Since Billy Napier was hired on Nov. 28, much of the discussion surrounding the Gators has been about the future. With the splash that Napier made on early national signing day and the seemingly never-ending staff that he’s putting together, fans have reason to believe that brighter days might be on the horizon.
However, it’s almost time to stop dwelling on the future and start thinking about what the 2022 season might entail for the Gators. They’ll begin spring practice in about a month.
Over the next month or so, we’ll break down what to watch for from each position during the spring. We’ll continue today with the defensive line. It’s important to note that the edge rushers are listed as outside linebackers on the roster and will be analyzed in a separate part of this series. Today’s article will only address the strongside ends and tackles.
The Returnees
Justus Boone, Gervon Dexter, Lamar Goods, Jaelin Humphries, Jalen Lee, Griffin McDowell, Tyreak Sapp, Chris Thomas, Princely Umanmielen, Desmond Watson, Dante Zanders
While this group has a high upside, they are young and very inexperienced.
Dexter is the only veteran who’s received significant playing time during his career. He started eight games in 2021 and made four tackles-for-loss, including 2 ½ sacks.
Consistency should be a priority for him this spring. When he was on the top of his game last year, he practically threw Alabama linemen into the backfield during the second half. At other times, he got pushed back and contributed to the run defense issues.
They’re going to need at least two or three other tackles to take a step forward this spring. Lee played in eight games last year and started the Gasparilla Bowl. He played well for the most part, though he didn’t really make any big plays.
Goods only appeared in two games last season, but at 6-foot-2 and 351 pounds, maybe the coaching change was exactly what he needed to jumpstart his career.
And then there’s last year’s promising freshmen class. Watson is still listed at a way-too-heavy 415 pounds, but he does move very well for his size. He played in all 13 games in 2021 and could earn more snaps this fall if he takes full advantage of the offseason strength and conditioning program and spring practice.
Thomas only played in the bowl game and redshirted.
The story is similar at the strongside end spot. Umanmielen is the favorite to slide into Zachary Carter’s vacated starting spot. He played in all 13 games a year ago and made 1 ½ sacks and a forced fumble. Behind him, young guys like Boone and Sapp will need to have big springs to provide depth after not contributing much in 2021.
The Newcomer
Chris McClellan
The Owasso, Oklahoma, native was ranked as a high four-star recruit and has all of the physical tools needed to succeed. If he can add a little bit of strength and improve at some technique things over the offseason, he could carve out a role for himself in the fall.
McClellan could provide depth at either strongside end or at tackle. He played on the edge in high school, but some recruiting analysts feel that his future could be at tackle.
Breakout Watch
Justus Boone
Boone was a late riser in the 2021 class. He only played in two games as a true freshman, but he made impact plays in both of them. He recorded two tackles and half of a sack against Vanderbilt and a tackle-for-loss in the bowl game against UCF.
With more opportunity available with Carter gone, he could take on a much bigger role this season. He’s stronger than his 245-pound frame would suggest, and he plays the run really well. If he can improve his pass-rushing skills just a little bit, he could exit the spring No. 2 on the depth chart and possibly even challenge Umanmielen for the top spot.
Three Questions
1. How will Umanmielen fare with a larger role?
In his first two years, he was the young guy who got onto the field for a few snaps here and there without many external expectations on him. He could just relax and play freely, and he exceled in this role.
Now Umanmielen will be looked to as a leader both on and off the field as one of the most experienced players on the entire defensive line. Can he handle the pressure that comes with that?
He also needs to improve his pass-rushing skills a little bit this spring. Nobody expects him to match Carter’s eight-sack season from 2021, but he needs to provide more than the 1 ½ sacks that he recorded last season.
2. Will Dexter finally live up to the hype?
When Dexter signed with Florida as one of the highest-ranked recruits in the country in the 2020 class, he was hyped up to be this future superstar who was guaranteed to get drafted in the first round after three years.
Maybe those expectations were unfair, but he hasn’t lived up to them. He’s been solid in his two years, with 2 ½ sacks, an interception and two fumble recoveries.
But this kind of feels like a now-or-never type of season for him. He’ll either work his way into All-American consideration and rocket up the draft boards, or he’ll continue what’s been a very average career up to this point.
He’s by far the most talented and experienced tackle on the roster, and he’ll be coached by a person who just came from the NFL in Sean Spencer. If he can’t have a monster year under these circumstances, it might not ever happen.
3. Do Zanders and McDowell have anything to offer?
Zanders is in his fifth year in the program and his third as a defensive end after starting his career as a tight end. He played in 24 games over the past two seasons and notched 11 tackles and half of a sack.
McDowell is in a very similar situation. He played three years on the offensive line before switching over to defense prior to the 2021 season. He played on special teams in all 13 games last year but didn’t record any statistics.
With a unit as young as this one is, you’d love for a couple of older guys like Zanders and McDowell to contribute more than they have in the past.