Last ride for Amari Burney and Ventrell Miller as they mentor Shemar James

GAINESVLLE, Fla. — Florida inside linebackers Amari Burney and Ventrell Miller shared a moment together at the beginning of fall camp last week.

Burney, a fifth-year senior, and Miller, a sixth-year senior, reflected on their careers and the start of their final season with the Gators.

“I had my senior moment probably the first day of camp. Me and Ventrell, you know, we just came to each other. We talked about it, and it was like, ‘This our last first day of camp.’ Felt like just a couple of days ago I was a freshman, he was a sophomore and we were coming to camp.

“So, just looking at how the team changed over the years. I mean, we had a little smile about it but then, you know, we went out there and worked. We just have fun with it.”

Miller was a member of Jim McElwain’s final recruiting class in 2017, while Burney arrived at UF the following year after the coaching change. Burney started out his career as a defensive back but has spent the past two seasons at linebacker with Miller.

However, they only played two games together in 2021 after Miller suffered a season-ending injury at USF.

“Great to have Burney back with me,” Miller said. “When I go to the practice field, I just love when Burney is beside me. He’s been here for a while like me. He knows what he’s doing.

“It’s a pleasure to have him beside me. It makes my job easier, communicating with me and getting everybody lined up. He does it fast. He’s a great guy to have next to me.”

Burney and Miller not only feed off each other, but their presence impacts the entire inside linebacker group. Aside from junior college transfer Diwun Black, they are the only two upperclassmen at the position and set the example for the rest of the room to follow.

“Both those guys, you can see their veteran leadership on a day-to-day basis,” Florida co-defensive coordinator Patrick Toney said of Burney and Miller. “I think Ventrell is one of the more vocal, if not the most vocal leader, on the defense. And then I think Burney does it through example, being a veteran and having done this for such a long time. He really handles himself like a professional.

“You definitely know the difference when Ventrell Miller is out there for us on defense. He does a great job of taking charge, making calls, and then playing extremely fast. I think Burney has always been a very good edge player. Watching past film, he has done a really good job of being a hybrid player. I think he has improved from the spring and going into the summer playing in the box, playing physically, really becoming an every-down linebacker. I think that’s what you’ll see this fall. Really happy with both those guys and what they bring to our defense.”

Burney, Miller mentoring Shemar James

One linebacker they have taken under their wings is true freshman Shemar James, one of the top signees in Florida’s 2022 class. He has been getting reps in practice behind Miller and Burney, and watching a pair of veterans in position drills gives him two great examples to follow before his turn.

“Me and Ventrell kind of put him under our wing a little bit,” Burney said of James. “So, he kind of shadowed me in practice, just showing him how to come to breakfast on time, how to come to meetings on time, how to take notes in the meeting room.

“Sometimes, young guys they think, ‘OK, coach said it in the meeting the room, I got it.’ I don’t care how many times coach says it, I’m going to always write the note down. I don’t care if he said it a hundred times, I’ll write it down a hundred times. Just trying to get him comfortable with the uncomfortable things and have him go out there and have fun with it.”

Miller praised James for his great energy and work ethic in practice. He added that the freshman even pushes him to go harder.

“That’s my boy, I can’t lie. He always wants to talk to you. He even tries to hold me accountable with some of the stuff I do. So, it’s great to have a young guy like that around,” Miller said of James. “I know (Tuesday) we had a lot of reps, so he basically was out there with me the whole time. He’s definitely very coachable. We just gotta keep getting him to learn, be a little bit faster in his calls and recognition. But, definitely a guy with a lot of potential and I like to see (it). He’s been having great days.”