Five Florida Gators to watch during fall camp
The Florida Gators begin fall camp on Wednesday, which is exactly one month away from their home opener against Utah.
As the season nears, there are a number of position groups and players that Gators Online will be looking at with a microscope.
Here are Florida five players to watch throughout fall camp:
Anthony Richardson, quarterback
Compared to last year where there was quarterback controversy for the Gators, this season is very different. After spring ball, it was clear that this is Richardson’s team. The lack of depth around Richardson puts the pressure on him to perform at a level Florida fans have yet to see. He has received several preseason accolades and is generating plenty of buzz for the 2023 NFL Draft. Still, he’s made just one career start. A lot of the noise around Richardson is based on potential. We’ll soon find out whether the hype has been warranted.
Ricky Pearsall, wide receiver
Pearsall, who transferred in from Arizona State, joins a wide receiver group that lacks depth, specifically in the slot. He teamed up with the Gators fully knowing that he will be a starter and key contributor for the offense. In 2021, he led the Sun Devils with 48 receptions, 450 yards and four touchdowns. He added six carries for 44 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Florida head coach Billy Napier will likely utilize him in a number of ways, and he could become Richardson’s go-to target.
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Nick Elksnis, tight end
With Kemore Gamble gone to UCF, one question throughout spring was who would step up tight end. Elksnis was expended to contend for the starting spot, but a broken scapula kept him on the sidelines during spring ball. He had a speedy recovery and will be right back in the mix for playing time this fall. As he battles Keon Zipperer and Dante Zanders, it will be interesting to see if a few short weeks will be enough for him to earn some first-team reps.
Desmond Watson, defensive tackle
When Watson is on the field, he is surely going to make an impact. However, that’s just the issue. How long can he stay on the field? Listed at 415 pounds in the spring, Watson is working to get his weight down and has yet to play a lot of meaningful snaps. With Gervon Dexter playing more end this fall, someone’s going to have to step up in the middle. Watson can be that guy, but he has to be well-conditioned enough to make an impact for the Gators.
Kamar Wilcoxson, defensive back
After redshirting last year due to a season-ending knee injury in fall camp, Wilcoxson comes back to compete for the starting job at nickel. In just two appearances in 2020, Wilcoxson made some noise with three tackles and a fumble recovery. The IMG Academy alumnus enters his third season at Florida after reclassifying from the 2021 class to 2020. Tre’Vez Johnson may have a grip on the starting spot, but there’s no doubt that Wilcoxson and others will be vying for it.
Stay tuned to Gators Online.
