GAINESVILLE -- Converted wideout Brandon Powell stands as Florida’s offensive X-factor this season.
The former Deerfield Beach star tailback recorded just 217 total yards in 2014, but the sophomore could be the critical piece to revive the Gators’ moribund offense under first-year coach Jim McElwain.
Recently, Powell spoke on his transition to receiver, the complexity of Florida's new offensive scheme, the financial help of a COA check and more.
ON HIS DEVELOPMENT AS A WR…
“From training camp we’ve been doing a lot of formations. Lining up in different up in different spots on the field. It’s been a lot, but I've been able to take that challenge to learn everything and it’s been going good this whole camp. … I’m all over the field, you’ll see come Sep. 5. I mean they’ll have me all over the field.”
ON HIS COMFORT LEVEL AT THE POSITION…
“I’m still trying to get a little used to it. You know it’s tough to come here in college and play a whole new position that you’ve never played before. You know I’m just still trying to get used to it. Still a couple of things that I have to learn. I’m just still trying to take some time and learn it until the season starts.”
ON HIS ABILITY TO CREATE EXPLOSIVE PLAYS FROM THE SLOT…
“You know in the slot you have a lot of linebackers and safeties trying to guard you, and you know coaches they always say, 'If you got a safety on you, you gotta win.’ That’s kind of what I take advantage of when I see a safety or linebacker lined up on me and I try to win.”
ON HIS FIRST COST OF ATTENDANCE CHECK…
“Playing football and all that, you still have to pay your rent and all that stuff, and some people, depending on their family situation, help out back at home, so it kinda helps a lot. You have extra money in your pocket and do the things you want, live like a normal student instead of like an athlete all the time. It kinda helps.”
ON THE COMPLEXITY OF NEW OFFENSE…
“Talking to Vernon and everybody after practice, after the scrimmage, they tell some of the routes, ‘This route is hard to cover,’ and this year it’s a lot of different routes than the little corner route or over route we were running last year every play. Coach, he got a lot of good routes for us and plays that are gonna kill some defenses this year. We’re just waiting to put it all together.”
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