McElwain pleased by receiver depth

GAINESVILLE — Antonio Callaway’s suspension leaves the Florida Gators without their top receiver against Michigan, but options still abound at the position.

UF coach Jim McElwain said his team has “eight or nine we feel good about.”

These days, McElwain feels much better about Dre Massey. The redshirt junior returns from an ACL tear suffered during last season’s opener and has struggled since resuming contact drills this month.

During last Friday’s scrimmage, Massey resembled the player who shined and once was poised to be an impact player.

“It was kind of like, ‘Oh, there it was,’ ” McElwain said. “He had a couple kind of really cool plays where you go, ‘OK, this is where we thought he was a year ago.’ ”

McElwain also has been impressed with sophomore Tyrie Cleveland’s maturity. A year ago, Cleveland battled hamstring tightness and faced a one-game suspension for a BB-gun fight in student housing.

Cleveland showed flashes last season. Now 6-foot-2, 205, he has added nine pounds and expanded his route tree.

“Tyrie Cleveland is playing with a lot of confidence,” McElwain said.

Fellow sophomores Josh Hammond and Freddie Swain, freshmen Daquon Green and Kadarius Toney and senior Brandon Powell each could factor into the game plan against Michigan. Once he returns, Callaway makes eight.

Next game: No. 17 UF vs. No. 11 Michigan (Arlington), Sept. 2, 3:30 p.m., ABC