Spring Notes: Debose serious, October crucial and Dunker commits

Same old stuff, different day. That has become the theme of 2011 Gators and especially their spring practices. But things could always be worse. I've come to the conclusion this spring practice season that no news is definitely good news at least for the soul. What does that mean exactly? I'm not too sure. Ask me again in November.

Anyway, enough of me trying to ramble on just to fill up space and on to today's topics...

Who among us has been disappointed thus far in the career of one Andre Debose? I'll admit that I have. So highly touted by the previous regime, Rivals and Scout, as the next Percy Harvin that it was almost impossible for him to live up to the hype. He even was primed to take over what then head coach Urban Meyer called the "Percy Position." Even the New York Times picked up the story but that just lead to even more disappointment when it was discovered that Debose would have to miss the entire year with a nagging leg injury.

Even though Debose admitted recently that his effort was lacking last year he says he is now serious and wants to play every snap this season.

"A lot of people saying that I don't work hard, I just want to show everybody I do work hard," Debose said. "I want to be on the field every snap. This year will be way better."

In that same article, head coach Will Muschamp backed up those comments by saying:

"God has blessed Andre with an awful lot of ability, but he has got to use that ability," head coach Will Muschamp said.

"It's just about being a consistent worker all the time," Muschamp said. "He's got to understand it's a day-to-day thing, not just one day here and one day the next He had a good offseason program, and I'm proud of the progress he's made to this point, but now its time to be productive on the field."

Here's hoping. We are really going to need Andre to step up this season and finally become that #1 WR.

Also in the making headlines department, as most of you know by now, the SEC released the 2011 football composite schedule two days ago. But if by chance you haven't seen it you can view it here courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel. But that is not what is at issue here. What is at issue is the month of October. As Tampa Bay Online points out that October will be crucial for the Gators and they are exactly right.

After opening the season with three straight home games Florida Atlantic, UAB, Tennessee and then play on the road at Kentucky. But as soon as the month of October comes around, is when the real battles begin. Take a look at this...

October 1 - Alabama (home)
October 8 - LSU (away)
October 15 - Auburn (away)
October 22 - Bye
October 29 - Georgia (in Jacksonville)

Now I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound too fun and while it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone because more than likely every single SEC team (I haven't looked yet) has a month or three weeks that look like that, but October is going to be the month that either makes (clinch the SEC East) or brakes (lose out the SEC East) the season.

The months of September (as discussed) and November (BRING ON FSU!!!) are very important as well don't get me wrong, but October is by far the most important month in the big picture.

On the recruiting front, the Gators picked up the commitment of Boynton Beach HS offensive lineman Jessamen Dunker.

"It wasn’t that hard of a choice after I really thought about it," Dunker said. "It’s a comfort level with the coaches, the atmosphere there and the support the sports teams get, the experience that the coaching staff has.

What other choices were there? Well off the top of his head...Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and LSU.The 6 foot 6, 315 pound player will likely play offensive tackle.

Though the news wasn't all good. Senior defensive tackle/end Jaye Howard had his ankle scoped and Earl Okine also had a medical procedure but Okine isn't expected to miss much of spring practice. Both issues were seen by Muschamp as precautionary and both players are on schedule to make a full recovery.