Name: Caleb Brantley
Height: 6-2
Weight: 313
Position: DL
Why did he redshirt?
Brantley came in with a lot of hype surrounding his commitment. Some of the hype Brantley created himself by decommitting to Florida during the Under Armour All-American game week, only to recommit and eventually sign with Florida. The rest of the hype is because of the potential he shows on the field.
Brantley played mainly on the scout team last season while working to get into better shape. He’s a big, physical interior lineman but he needed the year to mature on and off the field.
Depth at the position
Florida isn’t exactly thin here, but the majority of the depth at this position is young, untested talent. Darious Cummings and Leon Orr will lock down defensive tackle and nose tackle and Jon Bullard could also see time inside as well.
After those three it’s up to a slew of redshirt freshmen, with Brantley being one of the players that Will Muschamp and the defense expect big things from in 2014.
Player Evaluation
Brantley may have come in slightly overweight but he has dropped some baby fat and added good mass since arriving at Florida. Brantley came in with a lot of expectations and not playing right away may have initially affected him from a mental standpoint. Dominique Easley told Gator Country that he thought that Brantley had some growing up to do when he first arrived at Florida but he believed that Brantley did just that throughout the course of the season.
2014 Prognosis
If Brantley can put together the mental side of the game with his physical traits the sky is the limit for him and he can and will make an impact at either defensive tackle or nose tackle.
Brantley will be in the rotation and earn plenty of playing time as a redshirt freshman in 2014.