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Florida Football: 5 things to watch during 2019 spring game

By Briley Hughes

STARKVILLE, MS - SEPTEMBER 29: Head coach Dan Mullen of the Florida Gators reacts during the first half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS - SEPTEMBER 29: Head coach Dan Mullen of the Florida Gators reacts during the first half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 10: Kadarius Toney #4 of the Florida Gators crosses the goal line for a touchdown during the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 10: Kadarius Toney #4 of the Florida Gators crosses the goal line for a touchdown during the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

3. Kadarius Toney’s usage

Gator Nation has been clamoring for the coaches to give Kadarius Toney more touches. He’s a big-play machine and the jolt the offensive needs to keep the opponent’s defensive off-balance.

Toney is the skeleton key that could unlock a new dimension for the Florida offense. But is he ready for the added usage?

Everyone knows about Toney explosive abilities when he has the ball in his hand, but getting Toney the ball more as a receiver is key to maintaining unpredictability when he’s on the field. Feeding Toney the ball as a pass-catcher will depend completely on improvement in his route running, knowledge of the playbook and blocking on the perimeter.

“I think it’s critical because when he can be comfortable being a wide receiver, you’ve got to play him as a wide receiver,” Mullen told Swamp247. “And when you do that, that’s when all of the other things that he does becomes dangerous, you know what I mean?”

Will Sammon of The Athletic named Toney one of the players who has stood out most during spring practices, which bodes well for the spring game.

As always, Toney’s touches out of the backfield will be must-see plays, but maybe more important to watch will be the plays he lines up at receiver. If Toney shows progress lining up on the perimeters, Florida fans can expect to see much more of Kardius Toney during the upcoming season.

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