GAINESVILLE - With several underclassmen returning after promising freshmen campaigns, the Florida linebacker corps could become one of the Southeastern Conference's best. But the unit will have to find a way to replace last season's most inspirational member.
Reid Flemming did not grab many headlines during his senior season, and his loss might have gone unnoticed from the outside. But his absence has returning UF linebackers concerned.
"I would take Reid back for anybody," sophomore Channing Crowder said. "They might get mad and they might get after me, but I'd take Reid back for anybody out there."
The return of Crowder and Earl Everett, as well as Travis Harris' move back to linebacker from end and the recovery from shoulder surgery by Todd McCullough, could ease the pain of Flemming's departure. But there are certain situations in which his former teammates might miss him more than others.
"I'd say we are more athletic (as a unit), but not better," Crowder said. "I'd take Reid against any of them. Reid wasn't the best athlete in the world, but down there on fourth and 1, I'd take him next to me."
LOOKING FOR A CHANCE: While sophomore quarterback Gavin Dickey battles redshirt freshman Justin Midgett for backup to Chris Leak, Dickey has devoted some practice time to returning punts.
Dickey seeks time on the field in any capacity and asked coaches to try him out on the punt return team. Though Dickey still is in the initial stages of his new role, the immediate returns have been well received.
"All I've done is watch tape and talk to Double D (assistant head coach Dwayne Dixon) about it," coach Ron Zook said. "And he looks natural. But it's a whole bunch different looking natural catching punts (in practice) than it is with people barring down on you (in a game)."
The Gators split punt return duties during spring practices between cornerback Vernell Brown and wide receiver Chad Jackson.
USF: Early look at German lineman
TAMPA - USF got a first glimpse of its newest offensive lineman Sunday.
Marten Toewe, a 310-pound tackle from Hamburg, Germany, wore a helmet and jersey in his first practice as a Bull.
The 20-year-old missed part of practice because he had to take a physical. When he arrived, coach Jim Leavitt didn't hesitate to put him on the field and let him participate in running drills.
Leavitt expects Toewe to redshirt this season.
"We're hoping Marten someday will play," he said. "We're not expecting him to play this year by any stretch of the imagination."
Freshman WR Anwar McNeil returned after a day off Saturday. The walk-on went home to Sebring, which Leavitt said was "banged up pretty good" after Hurricane Charley. Leavitt said everyone in McNeil's family is safe.
THIS AND THAT: Freshman running back Ricky Ponton looked great at practice, Leavitt said, a day after the freshman running back from Hillsborough High had to leave practice early with a shoulder injury. ... Freshman defensive lineman Randy Jackson left the team, Leavitt said. ... WR Joe Bainof Pasco wore a no-contact red jersey but Leavitt said his injury, which Leavitt would not disclose, is only nagging and not a serious one.
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NICHOLLS STATE: Coach Daryl Daye was fired over accusations of academic fraud involving players and an assistant coach. Daye was not implicated in the alleged fraud, but an investigation found he failed to "maintain proper controls" of the assistant, the Southland Conference school in Louisiana said. The assistant also will be fired but his name was not released because he had not been notified, university spokesman Michael Delaune said.
The investigation found questions involving the assistant's involvement in players' attempts to transfer summer credits from other institutions, Delaune said. He said the investigation is continuing. Daye had a 19-36 record in five seasons at Division I-AA Nicholls. The Colonels finished 5-6 in 2003, third in their conference.
