Florida has a handful football players changing positions this spring.
UF coach Jim McElwain announced Thursday that defensive back Duke Dawson and offensive lineman Martez Ivey will line up at new spots in 2017.
"He'll be corner full time," McElwain said of Dawson, who started at nickel in 2016. "Obviously his ability to play nickel is only something that is not only going to help us but help him in the future as it did Brian Poole. I think his ability to be able to show all that stuff is going to do nothing more than strengthen our depth, help the Gators get better and help him personally."
"Tez will go out to left (tackle). We need to develop (the tackle position) between him, (Jawaan Taylor) and Fred (Johnson). We need to get Stone (Forsythe) involved as he's been a freshman now. He's ready to roll. … There will be some really good competition as we get rolling there."
In addition to Dawson and Ivey, McElwain said position changes will happen for 3 more players.
"Richerd Desir-Jones is moving from O-line over to D-line," McElwain said. "We're going to bring (walk-on) Tanner Rowell from D-line over to O-line as an inside position, teach him both center and guard. Cam Knight is going to go from tight end over to linebacker for the spring to take a look at that."
The Gators also revealed jersey numbers Thursday for their 5 early enrollees: defensive tackle Kyree Campbell (55), tight end Kemore Gamble (88), linebacker James Houston (41), offensive tackle Kadeem Telfort (76) and athlete Kadarius Toney (17), who will play quarterback this spring.
There are no number changes for the returning players. Jersey numbers 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 haven't been assigned. No. 1 was not worn by a Florida player in 2016 for the first time since 1984.
