Together, a diverse group of golfers spanning four countries joined forces in Gainesville. The global Gators arrive on the Florida Gulf Coast as the nation’s third-ranked team and the top seed entering this year’s SEC Tournament after being the 2025 championship’s biggest surprise.

A year after a runner-up finish as the No. 10 seed, longtime coach Emily Glaser’s squad won’t sneak up on anybody in this year’s SEC field featuring 11 of the nation’s top-25 teams at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair in Pinellas County. The tournament tees off Friday. 

“People know that we’re one of the ones that can do it,” Francisco said. “We didn’t have many expectations last year, which made it easier to manage the week. But we’re hungry.”

Francisco is the lone holdover from last year’s SEC lineup.

Three contributors from 2025 — Addison Klonowski, Jessica Guiser and Ines Archer — will not compete. Klonowski is an alternate, Guiser has battled injuries and Archer did not qualify.

“That tells you a little bit about our depth,” Glaser said.

Florida has won five tournaments in back-to-back seasons for just the third time in program history — including twice under Glaser, whose teams have captured 41 titles in 14 seasons.

But this group, she said, faced a much tougher schedule — and internal competition every step of the way. UF’s players continually pushed each other for one of the five coveted lineup spots.

“This is the first time that we have this level of competitiveness in this team since I’ve been here,” said Francisco, a junior from Spain. “It requires just a little extra from your side. You need to pay attention to your details. You have to be on your A game.

“That just makes us all better.”

Propeck has embraced and elevated that environment. The Virginia graduate transfer competed in the recent Augusta National Women’s Amateur and leads the Gators with six top-10 finishes, including her first collegiate win at October’s OU Intercollegiate. 

“Everyone is really bought into what we want to do,” she said. “There’s no slacking around here; there’s no complaining, either. We show up to tournaments, ready to go and play our game and stay really calm.”

No one is more consistently prepared than Francisco, Propeck’s roommate.

She leads Florida with a 70.7 scoring average and has recorded a team-leading 11 under-par rounds this spring. Francisco also owns eight top-25 finishes, including her maiden college victory at March’s Gators Invitational with her mother, Maria, in attendance.

“She’s one of the hardest workers on the team, and she’s really competitive and competitive with herself,” Propeck said. “She pushes everybody around her to be better, and that’s been a huge leadership piece.

“She’s gonna fight for every shot.”

Wu, a sophomore from Hong Kong, ranks second on the team with nine under-par rounds since January — though her demeanor contrasts her results.

“She’s our comedic relief,” Glaser said. “Everybody loves her. She’s got a great personality and a little swagger about her.”

Widjaja has diligently developed into a reliable option. The Indonesian sophomore competed in the 2025 NCAA Championships, but has moved in and out of the lineup, including a three-tournament stretch prior to the Clemson Invite, the regular season finale.

“She would be more of the quiet, resilient one,” Glaser said. “But has grown in confidence in her sophomore year.”

Huber, meanwhile, arrived last summer as anything but a fresh face. The 19-year-old Gainesville native has honed her game at UF’s home course, Mark Bostick Golf Course, since she was in middle school.

A fine-tuned game on a familiar course aided Huber’s transition to college. But she’s consistently delivered against better competition, posting seven top-25 finishes.

“It’s amazing, and I don’t think she realizes it,” Francisco said. “She brings such a fresh energy and such excitement. It’s for her a first time for everything.”

Huber will hit Florida’s opening tee shot Friday as the Gators begin 54 holes of stroke play. They hope it leads to Monday’s single-elimination match play — and ultimately the program’s first SEC title since 2017.

“I wasn’t a part of the squad last year, but it’d be a bit of redemption, Propeck said. “It’s gonna be tough, but we can do it.”

Francisco believes the team’s chemistry and approach could make the difference.

“Everyone different and brings characteristics to the team,” she said. “That give us the advantage. Each one of us has a role. We have a really good environment, which makes us work harder every day.

“We’re really lucky to have this team.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

The 21-year-old Australian announced his return on Instagram, with the words, “back to work” overlaying a photo of him. He also wrote, “one more” with an emoji of a gator and heart.

Condon entered his name into the draft following Florida’s 2025 national title run, but withdrew after uncertainty about being selected in the 20-to-35 pick range in the 60-player draft.

Rather than explore his professional options again this spring, the 6-foot-11, 236-pounder will lead another push for a national title in 2027 under coach Todd Golden.

Condon was at his best down the stretch, culminating with a disappointing 73-72 loss to Iowa in the NCAAs second round. He scored 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting — his sixth 20-point performance during Florida’s final 10 games — while adding seven assists and five rebounds.

A preseason first-team Associated Press All-America, Condon earned second-team All-SEC honors after finishing second on the team with averages of 15.1 points and 7.5 rebounds, while leading Florida with 48 blocked shots.

Still, there are areas to improve.

Condon shot just 17% (9-of-53) from 3-point range — down from 32.8% (19 of 58) the previous season — and finished at 64.9% from the foul line after hitting 5 of 9 against Iowa. He also had multiple high-turnover games as the Gators often ran their offense through him. He committed six turnovers in a season-opening loss to Arizona, five against Vanderbilt during a 91-74 loss in the SEC Tournament semifinals and had a season-high seven turnovers in a win at Georgia.

Condon’s return is a major boost to Golden’s efforts to quickly build his 2026-27 roster.

Guard Denzel Aberdeen also announced his surprising return after spending last season at Kentucky. The 6-foot-5, 195-pound former Dr. Philips standout has applied for an NCAA waiver for a fifth season as he aims to join a backcourt featuring Boogie Fland, Urban Klavzar, Isaiah Brown, AJ Brown and Alex Lloyd.

Aberdeen appeared in 12 games and logged just 41 minutes as a true freshman in 2022-23, making a case to be granted a fifth season.

Two major decisions loom: center Rueben Chinyelu and first-team All-SEC forward Thomas Haugh.

The 6-foot-10, 265-pound Chinyelu led power-conference players with an average of 11.2 rebounds and set a school-record with 19 double-doubles. Another season could help develop his offensive game and improve his first-round draft prospects.

The 6-foot-9, 215-pound Haugh was a third-team All-America selection who projects as a first-round pick in June after he averaged a team-leading 17.1 points, along with 6.1 rebounds. Yet, the Iowa loss and strong ties to the program could factor into his possible return.

UF did lose reserve center Micah Handlogten, who entered the transfer portal seeking a fifth season. The 7-foot-1, 260-pound Handlogten averaged 4.2 points and six rebounds — 2.8 on the offensive end — while also blocking 69 shots in 86 games, including 34 starts at UF.

Like Aberdeen, Handlogten seeks an NCAA eligibility waiver because he played in just 40% of Florida’s games two seasons ago when UF won the national championship.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Now a linchpin of coach Jenny Rowland’s lineup, Blakely is determined not to let it history repeat itself. The sophomore returns to her home state of Texas this week with Florida again among the favorites to win a national title.

The Frisco native has the talent, mindset and supporting cast to finally break through in Fort Worth. She watched her older sister, UF All-American Sloane Blakely, and the Gators fall to Oklahoma in 2022 and 2023 by a little more than a tenth of a point each time.

“Unfortunately, part of the sport is the ups and the downs,” Blakely said. “Those sort of losses just drive you and build up that fire in you. Definitely has inspired me to keep pushing and wanna be a part of that for this team and encourage others so we can just reach our max potential.”

At their best, Blakely and the No. 3 Gators will be difficult to beat, beginning with Thursday’s seminals. The top two finishers among Florida, LSU, Georgia and Stanford advance to Saturday’s finals to face the top two from Oklahoma, UCLA, Arkansas and Minnesota.

Florida’s potential was on full display at the March 21 SEC Championships. Blakely and junior Kayla DiCello delivered back-to-back 9.975s on the uneven bars before Selena Harris-Miranda’s perfect 10 sealed a narrow .025 victory over No. 1 Oklahoma.

“SEC Championships was probably one of the most memorable hands-down meets I’ve ever been a part of,” Rowland said. “We were truly so present in the moment, had no idea where the scores were, what was going on. For me to be as surprised, just like everybody else and to see this team’s pure joy — that is gonna be a core memory for sure.”

Florida followed the 198.175-point effort with 198.050 at the NCAA Regionals, extending a nation-leading streak of six consecutive scores above 198.

Rowland’s squad has rarely been better positioned to capture the program’s first national title since the Gators’ 2013-15 three-peat. 

A year after the Gators didn’t reach the NCAA finals for the first time since 2019, their longtime coach carries scars from years of close-calls, culminating in 2023 when a leg injury to record-setting star Trinity Thomas  limited her to just two events during Florida’s runner-up finish by .150. But the current group has shown a level of resilience Rowland believes is different.

“There have been many Gator teams over the past 10 years that have come very close,” Rowland said. “It’s easy when you’re on. It’s exciting when you’re on. And when you’re not, those valleys, those hard times .. this team just keeps getting back up and going again.”

Blakely embodies that persistence.

She delayed enrolling at Florida to pursue the 2024 Olympics and finished second to Simone Biles in the U.S. Championships in Fort Worth, positioning her for a spot in Paris. But a ruptured Achilles tendon at the Olympic Trials ended that dream and postponed her college career.

After competing in only the bars at the 2025 NCAA Championships, Blakely has emerged this season as one of the nation’s top all-around performers, capable of scoring a 10 in any event. Her 39.75 all-around mark trails Miranda-Harris’ best by just a tenth and edges DiCello’s best score by .025.

Blakely and Miranda-Harris each recorded multiple perfect 10s this season.

But athletic prowess alone won’t decide a championship.

“The talent is there,” Rowland said. “But they know you can’t rely on talent. They have to be the best version of themselves possible.”

Blakely will chase that standard this week surrounded by a hometown crowd. Family and friends will make the short drive from Frisco to Fort Worth, along with the family’s 9-year-old Scottish terrier, Syrus.

“Little legs, but he’s got a big personality,” the 5-foot-4 Blakely said.

A year removed from heartbreak and remembering her days as a frustrated spectator, Blakely now stands at the center of a historic pursuit she hopes to share with her teammates.

“It would mean so much to us,” she said. “There’s been so much hard work behind the scenes. I see each girl in here every day working hard through mistakes, struggles, hard days, good days, great moments. It would just truly be so heartwarming, and I would want that for each girl on this team.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Up next …

NCAA Gymanstics Championships

When: 4:30 p.m., 9 p.m. Thursday

4 p.m. Saturday

Where: Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas

TV: ESPN2/ESPN +, Thursday

ABC/ESPN +, Sunday

But a bright-eyed, eager crowd gathered hours before Saturday’s Orange and Blue spring game, energizing a coach who already has plenty to spare.

“This is a special place,” Sumrall said. “You can tell when you pull over to the Gator Walk today; there’s a decent number of people here at 9 in the morning for a noon kick that are ready to see these guys play. Very pleased with the support we’ve had here.

“This fan base is passionate.”

Sumrall plans to repay that passion with championship success absent for nearly two decades, dating back to Urban Meyer’s national title teams in 2006 and 2008. Since Meyer’s departure in 2010, Florida has reached 11 wins just twice (2012, 2019) — a mark Sumrall hit in three of four seasons as a head coach at Troy and Tulane.

The 43-year-old believes Florida still has the ingredients few programs can match: tradition, recruiting footprint, fan support and a gameday environment reflected in a a reported crowd of 47,100 Saturday in the Swamp.

Meyer has served as a sounding board for Sumrall and attended his coaching clinic April 3, alongside Super Bowl- winning coach Jon Gruden and Liam Coen of the Jacksonville Jaguars. On Saturday, Sumrall echoed a message from Gruden, who reminded players that Florida once ruled the SEC.

“We talked about — we’ve got to wake the beast up,” Sumrall recalled. “Like, it’s time we wake this thing up. This is a sleeping giant. I’m telling you right now, it ain’t a matter of if we’re gonna win here. It’s how fast we’re gonna win.

“It’s coming.”

Spring practices, culminating with the Orange and Blue game, provided Sumrall reasons for optimism and skepticism entering the offseason.

The Gators’ offense under Buster Faulkner flashed explosiveness in the passing game.

Quarterbacks Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. each threw two touchdowns of at least 20 yards — three of them exceeding 30 — a season after Florida produced an SEC-low 11 30-yard completions in FBS games.

Receivers totaled seven catches of 25 yards or more after just 19 in 2025. Aside from sophomore standout Vernell Brown III’s 31-yard touchdown, newcomers accounted for the rest.

Wake Forest transfer Micah May Jr. delivered the highlight of the day — a 75-yard touchdown from Jones — as he finished with four catches for 122 yards and two scores. Auburn transfer Eric Singleton Jr. and returning redshirt sophomore TJ Abrams led the team with six receptions apiece, with Singleton totaling 92 yards and a 38-yard score.

Georgia Tech transfer Baily Stockton, who played the past two seasons under Faulkner, had four catches for 24 yards and showed burst in space.

“We’ve got some speed there,” Faulkner said. “I think six or seven guys in that room are playing really good football. The hard part for us is going to be to make sure they all get a chance to touch the football.”

Sumrall also offered an update on promising Dallas Wilson, who set spring game records with 10 catches for 195 yards in 2025. The 6-foot-3, 218-pound redshirt freshman is recovering from offseason foot surgery, but could have played if needed.

“Was it the right move to limit him this spring so he can fully get to where he needs to be? Yes,” Sumrall said. “Because when he does, watch out.”

Defensively, UCLA transfer Kayne Clark had five solo tackles, while incoming defensive backs DJ Coleman (Baylor) and Cam Dooley (Kentucky) each had interceptions. True freshman edge rushers KJ Ford and JaReylan McCoy added a sack apiece.

The defensive line, in particular, earned Sumrall’s approval thanks to depth at tackle (Brendan Bett, Joseph Mbatchou, Jeremiah McCloud, DK Kalu) and length on the edge with Kam James, Emmanuel Oyebadejo and L.J. McCray, all listed at 6-foot-6.

“There’s a lot of guys in that room that I think can play winning football,” Sumrall said.

He’s far less certain about the offensive line.

Coaches continued to rotate players and experiment with multiple combinations Saturday, still searching for the right five-man unit.

“We’re nowhere near settled in that room,” Sumrall said.

Significant progress will be required during the offseason program under strength coach Rusty Whitt.

“Rusty does a lot of things well. What he does best is build lineman, and we need that,” Sumrall said. “Those guys have to have a freaking great summer or we got no chance. There’s gotta be a lot of growth that continues to happen — and they will.”

Sumrall sees enough roster gaps that he acknowledged he’d welcome a spring transfer portal, eliminated by the NCAA in 2025.

“I would love to be able to go out and have that little free agency period, and fix a couple spots a little bit more than we got fixed right now,” he said.

He now plans to meet individually with all 111 players to define roles and set expectations heading into the offseason.

After Saturday’s game, his message was already clear.

“We’re gonna wake up tomorrow, and we’ve got to get our ass back to work,” he said. “Spring practice may be over, but us getting better so we can try to win football games here is far from over.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

With two first-half interceptions, however, Philo opened the door for his friendly rival Saturday in the Swamp — allowing returning redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. to seize momentum in dramatic fashion.

Philo wasn’t fazed.

“Everything’s not going to go the way that you want it to go,” he said. “You have to be resilient.”

After Jones’ 38-yard touchdown throw to Auburn transfer Eric Singleton Jr., Philo answered on the next series with a 31-yard touchdown to sophomore standout Vernell Brown III.

A picture-picture 75-yard scoring pass from Jones to Micah Mays Jr. was followed five plays later by a 23-yard strike over the middle to Mays.

Having coached him the past two seasons, offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner wasn’t surprised by Philo’s ability to bounce back.

“One thing about him is he’ll shrug them off, I can assure you,” Faulkner said. “He came back and made some elite throws, which he always does. I was impressed with the way he handled that.”

Philo’s familiarity with Faulkner and his complex scheme gave him a head start in the race with Jones to become Florida’s QB1.

Philo’s command of the offense and consistency stood out during the spring as Jones continued to find his footing. But quarterbacks coach Joe Craddock he’d like to see fewer unforced unforced errors.

“He’s a little bit of a gunslinger, and I like that in him,” Craddock said Thursday. “But at certain times he’s got to protect the football, and just go to the next play.”

Philo was in command and moving the chains, completing seven of his first eight throws until an interception by Baylor transfer safety DJ Coleman — who jumped a slant route. A tipped pass slightly behind a receiver ended up in the hands of Kentucky transfer defensive back Cam Dooley.

Philo recovered to finish 18-of-24 for 166 yards and two scores.

“You have to be able to bounce back when things go bad,” he said. “I think that’s a great trait for a quarterback.”

Jones was 13-of-17 for 210 yards and posted a passer rating of 219.1 as a reported crowd of 47,100 looked on. The 19-year-old made an impression in the game pitting the offense (Orange team) against the defense (Blue).

“To be able to make those big plays, create explosives … the win margin goes up for sure,” he said. “‘To be able to create two, that was good to have, for sure.”

New UF head coach Jon Sumrall is a long way from announcing a starter, even if he has an inkling. But the 43-year-old understands the fuss, especially at Florida.

The school has produced three Heisman winners (Steve Spurrier, Tim Tebow, Danny Wuerffel), a runner-up (Rex Grossman) and a finalist (Kyle Trask). Anthony Richardson was a first-round NFL draft pick in 2024.

“I completely understand the interest in it; I’m interested in it,” Sumrall quipped. “But I’m interested in like 1,000 other things. I’m pretty damn worried about who the right tackle is and who the left tackle is.”

Philo and Jones have a long way to go to enter the conversation of all-time Florida greats.

One thing in their favor is UF’s talent and depth at receiver, including Singleton, Brown, Bailey Stockton and Mays, a Wake Forest transfer who validated the buzz he has generated during the spring.

Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Dallas Wilson Jr., who set spring game records for receptions and receiving yards, is getting back to full speed after foot surgery. He recently ran faster than 21 mph, Sumrall said.

“He’s a talented dude,” Sumrall said. “When we get him back, you add him to the equation in our receiver room, you go five, six deep. It’s a really good room.”

Though loaded at receiver, the biggest question coming out of spring is who will be delivering them the football.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Aberdeen transferred after the 2025 national title season for a high-dollor NIL deal even though he was positioned for a starting role with the reigning champions. The surprising move was unpopular with the fan base and typified the pursuit of a payday all too common in the portal era.

The 6-foot-5, 195-pound Orlando native has played four seasons in college, but seeks an NCAA waiver because he appeared in just 12 games for 41 minutes as a true freshman in 2022-23 — coach Todd Golden’s first season in Gainesville.

Aberdeen was a key reserve for Golden’s title team. He averaged 7.7 points and 19.8 minutes while providing a tenacious defense to supplement the steller backcourt of Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard.

Aberdeen delivered in key moments during Florida’s postseason run.

During the Gators’ 65-63 win against Houston in the title game, his defense helped spearhead a 12-point second-half comeback. A driving layup by Aberdeen spurred an 8-0 run with the Cougars leading 45-34.

A Dr. Phillips standout and 2021 Class 7A state champion, Aberdeen was unable to establish a role in his first college season while former high school teammate Riley Kugel became a star. Kugel, though, would struggle as a sophomore and transfer to Mississippi State, and then to UCF — where he averaged 14.4 points last season.

Aberdeen flashed as a sophomore until he finally broke out during the 2024 SEC Tournament. He came off the bench to score a career-high 20 points and record four steals as Florida erased an 18-point deficit to beat Texas A&M 95-90 during the semifinals.

Aberdeen’s patience paid off as the Gators won a school-record 36 games and the school’s third national championship during his junior season. Unable to agree on NIL compensation after the season, he soon left for Kentucky, the Gators’ longtime SEC rival.

He averaged 13.5 points, 3.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 30.6 minutes for the Wildcats, while shooting 43.3% from the field — 36.3% from 3-point range. During Kentucky’s 22-14 season, he lost three times to the Gators.

He recorded 19 points and four assists during a 92-83 loss Feb. 15 in Gainesville, had 15 points, five rebounds and four assists as Kentucky lost at home 84-77 on March 7 and tallied 17 points, five rebounds and three assists during  the Gators’ 71-63 win March 13 in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Offensive line coach Phil Trautwein, the former Gators standout offensive lineman, showed up as prepared as ever — Tupperware in hand.

As colleagues loaded their plates, eyebrows rose.

“We’re eating honey-baked ham and turkey and mac and cheese and all this stuff — all this really healthy food,” Sumrall recalled two days later. “Phil brings his own food — doesn’t even eat.”

While others indulged, Trautwein stuck to his routine: chicken, broccoli and air-fried sweet potatoes.

“I know that if I go in there with no plan, then I’m gonna leave here eating seven donuts — and I just can’t do it,” he told the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday. “I’ll be okay being that weird guy, but I know that at the end of the day, I’m doing it for me.

“I’m trying to be the best version of myself.”

Trautwein might not be the ideal potluck guest. But as an offensive line coach, he’s exactly what a head coach wants — and a model for his players. His work during spring practice will be on display starting at noon Saturday in UF’s Orange & Blue Game.

“He’s just really regimented,” Sumrall said. “I think that usually filters down to your players. That’s a great characteristic trait to have with an O-line coach, because you just gotta be very consistent.”

Gators hope Trautwein can revitalize OL

The consistency shows. Once tipping the scales between 310 and 315 pounds as a Gator, the 6-foot-6 Trautwein is now a svelte 230.

“You don’t lose that weight that he’s lost and carry himself the way he does without being really, really disciplined,” Sumrall said.

A lack of discipline and stability up front has defined Florida’s struggles the past five seasons, four of them ending without a winning record.

Former coach Billy Napier’s decision to employ two offensive line assistants never solved the issues.

After being hired, Sumrall targeted Trautwein — a former All-SEC lineman who helped Florida win national titles in 2006 and 2008 under Urban Meyer before building an impressive coaching résumé.

Trautwein spent the past six seasons at Penn State after two at Boston College, producing 10 NFL draft picks, including three first-rounders. Now, he brings the same approach back to Gainesville.

“This is home to me,” he said. “I love this place, and I want to make sure that we get this place to where it needs to be.”

Each day, Trautwein sets the tone, holding players to the same standards that shaped his own career.

A 3-star prospect out of Voorhees Township, New Jersey, he lacked the natural talent of many teammates in the top-10 classes of Ron Zook, who signed him in 2004. Trautwein compensated with technique, tenacity, film study and smarts.

By the time he left Florida, he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree — later adding another at Boston College.

Before BC, his will and work ethic carried him to the NFL. In 2009 with the Los Angeles Rams, he recalled squatting 350 pounds seven times while teammates performed 30 or 40 repetitions.

“I knew that I had to be different,” he said. “I had to control what I control. I had to make sure that I was a technician. I knew the playbook, because if I went the wrong way twice in practice, I was cut.”

After one season and four appearances with the Rams, Trautwein spent three more seasons in camps and on practice squads in Cleveland, New Orleans and San Diego.

Coaching journey starts at Boston College

Boston College hired him in 2013 as a weight room intern, where he quickly learned the technology behind modern football — from Exos training systems to PowerPoint, Visio and video cut-ups. 

“I learned different things that we’d use to build a game plan, to be able to build a playbook. Then when I became a GA (2014-15), then I had to do it for real, but I was ready for it.”

His steady climb included a two-year stint coaching special teams at Davidson College before rising through the offensive line coaching ranks.

That journey shapes Trautwein’s approach today.

“Everything right now might be tedious,” redshirt offensive lineman Caden Jones said. “But he’s doing it because he knows what it takes and it’s going to make us better.”

While offensive line coaches often rely on volume, Trautwein teaches with intention.

“He’s not just constantly a yeller,” Sumrall said. “He’s a really intentional teacher and communicator. His level of thoroughness matches up with the best O-line coaches I’ve been around.”

Trautwein’s tests are as thick as a phone book. Players must master multiple positions as he searches for the best combination.

Trautwein, who turns 40 on April 16, keeps a depth chart on his iPad, featuring as many as a dozen Gators rotating through countless combinations. It’s a puzzle he hashes out everywhere — on the field, in his office, during his 20-minute commute or even while shopping.

“It’s just moving guys all around and making sure that I always can play my best five, and also getting them reps in the toolbox,” he said. “Now they have that, now they can play.”

Unity along the offensive line vital

Few positions demand more cohesion than the offensive line.

Whether picking up a blitz or sealing the edge on a run play, success requires preparation, precision and unity.

“It’s just like a chess match,” Trautwein said.

Too often under Napier, Florida found itself in checkmate — plagued by penalties, missed assignments and embarrassing mistakes.

Given those struggles, the O-line will draw added scrutiny during Saturday’s spring game.

“It all starts up front,” he said. “If we do our job, the play is going to be successful. But if we don’t, we have no chance. That’s why the O-line is different than any other position — we have five guys that have to do that.

“If one of our guys goes the wrong way, the play is dead.”

Trautwein’s arrival has energized a fan base accustomed to the Gators getting pushed around. 

No candidate brought his ties to Florida’s glory years, and few matched his track record as a coach and recruiter. On Wednesday, 5-star prospect Maxwell Hiller, the nation’s top-rated offensive lineman, committed to Florida.

Still, the true test lies ahead. The proof will be in the pudding this fall — even if Trautwein wouldn’t dare touch it.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Davidson, who stands 6-foot-6, 215 pounds, chose the Gators over Georgia, Kentucky and Auburn and ranks as the nation’s No. 13 prospect at his position, according to 247Sports composite rankings.

As a junior in 2025 at Cardinal Mooney High School, he threw for 2,360 yards and 23 touchdowns, with just six interceptions, while completing 64.6% of his passes.

Davidson will join redshirt sophomore Aaron Philo, redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr., true freshman Will Griffin, redshirt junior Aidan Warner and redshirt sophomore Aaron Williams in the Gators’ quarterback room.

“We have a really good room,” quarterbacks coach Joe Craddock said Thursday. “Everybody in that room brings value to our team and to our program.”

Craddock further discussed the qualities he covets in a high school quarterback, beyond the stature, hand size and arm strength.

“I’m looking for guys that, No. 1, love football,” Craddock shared. “If you don’t love football, you’ll never make it. I want guys that are so starved by the love of the game that they want more and they’re always in the building, and they’re here early.

“And No. 2 toughness. You got to be tough to be in this program. Ya’ll have learned Coach Sumrall and how he is. If you’re not tough and you don’t love football, you’ll never survive.”

Davidson’s commitment comes a day after 5-star offensive lineman Maxwell Hiller committed to the Gators.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Hiller spurned Alabama, Ohio State and Tennessee to join a program in need of talent up front during first-year head coach Jon Sumrall’s rebuild.

“I’m home, Go Gators,” Hiller wrote on his X account.

The Coatesville, Pennsylvania, product becomes the first player rated the No. 1 offensive lineman to join the Gators since Apopka’s Martez Ivey signed in 2015. Hiller is the nation’s No. 4 overall prospect, according to 247Sports rankings.

Hiller’s decision highlights the impact of incoming offensive line coach Phil Trautwein, a two-time national championship left tackle at Florida who spent the last six seasons at Penn State.

Upon his arrival, Trautwein signed two transfers from his former school, guard TJ Shanahan and tackle Egan Boyer, and convinced Emeka Ugorji to leave Stanford for the SEC after a promising true freshman season. Each is expected to figure prominently in Florida’s plans this season.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

After 14 spring practices, players will make a final push to impress before the offseason as the new staff evaluates a roster featuring 50 newcomers and 64 returners.

Coaches will interchange players freely, mixing combinations to foster competition and simulate a game-like environment.

“You’ll see different rotations,” Sumrall said this week. “When you look, who are the 1s (starters) — we ain’t there yet. Right now, who’s the starter? Nobody? Who’s a backup? Everybody.”

The offense (Orange team) and defense (Blue) will face off for four quarters with a running clock. A unique scoring format will decide a winner.

Here are five things to watch:

How close is the quarterback competition?

Transfer Aaron Philo and returning redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. entered the spring with the job up for grabs. Philo, a 6-foot-1, 208-pound redshirt sophomore, has steadily separated himself. His familiarity with offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner’s complex system is unsurpising after the two seasons together at Georgia Tech. Philo has operated more efficiently in 11-on-11 settings and impressed with his instincts as a runner. Both quarterbacks are accurate and mobile, but unless Jones shines Saturday, Philo will enter the offseason with an inside track. Even so, the battle is expected to continue into fall camp.

Is this finally LJ McCray’s time?

Injuries and inexperience have slowed McCray since arriving as the nation’s top-rated defensive lineman in the 2024 class after he led Daytona Beach Mainland to the 2023 state Class 3S title. But he’s drawn consistent praise since Sumrall’s arrival. McCray attacked strength coach Rusty Whitt’s demanding program to improve the explosiveness and power lacked as a true freshman, when he recorded just 13 tackles. While senior Kamran James of Orlando recovers from shoulder surgery, the 6-foot-6, 270-pound McCray has consistently made plays this spring at strong-side defensive end after spending 2025 at edge rusher before a knee injury sidelined him Week 1 and a broken foot ended his season in Week 2.

How will Gator Nation receive Sumrall?

The 43-year-old has captured attention with a high-energy, no-nonsense style. Saturday is a chance to win the hearts of fans craving cleaner, more exciting football after Billy Napier’s four seasons. Sumrall blends some Steve Spurrier swagger with a demand for toughness and accountability reminiscent of Urban Meyer. Florida’s 2023 spring game — a 10-7 slog in Napier’s second season — led Lane Kiffin to troll the Gators on Twitter and symbolized the program’s struggles. In one afternoon in the Swamp, Sumrall can convince a fan base worn down by five years of mediocrity that the Gators have a chance in the fall.

Who’ll stand out among the new faces?

Receiver Dallas Wilson, who is recovering from foot surgery, stole the show as a true freshman last April with a record-setting performance. With 29 transfers and 21 signees, breakout candidates will be abound Saturday. Receiver Eric Singleton, a January arrival from Auburn, has a chance to be Florida’s best transfer receiver of the portal era — joining a notable list including first-round pick Ricky Pearsall, 2025 Pro Bowl return specialist Chimere Dike and Van Jefferson. Georgia Tech transfer receiver Bailey Stockton is a get-it-to player who knows how to operate in Faulkner’s scheme. Wake Forest transfer receiver Micah Mays Jr. has turned heads. Up front, transfers Emeka Ugorji, a sophomore from Stanford, and redshirt junior TJ Shanahan Jr. (Penn State) are likely starters. Defensively, Jacksonville State transfer lineman Emmanuel Oyebadejo is hard to miss at 6-foot-6, 303 pounds, while hard-hitting Baylor transfer defensive back DJ Coleman will factor on the back end or in the slot.

Will the cornerbacks hold up?

Redshirt freshman Ben Hanks III, a highly touted member of the 2025 class, has stood out at a critical position. Otherwise, Florida’s corners have been inconsistent, taking their lumps against a deep, talented receiving corps. Veterans Cormani McClain and Dijon Johnson have flashed. Sophomore Ja’Vari Flowers emerged as an inexperienced 18-year-old during the second half of 2025. Together with Hanks, the trio has potential to form a rock-solid rotation. A spring game without busted coverages, missed tackles and perhaps a takeaway or two would offer momentum entering the offseason.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com