Derrick Harvey doesn't have anything against the media. It's not a personal affront when the redshirt junior defensive end offers one-word answers or short explanations. Harvey probably acts that way with most people. He's a "hard nut to crack," coach Urban Meyer said.
Harvey might not do a lot of talking but his game speaks volumes. Last season, he was tied for second in the SEC with 11 sacks and he was named the defensive MVP of the national championship game.
He is one of two returning starters along with senior safety Tony Joiner on Florida's defense. Meyer remembers Harvey early in his career. It's safe to say Harvey has made quite a progression.
"(He was a) gifted athlete that didn't play really hard and a nice person and an unbelievably nice family," Meyer said. "He's off the charts as far as playing hard and the seriousness he's taking his game. If I remember right he didn't play a lot of football in high school. He only played a couple years so that's what he looked like when we got him.
"He's a grown man now. He's opened up quite a bit…I'm sure a lot of you guys when you interview him he just stares at you. It's not because he doesn't want to talk. He's a very introverted young man, a great person, unbelievable family, but he's opened up to me quite a bit."
Fayson provides multiple threats
Last season, Jarred Fayson had one reception for one yard and 14 carries for 126 yards in 13 games. If Fayson can carry over his preseason success to the field this season, those stats are about to skyrocket. Fayson, a sophomore, is expected to see time at wide receiver and in the running game. Florida wants to utilize his athleticism.
"He's football smart," wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales said. "He's really a smart young man that he can bounce back and forth. He comes in and studies extra. He'll come in and study on his own or grab (running backs) coach (Stan) Drayton and go over all the running backs clips that he's playing.
"Then he practices both ways on the football field. We used him in that facet some last year where he's learning both. He played quarterback last year, so it kind of carries over for him. He's an eager young man and he's willing to do it. That's half the battle, getting a young man that wants to do it and cares about it."
Said Drayton: "He's got a lot on his plate right now and he's really bringing a good mentality to practice every day. He's ready to play. He's going to help us in a lot of different areas. He's going to get his touches at wide receiver and tailback. He's a big-play threat back there. Any time he touches the ball, he has an opportunity to take it the distance, and that's what we've been missing in that backfield for a few years."
Williams slowly working back
Sophomore running back Mon Williams, who was in contention for a considerable amount of playing time this season, injured his knee in spring practice but he has recently been back on the practice fields doing individual workouts. Meyer said Williams will miss this season. Drayton said Williams' progression is slow, but positive.
"He's coming along real well," Drayton said. "It's good to see him out there in a helmet.
He's put some size on and he's feeling really confident about his rehab and the way his knee has been coming along right now. I tell you what, I wish I had him.
"Obviously, if he's in position to help us win games, we're going to put him in position to win ball games. But right now it's still so premature in his process where he is in the rehab. He's not ready to help us in this first game."
Florida hosts Western Kentucky at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.