Redshirt freshman Jamari Lyons has been a nice surprise along the Gators’ defensive line through three games of the 2023 season, totaling nine tackles (four solo) and two tackles for loss in 43 snaps as a reserve.
During his freshman campaign in 2022, Lyons played in just three games, recording two tackles in 28 snaps.
The transition to college was difficult for the Cocoa, Florida native, who arrived in Gainesville at 330 pounds.
“February, my senior year, I tore a ligament, I had to repair it,” Lyons said. “Coming here was kind of hard, I was out of shape. I didn’t work out in high school so I was out of shape. I wasn’t really practicing on my craft or anything like that. But towards that season going on as we go into summer workouts, spring workouts and stuff, I got better, I got more in shape. I start feeling more like me again.”
“The hardest part is the conditioning,” Lyons said on the transition to college. “I wasn’t used to Gainesville heat. I wasn’t used to none of that so the conditioning was very hard for me. Something I got used to.”
Lyons has lost dropped nearly 30 pounds since arriving in Gainesville. His improved physical stature is making a positive impact on the gridiron.
One of Lyons’ two tackles for loss came against McNeese State, where the 6-4, 305-pound defensive tackle broke through the Cowboys’ offensive line and dropped running back D’Angelo Durham in the endzone for two points, recording the Gators’ first safety since Sep. 10, 2022, vs Kentucky.
“Hearing the fans explode when I made that play. Just something I can’t even feel in my head and get over at all. I’m very excited just to make the play. My first big play in the Swamp,” Lyons said on his safety.
Lyons has graded out well this season, posting above a 70.0 in defense, run defense, and tackling grades, according to Pro Football Focus. Lyons has experience at both nose tackle and defensive tackle this season.
“He’s part of that first class. He’s big, he’s twitchy,” Billy Napier said on Lyons. “Jamari is unique in that he had shoulder surgery in the spring of his senior year. He had both shoulders fixed. So that set him back pretty significantly. He showed up that summer and he was out of shape. It was just tough for him to get over the hump. So that whole first year was just about getting back in shape. He started at where he should start an offseason. And it’s just Year 2. He’s done a lot from the maturity and football intelligence. But ultimately he’s twitchy. He’s hard to block. Last year he was on scout team and I used to tell those guys this guy’s hard to block. So no surprise there. He’s worked hard, too.”
“I think ultimately you have the traits. Then you got to develop the fundamentals, the technique, football intelligence,” Napier added on Lyons. “Some guys have played a lot of football and there’s an instincts portion to that. They’re a step ahead in those areas. I would say once he got over the surgery he was a little bit close to what we thought he was coming out.”
Lyons’ workload has increased every week of the 2023 season, going from 8 snaps, to 13, to 20 against Tennessee, his career high. Lyons has the 4th most snaps among Gator defensive tackles, out snapping Desmond Watson 43-40. Lyons is a young player that had to overcome some adversity to get to this point, and the future is bright for the Viera High School product.