It’s no secret that the Florida Gators need help on the defensive line but defensive line coach Sean Spencer did a great job of loading up at the position in the 2023 class.
This week both defensive linemen Will Norman and Kelby Collins are playing in the Under Armour All-America game and both had their best practice on Sunday according to Team Speed defensive line coach Nathan O’Neil.
“Actually, both of those had their best day Sunday,” defensive line coach Nathan O’Neil said. “We really worked on getting vertical and pad level finishing your rushes and both did a good job. They both played with active hands, violent hands, good pad level and getting vertical with their feet.”
Norman is a guy that is always asking for more reps and learning, and O’Neil sees him having a bright future ahead of him.
“As long as you’re allowing Will to be himself and play with confidence and excitement, Will is going to be a guy that is constantly getting in there,” O’Neil said. “You can plug him in, and he can take on a double team, take on a vertical but you have to let him be himself.”
If you’re in ear shot of the defensive line group, chances are you hear Norman either chatting up his teammates or giving a little trash talk to the offensive line which has given him sort of the leader role on his team this week.
“Oh definitely, you feed off that energy on the defensive line,” O’Neil said of Norman being a leader.
Collins went undefeated during one-on-one drills on Sunday and O’Neil sees Collins being a problem for opposing quarterbacks in college.
“Kelby, his growth from yesterday [Saturday] to today [Sunday] has been tremendous,” O’Neil said. “He’s just learning how to play a different style of football, that kid right there can really bring something to the interior pass rush.”
O’Neil calls both guys very coachable and he has given each guy a few things to work on this week as they prepare for college.
“For Will, it’s continuing to work on his pad level because he does have a habit of getting a little high,” O’Neil said. “For Kelby, it’s continuing to work on getting vertical with his feet, he has a habit of his feet stalling out.”