Gators welcome 11 new players as classes begin
GAINESVILLE – A dual-threat quarterback from Gainesville, two brothers from Winter Park and three offensive linemen are among 11 new Florida Gators beginning classes this week.
Each player will get a head start in the Gators’ grueling conditioning program, a preview of the playbook and a chance to participate in 15 spring practices.
Quarterback Anthony Richardson, a standout at Gainesville Eastside, Georgia offensive lineman Joshua Braun and offensive lineman Richard Leonard of Cocoa initially joined the Gators in December for a handful of bowl practices.
Defensive end Antwaun Powell, cornerback Ethan Pouncey, safety Rashad Torrence II, cornerback Jahari Rogers, offensive tackle Issiah Walker Jr. and puntand er Jeremy Crawshaw of Australia are the other first-year players on UF’s campus. Miami transfer tailback Lorenzo Lingard and Texas transfer wide receiver Jordan Pouncey, a Winter Park product and Ethan Pouncey’s older brother, joined them.
Rogers and the younger Pouncey are ranked among the nation’s top-10 cornerbacks in the 2020 class while Richardson is rated the nation’s No. 5 dualthreat QB prospect.
Rogers, Pouncey and Torrence, a hard-hitting safety from Georgia, form the backbone of a class of defensive backs coach Dan Mullen singled out Dec. 18 on National Signing Day.
“It was a position we were short on last year,” Mullen said. “When you take that, with attrition, with injuries and with everything, there’s going to be an opportunity for a lot of these guys to come in play right away, get on the field right away. Really excited about the DBs in this class.”
Redshirt sophomore cornerback Marco Wilson on Monday announced he will not enter the 2020 NFL Draft and will return for a third season. Cornerback CJ Henderson, who arrived with Wilson in 2017, announced in December he would enter the NFL Draft.
“Our team has a lot of goals that we are still working to accomplish, and I would love to be a part of that experience,” Wilson wrote on his Twitter account. “I cannot wait to get back to work with my brothers for this upcoming season.”
Wilson started the 2019 season slowly after returning from a torn ACL suffered in September 2018 but found his footing as the season went on and eventually stepped in as a nickelback. First-year freshman Kaiir Elam stepped in and shined at cornerback, highlighted by a game-sealing interception during the Gators’ Orange Bowl win against Virginia.
Safeties Brad Stewart, Donovan Stiner and Shawn Davis all will be seniors while cornerback Trey Dean will look to shake off a disappointing sophomore season. Firstyear players Jaydon Hill and Chester Kimbrough also will return while veterans Quincy Lenton and Christopher McWilliams return from injuries.
The addition of three offensive linemen fills another area of need for the Gators, who struggled to the run the football consistently this past season.
“I think this is the second year we’ve addressed the future with the offensive line, which I’m happy with how we’re building it for the future,” Mullen said.