Florida Gators Spring Football Preview: Defense

The Gators open spring football camp March 15 under first-year coach Billy Napier and his staff. UF will have 15 practices including the spring game on April 16.

Ahead of the first practice Tuesday, Gators Online previews Florida’s defensive side of the ball.

Defensive line

Departures: DE Zachary Carter; DTs Daquan Newkirk, Tyrone Truesdell and Antonio Valentino

Returners: DEs Justus Boone, Tyreak Sapp, Princely Umanmielen and Dante Zanders; DTs Gervon Dexter, Lamar Goods, Jaelin Humphries, Jalen Lee, Griffin McDowell, Chris Thomas Jr. and Desmond Watson

Newcomers: DT Chris McClellan (early enrollee)

Signees: DT Jamari Lyons (summer enrollee)

2021 production

The Gators were led on the defensive line by Zachary Carter, who decided to return for his redshirt senior season after leading SEC defensive linemen with 9.5 tackle-for-loss in 2020 along with 5.0 sacks (sixth among SEC DL).

Carter increased his numbers in both categories last year, registering 8.0 sacks (fifth among SEC DL) and 11.0 tackles-for-loss (ninth among SEC DL). He posted 32.0 tackles, his third straight season with 30-plus tackles. 

But after leading the league with 35.0 sacks in 2020, the Gators ranked sixth in the SEC in sacks last year despite racking up more (37.0). Outside of Carter, Gervon Dexter was the only defensive lineman with more than two sacks (2.5). 

Jalen Lee (1.5 sacks), Daquan Newkirk (1.5), Princely Umanmielen (1.5) and Antonio Valentino (1.0) all finished with less than two sacks, while Justus Boone, Desmond Watson and Dante Zanders each had a half sack on the year. 

The defensive line, along with Florida’s front seven, struggled against the run in 2021. The Gators ranked 10th in the SEC in rushing defense, allowing 163.9 yards per game. 

Spring preview

Carter started all 12 regular season games, while grad transfer defensive tackles Newkirk (7) and Valentino (8) combined for 15 starts with Truesdell making one start as well. 

The Gators must replace all four veterans and will go through spring with 12 scholarship defensive linemen. They have four projected ends in Boone, Umanmielen, Zanders and Tyreak Sapp. 

Umanmielen is expected to earn Carter’s starting job after making 17.0 tackles in 13 games played last year. Redshirt freshmen Boone and Sapp should provide reps in the rotation with Zanders. 

Florida has eight players who will line up at defensive tackle and nose tackle, with Dexter leading the pack. He started all 13 games in 2021 and recorded 51.0 tackles, first among Gators D-linemen. 

After him, Lee is Florida’s most used and productive returning defensive tackle, recording 9.0 tackles in eight games played last season with one start. He started the Gasparilla Bowl alongside Dexter. 

Lee will likely open spring ball with the first-team defense, but Desmond Watson could contend for the start at nose tackle if he can handle more playing time at his listed weight (415 pounds). 

Bottom line

Florida’s defensive line should have a solid starting lineup with Dexter, Lee and Umanmielen, but the Gators are young and inexperienced behind them. It’s critical for this position group to develop some depth in the spring.

Outside linebackers

Departures: Jeremiah Moon, Khris Bogle

Returners: Brenton Cox Jr., Antwaun Powell, David Reese, Lloyd Summerall, Chief Borders

Newcomers: None

Signees: Jack Pyburn, Andrew Savaiinaea (summer enrollees)

2021 production

Florida’s outside linebackers, also referred to as the BUCK or EDGE position, were headlined by Brenton Cox Jr.

He’s been a key member on defense since transferring from Georgia after the 2018 season, recording 41 total tackles in each of the past two years at UF. 

Cox doubled his sack total from 2020 (4.0) last year, leading the Gators with 8.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles-for-loss. He ranked first in the league in TFL among outside linebackers and second in sacks behind Alabama’s Derick Hall. 

Cox had a breakout game in the regular season finale against Florida State, making a career-high 4.0 sacks and forcing a fumble. His first sack of the season came against No. 1 Alabama and Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young. 

Sixth-year senior Jeremiah Moon played both BUCK and inside linebacker, collecting 49.0 tackles, 3.5 TFL and 2.0 sacks in 10 games played. Cox’s primary backup was Khris Bogle, who had 23.0 tackles, 3.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks. 

Spring preview

Bogle was planning to take over at the BUCK position after the 2021 season, but that changed after Cox decided to return for his redshirt senior year. 

Bogle has since transferred to Michigan State, leaving the Gators with five returning outside linebackers. Cox underwent surgery last June to repair a Jones fracture and did not play at 100 percent during the fall. 

With a full offseason to recover from his injury, a healthier Cox should be able to produce even more as a pass rusher in 2022. He’ll also have a new position coach in Gator Great and NFL veteran Mike Peterson. 

Peterson inherits a seasoned starter in Cox and some promising young talent, particularly former Under Armour All-American Antwaun Powell. 

Powell and Lloyd Summerall both appeared in 12 games last year and recorded 5.0 tackles apiece, with 1.5 sacks for Powell and a half sack for Summerall. David Reese did not record any stats in five games played, while Chief Borders made four appearances with one tackle and redshirted.  

Bottom line

The outside linebacker position lost some key contributors from last season, but Florida returns its top player in Cox and has enough depth behind him. Powell needs to take his game to another level this spring and Peterson should help make that happen. 

Inside linebackers

Departures: Mohamoud Diabate, Jeremiah Moon, Ty’Ron Hopper, Lacedrick Brunson

Returners: Ventrell Miller, Amari Burney, Derek Wingo, Diwun Black, Scooby Williams

Newcomers: None

Signees: Shemar James (summer enrollee)

2021 production

After leading the Gators with 86 tackles in 2020, Ventrell Miller entered last season looking to become the first Florida player to eclipse 100 tackles in a season since David Reese II in 2017.

Unfortunately for Miller, he played in just two games after suffering a season-ending torn biceps tendon at South Florida. UF had multiple inside linebackers to fill the void, but Miller’s experience and leadership were sorely missed in the middle. 

Mohamoud Diabate, Jeremiah Moon, Amari Burney and Ty’ron Hopper all rotated at the position in Miller’s absence. Diabate made 10 starts in 12 games played, finishing second on the Gators with 89 tackles and 13th in the SEC among linebackers. 

Hopper emerged as a redshirt sophomore, ranking third on the team in sacks (3.5) and fourth in tackles (65). He made a career-high 12 tackles (11 solo) at Missouri. 

Moon started nine games at the inside and outside linebacker spots, collecting 49 tackles. Burney was right behind with 44 tackles in 13 games, including two starts. 

Wingo also appeared in all 13 games as a redshirt freshman, starting the Gasparilla Bowl and finishing the season with 15 tackles. 

Spring preview

Due to the coaching changes and his desire to play EDGE, Diabate chose to leave Florida after the bowl game and transferred to Utah. Hopper also elected to play elsewhere, transferring to Missouri in late January. 

Losing your top two leading tacklers at the linebacker position via transfer is a tough break for the Gators, but Miller’s decision to return for a sixth season lessens the blow of Diabate and Hopper’s departures. 

Miller is the heart and soul of Florida’s defense and will be back with a vengeance after having to miss all of SEC play last season. Expect a big year from No. 51. 

Burney is the other veteran at the position. New inside linebackers coach Jay Bateman will be able to rely on Burney and Miller to pick up the defense fast, make calls and get other players lined up pre-snap. 

Wingo, a former top-50 recruit, is a player who should make a push for more playing time this spring. The Gators have some talented depth in Diwun Black and Scooby Williams, a former top-100 recruit. 

Black made four tackles in 10 appearances last season and played multiple positions, but has now settled in at inside linebacker. Williams redshirted as a true freshman, making three tackles in four games. 

Bottom line

Despite Diabate and Hopper transferring, the Gators are golden at middle linebacker with Miller returning. However, they need Wingo to challenge for the other starting spot and Williams to become a dog inside.

Cornerbacks

Departures: Kaiir Elam, Elijah Blades

Returners: Jason Marshall, Jaydon Hill, Avery Helm, Ethan Pouncey, Jordan Young

Newcomers: Jalen Kimber (Georgia transfer)

Signees: Devin Moore (early enrollee)

2021 production

After earning first-team All-SEC honors as a sophomore, Florida’s Kaiir Elam entered last season as a Preseason All-American and played like one despite dealing with a knee sprain. 

Kaiir Elam allowed zero catches in three of his first six games played, including vs. top-ranked Georgia, and broke up three passes against then-No. 1 Alabama. 

Even with his productivity and draft status, Elam never considered opting out and made 29 tackles, five pass breakups and an interception in 10 starts, including the bowl game. 

Elam finished with the season with just 191 receiving yards allowed, the second-fewest among SEC corners in 2021 according to Pro Football Focus (min. 300 snaps). 

Elam only trailed teammate Jason Marshall Jr., who led the league in fewest receiving yards allowed (186) as a true freshman. Marshall made 23 tackles, three pass breakups and his first-career interception against Florida State, one of his seven starts.

Marshall made his first three career starts with Elam out of the lineup and then started four of the last five games. Avery Helm started the first eight games of 2021, but just one after October. He had 22 tackles and three PBUs on the year. 

Fewest yards allowed among SEC CBs in 2021 (min 300 snaps)

🔒 Jason Marshall – 186
🔒 Kaiir Elam – 191@GatorsFB pic.twitter.com/tUDKd3dQ1p

— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) February 22, 2022

Spring preview

Elam, as expected, declared for the 2022 NFL Draft after his junior campaign and ran a 4.39 at the Scouting Combine on Sunday. 

Marshall and Helm both started in Elam’s absence last season, but they’ll have some competition for those jobs this spring. 

Jaydon Hill is back from injury and ready to reclaim his role in the secondary. He made five starts in 2020, finishing with 14 tackles and seven pass breakups in 12 games. 

Hill, a projected starter heading into 2021, suffered a season-ending torn ACL in fall training camp. He did not injure the same knee from high school (right ACL tear).

Another cornerback slotted to start in the SEC last year was Georgia cornerback Jalen Kimber, but a preseason shoulder injury knocked him from likely starting cornerback to a reserve position and he underwent season-ending surgery after one game. 

Kimber entered the portal the day after UGA won the national championship and transferred in January to Florida, where he is expected to compete for first-team reps. There’s also some solid depth with Ethan Pouncey, Jordan Young and early enrollee Devin Moore, a top-100 recruit on On3.

Bottom line

Despite Elam’s departure, Florida should have a solid four-man rotation at cornerback with Hill, Helm, Marshall and Kimber. Marshall could be CB1 given his upward trend toward the end of last season, but who will start opposite him? That’s TBD.

Safeties

Departures: None

Returners: Trey Dean III, Rashad Torrence II, Tre’Vez Johnson, Jadarrius Perkins, Donovan McMillon, Mordecai McDaniel, Kamar Wilcoxson, Corey Collier Jr., Dakota Mitchell, Fenley Graham Jr.

Newcomers: Kamari Wilson (early enrollee)

Signees: Miguel Mitchell (summer enrollee)

2021 production

Former 7v7 teammates Trey Dean III and Rashad Torrence II were Florida’s starting safeties all year, with Dean making 12 starts and Torrence starting all 13 games. 

After starting at cornerback and nickel earlier, Dean adjusted to a new position during his first season as a full-time safety and showed a willingness to tackle. 

Dean led the Gators with 92 tackles in 2021, which ranked 12th in the SEC and second among safeties behind South Carolina’s Jaylan Foster. Dean also had a team-high 10 pass breakups, tied for fifth-most in the league, with 4.5 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks. 

Torrence finished third on the team with 87 tackles and led UF with three interceptions, tied for third-most in the SEC. He also had 3.5 TFL, two pass breakups and a forced fumble against No. 1 UGA, picking off two passes in that game. 

Torrence recorded a career-high 15 tackles against Vanderbilt, the most by a Gators defender last season.

Tre’Vez Johnson made seven starts at nickel (STAR) and also played safety, making 24 tackles, 4.0 TFL, two pass breakups, one interception and a sack.Mordecai McDaniel started the season opener and finished the year with 15 tackles and an interception. 

Spring preview

The Gators return starters Dean and Torrence, both of whom will be coached by co-defensive coordinator and new play-caller Patrick Toney. He has 11 players at his position, but not all of them will play free or strong safety. 

UF defensive backs who played STAR in the previous defense are now listed as safeties on the roster, such as Johnson, Jadarrius Perkins and Dakota Mitchell. Those will likely continue to play nickel under Toney, who often uses six defensive backs in his scheme with a lot of nickel and dime coverages. 

Donovan McMillon appeared in all 13 games as a true freshman with 10 tackles, and he and McDaniel will be in the safety rotation along with Corey Collier Jr., who redshirted last year. 

Kamar Wilcoxson suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp, but he’s medically cleared for practice and could emerge this spring in Toney’s dime packages. 

Florida has added another IMG Academy defensive back to its secondary in top-rated signee Kamari Wilson, who enrolled early and will be practicing at safety. 

Bottom line

With Dean and Torrence back, Florida’s starting safeties won’t change barring injury. However, there will be several defensive backs battling for the other spots in Toney’s nickel and dime coverages. It will be interesting to see how the secondary shakes out in spring ball.