Sometimes Urban Meyer can’t contain himself when it comes to a promising recruit.
The other day after spring football practice, when asked about a freshman wide receiver, Meyer was downright effusive about his talent.
The only problem was that Andre Debose isn’t even enrolled at Florida yet and hasn’t even suited up for practice, let alone played a game. Meyer said he was maybe “the best highlight film I’ve ever seen” and that he expected Debose to start and contribute.
Later, in a moment of contrition, perhaps reminded of the tenet of the coach manual which says “Though Shalt Not Expect Too Much Out A Freshman,” Meyer backed off a little. He amended that to read that Debose “would contribute.”
We all know, of course, that Debose is supposed to take Percy Harvin’s place.
Well, not really take it — just succeed him at the position.
After the next practice, Urban was moaning and groaning about the lack of production by the wide receivers, tweaking some of the running backs for being too fragile and bemoaning the absence of the Pouncey Twins.
It was a rainy, cloudy Wednesday and not a terribly impressive performance by the offense, so Urban was not a happy coach.
At the very last part of the press conference, Urban remembered somebody who he wanted to mention. “And, oh yeah, Jon Bostic — he looks like he may contributed,” Meyer said of the true freshman lineabacker. “He’s even got (Brandon) Spikes talking about him.”
Well, there he went again — just like he did when he designated Omar Hunter in pre-season last year as a partial answer to the defensive line problem. Omar, of course, was injured and didn’t play. But he’s back this year with hopes of making it to the field. And, finally, making his coach’s prediction come true — even if it is one year later.