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What to expect from USF, Florida, FSU spring football games

Hint: No decisions on starting quarterbacks anywhere. Sorry.
 
Published April 13, 2018

At last, the state's college football fans get to watch a furlong or two of their respective team's quarterback derby this weekend.

Just be advised: The view likely will be of the back stretch. We expect none of these races to be determined any time soon.

Nonetheless, the QB competitions at USF, Florida, Florida State and Miami will command the bulk of attention when those schools stage their annual spring intrasquad games Saturday (UCF's game is April 21). Here's a little breakdown of what we expect — and don't expect — to observe.

Five things we expect to see

1. A lot of throws to USF veteran Mitch Wilcox. The Bulls' only tight end with college game experience, Wilcox by many accounts has been USF's most prolific pass catcher this spring. In one recent practice, he had four touchdown receptions in 11-on-11 work, according to USF sports-information officials who were observing.

2. A deep stable of running backs at UF. Jordan Scarlett (back from a season-long suspension) and Lamical Perine are proven talents, and Clearwater's Adarius Lemons belongs in the mix after ripping off a long touchdown run in a scrimmage. Add in impressive early enrollee Iverson Clement, and this unit should be one of the Gators' strengths.

3. Young FSU receivers emerging. They'll have to, with last year's top two targets out because of the NFL draft (Auden Tate) or injury (Nyqwan Murray). D.J. Matthews and Tamorrion Terry have combined for six career catches but could benefit from the switch to Willie Taggart's Gulf Coast Offense.

4. Bailey Hockman will do better than last year. As an early enrollee at FSU, he struggled to a 3-of-11 performance in the spring game. Expect much more today, and don't be surprised makes a strong push to become the Seminoles' starting quarterback.

5. Early enrollees could flash in the secondary. Blue-chip S Jaiden Woodbey has reportedly looked the part of FSU's top recruit, but other freshmen defensive backs are also impressing across the state. The Gators' Trey Dean and Amari Burney (Calvary Christian) are making pushes for playing time in a crowded secondary, and Miami's D.J. Ivey is a name to watch at a position that needs immediate help.

Five things we won’t see

1. A starting quarterback named. Unless one guy absolutely goes off the chain, we just don't see this happening. And why should it? This is one highly controlled, compressed intrasquad practice. Ensuing summer workouts, and sweltering preseason camps, could be far greater determinants of who's most capable of leading these teams.

2. A real taste of new offenses. Sure, we'll see glimpses of what to expect from new systems at UF and FSU. Spoiler: Taggart and Dan Mullen will both run their quarterbacks more than their predecessors did. But the other bells and whistles will remain hidden until the games count in September.

3. Certainty among UF's receivers. The Gators' most impressive target this spring has been transfer Van Jefferson, who had 91 catches for 999 yards over the last two seasons at Ole Miss. Another transfer receiver, ex-Ohio State recruit Trevon Grimes, has shown flashes, too. UF doesn't know whether either the NCAA will allow either to compete this fall, so don't get too attached to what you see from either Saturday.

4. USF's starting kicker in '18? To this point, walk-ons Jake Vivonetto and Marco Salani, and new P Trent Schneider (who enrolled in January) have competed at kicker, albeit to mixed reviews. Wouldn't shock us if someone else is brought on board (perhaps through an open tryout) to intensify the battle.

5. A true challenge for QB Malik Rosier at Miami. The Hurricanes keep saying all the right things about Rosier, who led Miami to their best season in 13 years despite completing only 54 percent of his passes. Maybe redshirt freshman N'Kosi Perry's charge begins today, but that's no guarantee. The fact that another potential contender, Jefferson High alumnus Cade Weldon, has been out with an eye infection makes Rosier look even more like the favorite.

Springing forward

(Players poised to break through)

RB Elijah Mack, USF. After taking only three handoffs last season, this 6-foot, 220-pound redshirt sophomore (no relation to Marlon) has asserted himself as a serious threat to Florida transfer Jordan Cronkrite for the No. 1 job. On Wednesday, Bulls coach Charlie Strong told WDAE's morning hosts that Mack has "separated" himself.

LB DeCalon Brooks, FSU. The Seminoles must replace their three top linebackers, and the Gaither High alumnus and son of FSU legend Derrick Brooks is contention to fill some of that void after redshirting last season.

WR Jeff Thomas, Miami. He started four times last year, so he's not an unknown commodity. But coaches are calling him "electric," and it sounds as if he's ready to begin contributing more.

DL Tedarrell Slaton, UF. Mullen labeled the 6-foot-4, 358-pound behemoth as a 50/50 guy: "50 percent of the time he looks fantastic, 50 percent of the time he looks terrible." We're guessing he leans more on the fantastic side to close the spring

Springing a leak

(Injured players we don't expect to see Saturday)

DE Greg Reaves, USF. Nursing a shoulder injury

OL Eric Mayes, USF. Recovering from minor knee surgery

RB Malik Davis, UF. Recovering from knee surgery

QB Deondre Francois, FSU. Recovering from knee surgery

WR Nyqwan Murray, FSU. Recovering from knee injury

DT Marvin Wilson, FSU. Recovering from knee injury

Spring game times

USF spring game, 2 p.m. Watch: Streamed online at The Identity Tampa Bay

Florida spring game, 3 p.m. TV: SEC Network

FSU spring game, 6 p.m. Watch: Streamed online at ACC Network Extra