Hand it to him: Jalen Kimber takes first career pick to the house
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The first interception of the season for Florida’s secondary was also first of Jalen Kimber’s career. What’s more impressive than the pick-six is the fact he’s able to make the play.
Kimber, a cornerback transfer from Georgia, broke his left hand prior to the opener against Utah. After season-ending shoulder surgery last year at UGA, he wasn’t letting another injury sideline him.
Kimber has been playing the past three games with a cast that’s heavily wrapped.
“Honestly I just wanted to keep playing, keep going out there fighting with my brothers. I didn’t want to get surgery and miss any more games,” Kimber said. “The day after I broke my hand I actually learned how to catch with a cast on.”
Kimber showed off his cast-catching skills in the second quarter against South Florida. He jumped in front of a Gerry Bohanon pass and returned it for a 39-yard touchdown.
“It just flew right into my hand when he threw it,” Kimber said. “Coach PT [Patrick Toney] really called the best call he could possibly call on that play, and I read it, got the ball and I just scored.”
Kimber’s turnover marked Florida’s first pick six since 2018 when CJ Gardner-Johnson had a 53-yard interception return TD against Michigan in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl.
“Obviously I’m happy about it,” Kimber said when informed of the stat, “but we still got work to do. I just keep my head down, keep working, just keep improving week by week.”
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Kimber on transferring to Gators
Kimber entered the transfer portal after Georgia’s national champion season and joined the UF football program in January. Gators cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond factored heavily into his decision.
“It’s been like the best place for me,” Kimber said of Florida. “In the portal I just looked at my options, and I already had a relationship with Corey Raymond, so I felt like that was the best option for me. I feel like him, just being a corner, you guys know his resume already, so I just felt like it was the best decision for me.”
Kimber was non-contact in the spring coming off shoulder surgery, but Raymond had a feeling the former UGA cornerback would catch on quick (even with a cast).
“He’s doing well. He’s been in this type of system,” Raymond said of Kimber during spring ball. “You just see that he’s going to be really good.”
