Tag: Malik Davis

One lingering question has The Athletic wondering about Florida football

The Athletic has some disciplinary concerns when it comes to Florida football.

Florida football has seen its share of ups and downs after a decade-plus of consistent turnover on the sidelines that has seen a carousel of four different head coaches rotate through the Swamp. The lack of leadership at the top of the program has manifested itself in many ways, among those being a dearth of discipline among some of the players that dates back to even the [autotag]Urban Meyer[/autotag] era.

The troubles came to a head at the end of the 2020 season with the shoe-throwing incident against the LSU Tigers, which many believe marked the beginning of the end for the [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag] era. The issues continued into the following season, which saw the program put up its worst record in Southeastern Conference play since 1986 and finished below the .500 mark for the first time since the 2017 campaign — when [autotag]Jim McElwain[/autotag] was ousted as head coach.

The Athletic’s college football staff recently assembled to offer their lingering question for each SEC football program, with Florida’s being the obvious elephant in the room. Here is the entry offered by Gators beat writer G. Allan Taylor.

Can the Gators correct the discipline issues behind their string of close losses?

This is how Florida crumbled during key moments last season: A blocker went the wrong way on a failed two-point conversion against Alabama. A field-goal mishap gave Kentucky the decisive points. [autotag]Brenton Cox[/autotag] played the wrong gap on Missouri’s touchdown in overtime. Multiple defenders took turns missing assignments at Baton Rouge. Add those to the 2020 errors of [autotag]Malik Davis[/autotag] fumbling at Texas A&M and [autotag]Marco Wilson[/autotag]’s “LS-Shoe” affair, and you see the narrow margin by which Florida went from College Football Playoff challengers to firing their coach.

[autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s first offseason in Gainesville featured a heightened emphasis on accountability, with the belief that there’s a direct link from players’ discipline off the field to their reliability on it. He sprang into culture-changing mode last December when his new staff shadowed the remnants of Dan Mullen’s staff in preparations for the Gasparilla Bowl. The Gators, in order to avoid another mediocre bowl trip this fall, will need to be more efficient, considering their talent level is subpar by SEC standards.

Napier’s goal is to be “under one penalty in every 30 plays,” which would mark a steep improvement from the Gators ranking 122nd in penalties per game last season and 119th in lost yardage. In line with fixing those miscues is avoiding turnovers, after the Gators finished minus-8 in 2021.

Frankly, I could not have said it any better myself — there seems to have been an institutional weakness when it comes to mental fortitude under Mullen, but Napier has not had his chance to prove himself yet. However, the dismissal of three players back in June (with a fourth on thin ice) does seem to signal a change in policy when it comes to tolerating behavior that is detrimental to the team, so hopefully, these significant concerns are already being addressed.

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Report: Florida losing former 5-star RB to transfer portal

Running back Demarkcus Bowman is in the transfer portal after just one year at Florida.

After Billy Napier cut three players from the program earlier in the week, the Florida Gators lost another scholarship player on Friday. Running back [autotag]Demarkcus Bowman[/autotag], a former five-star recruit out of high school, has entered his name into the transfer portal, according to On3.

Bowman came to Gainesville in 2020 after playing his freshman year at the Clemson Tigers. That makes this his second transfer, which means he will be required to sit out for a year before playing with a new team. That might not be so different than what he would be doing at Florida, though, with [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright[/autotag], [autotag]Lorenzo Lingard[/autotag] and [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] in UF’s running backs room.

Entering the portal doesn’t guarantee Bowman’s departure, but Florida is still over the scholarship limit and the room is too crowded for a talent that was once considered among the top 20 recruits in the nation. Bowman’s far from a bust at this point. He still possesses good speed and impressed many during spring practices. He ran the ball 14 times for 81 yards in 2021 across appearances in five games.

Florida should be okay without Bowman given the depth in the room. It also opens the door for Etienne to pick up some carries as a freshman, especially if injuries come into play. Both of last year’s starting backs, [autotag]Dameon Pierce[/autotag] and [autotag]Malik Davis[/autotag], are gone and Napier likes to run the ball.

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Does UDFA Malik Davis have what it takes to weave his way into Cowboys RB room?

The Cowboys depth chart at running back is iron-clad at the top. What happens behind them is up to the offseason. Can Davis break through? Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) dives into the tape.

Former Gators running back Malik Davis was quite accomplished coming out of high school, where he ran for a county-best 2,469 yards and 33 touchdowns during his senior season and led his high school to a state championship game appearance. He then committed to the University of Florida but was unable to ever find consistent playing time.

His first two seasons at Florida were hindered by injuries, playing in 7 games in his freshman year before suffering a season-ending injury, and playing in just three his sophomore year before suffering yet another. He returned in 2020 as a redshirt sophomore and appeared in 12 games, followed by 12 more the following year earning his first two starts. In his last year at Florida he earned the starting role but still was used in a heavy rotation. As an undrafted free agent, the odds are stacked against him in making the Cowboys final roster, but does Davis have what it takes to become a find instead of a camp body?

Florida football’s 2022 NFL draft and free agent tracker

Didn’t watch the draft or catch all of the undrafted free agent signings that relate to UF? Gators Wire has got you covered.

The 2022 NFL draft has come and gone and another crop of talent is headed to the pros from Gainesville. Three players heard their names called over as many days of the draft, but several more former Gators are finding deals as undrafted free agents.

There’s no guarantee that any of the recent signees make it on an opening day roster or even a practice squad for that matter, but it’s the opportunity most of these players have been working toward for most of their lives. Squandering this chance to fulfill the dream of being an NFL athlete is something they aim to avoid.

There could be more to come too. While names like linebacker [autotag]Jeremiah Moon[/autotag] and running back [autotag]Malik Davis[/autotag] are already locked up, players such as offensive lineman [autotag]Stewart Reese[/autotag] and wide receiver [autotag]Rick Wells[/autotag] are still available.

With that said, let’s take a look at each member of the 2021 Florida Gators football team that currently finds himself with an NFL team.

Florida’s Malik Davis could inspire Cowboys to select a RB late in 2022 NFL draft

A rotational back in college could join a soon-to-be changing running back rotation in Dallas. Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) puts the Gator under the microscope.

There is an intriguing name and position that stands out on the Cowboys list of 30 official visitors. Florida running back Malik Davis may be a surprise addition due to the current Cowboys running back room. Ezekiel Elliott is under contract for another three seasons. Meanwhile fans have been pining for Tony Pollard to get more opportunities with the rock in his hands. However Pollard’s contract expires at the end of the season and there is a relatively safe escape from Elliott’s contract should the club look for cap savings.

Davis has a tricky projection, however. His name is rarely brought up in draft circles as he rarely cracks any positional rankings. He’s played every year since he stepped on campus at Florida, and has consistently been part of a stable of backs in committee approaches. But in 2021 he started a majority of the games for the Gators and had arguably his best season to date. So does he fit with the Cowboys? Let’s take a look at his film and find out.

Here’s what CBS Sports thinks Florida football’s biggest issue is

Barrett Sallee gives his take on what the Gators should be focusing on heading into fall.

CBS Sports’ Barrett Sallee released his list of one question each SEC team must answer during spring practice ahead of the 2022 college football season on Tuesday. He believes Florida needs to figure out who it will rely on in the running game to help accelerate the development of quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] after [autotag]Dameon Pierce[/autotag] and [autotag]Malik Davis[/autotag] graduated while [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright[/autotag] is recovering from a knee injury he suffered late last season. Here is what Sallee had to say.

Who will pound the rock? It’d be easy to say that the development of quarterback Anthony Richardson is the most-pressing question, but that development will accelerate if first-year coach Billy Napier can figure out his running back situation. Dameon Pierce and Malik Davis are gone, and junior Nay’Quan Wright won’t participate in the spring while he recovers from a knee injury suffered late last season.

Napier will have to rely on multiple players who have transferred into the program over the last few years to bridge the gap — [autotag]Lorenzo Lingard[/autotag] (Miami), [autotag]Demarkcus Bowman[/autotag] (Clemson) and [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag] (Louisiana). Napier has used multiple running backs in key situations in the past, so this spring is a golden opportunity to build the depth that the Gators will need to be competitive in 2022.

Before diving in further, I’d like to applaud Sallee for not centering his question around a mythical Gators quarterback competition like other national media members have this offseason. Richardson is the starter in Florida’s season-opener versus Utah, barring a massive surprise.

This is definitely one of the biggest questions coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and staff have to answer this spring, besides who will be Richardson’s go-to receiver this spring.

It’ll be a difficult task to bridge the gap between last year’s unit and this year’s, but this team’s running back room has much more upside because of former five-stars Bowman and Lingard then add in the addition of Johnson who just had a strong season with the Ragin’ Cajuns.

Bowman should emerge from the spring as the designated starter with Johnson and Wright following suit. Lingard has struggled to see the field since transferring to Florida and needs to have a strong spring to see snaps this fall.

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Over a dozen players expected to participate in Florida Pro Day

Only four Gators were at the Combine, but Florida will have 16 NFL hopefuls at the team’s annual Pro Day on March 28.

On Monday, Florida announced that the football program’s annual Pro Day will be held on campus on March 28.

The Gators only had four players attend the NFL Combine earlier in the month, but 16 players will be in front of scouts to show off their skills. Some of the participants are returning for another season at UF, but the rest are hoping to make a name for themselves ahead of the NFL draft.

Headlining that group may be running back Malik Davis who had his best year in a Gators uniform in 2021. Dameon Pierce may get all the attention for being the physical phenom he is, but Davis was just as productive and underused as a senior.

Jean Delance is another name to look out for as a strong Pro Day could get his name called after already talking with teams throughout the cycle.

Zach Carter, Kaiir Elam and Jeremiah Moon all joined Pierce at the Combine, but plenty of players have improved their stock with a strong performance on their home turf. Elam, in particular, could use a strong outing after a bad season for the defense hurt his draft stock.

The Pro Day will be streamed live on SEC Network+.

The 16 players expected to participate include:

LB Lacedrick Brunson
DL Zachary Carter
K Jace Christmann
RB Malik Davis
OL Jean Delance
DB Kaiir Elam
LB Jeremiah Moon
DL Daquan Newkirk
RB Dameon Pierce
OL Stewart Reese
DB Nicolas Sutton
DL Tyrone Truesdell
DL Antonio Valentino
WR Rick Wells
DL Kyree Campbell *
LS Brett DioGuardi *

*Returning

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This Florida running back declares for NFL draft

Davis will not return for a sixth season in 2022 and instead is entering the draft.

After a five-year career filled with highs and lows, Gators running back Malik Davis is moving on. The redshirt senior announced via his Twitter account on Tuesday that he will not take advantage of a potential sixth year afforded to him by COVID-19 and will instead enter the 2022 NFL draft.

“To the Gator Nation, it has been a long and blessed journey,” he said in the post. “It has been a privilege to put on blue and orange on Saturdays and represent the Gators. There is nothing like running out of that tunnel and being met by 90,000 of the most amazing fans! Thank you for the cheers and support you provide in all kinds of weather.

“After much prayer and discussion with my family I have decided to forgo my last year of eligibility and enter the 2022 NFL draft. Forever a Gator!”

Davis was a three-star recruit from Tampa, but he made a major impact as a true freshman in 2017, rushing for 526 yards. That total would have been even higher if his season wasn’t ended with an injury prematurely, and it would be a while before Davis would return to form as another injury held him out of most of the 2018 season.

He was buried in the rotation a bit in 2019 and 2020, though he saw more playing time in the latter season. He finally became a feature player again this season, splitting carries with Dameon Pierce and finishing with 489 yards on 92 carries and a career-high five touchdowns.

Davis joins Zachary Carter as the only UF players that have officially declared for the draft, but that list will likely grow in the coming days. He finishes his Florida career with 284 carries for 1,472 yards and eight touchdowns to go with 70 catches for 726 yards and two touchdowns.

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Florida updates depth chart after dismissing Elijah Blades from the program

Elijah Blades is gone, but who is replacing him on Florida’s depth chart against LSU?

Dan Mullen has not made many adjustments to his depth chart this season, but the loss of Elijah Blades has a new cornerback listed on the depth chart ahead of a Week 7 matchup with Lousiana State.

Blades was dismissed from the team after missing a few games with injury and not dressing for the Vanderbilt game. Replacing him is Ethan Pouncey, who has four tackles across four games this year. Kaiir Elam, Avery Helm and Jason Marshall Jr. are all still solidly ahead of Pouncey, so he’ll have time to ease into the new role.

Speaking of Elam, it appears he’ll be returning after missing three weeks with a knee injury. Starting running back Malik Davis is also set to return after sitting last week against Vanderbilt. Dameon Pierce and Nay’Quan Wright held up fine in Davis’ absence, but it was still a down week on the ground for the Gators.

Florida will be on the road again this weekend, and the offensive line struggled with penalties the last time they visited another SEC school. Richard Gouraige should be back at left tackle for Florida, giving the Gators their best available guys upfront.

Mullen mentioned that the team had been working on tweaking the snap count in preparation for Death Valley, but wouldn’t divulge any secrets ahead of the game. If the line can stay healthy, the preparation should help them perform much better on the road this time around.

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LSU vs Florida: Running Backs Tale of the Tape

The running back comparison is one-sided once again.

This will be an uphill battle on Saturday afternoon down on the Bayou. The LSU Tigers and Florida Gators feature two completely different styles when it comes to running the football.

The Gators have the No. 1 rushing attack in the SEC, ranked No. 3 nationally. While the Tigers have a bottom two attack in the conference and nationally at No. 127 in yards per game and No. 122 in yards per attempt. Safe to say these teams are at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to running the football.

The Tigers just lost their top receiving threat in Kayshon Boutte for the season, so that puts even more pressure on a unit that is underperforming. LSU has to find a way to have some semblance of balance between the run and pass to help alleviate some of the pressure on quarterback Max Johnson.

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Let’s dive into the numbers for the Tigers-Gators matchup in the running game.

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