GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Defending national champion Florida got
a look at the future -- the immediate future -- during the team's
first fall practice Sunday.
Coach Urban Meyer's highly touted recruiting class, the
consensus No. 1 group in the country, worked out without any of the
program's veterans.
Normally, the session would have provided fans with a glimpse of
the practice squad or maybe some future stars. But this season,
after losing 14 starters from the team that beat Ohio State 41-14
in the title game and having a program that includes just 20
upperclassmen, these guys are going to play.
And many of them will see significant time.
"You can tell right now the ones that are going to play,"
Meyer said. "I can. I'm not going to tell you, but I have a good
indication of who's going to play already."
Defensive linemen Torrey Davis and John Brown could help right
away. The Gators lost starters Jarvis Moss, Ray McDonald and Joe
Cohen following last season, leaving them with little experience
and even less depth along the line.
Davis, a 6-foot-4, 285-pounder from Seffner, was considered one
of the top prospects in Florida. Brown, a 6-foot-1, 285-pounder
from Lakeland, was ranked one of the best in the nation.
Brown's future at Florida, though, remains unclear. Although he
practiced Sunday, Brown has not yet qualified academically. He has
two weeks to get certified or else he might have to sit out the
season.
"He has 14 more days to be officially cleared," Meyer said.
"It looks like it's going to go that way."
Brown declined comment.
Davis said coaches told him not to speak to the media, but he
offered one line as he walked off the field: "I'm just going to
use what God has blessed me with and do the best job that I can."
Carlos Dunlap, Jay Howard, Duke Lemmens and Justin Trattou
rounded out the talented class of defensive linemen, and defensive
coordinator Greg Mattison said Trattou and Davis stood out.
"Freshmen, to me, aren't freshman anymore once they get on
campus," Mattison said. "The best players play."
Offensively, running back Chris Rainey, quarterback Cameron
Newton and tight end Aaron Hernandez could play extensively this
fall. Newton and Hernandez were two of a record nine freshmen who
enrolled in school in January and participated in spring practice
and summer workouts.
Newton already has earned the backup spot behind Tim Tebow and
did not practice Sunday because he was taking care of some academic
issues, Meyer said. He said Newton should be back by the end of the
week.
Meyer said he was pleased with the other freshmen.
"I was very impressed," Meyer said. "It's not fair to single
one guy out or two guys out. ... In my opinion, they're all going
to play. It's sheer numbers, first of all. And then I think they're
that talented."
Meyer also said James Wilson (knee), a 6-5, 305-pound offensive
lineman from St. Augustine, will be sidelined at least three more
weeks.