Graham Mertz, Jack Miller battling and other takeaways from Florida football practice

Florida football held its third practice of camp on Wednesday evening at the Sanders Practice Fields. The Florida Gators will practice 15 times over the next weeks in preparation for their season opener Aug. 31 at Utah.

"The theme here for training camp, all parts of the organization and the team, is we have to agree to an expectation," Florida coach Billy Napier said. "I think that's a big deal. "I think if we can agree to what's expected of each other, we can go into this training camp with the right attitude, the right approach, and we can say, hey, you know what, I'm up for that challenge.

I'm going to put my ego aside, and I'm going to put my emotions aside, and I'm going to be -- coach me, tell me the truth. We can establish trust. We can establish respect.

" Camp begins: Everything Florida football coach Billy Napier had to say on report day for fall camp Open practice: Want a sneak peek of the 2023 Florida football team? Here's how to catch a Gators practice Here are three quick takeaways from the 15-minute open portion of practice. UF football quarterback battle ensues The Florida football quarterback battle continued with Graham Mertz getting the first snaps in workouts, followed by Jack Miller and Max Brown. Mertz continued to display accuracy, hitting wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in stride on intermediate routes.

Miller had a nice pass on an intermediate route to Kahleil Jackson, as well. Jackson, a former Hawthorne High quarterback, is vying for a starting job at wide receiver. More contact for Florida football receivers, defensive backs The third day of practice includes more contact for Florida defensive backs and receivers, as defensive backs went through tackling drills and receivers went through blocking drills.

Florida wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales has long been a stickler for receivers blocking, going back to his first stint at UF receivers coach from 2005-09. "You don't block," he said then. "You don't play.

" Three Florida Gators working out on the sidelines Three Florida players remained working out on the sidelines in non-contact jerseys with the UF training staff -- freshman receiver Eugene Wilson III, sophomore receiver Thai Chiaokhioa-Bowman and walk-on wide receiver Brian Green Jr. Wilson caught passes Tuesday in drills, but has yet to catch passes in live routes with UF quarterbacks. Offensive lineman Micah Mazzccua continued to work out in drills in a non-contact jersey.

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