1 Day to Toledo: Quinton Dunbar

We now interrupt your regularly scheduled countdown story to say, “HEEERE COME THE GATORS!” It’s kickoff eve y’all and I, for one, didn’t think this day would ever come.

Back to the countdown, today we take a look a redshirt junior wide receiver Quinton Dunbar.

History

Dunbar was a talented receiver prospect from Booker T. Washington High School in Miami, Florida. Dunbar chose Florida over offers from Arkansas, Michigan, Purdue, Tennessee, UCF and West Virginia.

Dunbar earned a redshirt his first season on campus despite playing in two games as a true freshman. He entered the next season with some hype surrounding him in the offseason. Throughout numerous spring and fall camps coaches have named Dunbar as a stand out player. However, the offseason hype has never translated to the fall for the big receiver.

Prior to last season, Dunbar once again was praised as the most improved receiver and a guy that the offense would be counting on in 2012. Dunbar caught four touchdowns last season but was never the kind of game-changer that the coaching staff made him out to be.

Now, entering his redshirt junior season, Dunbar was once again the recipient of offseason praise. The staff have talked about his improvements on the field and off the field this offseason and how he has taken on a leadership role for the younger receivers.

Will this be the year Dunbar turns offseason hype into Saturday success? We’ll find out tomorrow. (It felt so good to type that, “tomorrow”!)

Player Evaluation

Strengths

Dunbar is a crisp route runner with solid hands that is capable of stretching the field vertically for the Gator offense. Dunbar is a smart receiver capable of finding holes in the defense and settling down into space when needed.

Dunbar has very good leaping ability and can be a big redzone target for Jeff Driskel. He is physical at the line of scrimmage and works through jams from defensive backs very well.

Weaknesses

Dunbar’s biggest weakness has been creating separation. The biggest reason he hasn’t been able to put it together on the field is that he has struggled to create separation and get open down field.

What to Expect

Dunbar has separated himself as the Gators leading receiver. He has consistently put himself at the front of the line in every receiver drill this offseason and has taken the young receivers, like Ahmad Fulwood and Demarcus Robinson, under his wing.

Dunbar has developed a much stronger relationship with Jeff Driskel than he had last year and that looks like it will be the difference this season for Dunbar. With enough talent to be an All-SEC type of receiver, if Driskel and Dunbar’s relationship is as strong as they say it is, this could be the season that Dunbar finally breaks out.