Sports: Area provides much of the Gators' growl

Area provides much of the Gators' growl

By ANTONYA ENGLISH

GAINESVILLE -- The final destination is Pasadena, but Florida's road to the national championship starts in Tampa Bay.

Figuratively speaking.

Five area players are significant parts to the Gators' championship puzzle. From wide receiver to fullback and the offensive line, some area natives will be counted on heavily in Florida's bid for a national championship this season.

Three of them -- Armwood's Mike Pearson, Jefferson's Reche Caldwell and Hillsborough's Shannon Snell -- were among other Gators in the spotlight during Thursday's annual Florida football media day.

"I think I'm going to have a breakout season if I get the ball thrown my way," said Caldwell, a redshirt junior wide receiver. "I'm just going to try to catch everything thrown my way and do all the things I'm supposed to do."

Caldwell needs to have a big year for the Gators to be successful. Jabar Gaffney, the first Florida freshman wide receiver to earn All-America honors, is no longer a surprise to opponents. He'll most likely be double-teamed all season.

Which is where Caldwell, the state's Class 5A player of the year in 1996, comes in. He ranks among the SEC's top receivers, having caught 49 passes for 760 yards last season, starting 11 of 12 games.

As Caldwell becomes more of a threat in Florida's offense, he may cause opponents to choose whether to emphasize stopping him or Gaffney. "Last year at the beginning of the year, Reche had trouble catching the long balls, but we've been out there working and the time I've been working with him I've seen much better concentration," Gaffney said. "He's in tip-top shape and ready to go."

For the receivers to achieve, former Armwood offensive tackle Pearson and his linemates will have to provide great protection. Pearson could be the most important player on the line this season. Center Zac Zedalis has a history of injury problems and Kenyatta Walker left for the NFL after his junior season. Pearson is the go-to, proven veteran.

"I don't know where we'd be without Mike," Snell said. "He is a leader, not so much vocally, but he's a leader by example. He's just a real valuable part of that line."

Snell should know.

The former Hillsborough High All-American studied Pearson intently last season and is vying for the starting left guard position. The son of former Buccaneers guard Ray Snell, Shannon was a backup as a freshman last season, playing in 10 of 12 regular-season games.

"Shannon, being a young guy, has the potential to be one of the best we've had here," offensive line coach Jimmy Ray Stephens said.

Snell, who is 6 feet 5, 308 pounds, is battling Erik Strange for the starting job.

"I think I'm in pretty good position for the starting left spot," Snell said. "Last year was a learning year for me; this year is a producing year for me. I've got to produce. Coach Stephens has told me this and Coach Spurrier has told me this. It's time to do it."

Meanwhile, his brother, freshman fullback Ray Snell, also will have an opportunity to contribute.

Ray Snell is a walk-on who earned significant playing time in the spring. He is the backup to senior Rob Roberts, the Dade City fullback who injured his (left) knee last spring. Roberts is coming off surgery in April to repair a torn ACL.

With Roberts as the only experienced fullback, Ray Snell could see his role increase this year.

"I think Rob Roberts will be ready to go," assistant coach Lawson Holland said. "But Ray Snell had a good spring, and he has worked very hard during the offseason. He's a strong guy and he's really learning our offense. Snell and Roberts are our top two fullbacks going into preseason."

Equally important, but an even bigger question mark, is defensive end Clint Mitchell. The redshirt sophomore from Countryside High has been suspended for the first six games of the season, but coach Steve Spurrier said Mitchell could return to the team this year.

Based on his performance last season, the Gators need him. Mitchell was selected to the SEC all-freshman team and was a second-team All-America selection by the Sporting News. He played in all 12 regular-season games, starting in eight -- including against Georgia when he had a career-high seven tackles and 1 1/2 sacks.

His importance to the team isn't lost on his teammates, who continue to support him.

"It's just a tough situation and I really feel for him," Zedalis said.