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Florida Gators: Kyle Koehne

GatorNation's Rankings Week concludes with a list of the Gators’ top needs in recruiting for the class of 2014, as well as a list of the top players the Gators are pursuing at those positions.

Ranking UF’s needs for 2014

1. Offensive line

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The 2013 NFL draft was certainly a good one for the Florida Gators, especially after the poor showing in the prior year, in which only two Gators were drafted. This year, Florida had eight taken between Thursday and Saturday. That’s one shy of the school record for most UF players drafted in the seven-round format.

The 2014 could be pretty similar. The Gators have 11 scholarship seniors graduating and could lose three underclassmen. Of those 14 players, eight project as draftable -- including two possible first-round selections.

Here’s an early look at next year’s draft class (* - denotes underclassman):

DE/LB Ronald Powell * (6-foot-4, 234 pounds)
Projected rounds: 1-3


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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida released a post-spring depth chart on Wednesday. There were no big surprises, although seeing running back Mack Brown behind Matt Jones and ahead of Kelvin Taylor did earn a raised eyebrow.

Here’s the breakdown:

Offense

LT: D.J. Humphries (6-5, 285, So.)/Trenton Brown (6-8, 363, Jr.)

LG: Max Garcia (6-4, 307, RJr.)/Ian Silberman (6-5, 290, RJr.)

C: Jonotthan Harrison (6-3, 303, RSr.) /Kyle Koehne (6-5, 314, RSr.)

RG: Jon Halapio (6-3, 317, RSr.)/Trip Thurman (6-5, 313, RSo.)

RT: Tyler Moore (6-5, 315, RSo.) OR Chaz Green (6-5, 305, RJr.)

TE: Clay Burton (6-4, 247, Jr.)/Tevin Westbrook (6-5, 258, Jr.) OR Colin Thompson (6-4, 250, RFr.) OR Kent Taylor (6-5, 223, So.)

RB: Matt Jones (6-2, 228, So.)/Mack Brown (5-11, 215, RJr.)

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Florida Class of 2009 review 

January, 24, 2013
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- There is very little middle ground when it comes to evaluating Florida’s 2009 17-member signing class.

Eight became starters, seven turned into busts and two others are role players -- including one who has driven two separate coaching staffs crazy. Seven of those starters have done so for multiple seasons.

That’s not a bad ratio. Most coaches would be ecstatic if 50 percent of every signing class developed into starters, even if it also meant half weren’t going to make much impact, if any, on the program.

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Editor’s note: Every Tuesday and Thursday through Jan. 31, 2013, GatorNation will break down each position. We’ll look at 2013, of course, but also try and give you a peek beyond next season, too. Today is guard/center. We will profile tight end on Jan. 15.

GUARD/CENTER

Two-deep: With the graduation of sixth-year senior James Wilson, redshirt freshman Jessamen Dunker and redshirt junior Max Garcia will compete for the starting job at left guard. Jonotthan Harrison and Jon Halapio will return as starters at center and right guard, respectively. Both will be redshirt seniors. Redshirt senior Kyle Koehne and Ian Silberman, provided his shoulder injury is healed, are the reserves.

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Editor’s note: Every Tuesday and Thursday through Jan. 31, GatorNation will break down each position. We’ll look at 2013, of course, but also try and give you a peek beyond next season, too. Today is offensive tackle. We will profile center/guard on Jan. 10.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Two-deep: With the graduation of Xavier Nixon, sophomore D.J. Humphries will step into the starting spot at left tackle. He’ll be pushed by junior college behemoth Trenton Brown (6-foot-8, 350 pounds), who is scheduled to enroll early. Chaz Green likely will hold on to his starting job at right tackle, but he’ll have to hold off Nebraska transfer Tyler Moore, who sat out the 2012 season and also is scheduled to enroll early.

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Tagging the Gators: C Jonotthan Harrison

December, 19, 2012
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Jonotthan HarrisonMark LoMoglio/Icon SMIDurable lineman Jonotthan Harrison started every game this season.
Editor’s note: Each day between now and Florida’s Allstate Sugar Bowl date with Louisville, GatorNation will review the season for a key Gators player and attempt to project what’s next. Today, we’ll look at C Jonotthan Harrison.

C Jonotthan Harrison
Redshirt junior

Role in 2012: Harrison started every game at center this season despite suffering an elbow injury against Vanderbilt. Harrison started every game at either guard or center in 2011. UF is averaging 194.5 yards per game rushing, 338.4 yards per game of total offense and has given up 36 sacks.

The good: Harrison is the definition of durability. He has started 26 consecutive games dating to the 2011 Outback Bowl against Penn State. He played the season’s final six games with a brace on his arm after suffering a sprained elbow against the Commodores. He has had very little trouble with shotgun snaps, which is something that plagued Mike Pouncey at the beginning of his first season as the starting center. Harrison is a physical player with good size (6-foot-3, 309 pounds) and is a solid run-blocker.

The bad: Harrison sometimes has trouble in pass protection. The Gators have been hurt by delayed blitzes or overloads up the middle. As the center, Harrison has the responsibility for picking up those blitzers, whether he’s free already or if he has to come off a double-team block. UF quarterbacks have been sacked 36 times this season, and while all that blame doesn’t belong to the offensive line, a good portion of it does.

Crystal ball: Harrison should return as the starter in 2013. He’s really the only experienced center on the roster, although Kyle Koehne has worked at the spot as well as guard and tackle. He’ll have to deal with a whole new left side because left guard James Wilson and left tackle Xavier Nixon graduate, but the offensive line should be better and deeper than it was this season.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Here’s an analysis of three key plays in Florida’s 14-7 victory over Georgia on Saturday.


Wildcat TD run



The score: 7-0, Missouri leading early in the third quarter.

The situation: Second-and-6 at the Missouri 36-yard line.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Geno Smith. Collin Klein. De’Anthony Thomas. Braxton Miller.

Mike Gillislee?

Absolutely, say Gillislee’s Florida teammates. The senior running back deserves to be on the list of Heisman Trophy candidates after what he did against one of the nation’s top defenses Saturday afternoon at Florida Field.

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Scouting report: LSU

October, 1, 2012
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The bye week is over and Florida gets back in action against LSU on Saturday at Florida Field (3:30 p.m., CBS). Here’s a look at the Tigers:

LSU

Record: 5-0 (1-0 SEC).

Coach: Les Miles, eighth season (80-18); 12th season overall (108-39).

Series record: Florida leads 30-25-3.

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Kyle Koehne's versatility helps Gators

September, 28, 2012
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Trey Burton gets all the publicity for playing multiple positions on offense, but he’s not the only Florida player who can do that.

Kyle Koehne can play all five positions along the offensive line. He has mainly worked inside at guard since he came to Florida in 2009 but has started at right tackle in the Gators’ past two games because of Chaz Green’s ankle injury.

"My mindset is just if I can play, put me in wherever," Koehne said. "Learning each position has been a good opportunity and has helped me understand the offense as a whole and I think it’s only benefited me.

Koehne saw limited snaps at tackle and guard as a redshirt freshman in 2010. He played in every game last season and made his first career start against Furman at left guard. He has taken reps at one time or another at every spot along the line.

In the 6-foot-5, 311-pound Koehne’s two starts this season, the Gators have given up only three sacks and have run for 536 yards. He’s still not completely at ease at tackle, though.

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Film study: Gators vs. Kentucky 

September, 23, 2012
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Here’s an analysis of three key plays in Florida’s 38-0 victory over Kentucky on Saturday.

Jaylen Watkins’ interception return

The score: Florida leading 10-0 with less than nine minutes remaining in the first half.

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Sunday Night QB: 3rd downs improving 

September, 23, 2012
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida coach Will Muschamp was obviously pleased that his offense had so much success on third down against Kentucky, because that was something the Gators hadn’t had much of through the first three games.

But so was DT Omar Hunter.

UF’s 12-of-17 performance on third downs was just as helpful to the defense. It gave the Gators time to rest, which meant they had more energy on the field -- and that contributed to UF’s first shutout of a Southeastern Conference opponent since a 52-0 rout of Mississippi State in 2001.

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Sunday Night QB: UF mentally tougher 

September, 16, 2012
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Halftime deficits don’t mean a thing to the Florida football team.

The Gators are evaluating and regrouping during the 20-minute break. They are minimizing mistakes and making plays.

Then they are finishing games in the fourth quarter.

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Film study: Gators vs. Tennessee 

September, 16, 2012
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Here’s an analysis of three key plays in Florida’s 37-20 victory over Tennessee on Saturday.

Trey Burton’s 80-yard TD


The score: Tennessee leading 20-13 with 3:27 remaining in the third quarter.

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