UF football report: Injured RB Montrell Johnson watches Gators practice

GAINESVILLE — A day after Tropical Storm Debby passed through the area, Florida continued fall camp during a pleasant August evening at Sanders Practice Field.

Temperatures of 83 degrees and waning sunshine welcomed the Gators during their sixth of 17 practices prior to Week 1 preparation for an Aug. 31 visit from Miami.

The school provided a 15-minute viewing period for media during individual drills.

Top takeaway: Senior running back Montrell Johnson Jr. wore a black non-contact jersey and watched practice days after a minor right knee surgery. Johnson stood holding a football, sometimes tossing it to himself, as quarterbacks threw to backs and receivers Tuesday night.

Johnson was expected to shoulder much of the workload in the running game, having led the team in rushing yards the past two seasons. He enters 2024 with 2,496 career rushing yards and 27 touchdowns in three seasons, including 2021 as a true freshman at Louisiana during UF coach Billy Napier’s final season with the Ragin’ Cajuns.

Napier is scheduled to meet reporters Wednesday, when he’ll be asked about Johnson’s recovery timeline.

Next in line are sophomore Treyaun Webb, a coveted 4-star prospect in 2023 from Jacksonville, true freshman Jadan Baugh, who rushed for a game-high 77 yards during the spring game, and true freshman Kahnen Daniels, a record-setter in Mississippi.

A 2023 junior redshirt transfer from Pensacola, Ja’Kobi Jackson, also could enter the mix.

Step forward: Much was expected Jacksonville’s Marcus Burke when he signed in 2020. Better late than never it appears for the redshirt junior. The 6-foot-3 3/4, 197-pound Burke has prototypical size, good speed and was sure-handed on several throws Tuesday night. He has just 12 catches for 201 yards in three seasons, but could enter the mix as UF looks for options to help sophomore star Tre Wilson.

Burke arrived as a star himself. He led Trinity Christian to the 3A state title game in 2020 with 9 catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.

Step back: The Gators suffered a few drops during Friday’s practice. On Tuesday, a short pass to Webb bounced off the sophomore’s hands. Pass catchers out of the back field is an element Napier plans to use. Webb is likely the Gators’ starter until Johnson returns.

Trainer’s room: OT Fletcher Westphal, the top-rated lineman in the 2024 class, wore a non-contact jersey as he recovers from mononucleosis, according to Napier. Also wearing black jerseys because of undisclosed injuries were cornerbacks Ja’Keem Jackson and Devin Moore, safety Asa Turner and offensive tackle Caden Jones.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at moc.lenitnesodnalro@nospmohtge