From the first time defensive coordinator Todd Grantham watched Chauncey Gardner-Johnson play, he knew exactly where he would fit in his defense.
He knew he would be a star, literally. Gardner-Johnson made the move to the nickel position, or the star as it is called in Grantham’s scheme, in the spring and it has been a match made in heaven ever since.
“He’s a little bit unique in the sense that he really has corner skillset, but he’s a bigger body guy,” Grantham said. “He played safety last year. He has some strength to him, some power to him … When I saw him, I thought it was a pretty good place for him to be as far as him be our star. I’m certainly glad he’s here doing that. He’ll continue to work and get better, but I’ve been pleased with his progress.”
Gardner-Johnson struggled a bit at safety last season, but he’s made strides as he’s been able play more aggressively within the new defense, and the Gators think he’s found a permanent home on the field.
“I really like Chauncey there,” said fellow defensive back Marco Wilson. “It fits him well. He has a lot of energy and that’s a great fit for that position.”
That was on full display Saturday night from the very first play of the game. Florida decided to make a statement by calling a blitz to start the first defensive possession, and Gardner-Johnson came flying off the edge to lay out CSU’s quarterback for a sack.
That play perfectly depicted the fast, physical and aggressive style the Gators want to play with this season.
“I honestly didn’t expect it,” Gardner-Johnson said. “When Coach Grantham called it I was like, ‘All right, let’s go.’ I mean, we knew it was going to hit home, but we didn’t know exactly what point of the game because like Coach [Dan] Mullen says, you don’t know what play’s going to happen, what’s going to be made. So, when my number was called, I had to go make a play and that’s what happened.”
Gardner-Johnson played like a man on a mission in the season-opener as he led the team with two sacks, two and a half tackles for loss and five total tackles. That earned him both Defensive Player of the Game and a grade of Champion from Mullen and the coaching staff.
From dancing between plays and getting the crowd hyped up to making big plays when it counts, his energy is contagious to the entire team. He hasn’t always been the most mature player in his time at Florida, but that is something he is working on, and his teammates look to him as a leader.
“He’s growing,” Wilson said. “He knows he’s become an older guy and he has to take more charge. We respect that guy, listen to what he has to say and make sure we follow him when he’s doing everything right.”
Gardner-Johnson seems more comfortable than he’s been his entire career and he has a chance to wreak havoc for the Gators all season in a fitting new role.