Florida football practice update: UF experimenting with different OL groupings

Florida football held its 11th practice of the spring on Thursday, April 2 at The Sanders Practice Fields.

The Florida Gators are winding down their first spring under head coach Jon Sumrall, which will culminate with the Orange and Blue Game at The Swamp on Saturday, April 11 (noon, TV TBD).

Sumrall is continuing to stress physicality to his team, having position players show video clips to players demonstrating when they are and aren’t meeting the standard when it comes to contact and energy.

“Things that are not what we want done, we have to call that out,” Sumrall said. “And the things that we are getting what we want, we have to promote and encourage those behaviors to keep them going.”

Here are three takeaways from the open portion of practice:

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Gator football hits the practice field as Spring workouts continue.PHOTOS!

Florida defense charges between stations during spring practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 2, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida tight end Lacota Dippre (17) during spring practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 2, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida defensive lineman DK Kalu (93) during spring practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 2, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida running back Jadan Baugh (13) during spring practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 2, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida running back Jadan Baugh (13) takes a break during spring practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 2, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida defensive lineman DK Kalu (93) works out during spring practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 2, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida head coach Jon Sumrall keeps and eye on practice during spring practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 2, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

during spring practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 2, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida head coach Jon Sumrall talks with Florida cornerback Ben Hanks II (12) during practice during spring practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 2, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida quarterback Aaron Philo (12) during spring practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 2, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. (9) during spring practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 2, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida quarterback Will Griffin (11) during spring practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 2, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida defensive lineman Jalen Wiggins (49) stretches during spring practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 2, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Florida football starts practice with kickoff drills

Florida continued to emphasize special teams at the start of practice, working on kickoff drills. Tulane transfer Patrick Durkin showed good hangtime on his kickoffs, while sophomore Vernell Brown III handled most of the returns.

Florida football continues to work different offensive line groupings

Florida continues to mix and match with its offensive line groupings during drills coming off a scrimmage where the line was inconsistent.’

One grouping included Caden Jones at right tackle, Bryce Lovett at right guard, Georgia Tech transfer Harrison Moore at center, Knijeah Harris at left guard and Penn State transfer Eagen Boyer at left tackle.

Moore and returning redshirt sophomore Jason Zandamela are locked in a battle for the starting center job.

Six Florida football players work out on the side

Six Florida football players worked out on the side with trainers as they continue to work their way back from various injuries and ailments. Offensive lineman Fletcher Westphal (wrist) was in an orange non-contact jersey, while wide receiver Dallas Wilson (foot), wide receiver Justin Williams, running back Brian Case, defensive lineman Jalen Wiggins and defensive tackle Kendall Guervil (knee) were in full-contact jerseys.

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Three takeaways from Florida football’s 11th spring practice

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