Spring highlights: Movie star, NFL coaches visit Florida Gators

He did wonders with quarterback Shane Falco in “The Replacements,” so maybe two-time Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman had some advice for Florida coach Jim McElwain as he ponders a quarterback decision for the fall.

Hackman was among the several high-profile visitors to stop by spring practice this week, including former Gators great Steve Spurrier. The Visored One, who abruptly retired from South Carolina in the middle of last season, remains an icon at Florida after winning the Heisman Trophy as a player in 1966 and guiding the Gators to six SEC championships and to the 1996 national championship during his 11 years as a coach.

Other coaches who stopped by included NFL head coaches Dan Quinn and Jack Del Rio.

Quinn, who now guides the Atlanta Falcons, is a former Gators defensive coordinator who stopped in Gainesville on Thursday. He makes the college campus rounds to check out potential prospects as the NFL Draft approaches.

Del Rio, who is the coach of the Oakland Raiders and the father of Florida quarterback Luke Del Rio, joined Spurrier and Hackman at Wednesday’s practice. Jack Del Rio and Hackman are longtime friends.

#Gators QB Luke Del Rio, father Jack, and family friend Gene Hackman…I expected to see 2 of them at practice. pic.twitter.com/F2xQ0LpZpM

— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) March 23, 2016

https://twitter.com/FalconsDQ/status/713018093706940418

The high-profile visits were hardly the only news to come out of Gators spring practice this week. Here’s a look at other developments of Florida’s spring practice.

McElwain gets a raise

School officials announced Friday that McElwain would be getting a $750,000 bump in salary, pushing his overall compensation package to $4.25 million annually. The deal, which had been in the works since October, makes the second-year Gators coach the highest-paid coach in the SEC East and the sixth-highest in the conference. Alabama’s Nick Saban is the SEC’s highest-paid coach with a base salary of $7 million.

McElwain went 10-4 in his inaugural season in 2015, leading Florida to the SEC Championship Game for the first time since 2009 and to a berth in Citrus Bowl.

Del Rio takes early lead in QB battle

Del Rio, a transfer from Oregon State, has been on campus the longest and that familiarity is reaping dividends early as he has forged an early lead in the bid to become Florida’s starting quarterback this fall.

McElwain has cited his composure, familiarity with the offense and command of the huddle for the early separation. Del Rio is competing against Austin Appleby, a graduate transfer from Purdue, and true freshmen Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask.

The quarterback battle is expected to go into fall camp before McElwain names a starter. Last year’s starter, Treon Harris, has been suspended and will miss the spring, but is expected to move to wide receiver upon his return.

Pineiro impressive so far

Kicker Eddy Pineiro has impressed so far and could be a welcome addition to a team sorely lacking in the kicking game a year ago. The redshirt sophomore has yet to do it in a college game, but made all of his field goal attempts in his first practice to get McElwain’s attention.

Pineiro figures to be an improvement from the struggling Austin Hardin, who missed on 9 of 14 field goal tries last year and botched three extra points. Hardin is no longer on the team.

John Hollis

John Hollis is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Georgia and Florida.