Freshman quarterback Toney demonstrates big-play ability

Check out the top three things we learned from the Gators’ spring game Friday night:

1. Kadarius Toney needs to touch the ball.

All the talk has been about UF’s two redshirt freshman quarterbacks — Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask — but it was first-year freshman quarterback Kadarius Toney who made the most athletically eye-opening play of the night.

Toney scrambled to his left, eluded pressure and threw the ball back across his body for a nine-yard touchdown pass to Tucker Nordman. As coach Jim McElwain said, it was one of those plays where you say to yourself, “Ah, don’t do that … Way to go!”

It’s clear McElwain likes what he sees in Toney, who also averaged nearly 15 yards on five carries (72 yards). Coaches are sure to come up with a package of plays for 5-foot-11, 180-pound Toney, a dual-threat QB out of Alabama recruited as an athlete by the Gators.

Franks hopes the two of them are on the field together.

“You obviously see it,” Franks said. “He’s an electrifying player. He just creates plays. In my opinion, I think he’s a really good quarterback. He just creates little plays that might be a two-yard gain into a 30-yard gain.

“He’s just one of those kinds of players.”

2. Jeremiah Moon could become one of UF’s most versatile defenders.

At 6-foot-4, 228 pounds, the redshirt freshman linebacker has the speed to rush the passer and cover tight ends, size to take on blockers on the strong side, and the length and football IQ to even drop into the nickel position in certain matchups.

“A guy that really understands the game,” McElwain said.

Lining up against the first-team offense Friday, Moon, the backup to Kylan Johnson, had five tackles and a pass break-up, smothering Gators C’yontai Lewis in coverage.

Moon said he does not shy away from any assignment, even against the team’s wide receivers.

“I just take it as a challenge,” he said. “Whatever happens, happens. Just good to know that you know you’re going up against the best in college in B.P. [Brandon Powell] and [Antonio] Callaway and Dre Massey and Tyrie [Cleveland.] All them in the slot. Just playing against them makes me better.” 3. The offensive line remains a mystery. McElwain challenged his offensive line publicly after the Outback Bowl to become more physical. He did so privately during halftime of the spring game.

“Disappointed with a couple guys that didn’t compete,” McElwain said. “We got kind of after them at half time a little bit about competing. Sure enough, they came out in that second half and did a much better job.”

The fact McElwain had to say anything is mystifying.

No position other than quarterback has received so much criticism. And the O-line returns four starters and several veterans with experience.

But the group was less than impressive during the spring game.

On the first-team offense’s second series, Mark Thompson was stopped for a yard loss on second down by the second-team defense. UF’s tailbacks averaged a shade under five yards against the second unit.

“He just wants us to compete, that’s all,” junior left tackle Martez Ivey said. “We want to run the ball. We want them yards. So, he’s challenging us.”

The group still has nearly five months until the Sept. 2 season opener against Michigan. Even so, there is a sense of urgency for a unit that got pushed around all too often by the top teams.