Coach Jon Sumrall pushes Gators to improve toughness, consistency in spring

GAINESVILLE — Florida’s Jon Sumrall wants to develop a tough, physical team able to impose its will in the rugged SEC. Ten practices into his first spring in Gainesville, the Gators have struggled to match their high-energy coach’s intensity or consistently meet his expectations. Sumrall now plans to push his players to the finish line, culminating with the April 11 Orange and Blue spring game in the Swamp.

“We’re going to be pretty physical the rest of the way out,” Sumrall said Tuesday. “From a physicality and toughness standpoint, a lot of work to be done. ” Sumrall inherited a program coming off four losing seasons in a five years.

Last season’s 4-8 team wore down during the second half during losses at LSU, Miami and Texas A&M, was overrun at home by Tennessee and couldn’t hold off USF during a defeat that effectively sealed former head coach Billy Napier’s fate . Sumrall retooled the roster with 50 new players — who joined 64 returners — and brought strength coach and former Green Beret Rusty Whitt with him from Tulane to change the culture. Remnants from the past remain.

Consider during Florida’s Pro Day, long snapper Rocco Underwood bench-pressed 225 pounds 14 times while three-year starting offensive line Damieon George managed to complete only 12 repetitions. “Rocco’s a unique long snapper, but that shouldn’t happen,” Sumrall said. “We need to make sure our linemen are all hitting in the 20s when you get 225.