Florida’s offense may not have all its answers by the time training camp opens Wednesday, but the Gators do appear to have found one clear identity in the trenches: they’re coming in leaner.
That doesn’t mean the offensive line is settled. Jon Sumrall, offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner and line coach Phil Trautwein still have plenty to sort through before Florida opens the season on September 5 against Florida Atlantic. The five linemen taking first-team reps on Wednesday may not be the same group getting those snaps a week or two later.
Even so, Tuesday’s pre-camp media day offered a strong hint about where this group is headed.
Sumrall has been blunt about the need for the players on both lines to get stronger and improve their conditioning, and the message seems to have landed. The Gators’ offensive linemen have trimmed down across the board.
Fletcher Westphal, finally healthy after dealing with ton of injuries, is 22 pounds lighter at 309 and in the mix for one of the tackle jobs. Caden Jones, who is expected to open camp as the starting right tackle, has dropped nearly 30 pounds, going from 348 to 319.
Even incoming recruits such as guard Desmond Green have shed a noticeable amount of weight, a change that should help them survive the demands of camp.
A lighter front could end up being a big deal for Florida’s offense. Faulkner wants to play fast, and in the SEC that means more than just size and power. It takes athleticism, endurance and the ability to keep moving late into games.
"You still have to be really, really physical with the line of scrimmage, but you also have to be athletic and efficient with your movements," Sumrall said. " To move other people, you have to be able to move yourself. So, like, if you can't move yourself well, you can't move others."
The weight loss is only part of the story. Jones, for instance, should be quicker and more explosive, but Sumrall said he won’t be giving up any strength under Rusty Whitt’s watch. If anything, the expectation is that the group will be stronger and better equipped to hold up in the second half of SEC games.
There’s also a confidence boost baked into all of this. The players simply look better, and that matters.
"Bryce Lovett seven months ago wouldn't have taken his shirt off. And now he's like, I'm feeling pretty good about myself," Sumrall said.
"And I think when you put that kind of work in, you've made the changes, it helps you build confidence. Like you believe, hey, this is working.
My hard work is working. And so I'm excited to watch those guys put into action."
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Floridas training camp has become less about polishing an already settled roster and more about sorting through the kind of position battles that can define an entire fall. After last seasons 4-8 finish, the Gators enter this year with a clear need for steadiness, and head coach Sumrall has made it just as clear that consistency, improvement and effort have to show up across the board, especially up front and at the other spots still waiting for answers.
There has been some encouraging physical progress during summer workouts, and Florida does at least have two tune-up games to keep evaluating before the SEC grind begins. Still, the bigger concern lingers in plain sight: until the Gators turn those camp competitions into reliable answers, the questions around the roster could follow them straight into league play. [Read more 🡒]
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Steve Spurrier Still Defines Floridas Most Feared Era
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What made Spurrier so enduringly aggravating for opponents was never just the scoreboard. The jabber, the sideline barbs and the unmistakable sense that he enjoyed every bit of it all helped make him a symbol of one of the sports most feared eras. For Florida fans, it was the kind of domination that still defines an identity. For everybody else in the SEC, it was a reminder that some coaches win, and some coaches win while making sure you never forget who did the winning. [Read more 🡒]