MONDAY JUNE 29, 2015Class in Session: First-Year Gators Started Classes on Monday
The UF football team's latest batch of newcomers started classes on Monday. (File photo)
By SCOTT CARTER
GatorZone.com Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gators added 16 freshmen from the 2015 signing class and four transfers to the
official roster Monday on the first day of classes for the Summer B semester.
The influx of new players provides first-year coach
Jim McElwain with more depth than he had in the spring, especially on the offensive line.
Gators coach Jim McElwain watches his team during the Orange & Blue Debut in April. (Photo: Tim Casey)
Seven newcomers who began classes Monday are offensive linemen, led by 6-foot-5, 302-pound
Martez Ivey out of Apopka High near Orlando. Ivey garnered national attention on the recruiting trail and was considered one of the top tackle prospects in the country his senior season.
Florida’s boost on the offensive line also includes freshmen
Nick Buchanan (6-2, 286),
Richerd Desir-Jones (6-4, 290),
Fred Johnson (6-6, 305),
Brandon Sandifer (6-3, 357) and 6-foot-1, 302-pound
T.J. McCoy, an early enrollee at North Carolina State in the spring who has transferred to UF.
In addition, graduate transfer
Mason Halter (6-6, 295) adds a veteran to the mix up front. Halter (6-8, 297) was a two-time FCS All-American at Fordham University. Halter was a first-team All-Patriot League selection last season for the 11-3 Rams, and started for three seasons at left tackle.
Freshman
Tyler Jordan (6-4, 292), another offensive lineman in the 2015 signing class, enrolled during the Summer A semester, as did Vanderbilt graduate transfer
Josh Grady (6-0, 202), a quarterback/receiver who has one year of eligibility remaining.
The Gators need playmakers to make McElwain’s offense go and added several who had impressive high school careers, including running back
Jordan Scarlett (5-10, 198) out of St. Thomas Aquinas High in Fort Lauderdale.
Scarlett rushed for more than 1,100 yards and 24 touchdowns to earn first-team All-State honors as a senior. Scarlett is joined by another Jordan with South Florida roots in fellow running back
Jordan Cronkrite (5-11, 195) of Westminster Christian in Miami.
Cronkrite was a Class 3A all-state selection and rushed for more than 3,000 yards in his prep career. They join a backfield that includes returners
Kelvin Taylor,
Mark Herndon and
Adam Lane, MVP of Florida’s Birmingham Bowl in January.
One of McElwain’s first moves was switching running back
Brandon Powell to receiver in the spring to boost that unit’s production. The Gators have another talented receiver on campus in
Antonio Callaway (5-11, 198), who played at Booker T. Washington High in Miami last season.
Callaway and early enrollee
Kalif Jackson (6-4, 191) have an opportunity to earn playing time as first-year players if they can make an impact at a position the Gators have struggled in recent seasons. Tight end
CamrinKnight (6-4, 225) also started classes Monday and joins one of the Gators' deepest position groups.
Meanwhile, transfer quarterback
Luke Del Rio (6-1, 216) is in school this semester as a walk-on after transferring from Oregon State.
While bolstering the offensive line has been a primary focus since McElwain took over the program, the Gators have several defensive newcomers on campus for the first week of classes.
The newest member of the team is graduate transfer linebacker
Anthony Harrell (6-2, 237), a former standout at Tampa's Jesuit High who has spent the last four years at Georgia Tech. Harrell played in 12 games for the Yellow Jackets last season, finishing with 19 tackles. Harrell is the son of
James Harrell, who played for the Gators from 1975-78. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
