Vernon Hargreaves III, Keanu Neal, Jonathan Bullard, Antonio Morrison, Kelvin Taylor, those are some big names no longer in Gainesville. It’s a list of players any coach and team would be devastated to lose at one time.
With so much leadership lost on defense, and more questions than answers on offense, it’s hard not to question if the Gators will be able to find solid leadership this season and who will be the ones to provide it.
The team is entering their second season under head coach Jim McElwain and the players believe everyone is buying into what he expects from them, especially his veterans.
“The thing that Coach Mac always preaches is giving of yourself for the benefit of others. I feel like as a team we’re all doing that,” said junior defensive back Duke Dawson.
Along with knowing the leadership expectations of McElwain and staff this year, the team has had more opportunities to bond and get comfortable with one another. “Last year we were becoming a family,” said Dawson. “This year we do a lot of activities. Not just with defense, offense, special teams, we all hang out. We all do things together.”
After McElwain questioned the veterans’ leadership early in fall camp, and even threatened to give their positions to younger players who were working harder at the time, the veterans took it upon themselves to make a complete turnaround.
“When we speak, everybody listens. When we lead, everybody follows,” said redshirt senior safety Marcus Maye. “It’s not like one guy, it’s more like a collective group of us.” Maye brought up David Sharpe, Alex Anzalone, Bryan Cox, Caleb Brantley, and Jarrad Davis as guys in that collective group leading Florida this year.
Not surprisingly, there were many more names listed from the Gators’ experienced defense than from the still young offense, but junior offensive lineman David Sharpe is fine with taking over and being a leader on offense this season. “In the spring, I talked to coach and he wanted me to be that guy and be a leader and take the leadership role,” said Sharpe.
Besides the leadership on the offensive line that Sharpe will bring, the Gators desperately need to take a huge step in leadership this season at one position in particular, and that of course is quarterback. Luke Del Rio lacks in experience, but is still an older guy who has been around a lot of college football. He spent a year in a big SEC program at Alabama, and spent time familiarizing himself with the offensive system last season sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules. He seems to be the type of natural leader Florida has not had in a very long time.
“Honestly, it’s like the president walking in,” said senior wide receiver Ahmad Fulwood about Del Rio. “Everyone shuts up and listens to whatever he has to say. He’s the head honcho. He’s the boss. Like I said, he gets everything going and he’s who we look to for motivation.”
Leadership is a huge key to the amount of success this Florida Gators football team can have this season. Since being called out, the veterans are not only leading by example, but are even coaching the younger players who are still fighting to take their positions.
“You see a lot of older guys coaching the younger guys,” said Dawson.
It took some time to adjust to new roles and new responsibilities, but the Gators believe they have the leadership they need in 2016.
Great article!