walker, a fine athlete with solid football fundamentals
as both a blocker and pass catcher, consistently gives top effort and makes
positive plays. He makes the receptions in both the long or short field and
holds his own blocking. In what looks to be a weak draft for tight ends Walker
could sneak into the first day next year. To our minds Troupe is a
tremendous prospect and should move into the upper echelon of his position this
year. Big and strong, Troupe dominates blocking at the line of scrimmage while
also displaying the ability to make big plays as a pass catcher over the middle
or down the field. In a lot of ways Troupe reminds us of former UF tight end
Erron Kinney, though he may be more athletic and is a better pass catcher.
While there may be no Jevon Kearse’s or Gerard Warren’s in the Florida
defensive line-up this is a strong unit with a lot of draft picks. Up front Ian
Scott is a talented run stuffer that clogs the middle and commands double
teams from his tackle position. Displaying the ability to bull-rush opponents
off the ball Scott has opponents playing back on their heels with his quickness
off the snap. What stands out about his play is the relentless hustle Scott
shows for sixty minutes. Only a junior, he presently stands as a top sixty-pick
and the arrow is pointing up for him. Senior tackle Tron LaFavor may possess a little
more athleticism but has size limitations and needs to get more involved in the
action. At one time we had high hopes for junior Clint Johnson and
thought the defensive end could develop into a fine pass rusher but off-the-field incidents
have kept him exactly that; off the field. Johnson needs to focus, mature and
get his act together if he’s to have any chance at the next level. UF has
numbers at the linebacker position and a lot of solid pro-prospects. Seniors Marcus
Oquendo-Johnson and Mike Nattiel do a nice job on the outside
but lack the top size/speed numbers and as a result will be pushed late into the
draft, something we think Byron Hardmon could avoid with a big final
campaign in college. Hardmon, an active sideline-to-sideline weak-side
linebacker that effectively pursues the action does a fine job in pass coverage
as well as run defense. He is a prospect that could move into the middle rounds
with a solid senior season and/or workouts prior to the draft. Matt Farrior
is an underclassman to watch and a prospect with a nice upside. The defensive
secondary is a very talented unit. For our money the steadiest player
in the backfield is safety Todd Johnson who stepped to the forefront as
a sophomore. A skilled and smart centerfielder constantly in the right place
at the right time making plays against either the run or pass, Johnson lacks the
great speed but makes nothing but positive plays. We would liken him as a lesser version of Jon McGraw, the former
K-State star now with the Jets and expect Johnson to fall into the opening
rounds of the draft’s second day. Junior Gus Scott moves into the
starting role at strong safety and displays a decent upside to his game. We
like Scott’s range, speed and ability to make plays when the ball’s in
the air. Cornerback Robert Cromartie returns after being sidelined by
injury last season and could break into the late rounds with a solid campaign.
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