Florida freshman linebacker Myles Graham to miss spring camp
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gators freshman linebacker Myles Graham will miss the remainder of spring camp. Graham underwent back surgery this spring to repair an injury he sustained in high school. Graham was able to go through the first two practices of spring camp but was shut down to get the corrective surgery now, in order to get him back in time for summer/fall camp and the season.
“Myles Graham had an injury coming in and went through phase one and phase two,” Billy Napier said on Saturday. “We said, ok when we get to spring break and we feel like this is going to be a long-term issue then we want to go ahead and get it fixed. We made that decision and we anticipate getting him back for fall camp.”
Graham was competing with South Carolina transfer Grayson “Pup” Howard, Derek Wingo, and Mannie Nunnery for playing time. He’ll be able to work his way back into the mix once he finishes his rehab and is cleared to return to the field.
Myles Graham made a quick first impression
Graham enrolled at Florida, following in his father’s footsteps, even wearing his dad’s number five. Earnest Graham played running back for the Gators from 1998-2002 and had a stellar career. He rushed for 3,065 yards on 603 carries before a nine-year NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Graham played running back and linebacker in high school but will play strictly on defense for the Gators.
He enrolled in January and quickly made an impression.
“He’s been outstanding,” new Florida linebackers coach Ron Roberts said of Graham. “A tremendous athlete, you know. Great hips, can run, flip his hips, do everything. He can play anything, you know what I mean? So, he’s been a pleasure to work with and it’s exciting.”
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Graham isn’t only impressing the coaching staff, he’s turned the heads of his peers.
“Stud. Stud,” Shemar James said emphatically. “Myles Graham, he’s a stud. My little bro now. I gotta coach him up, make him the best linebacker he can be. He’s got history here, so when he walks in, he’s ready to work. No slack at all.
“He’s physical. He’s physical, he can run, he can hit, he can disrupt, all that stuff. So, it’s kind of just getting him in the playbook so he can play fast.”
His son has added eight pounds of lean muscle since enrolling early at UF. The 6-foot-1, 222-pound Graham is expected to play the Will LB spot as a true freshman with James, Jaden Robinson and RJ Moten.
“Myles is a great guy. I love him,” linebacker Derek Wingo said. “He’s coming in with a lot of talent. He’s a bigger guy and he wants to learn. He’s like a sponge wanting to soak up all the knowledge. And that’s huge for him to come in and put himself around the right kind of people to make himself the best he can be.”
