Putu making a quick transition for the Florida Gators

Joseph Putu was a surprise addition to the Florida Gators 2016 class when he committed and signed on National Signing Day without ever visiting the University of Florida campus. Before Florida reached out with a last minute offer, the North Dakota State College of Science transfer was committed to Arkansas.

He became academically eligible to join the team right at the start of fall camp, and now that he is here he is confident that Florida is the place he is meant to be.

“I’m happy, I’m loving it right now,” Putu said. “I’m glad I made the right choice.”

Putu knows playing football for the Gators won’t be easy, but he believes his biggest challenge is over. “I think North Dakota was the hardest stage, like I had to get over there to get over here,” he said. “Now all I’ve gotta do is just building, listen to what the coaches say, because the coaches know what they’re doing and they’re gonna get me where I wanna go.”

He was pleasantly surprised when he arrived on campus and learned the lifestyle of a Division I athlete. As a junior college transfer, he has never known any of the luxuries he is being given at Florida now. “I don’t gotta work no more, I don’t have hungry nights no more,” said Putu. “I’m just enjoying myself, having fun now.”

Defensive coordinator Geoff Collins didn’t sugar-coat things in his final pitch to Putu before signing day. Collins made it clear that he would have to work for playing time, and Putu appreciated that.

“He went straight to business, pulled out the depth chart,” Putu said. “He said ‘This who I have, this is my starter, you can come here and work and get into the rotation, learn from them. When they leave you can fill right back in’.”

Putu expects to contribute in the secondary this season, because of all of the work he has put in to meet his end of the deal. “I’m gonna be out there for sure, because of the way I’m working right now,” he said.

It was obvious when Putu first arrived for fall camp, the game sped up for him more than ever before. He had never competed against receivers with that kind of speed. “Everything was fast, the players are faster, the receivers know how to move better,” said Putu. “Every day I’m getting better.”

Now that he has had time to learn and adjust to the level of play, he is catching on. Head coach Jim McElwain has been commending him as one of the most improved players as of late and his teammates have taken notice as well. “His transition coming into this NCAA league and playing, you know, Division I top football, it’s been pretty good,” said fellow defensive back Marcell Harris. “He’s learning really fast.”

Learning how to compete against SEC talent is a huge challenge in itself, but it is even tougher when you are still learning the ins and outs of your position like Putu is. It is only his second year playing cornerback and this is his first year of really being coached on every aspect of the position. According to Putu, in junior college all he had to do was line up and play his man. Putu said he is still learning the scheme and how to pick up routes from defensive backs coach Torrian Gray.

His teammates have made his transition much easier for him. Putu said the veteran players give him tips and are helping the game slow down for him. “The whole starting lineup has been there for me,” he said. “We are clicking just fine now.”

“Quincy (Wilson) and Teez (Tabor), they know what they’re doing,” Putu said. “Like they know the route the receiver is gonna run before he runs it. It’s a great thing coming up here, just looking at them in practice, getting some stuff from them that I can add on to my game.”

As someone who is still learning his position, it definitely helps Putu to have the opportunity to watch arguably the best defensive backs in the country at practice every single day.

Putu will play on the biggest stage of his life so far on September 3 in The Swamp. He thinks that will be the moment when it finally hits him that he is a Florida Gator. “It hasn’t hit me yet. Probably that UMass game I’ll be like, ‘What the heck is going on?’,” he said. “I’m still waiting.” He said he doesn’t think he is going to be able to fall asleep the night before his first game.

As the game is finally slowing down for Putu, he will be a huge factor in giving the Gators some much needed depth at cornerback this season. Expect him to be in the rotation and make an impact early in his career.

 

Bailiegh Carlton
A lifelong sports fan, Bailiegh Carlton knew from a young age that she wanted to work in sports in some capacity. Before transferring to the University of Florida to study journalism, she played softball at Gulf Coast State College. She then interned for Gator Country for three years as she worked toward her degree. After graduation, Bailiegh decided to explore other opportunities in the world of sports, but all roads led her right back here. In her time away, she and her husband welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. When she isn't working, she can almost always be found snuggled up with sweet baby Ridley, Cody and her four fur babies.