Team Orange vs Team Blue, 2024 Florida Football Spring Game

Team Orange vs Team Blue, 2024 Florida Football Spring Game
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[Music]
on an absolutely gorgeous day in the
swamp it is time for the Florida spring
game the orange and blue game it’s the
culmination of spring practice for the
Gator year three for Billy Napier year
two for quarterback Graham Merz and year
one for DJ lagway the highly
sought-after recruit that ended up here
in
Gainesville happening right now Aiden
misel will return the kick from a smack
they are ready to go with the orange and
blue game a nice crowd here at benhill
Griffin Stadium toh start the ball game
Jordan Ball in the back field DJ lagway
On The Run taking a shot down the field
and that ball is
incomplete Aiden miselle in coverage
intended for excuse me jaem Jackson
in BYU trying to make it happen with his
feet defense was looking for that ear
whistle obviously not hitting the
quarterback for the orange offense who
is wearing white
jerseys Agway steps up over the middle
of the field and that one is Too
Tall intended that time for Mark hun
Smith will putt it away to Trey
Mitchell Trey Wilson I beg your
pardon and Trey Wilson with a fair catch
at the 28 of 4 characteristics and he
really utilized that that well last year
in this
offense bz on the pop pass to Trey
Wilson get number three the ball this
year Merz to the air down the left side
and incomplete trying to haul it in with
a one-handed catch that time was khil
Jackson Jason Marshall in cover it was a
young secondary a season ago
third down play here for MZ that’s
complete across the 40 enough for the
first down to keep the drive alive for
the yards to the end zone and that’s not
just on the offense that’s the defense
and what they were able to keep the
other offense from doing Florida but has
been joined by his football dad he said
on the staff Ron Roberts making the
transition from Auburn here to
Gainesville that pass complete to
Montell Johnson out of the back field
think another third down here for the
blue offense converted on their first
third down
opportunity hers with a clean pocket in
time now he’s got a scramble throws
across his body completed
Midfield into the orange defense’s
territory that mentioned it a second ago
61 catches 538 yard six touchdowns a
year ago for Trey Wilson Johnson on the
carry out of the back field that was the
thing that was most surprising to me is
obviously
takes over an offense with a new scheme
new language so it’s like coming to a
new country and trying to figure out the
the local language now he speaks it very
fluently and he said what it allows him
to do is not only play fast at the line
of scrimmage but sixth year senior
Graham
Merz it’s a give to Johnson again
Johnson picks his way through the
defense trying to get to that first down
marker and he’s going to be dropped
short of the line to game Grayson Howard
the inside linebacker comes that this
this transfer portal season brought to
Gainesville but when you have experience
in the SEC it’s even more valuable going
forward on fourth down keeping it on the
ground and that’s close should be enough
for the first down there is a white
jersey that is down on theic weight to
allow them to not only be fresher and
play more snaps but to be able to be
fresh as the season wears on which I
thought last year Jackson wore down
quite a bit Merz flushed from the pocket
and he will throw this one in complete
trying to get it to Tryon web out of the
backfield asked Billy Napier about that
and he said man it’s it’s crazy to be
able to talk directly to my quarterback
get the play in quickly and perhaps
mention something else as they’re coming
to the line he thinks it’s a game
changer I love it I don’t know web
motions out of the back field to the top
of your
screen burs with time and his pass is
caught Eugene Wilson Trey Wilson once
again again on the catch for another
first down season AG
go but also chimy DK the transfer from
Wisconsin a guy who we will keep an eye
on web on the carry down to the 10 yd
line DK golf together BS tried to deny
that there was much golf being played
right now but I think the the links are
going to
be they’re coming out no
doubt on the ground to the left side and
good penetration that time from the
front Camp Jackson back in he’s blue
offense three of four on this drive on
third down Place burs over the middle
that one’s tipped into the air and
incomplete Grayson Howard in coverage
trying to get it to the tight end
offense trying to get on the board first
in the orange and blue game here at
Steve Spurrier Florida field the field
goal is good and the blue team strikes
first fans want touchdowns not
feel get our second chance to look at
the orange offense who had the ball to
start the game this one’s returnable
that is myel out across the 25 misel
breaks tackles and they’ll blow it dead
I
think he was still be being recruited
down to the day before Signing Day lot
of pressure for him to stay in his home
state of Texas ear not only the offense
but from Graham Merz himself I thought
DJ lag’s father they said it the best in
Twitter just thanking uh the Merz family
for gram Merz as well for Graham Merz
talked to us yesterday about his
relationship with EJ lagway as well as
lagway tries to get to the
outside and he is touched down at
Midfield right away I think the the the
family understand that the future is
bright for lagway the worst thing I
think that can happen for young
quarterbacks sometimes is being put in
situations where they’re playing too
early KD Daniels with the explosive run
actually ball think they have some nice
options including the two freshman
Daniels and ball all the Freshman from
Atlanta how about this averag 14 yds per
carry in his senior season at Columbia
High School 19 touchdowns ball gets a
break now KD Daniels into the backfield
a freshman from West Point Mississippi
Gatorade Player of the Year in that
state as well so Florida being able to
go into a couple different states
outside of Florida had opportunities I
think about the Missouri game chances to
get off the field just couldn’t DJ
lagway that’s a touchdown Aiden myel
over the middle had time that was the
first passing play of the drive a 22 yd
[Applause]
strike offense that time they ran the
ball down the field and came out of the
timeout with an opportunity to throw the
ball down the middle of the field nice
job by misel this is one of the three
freshman receivers that Florida signed
last year obvious Hunter Smith on for
the extra point and it’s now the orange
offense in front 7 to three s play 70
yds a little under 3 minutes I know the
receivers would like to have more
chances down the field but being
accurate with the football and
minimizing those interceptions obviously
key in every offense but when you’re
having to string first downs together
like Florida does that accuracy is even
more a rivalry a protection of the job
and I think a lot of times those guys
don’t get as well but I think having had
a quarterback like Merz have that
experience has been beneficial for sure
in the perspective of bringing DJ lagway
alone jacobe Jackson on the carry get a
little burst after he hit that second
level originally from Pensacola
transferred in from K County Community
College that’s in the Mississippi
Delta Clark stale behind Montreal
Johnson this
year it’s time to the air pass is
complete to DK timmery DK the transfer
from Wisconsin Graham Merz and DK is
huge but this is a position I think that
really needs to step up I talked about
the returning production from last year
61 catches from Trey Wilson the rest of
the returning players
on DK obviously not catching balls from
Merz right now back to the ground and
this time quarterback keeps it that’s
Kay Millan picking his way down to the
16 of the game here in front of a crowd
today on the game field is important 38
yd try from smack and he makes another
and that makes it
7-6 good to see some of these young
players who maybe have had a little bit
of experience last year show up and play
with some confidence you know I think
overall pretty clean s game his skill
level is improved and it’s good to see
him show up make a play that’s going to
give him some confidence going into the
rest of the off season coach you’ve had
a chance to watch DJ lagway throughout
the spring but for Gator fans this kind
of their the year uh and to see him
handle the recognition
uh that comes with that I think it’s
been awesome to see his family’s
impressive a ton of respect for how the
the the well we’ve got experience you
know I think for the first time there if
you look at that group as a whole a lot
of players playing last year first time
they’ve played right and um I think they
went into this off season kind of
understand what’s required in this
league oh we definitely had a chance to
uh see how this team is evolved I think
even during a
15 practice spring you can see the
growth particularly in the young players
every single ball game that’s the most
in the nation last year well the good
thing about playing young guys early
they come back a little bit more
experienced the next year you talked
about the total number of snaps they
return but uh I think defensively is
where
they’re Graham Merz back in at
quarterback for the blue offense they
put a couple of field goals on the board
the only touchdown has come from the
orange offense on that pass from lagway
to misel earlier this is Trey Wilson on
the carry J yeah I think that building a
program is very difficult right you
bring in guys you don’t know how long
you’re going to have them you’re having
to re-recruit your roster every single
day dealing with the portal by Will
Harris who’s now the new Florida
secondary coach so when you can get a
guy that played in the national
championship that’s a sixthe player that
is a huge benefit particularly with how
many freshman you had to play more
potential to be physical with opposing
wide receivers with that length FL way
back to the air that’s Marcus Burke the
wide receiver
a season too how important in what
Florida is trying to do offensively is
that tight end position it’s huge I mean
12 Personnel is something that you know
Florida feels very the versatility that
boardingham can bring you being able to
split out in a wide receiver position
creates matchup issues that the
advantage goes to the offense on Burkle
and the carry there the previous given
the orange team an extra field goal so
10- six on their scoreboard said
Liberties that exist in the spring game
well I think you’re seeing a lot of the
starters on the blue team and uh on the
blue off National Gatorade Player of the
Year out of Willis High School in Texas
play action lets it Fly what a pretty B
and what a nice catch on the
reception Taylor
speiro the red shirt junor from Frank
works hard and he’s been able to
contribute here the last couple years
[Applause]
back to Jordan Ball little bit of a an
unconventional release drops it down a
little sidearm but the ball certainly
has some revs on it when it comes out of
his hand the thing I like most about
that last throw he knew he had man
coverage he knew there was no Defender
over there Graham
[Music]
BS over the middle incomplete a little
early
yeah how new he is I think is something
that’s uh very prising for the future
there’s been a lot of talk in this off
seon about being more organized and I
think that is maybe encompassing the
entire Pro the season Mis managing the
clock in late game situations against
Arkansas so they’ve got a clean things
that they’re not good enough to overcome
self-inflicted wounds FL W steps Out of
Bounds at the 6yd line limits what what
opposing defenses are going to be able
to do Jaden ball back into the game he
gets the handoff breaks a tackle try to
get to that first down marker and he’s
going to be dropped short tackle on the
play made by Quincy Ivory off the
edge another field goal try this time
it’s Hunter Smith from 24 yds out and he
snapped that one left no good and so no
points this time for the orange offense
that that’s the most important rule in
this game especially when it comes to
number 15 and number two wide open Catch
by Trey Wilson he’s out to the 3540 yard
under his wing and I think he benefited
supremely from having the opportunity to
work with number one last year how about
a touchdown for Trey Wilson
105 inzone a 60yd strike Graham Merz hit
him in
stride that is six catches for 111 yards
and a touchdown for Trey Wilson Wilson
right there was a Ricky palles route at
the top set the underneath coverage up
by giving him a little post nod or
excuse me Corner nod watch him set him
up to the corner got him to jump and
created separation to let him split the
middle of the
field that was really interesting you
know you you
hear about quarterbacks talking to other
quarterbacks about things that they are
looking for
but obviously Florida a place with a
rich Rich quarterback tradition and the
expectations for that position are a
little high you think about some of the
great toughness and desire to win if you
have the rest of the players playing
with that around him this Florida team’s
going to be much improved and who knows
in a couple of years we could be talking
about DJ lagway in the very same way he
scrambles out of bounds to see 60yd
touchdown pass from Merz
Wilson now
lagway on the Run wideopen receiver and
that ball is caught
kind of evolve a little bit if he could
be a little more consistent than he was
last
season
rway and whistles blow the play dead he
was trying to get to the outside and did
so staff to together Austin Armstrong
told us he and Ron Robert still talked
two to three times a week how about
another completion over the middle all
the way down to the 11 yd line a
difficult pass has to go down and catch
it he made look easy flagway throws that
one into the turf the previous game was
35 yards they spotted it at the 10 now
here’s what we got to do we got to coach
Burke up on not coming out in the red
zone as a
receiver second and goal from the ti 21
seconds left in the quarter
lagway
flushed with his feet goes out of Bounds
at the
five those big plays certainly will help
this off offense and maybe open up the
Run game too play action touchdown
Taylor spierto in the back of the end
zone hauls it in that is the second
touchdown pass for DJ lagway yeah second
touchdown pass of the day and second
over the middle of the field again looks
like he’s really at depth at wide
receiver perhaps can see his role
continue to grow in this Florida offense
that’s opportunity spto H an opportunity
here today to make some big plays his
second catch that one a big one for a
touchdown
spring transfer portal close as well and
I think that is a position group where
Florida’s we spent two years remaking
the roster and are now really focused on
guys that fit and and that means a lot
of things right fit offensive philosophy
fit culture fit in the locker room it’s
interesting too or Trey Wilson in the
blue offense six catches for 111 yards 7
seconds until the halftime break
and they put it on the
ground thought after the long break that
meant we had something coming I was
going to say any chance we get some
spring boo birds out here you know maybe
prematurely uh getting upset by the
didn’t practice this week so that’s why
you see the score reflect the 1713 total
up on the board returnable
kick tank Hawkins on the
return oh tank Hawkins man that’s a guy
with some blazing speed 103 chob Jackson
with him in the back field and
Jackson play action instead of throw and
that ball is complete to khil
[Music]
Jackson hers incomplete trying to get
that one to Trey Wilson those guys have
experienced in college football that
they bring to the Florida defense trique
bridg has played in every game this one
complete that’s khil Jackson down the
sideline
finally shoved out of bounds by dein
Moore third generation Florida football
player on the ground this one blown up
in the back field that was Tyreek
Sapp Sapp stepping in and making Jr and
Terry Jackson C’s Uncle so a great
history of football playing here for the
Gator for the Jackson family toward the
end zone incomplete trying to get it to
DK
hers with Webb in the back field he
swings it to web out of the back field
caught and knocked out of bounds just
shy of the 20 yd line just inside the
left
hash smack kick splits the uprights and
puts three more on the board for the no
I think he’s proven that so far coach
you’re one of the few coaches that still
has a traditional spring game why is is
it important for you guys to put these
guys in this position to replicate a
game as much as you guys do proven that
maybe won’t play and they’re on a pitch
count uh so I just think there’s benefit
from a process standpoint I think it
gets them ready for what we all know as
a challenge in the fall coach that can
be a contender right so I think we had
some glaring issues from a depth
perspective on our team last year uh and
we’ve been able to add not only talent
and traits but the areas where we did a
really good job in this cycle know you
want to get back to coaching Billy
thanks for your time thank you guys
thanks coach Billy Napier head coach in
his third season here with the Florida
Gators I mentioned to him before side
and I would have expected anything less
than a crowd this size thend out a
little bit in the second half DJ lagway
on the run that pass is complete he got
TJ Abrams on the catch good enough for a
first down both teams plays in the
passing game I thought both Merz and
lagway so far have had had some success
little razzled Dazzle but lagway
touchdown in the uh in the back field
coach I think has been beneficial to
Florida’s defense this spring and two of
his defensive linemen were involved in
kind of blowing that last play up Makai
Barrow from Atlanta who is a freshman
and Joey
slackman who is anything but a freshman
he’s a grad transferred in from the ivy
league coaches all talked about how
people have gravitated to to slackman in
the locker room so a nice addition for
Florida’s defense ague looking for
another one of those big completions he
gets this one to Green for a gain of 11
so that takes it from second and 20
third and 16 here for lagway and the
orange offense steps up in the pocket
and he throws an interception that one’s
picked off by Manny nunery we mentioned
his name earlier the Houston transfer
blue games that you played in well I
mean today what reminds me of is the the
show of fan support I mean this is
really impressive to me to see this many
folks here cheering the game you know
something else that this reminds me of
is we’ve seen some long pass being a
second season in this uh this system is
just going to do wonders for him and
then you add to that you know DJ lagway
you know Player of the Year all this
incredible Talent who also I’ve gotten
here in the system for GR burs how big a
difference is there year one to year two
uh well I think in any system that’s a
big deal you know when you get more
comfortable with any offense that makes
makes a a significant difference however
I would say it’s even bigger here
strengths is being a culture Builder I
really like the things that he’s very
intentional about everything is very
intentional oh my that was quite a play
crawled all over his back and made the
catch hate to see a quarterback get an
interception but uh that recruiting your
own team to not leave uh but I think
he’s doing a great job of of putting
that together and um I I like our crew I
like the energy that they’ve had when
I’ve been around I like the leadership
that we have this year um you know
schedule’s pretty stinky uh so that’s
gonna be be tough on the result all that
could lead to a lot great success this
year good point CHR Danny got to ask you
about wide receivers as well uh
obviously Ricky peaw was such a huge
part of the offense but we saw Trey
Wilson kind of emerge a season ago as a
true know where he is and they have to
account for him which which messes
things up a lot with the numbers I think
what we’re trying to find out this year
on the gator team is is do we have
another guy that can move into that spot
I think we got a lot of really good
players at the well it’s it’s really
special on our end because our award the
Warford trophy is not for like
touchdowns or tackles or yards it’s for
community service so we’re getting to to
to nominate and to honor and they were
in Atlanta so just the friendships is
really special you’re celebrating Ohio
State guys I think ladaki won it
like you got to forget that how we feel
about those guys but big part of how we
raise money with the foundation now and
the University of Florida Club pickle
ball team hosted a big tournament this
morning they had teams of alumni come
back play against the teams of the
students a lot of people playing better
sport it’s more exciting more people can
play and enjoy it and there’s a little
more dopamine rushes when people are
trying to hit you with the ball it’s
like a little sword F or something that
was incomplete over on the far sideline
Danny really appreciate you stopping by
it’s not bad right not bad
yeah DJ lagway leading the orange
offense quick throw out to the far
sideline and that’s ferto with another
catch he’s had a big day has a and
there’s a a lot of guys that are going
to be counted on of this Florida team
that you want to know that can trust you
can trust them when you get into the
ball game so I I I love the fact that
they still continue to make this more of
a competitive event than a lot of other
schools in the SEC 52 yd field goal try
for Hunter Smith as we open this fourth
quarter get enough hooked it to the
left don’t want to do that on number to
be in a while and so just getting back
to bowl l ability is important Danny
mentioned the difficult schedule that
Florida plays next year but I think you
know the roster seems to have been
upgraded from a talent perspective you
get back this to be the last drive today
for Graham Merz as well Johnson on the
carry across the 40 down to the 37 yd
line close to a first down up third and
speeds is important now you know when it
you can keep defenses off with the the
change in
Rhythm make the hand off on the end
round give it to Johnson but that one it
term around here because the original
freak Javon Cur was a gator but
physically he is special yeah he uh sets
the bar pretty high when you talk about
the freak and then that teammate of mine
definitely comes to to mind when we got
to visit with you yesterday and
certainly appreciate your time I felt a
lot of excitement for you about this
team and where 2024 could be headed yeah
yeah oh 100% I’m I’m Juiced up I mean I
I’m not getting out of this thing oh we
were told you were done I’m having fun
I’m having fun all right do me a favor
give me a like a some sort of sign when
you’re about to take a shot cuz I want
to be zoned in right all right I’ll
think of something what what do you
think overall about your dinner you get
a little hot dog and bean combo which
you just don’t want um then you get a
pair of Jays so all right it’s
competitive man and the guys just love
ball Graham we thought we were hanging
out with you for the fourth quarter we
didn’t know you were going to keep
playing just to be around his teammates
you know I think that the thing that was
most impressive to me yesterday was his
desire to help everybody around him
learn and with a team that’s as young as
as Florida is with as much youth at the
receiver Kay Millan in the game
certainly good to get a a transfer an
addition to that quarterback room from a
guy that’s got some experience oh it
it’s you can never have enough experence
did he have the orange and blue glasses
on when he was I started trying to think
like who else would be in that mix we
can start in the conference here I mean
George has probably got a pretty good
room time at halftime uh with with some
of the guys coming back you you pointed
to the fact that a year ago there were a
lot of question marks in in a lot of
places with not a ton of experience
coming back and then this year you look
up part of it with the addition of
Oklahoma andson Dart third year starter
this season for Lane kein and Old Miss
Conor Wegman a guy that season was cut
short last year with an injury at Auburn
uh I think that’ll be an interesting uh
Dynamic there in in
col on the ground and a big run for the
orange offense down inside the 20 yd
line that’s Anthony Rubio on the carry t
as they got a chance to play a little
bit more in the fall so it’s uh it’s fun
to see the benches get a chance to empty
late in these spring
games this time a tackle behind the line
so a loss on way that D line plays yeah
you know I think he’s bought a level of
of intensity and accountability to that
position a mild mannered guy you know
anybody I talk to says man you would not
expect him that can play
well that’s man Mel in one of the
transfers out from Florida had a
certainly a productive season a year
ago one of the things that Austin
Armstrong talked about was and I think
the experience that that Florida has
from last year’s team along with the
guys they brought in through the portal
is going to give them an opportunity to
present much more for def opposing
offenses to have to prepare for ah the
dreaded dink 38 yd field goal try from
Hunter Smith hit the late game situation
well change of possession they’ve stock
it we got you get that flag comes in
Merz throws it away that was about eight
rows up that’s a great catch in the
stands on the uh
the Merz pressured stepped up he’s able
to dump it off for a completion out of
the back
field jacobe Jackson
making bline trying to make it difficult
on ground I guess they called it a sack
after all
[Music]
mhm not a lot of plays in the playbook
for second and 28 even fewer for third
of the ball down the
field quick throw
instead and Trey Wilson with another
catch in the ball game he’s had a big
day
today going to have to have a big year I
mean more of an effort from the entirety
of the
room driving spiral that will be fielded
with no return at the 38 by Aaron Gates
physical cumulative effects the mental
grind now it becomes even more difficult
with Texas and Oklahoma joining DJ
lagway has to throw that one
away with penetration kind of disrupting
some of the Run
game Agway with the pump fake and then
he takes off and they blow it dead Billy
Napier signals for a
timeout third down and
14 DJ
lagway steps away from the pressure lets
it Fly that ball
is caught on the sideline but there as a
right-handed quarterback like you said
has a lot of Pop when it comes out of
his hand there and the accuracy has been
pretty good today as well Hunter Smith
punts it away fair catch called for
and so the blue offense will
have Merz with
time trying to get that one to Trey
Wilson had to drop it in a
bucket good coverage there by the orang
team secondary you saw the second and
10 Merz incomplete all right so we’ve
got a blue team in blue P blue jerseys
with the white pants we got the orange
team rocking the like the orange orange
pants with the white
jerseys this one may have been batted at
the line was intended for
boardingham how about the defense rising
up sted with three points from something
that happened in the uh practice week
I’m sure there will
be but I don’t think that that means
that they’re not eating hot dogs tonight
I’ll say this though the blue team does
have all three timeouts though
RC so what if you say four seconds of
play plus a timeout you just assume
that’s about 15 seconds off the clock so
that gets you down to
43 or they just go to the
air they’re getting their money’s worth
stop on the out of
bounds which means blue didn’t have to
burn a timeout blue team bringing the
blitz nice job by DJ lagway there
recognizing the blitz getting it out to
his hot route outl like of Billy Napier
if they keep throwing it up a point with
47 seconds left here we go flue
touchdown on the play and a timeout
taken it’s KD Daniels that motioned into
the back
field flagway buying time with his feet
and runs out of
bounds flue
[Music]
incomplete we are getting closer and
closer to that se has not
dwindled at all between those two fan
bases so it’s going to be an exciting
one here in August 31st ah shanked punt
so going to have pretty good field
position and maybe Chris doring will get
his
wish so what need to get to about the 37
yd
line that pass is caught What A
Catch the field today so far both
offenses have Merz with time over the
middle of the field that Ball’s caught
that is in field goal
range DK on the catch the transfer from
WIS that’s what that uh that leadership
and experience brings to you no timeouts
remaining for the blue team they throw
it over the middle of the field it will
stop with the first down on the the head
coach tends to have the Liberty to um
make decisions as he wants that
literally was the same exact situation
as the the Arkansas game throwing the
ball late over the middle of the field
to boardingham
again I don’t know if you have the
ability to get that off in a real game
obviously some some Liberties that can
be taken
here so again we think the final play of
the Florida spring game good snap good
hold kick is on the way and it is good
and it is a walk-off win for the blue
team Trey smack splits the uprights
and they get the three points at the end
that were gifted to the orange team from
their work at practice earlier this
[Applause]
week you got your exciting finish got
the exciting finish I also was looking
at the sideline as The Blue Team Rush
the field Jason Marshall the corner for
the orange team shaking his head in
disbelief there you could tell something
was on the line I’m glad we talked to
gram Merz about it to find out what they
were playing for cuz definitely some
disappointed Gators on that orang Squad
[Applause]
fun afternoon here in Gainesville good
play by both quarterbacks