With fall camp right around the corner, Gator Country has started previewing the 2023 football season by breaking down each position on Florida’s roster.
LINEBACKER
The Gators landed some big needs at linebacker for the 2023 football season, who all have different strengths. With key players like Ventrell Miller and Amari Burney now in the NFL, the Gators were in desperate need of linebacker additions in the portal this past Spring season.
Shemar James
Shemar James quickly made his way up the depth chart last fall after an impressive camp heading into last season. The Alabama native appeared in all 13 games last season where he recorded 47 tackles (18 solo), three quarterback hurries, two sacks, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery as a true freshman.
James started at linebacker in four of those 13 games last season and had some of his best performances in those starts. In Florida’s embarrassing near-shutout loss against Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl last season, James recorded 7 tackles (4 solo), proving that he has the tools to be a impact starting linebacker for the Gators this upcoming season.
James is a player who continues to craft his body to the best of his ability and has really grown into the frame he needs to play his position at the highest level.
The 6-1, 228-pound sophomore was one of the better players in the room in coverage, recording a 62.6 pass-coverage grade which ranked first among all Florida Gator linebackers’ last season.
Teradja Mitchell
The Virginia native who recently transferred from Ohio State was one of the bigger pick-ups in the portal for the Gators at linebacker this offseason. The redshirt senior recorded 63 tackles (31 solo) in his career at Ohio State.
45 of those tackles came from the 2021 season alone where Mitchell started the season with back-to-back double-digit tackle performances and was selected as a team co-captain.
The 6-2, 243-pound linebacker is a player who adds experience and leadership to a room looking for exactly those two things. The former four-star prospect was the No. 2 linebacker in Virginia and the No. 8 linebacker in the country for the class of 2018.
I expect Mitchell to be a starter from the jump and lead this linebacker unit along with Shemar James this upcoming season.
Derek Wingo
The 6-1, 235-pound junior out of Fort Lauderdale is a player who has patiently waited for his time to have a major role in this linebacker room for the Gators.
During his three seasons so far as a Florida Gator, Wingo recorded 41 tackles (13 solo) and two sacks. Along with Shemar James, the Florida native also arguably had his most productive game in a Gator uniform against Oregon State with 8 tackles (4 solo) and a sack.
Wingo appeared in 12 games last season with back-to-back starts in the final two games of the season and has put on significant muscle mass since arriving at Florida.
Deuce Spurlock ll
The former Michigan transfer who joined the Gators just a couple days after Teradja Mitchell is one of the three major linebacker pick-ups out of the portal for the Gators this past Spring.
In his only year at Michigan as a freshman, Spurlock appeared in two games where he recorded 3 tackles (1 solo) and later went on to redshirt.
The 6-0, 225-pound freshman was a three-star prospect and the No. 30-ranked player in Alabama in the 2022 cycle. In his senior season, Spurlock posted 186 tackles including 27 for loss with eight sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.
Spurlock also played both sides in high school, where he recorded 17 receptions for 493 yards and six touchdowns his junior year while scoring a 50-yard touchdown catch his senior season. Spurlock is someone who could end up being a great piece to move around in the box for Florida this upcoming season.
Mannie Nunnery
The Texas native was the third and last addition at linebacker out of the portal in the Spring for the Gators. You could argue that the former Houston linebacker brings the most experience and production to this linebacker core with 81 career tackles (48 solo), 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. The 6-1, 227-pound junior also had a career-high 10 total tackles (seven solo) against Rice last season.
The former three-star prospect who also played basketball in high school should play a significant role on special teams this season as he blocked two punts and three kicks to earn National Special Teams Player of the Year Award in 2021, which is presented annually to the top non-specialist.
I expect Nunnery to get significant playing time and to be a huge addition in the linebacker room and on special teams this upcoming season.
Jaden Robinson
The former four-star linebacker was the lone linebacker commit for the Gators in the 2023 recruiting class. The 6-0, 227-pound freshman was a standout at Columbia High School in Lake City, Florida where he recorded 94 tackles, three interceptions, one forced fumble and a sack in his senior season.
Robinson was named to Gainesville Sun’s 2021 All-Area Defensive First Team, Lake City Reporter’s 2020 All-Defensive Team, and was later invited to play in the 2023 U.S. Army All-American Game.
Personally, I can see Jaden Robinson slowly making his way into the rotation this season and throughout his career at Florida.
Scooby Williams
The 6-2, 238-pound redshirt sophomore has spent time at both edge and linebacker throughout spring camp. In two seasons at Florida, Williams has totaled 17 tackles (8 solo) in 13 games played. The Alabama native has received high praise from the Gators’ staff and will look to make a significant impact under new defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong.
Other players to look out for
Kenny Anyaehie, Curran Webb and Justin Pelic are the remaining linebackers in the room for the Gators this upcoming season.
Analysis
It was vital that Coach Napier and this staff landed multiple bodies at linebacker out of the portal this offseason. Without those three key pieces, it would be extremely difficult for this defense to improve from what we witnessed last season.
I think this linebacker room has a chance to see improvement from what we saw last season. With Coach Austin Armstrong and Coach Jay Bateman now working together with the linebackers, it will be interesting to see if this group can play consistent football in both pass coverage and rush defense this season.