With a youthful defense taking the field this spring, the importance of older Gators mentoring younger players couldn’t be overstated. Fortunately for Florida, it’s starting to happen.
DEFENSIVE LINE: Justin Trattou had a good day getting pressure on the quarterback. He was consistently using speed-rushing moves to get to the outfield of the offensive tackle and pushing either John Brantley or Trey Burton up in the pocket for the defensive tackles to finish off the play.
More importantly, Trattou is making a bigger impact with the younger players. All of the defensive players mention Trattou and Ahmad Black first when talking about the leaders on that side of the ball and it’s easy to see why. When Trattou isn’t getting his work in during position drills, he is walking around talking to younger players.
Jaye Howard and Omar Hunter look like they could be the two starting defensive tackles, not only because they are getting the most reps while Lawrence Marsh and Terron Sanders are doing time in The Pit [because of injury]. Howard is massive. He looks even bigger than last year and has the looks of the playmaking defensive tackle this team desperately needs up the middle.
LINEBACKERS: Brandon Hicks made the best play from the linebackers on Monday while he reached behind his body with one hand to make an interception that would have been returned for a touchdown in a game. He spent a majority of the practice with the first team unit, and he projects to start on the weakside with A.J. Jones opposite on the strong side.
The middle linebacker battle is where things get interesting.
Jon Bostic is the most impressive physical linebacker on the team, and he’s only a sophomore. He said after Monday’s practice that he weighs around 240 pounds. He runs like a 210-pound outside linebacker. He is also becoming a more vocal player, based somewhat on need. Brandon Spikes always provided the vocal leadership from that spot, and it started when he was a sophomore. Bostic is in a similar situation. He even forced an Emmanuel Moody fumble at the goal line today.
But Brendan Beal is making a push for the spot. He was all over the field on Wednesday. He played very active and made a big impression. They also ran a few snaps Wednesday with both Beal and Bostic on the field at the same time. Bostic said after practice that he is also working some at the WILL linebacker spot.
CORNERBACKS: Janoris Jenkins and Moses Jenkins have set themselves as the two starting cornerbacks this spring. Jeremy Brown saw a lot of time as the nickel back on Wednesday.
Brown looks like he is practicing as close to full speed as he can. He even got yelled at multiple times on Monday for “being on the ground,” after he would dive to deflect a pass or make an interception. It’s easy to see that he feels rejuvenated and his play is showing it.
Josh Shaw is also making a push for that second cornerback spot. He is listed on the roster as 6-0, but he looks taller than that. Shaw got a lot of coaching from Will Hill on Monday, particularly coming on the side of the field when Shaw learned about jamming wide receivers. Hill was very methodical in the way he taught the freshman, and it was easy to see how Shaw soaked it up.
SAFETIES: Hill made the play of the day in seven-on-seven when he came over from center field and picked off a pass that Burton floated too much. There’s only so much hitting that is encouraged right now, but Hill played as one of the most physical players on the field Monday.
Matt Elam has also spent some time playing the nickel. He is going to be someone that is tough to keep off the field. He is built like a junior in college, thick and not afraid to hit people.
Josh Evans wasn’t seen at practice Monday, which isn’t a good sign for him. He injured his left leg on Saturday. He was projected to receive a lot more playing time this fall, but a healthy spring would have given him the time to make that happen. If that isn’t the case, it could help a freshman like Elam see the field even earlier.
IN THE PIT: Kedric Johnson (defensive end); Terron Sanders (defensive tackle) and Lawrence Marsh (defensive tackle).