When looking back at last season for the Gators, the defensive front failed to get to the quarterback time after time when applying pressure. The defensive linemen had little experience and the lack of depth at certain positions only made matters worse for the Gators.
“We’ve added some depth, which was kind of a problem last year,” Coach Sean Spencer said. “We had [Gervon] Dexter playing that many snaps and that’s not good for him and it’s not good for us. Now we have a lot more depth.”
Cam’Ron Jackson
Jackson was originally a three-star defensive lineman out of Haynesville, Louisiana. The former Memphis tackle recorded 19 solo tackles and one sack in 2022 for the Tigers before transferring to Florida.
“He can move. He’s very, very limber, I mean he can move,” Spencer said. “He’s got great balance, strong at the point of attack. For a guy that’s 6-foot-7, he can move. He’s pretty impressive.”
Cam’Ron Jackson weighs in at exactly 353 pounds and will be a very valuable piece on the defensive line this season for the Gators.
Caleb Banks
Banks attended Southfield High School in Michigan where he was a three-star prospect that went on to sign with Louisville in 2021. Before transferring to Florida, Banks recorded two total tackles and one sack during his time with the Cardinals.
“Tremendous athlete. I mean, he’s 6-foot-6, I think he’s 300 pounds, he can bend, he can touch the ground easy,” Spencer said on Banks. “He’s a basketball player. He’s a natural athlete. He’s exciting to watch right now. He moves like a little guy.”
Caleb Banks and Cam’Ron Jackson are two players Florida desperately needed to land heading into 2023. The added experience will go a long way on the defensive front.
Chris McClellan
If there’s anyone fans need to keep an eye on this season, its Chris McClellan. As a true freshman, McClellan managed to rack up 23 total tackles (seven solo), 1.5 sacks and one fumble recovery. The sky is the limit for the second-year sophomore.
“Potential is endless. It’s just a word we throw around but it’s endless,” Spencer said. “He’s got the physical tools, he has a strong lower body, he can pass rush, he can hold the point, he’s 320 pounds, he’s got broad shoulders and he might not fit through that door. But he’s got broad shoulders and a great lower body, so we’re excited about him.”
Technique is something Coach Spencer has placed huge emphasis on when it comes to things McClellan needs to focus on improving. Once McClellan can get the little things down, you’ll see him making plays everywhere.
“Technique. When he was a freshman, something he got away with is when he made plays — the Tennessee game he makes a couple plays, Georgia game he makes a couple plays and sometimes you can get confused with making those plays and not having great technique,” Spencer said on McClellan. “I’m not saying on those plays he didn’t but in order for him to get where he needs to get to, he needs to continue with the technique.”
As a sophomore, McClellan looks to be one of the biggest leaders on the entire defense and will be an early starter this upcoming season for the Gators. Florida fans should be excited about McClellan entering the 2023 season as he continues to make progress from last season.
Desmond Watson
Going into his third season, Desmond Watson is someone who continues to work his tail off in every aspect of the game. Watson will be another player that has an increased role for the Gators after recording 32 total tackles (10 solo), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery during his time at Florida.
“I commend him here and in front of the guys, in the first period of team, he ran 40 yards down the field and he’s the biggest man on the field. He sets the tone,” Spencer said on Watson. “If you’re running behind him, then something’s wrong with you. He’s a guy that knows the game really, really well. Very, very smart and knows the game of football. He can take it from the classroom to the field very quickly so we’re looking for him to be in that role. There’s tremendous competition and competition makes him play a lot harder.”
Desmond Watson will continue to be a problem for opposing offenses as he continues to craft and make changes to his body while improving his game.
Jamari Lyons
Going into his second year as a redshirt freshman, Jamari Lyons looks to have made significant changes to his body from a physical standpoint.
“One of the things I think Jamari Lyons has done a great job of is controlling his body weight,” Spencer said on Lyons. “He was probably in the high 330’s and he’s down around 318 right now so he’s much healthier and he can sustain out there a lot longer. Then you have guys like Tyreak Sapp, who’s an undersized guy playing at about 270 or 275 pounds. Muscle, we’re looking for him to increase his role.”
Lyons made his collegiate debut in the win against USF and appeared in three games last season totaling two tackles.
Will Norman
Coming in as a freshman, Norman is another player who is eager to have an early impact on this football. The former basketball player is still learning but is only getting better every day.
“Will’s a great athlete. Another guy that transferred over from playing basketball and really young to the game of football,” Spencer said on Norman. “At the time he was one of the better basketball players in like eighth and ninth grade and then morphed over to football. He’s really ascending right now. He’s still figuring it out. The freshmen anticipation of a guy coming out and playing right away is tough. It’s just tough. You’ve got grown men out there. He wants to be good. He’s smart. He wants to be good. He works hard and he’s got a great attitude.”
Coach Spencer is someone who has known Norman for quite some time and expects a lot out of the freshman.
“My familiarity with Will, I mentored him when I was with the New York Giants,” Spencer said. “I’ve known Will for a very long time. It was very nice to see him mature into a football player. I’m hard on him. He expects me to be hard on him. He can take it because he knows it comes from a great place. Correcting the mistakes, really I’m just teaching him from scratch. It’s like molding clay.”
With some time, Norman will be a high-impact player for the Florida Gators as he continues to learn from Coach Spencer and the rest of the staff.
The added depth to the defensive line comes with some experience, which is exactly what this front four needed heading into next season. The defensive line has a lot of work to do if they want to take a step forward from last season.