Florida football coach Jon Sumrall talks spring game format, second scrimmage
· Yahoo Sports
Florida football began its final week of spring practices under first-year coach Jon Sumrall in preparation for its spring Orange and Blue game on Saturday, April 11, at The Swamp (noon kickoff).
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Sumrall said he wants the Florida Gators to play "fast and physical" throughout the contest, which will give fans a first glimpse of how the offense, defense and special teams will operate under his watch.
“We're not gonna be perfect," Sumrall said. "There will be some mistakes made. I might make one on Saturday. We may put a bad play-call in. But I want them to feel that our guys enjoy playing the game, and that they're gonna play with an edge and a chip on their shoulder."
Sumrall also laid out a unique format and scoring system intended to reward big plays and stops on defense. Split teams will be drafted with an offense and a defense on each sideline.
"The offense will be in blue," Sumrall said. "The defense will be in white. The defense will be called the orange team, ‘cause we’re not gonna actually wear orange and blue because that would be ridiculously confusing for two teams being in a colored jersey. The quarterbacks will be in orange still."
On offense, a touchdown will be worth six points, a field goal three points and an extra point one point. But there will be chances for the offense to come back late in the game by going for a three-point conversion at the five-yard line after a TD and a four-point conversion after a TD from the 10-yard line.
The defensive scoring system will include three points for a three-and-out, one point for a forced punt and six points for forcing a turnover.
Why Florida football spring game is being scored differently
Sumrall said he's used the scoring system in spring games over the last four years as head coach at Tulane and Troy.
"I look at a 4th-down stop as a takeaway, 'cause it’s a takeaway on downs," Sumrall said. "And so, the defense will have scoring.
"You'll see different rotations in there. So I wouldn't put a whole lot – when you look into the, who are the ones, we ain't there yet. Like, yeah, there will be a depth chart. There will be guys that start game one. But right now, who's the starter? Nobody? Who's a backup? Everybody.”
Florida football safety DJ Coleman, a Baylor transfer, said he's looking forward to stepping on the field on The Swamp for the first time in front of fans.
"I just want to show them that this is a new era of Florida Gators and what we're bringing to the 2026 football season is a brand of football that they can trust and believe in," Coleman said.
Florida football CBs stand out in second scrimmage
Sumrall mentioned cornerback Cormani McClain and cornerback Dijon Johnson as two players who stood out from UF's second scrimmage over the weekend.
Sophomore cornerback Ben Hanks III stood out in UF's first spring game as the competition in the position group remains ongoing.
"I’ve seen a lot of guys step up in certain spots and flash," Sumrall said. "But you can't be a one-hit-wonder. You know, at corner, you have to have a short memory. You have to be ultra-competitive; you have to have a swagger and confidence about you.
"But I don't know yet if – is the talent good enough in the room? Yes. Is the maturity and the competitive character in that room where it needs to be yet? Not consistent enough for my liking for us to be a championship-type football team."
Florida football coach Jon Sumrall concerned about competitive depth, penalties
Sumrall said he wasn't happy with some the procedural penalties UF had on the offensive line in its second scrimmage.
"The procedural ones are the ones that drive me crazy, where it's like, we don't know how to get on the ball," Sumrall said. "They’re hard.”
Overall, Sumrall said the goal remains to develop more competitive depth on UF's roster.
"I don't feel really good, in full disclosure I am very uncomfortable with the depth of how competitive we are," Sumrall said. "In this league, you better be. We're not there yet - at all. It's a little uneasy for me. So, we need to challenge some guys to go play football."
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football gears for spring game with unique scoring system