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Florida vs. Massachusetts: Gators release first 2016 depth chart

Florida’s depth chart is headed up by quarterback Luke Del Rio.

By Andy Hutchins
Rob Foldy/Getty Images

The first official Florida Gators depth chart of the 2016 season has been released, and it has few surprises for close watchers of the team.

Let's make that a more legible table.

Offensive Depth Chart

Position First Team Second Team Third eam
Quarterback Luke Del Rio Austin Appleby Feleipe Franks OR Kyle Trask
Running back Jordan Scarlett OR Mark Thompson OR Jordan Cronkrite Mark Herndon Lamical Perine
Outside receiver (left) Antonio Callaway Josh Hammond C.J. Worton
Outside receiver (right) Brandon Powell Ahmad Fulwood
Slot receiver Dre Massey Brandon Powell Freddie Swain
Tight end DeAndre Goolsby Moral Stephens OR Camrin Knight
Left tackle David Sharpe Kavaris Harklass
Left guard Martez Ivey Nick Buchanan OR Brandon Sandifer
Center Cam Dillard T.J. McCoy
Right guard Tyler Jordan Richerd Desir-Jones
Right tackle Fred Johnson Jawaan Taylor

The double ORs at running back strike me as pure motivation, a challenge to Cronkrite, Scarlett, and Thompson — whom I suspect will get carries in that sequence on Saturday, despite the non-alphabetical way they're listed on this depth chart — to differentiate themselves from their competition.

Florida didn't list a single offensive lineman twice, a welcome deviation from 2015 depth charts that often had to list players at multiple positions. That said, I imagine that a Sharpe injury would not force Harkless, who has been hapless in three spring games, into action, instead producing a shuffle on the line, and I think that might well be true for Dillard (whom Jordan might replace), too.

The suspended Tyrie Cleveland, C'yontai Lewis, and Rick Wells are all not listed. I suspect Cleveland would be in the outside receiver group behind Fulwood and Lewis would be the second-string tight end, if eligible.

Defensive Depth Chart

Position First Team Second Team Third Team
End Bryan Cox, Jr. Keivonnis Davis OR Justus Reed
Nose Joey Ivie Khairi Clark
Tackle Caleb Brantley Cece Jefferson OR Taven Bryan
End Jordan Sherit Jabari Zuniga Jachai Polite
SLB Daniel McMillian Jeremiah Moon
MLB Jarrad Davis David Reese
WLB Alex Anzalone Kylan Johnson Vosean Joseph
CB Quincy Wilson Chauncey Gardner
CB Duke Dawson Joseph Putu
Safety Nick Washington OR Marcell Harris
Safety Marcus Maye Jeawon Taylor
Nickel Duke Dawson Chris Williamson

The first thing to note about this defensive depth chart is that the position that was sometimes dubbed RUSH on 2015 depth charts is now going by end. I think the Sherit-Zuniga-Polite group is slightly more likely to function as pass-rushing ends, but there's not a bona fide pass rusher among those ends.

(As predicted this spring, Antonneous Clayton — who I'm more doubtful is going to play as a true freshman — isn't on the two-deep)

Also obviously worth noting: Jefferson is no longer listed at end. The five-star recruit is growing into a frame that may be more suitable for defensive tackle down the line, and while he's still possessed of more speed than power at this point, he could be a force inside.

Beyond the front four, Davis being at MLB as Anzalone sits at WLB strikes me as a bit odd, because I'd take Anzalone's lateral agility over Davis's, but both should be very good at whatever position they play. And Dawson is the winner of the Teez Tabor Is Out Sweepstakes, sliding into the starting corner spot opposite Wilson, though I imagine Putu will get significant (and a significant number of) reps outside, especially in nickel situations.

Special Teams Depth Chart

Position First Team Second Team
Kicker Eddy Pineiro Jorge Powell
Punter Johnny Townsend
Kick returner Dre Massey Brandon Powell
Punt returner Antonio Callaway Brandon Powell
Long snapper Ryan Farr
Holder Johnny Townsend

I predicted this exact special teams depth chart (albeit with backups to Townsend and Farr listed) this spring. I would very much like Powell to not return kicks.