Florida Gators getting leadership from Derek Wingo, Shemar James

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators have a new linebackers coach in Ron Roberts. While the 56-year-old brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the room, there are two veteran players who also have the respect and ear of the room.

A new coach is an old hat for Derek Wingo. The fifth-year senior veteran linebacker has played in 45 games for three different position coaches since he arrived on campus in 2020. Roberts will earn the trust and respect of the team but Wingo has already done that. The often injured linebacker has given his body for the team — like playing against FSU with a shoulder that needed surgery and on a foot he broke the Monday of the game in 2022 because Ventrell Miller had to serve a suspension in the first half. Wingo is the consummate team player, who has earned the admiration of his peers and the coaching staff.

“I came to the University of Florida not for specific coaches, I came for the University of Florida. I wanted to be close to my family and I bought into the program. Even though the program might have changed, I had a plan for myself and when these new coaches came in they presented a plan for that and I believe that with everything going on in the transfer portal world and all these kinds of things,” Wingo said. “If you just trust yourself, trust your abilities and trust the people you have around you even know that might come and go, you’re going to be alright at the end of the day.”

Shemar James hasn’t been in Gainesville as long as Wingo but the junior has played as much as anybody and earned his respect through his play on the field. James started the first eight games of the 2023 season before a knee dislocation ended his year. James is working his way back to form but has gone through the first two practices in a black non-contact jersey and a light brace on his knee. James underwent surgery — for the first time in his life — for the injury.

Florida Gators leaders in non-contact jerseys

Both of the Gators’ veteran linebackers are leading in black jerseys. James says he’s close to 100 percent, while Wingo is healthy and being held back more as a precaution.

“They’re still getting some indy work in, and Wingo is getting some scale in, some pass stuff. He could probably go. It’s just not worth the risk of putting him out there in physical contact right now while he is still recovering from his injury,” linebackers coach Ron Roberts said. “So, he’s going in some scale, some pass reps, non-contact drills. He’s doing all that stuff. Actually, he’s doing some contact on sled and stuff, on our indy he’s doing some of that stuff. He’s good to go.”

Roberts has been a leader of young men for more than two decades but sometimes a voice in the locker room can be as, if not more, effective than a coach. Roberts has seen that from both James and Wingo and he’ll lean on the two veterans this spring.

“Tremendous leadership there. I think that’s the first thing. You’re always looking for those types of things. Those are the things that make a difference on a football team,” Roberts said. “Do you have the right guys in leadership positions that can help bring the young guys along? And this is how we do it, and here’s the standard of excellence and we’re going to push you every day. A good thing about walking in, you kind of see that from the get-go.”