Members of one of the nation's top recruiting classes want to waste no time getting on the field this year.
By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published August 10, 2003
GAINESVILLE - They are a part of one of the most heralded freshman classes in the nation and one thing was abundantly clear Saturday afternoon - not one of them expects to be standing on the sideline, wearing street clothes and chewing gum this season.
They all aspire to play. This year. In 20 days to be exact. With 44 newcomers, several members of this Florida freshman class have an opportunity to make an immediate impact by the opener, Aug. 30 vs. San Jose State. They are considered the nation's second-best class and eager to prove the lofty expectations are warranted.
Saturday morning, the young Gators made their only media appearance during the preseason, showing confidence is not lacking.
The most vocal youngster of all was quarterback Justin Midgett, who along with Chris Leak, the USA Today Offensive Player of the Year, are part of a four-man competition for the quarterback position.
As a throng surrounded Leak during UF's media day, Midgett declared himself the eventual winner of the race.
"I've been hearing about this (Leak) for a long time," said Midgett, a first-team Class 4A All-State selection last season at Punta Gorda Charlotte. "I don't know how long it's been. I've grown pretty accustomed to it. It's kind of good for me. I'm the underdog coming in. Everyone overlooks me as a player in here. That's good. I like being the underdog. When I do win the job, I can say it doesn't matter what your numbers in high school are because it's done now."
Redshirt sophomore Ingle Martin, Leak and redshirt freshman Gavin Dickey will all have some say in that decision. Leak, whom most consider the eventual heir apparent to Rex Grossman, was more humble.
"Who knows?," he said when asked if he would take the first snap of the season. "It would be a great honor to do that, but who knows what can happen?"
Before Saturday the Gators had just three days of practice, but several freshmen already were making a strong impression, including wide receiver Andre Caldwell, defensive backs Dee Webb and Reynaldo Hill, and punter Eric Wilbur, who is recovering from a staph infection in his right knee but is expected to start kicking again on Monday.
With a special-teams unit that relied on its backup quarterback to punt and was the Gators' weakest link last season, Wilbur knows he most likely will play an important role - immediately.
"When me and Chris Leak came in, I know a lot of people were saying we're going to be the savior," Wilbur said. "But I don't look at it that way. I'm just going to give my best effort and try to win the starting job."
Caldwell, a Parade All-American from Jefferson, also said he feels he has a chance to play this fall "if they just give me a chance."
Sporting two new tattoos including one on his left calf that says "No Fear," Caldwell said: "I'm going to get an opportunity, then go out and do what I can."
Webb, the nation's No. 2 cornerback coming out of Jacksonville White, Caldwell and receiver Chad Jackson have been working on the kickoff and punt-return teams, along with their respective positions.
"We're all getting a lot of reps in kickoffs and punt returns to try to give this team a boost in that area," said Webb, whose longest kickoff return in high school was 95 yards.
Hill and Webb have quickly caught the attention of defensive backs coach Mike Woodford. "I'm very pleased with Reynaldo," Woodford said. "He's got great movement and speed, he asks a lot of questions. He's going to play a lot of football."
Woodford said Webb's desire to compete is his greatest asset.
"He has the tools and skills to play (this season)," Woodford said. "Everything is based on his performance."
Added coach Ron Zook: "After three days of practice, Reynaldo and Dee Webb are exactly what I thought they were."
With split-squad sessions the first three days of practice, Zook said the coaching staff was able to implement many more offensive, defensive and special-teams plays, giving the freshmen a better start than usual.
Still, Zook said it's much too early to know how many freshmen will contribute, or how quickly.
"It's hard (this soon) to say who's going to have an impact," he said. " ... To say who is going to impact us fastest, I don't know. But I do know this, that's a talented class."
