Over the next 45 days, Gator Country will preview the players that make up the 2013 Florida Gators football team as we inch closer and closer to the season.
Each day we will count down using the player whose jersey number corresponds with how many days there are left until Florida kicks off against Toledo in the Swamp on August 31.
Today we take a look at freshman defensive lineman Antonio Riles.
History
Antonio Riles is a defensive end from Archer High School in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Riles chose Florida over scholarship offers from Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisville, South Carolina Tennessee and Texas A&M to name a few.
Riles flirted heavily with Georgia and Michigan State but said that the connection he made with the Florida coaching staff is what swayed him to commit to the Gators.
Player Evaluation
Strengths
At 6’4” 286 pounds, Riles could easily move inside and play defensive tackle. He has added a lot of size since his high school playing days but if he can keep the speed and athleticism that made him a dominant pass-rusher in high school, he may end up staying at end for Florida.
At the high school level, Riles showed a raw strength that allowed him to shed blockers with ease. He is only going to get stronger in Jeff Dillman’s strength and conditioning program and should begin to develop some more pass rushing techniques with Brad Lawing.
Riles plays with good leverage and rolls his hips well which allows him to use his lower body strength to get offensive linemen on their heels. Riles is a solid tackler who uses his long arms to wrap up the ball carrier.
Riles is a good looking prospect who has yet to peak. He has a high ceiling and he hasn’t come close to playing his best football yet.
Weaknesses
Because he is so strong, Riles never needed to develop a strong pass rushing technique. Riles could get away with bullying smaller offensive linemen in high school but he won’t be able to do that in the SEC. Riles strength will help him but he needs to add some more moves to his arsenal to be an effective pass-rusher at the next level.
Another product of Riles being so strong is that he can get sloppy in his technique at times. While he plays with good leverage, he can sometimes get lazy with his technique. He could get away with it in high school but he will need to be technically sound to play at Florida.
What to Expect
Riles is a serious sleeper in the 2013 recruiting class. He didn’t get as much hype as guys like Caleb Brantley or Jordan Sherit but he has a better chance at making an impact before either player in my opinion.
Unfortunately for Riles, he’s at a position that is very deep this year. He won’t start over guys like Dominique Easley or Jonathan Bullard at end but he could develop into a very disruptive 5-technique player.
Riles should find some playing time as a freshman but his future is bright and he will surely be an impact player for the Gators in the future.