For the Florida Gators to become a dominating defense in 2008, the guys up front are going to have to become a force once again. After a 2007 in which the Gators had problems getting pressure on the quarterback, Florida begins practice with a roster loaded with talented defensive linemen. There is no shortage of strong, able bodies but will that translate into on the field performance? There is more depth than ever before at defensive tackle and at the end positions, there is a marvelous combination of size and speed. If everything comes together the Gators can have a ferocious front four.
SCHOLARSHIP DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (17):
Defensive Tackles:
Javier Estopinan, 6-2, 290, Senior
Troy Epps, 6-1, 292, Junior
Brandon Antwine, 6-0, 295, Sophomore
Torrey Davis, 6-3, 298, Sophomore
Lawrence Marsh, 6-5, 305, Sophomore
Terron Sanders, 6-2, 300, Sophomore
John Brown, 6-0, 295, Redshirt Freshman
Omar Hunter, 6-0, 330, Freshman
Byran Jones, 6-3, 305, Freshman
Matt Patchan, 6-6, 270, Freshman
Defensive Ends:
Jermaine Cunningham, 6-3, 250, Junior
Carlos Dunlap, 6-6, 290, Sophomore
Duke Lemmens, 6-4, 260, Sophomore
Justin Trattou, 6-3, 265, Sophomore
Jaye Howard, 6-3, 270, Redshirt Freshman
Earl Okine, 6-7, 270, Freshman
William Green, 6-4, 215, Freshman
LAST YEAR: Estopinan played in eight games in 2007 before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He finished the season with 19 tackles, three tackles for loss and an interception.
Epps is a junior college transfer and will be playing his first year of division one football.
Antwine got a medical redshirt season after a back condition limited him to four games where he had seven tackles.
Torrey Davis saw spot duty in 11 different games in 2007, finishing with eight tackles, including three for a loss and two sacks.
Lawrence Marsh totaled five tackles including 1.5 for loss in eight games last year.
Terron Sanders played in six games before suffering a high ankle sprain on a cheap shot from a Georgia offensive lineman. He finished with four tackles on the season.
John Brown redshirted after getting the okay late from the NCAA Clearinghouse.
Omar Hunter, Byran Jones, and Matt Patchan were all playing big time high school football in 2007.
Jermaine Cunningham started all season in 2007 at the weak side defensive end spot opposite first round draft pick Derrick Harvey. As a first time starter, he had tremendous stats: 64 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks on the year.
Carlos Dunlap came off the bench in a reserve role in 2007 and saw action in all 13 games as a true freshman. He finished with seven tackles, including one sack, a pass defended and a forced fumble. He also blocked a punt against South Carolina.
Duke Lemmens played in 11 games as a true freshman, totaling six tackles.
Justin Trattou played in 12 games and earned a start in the Capital One Bowl against Michigan, all as a true freshman. He accounted for 20 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3,5 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception.
Jaye Howard redshirted in 2007.
William Green and Earl Okine were both high school stars in 2007.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2008: If the season started today I believe the starting lineup would be Dunlap and Cunningham at defensive end, Sanders and Marsh at defensive tackle. One guy that will have the most to say about that lineup would have to be Justin Trattou, who brings so much to the table it is hard leaving him off of the field. He is also versatile that he could play inside or outside, much like ex-Gator Ray McDonald.
The Gators seem to have a solid if not spectacular group at defensive end. Cunningham, Dunlap and Trattou can all get after the passer and Dunlap had one of those spring practices against a veteran and salty offensive line that leads many to believe he is ready for a breakout year. Dunlap has exceptional size (290 pounds) and runs a sub-4.6 40-yard dash. He should be a nightmare for opposing offenses in 2008. Cunningham provides a ferocious rush off the edge and Trattou does all the little things well enough that it will be difficult to keep him off the field.
Jaye Howard made huge strides in the last few days of spring practice and he looks to be stepping up and making a contribution on the field.
Duke Lemmens brings a high motor on every play and seems to have the size now to really make an impact. He is just waiting his turn to have some fun in the backfield.
Okine will surprise a ton of people this fall, especially now that he is a solid 270 pounds and looks like a monster coming off of the edge. William Green could probably afford a redshirt to grow, but Cunningham played as a true freshman much smaller than Green is right now.
The biggest question on defense is at defensive tackle and probably the two most consistent players at the position in the spring were Sanders and Marsh. Both are third year sophomores that really made improvements mentally with their assignments and physically, especially with their quickness. They have the kind of size you want in the middle of the defensive line.
Javier Estopinan is a warrior and the only senior scholarship player on the entire defense. He is the leader of the defensive line and will play some solid minutes. He isn’t a guy that will wow pro scouts, but he will play his assignment and has some muscle when he meets the ball carrier or an opposing lineman.
Epps is a newcomer that has a spring practice under his belt. He gained a lot of weight early when he arrived on campus in January, but it wasn’t good weight and that slowed him down in spring drills. Epps was a play making defensive tackle in junior college and the staff didn’t bring him in to sit the bench. He should get some minutes and he could perhaps push for starting time.
Antwine is still recovering from his back injury and will likely miss most if not all of this season.
The most heralded members of the group of interior defensive linemen are John Brown and Torrey Davis. For differing reasons they are probably not going to be in the mix, at least early in the season. Davis has issues off the field to get a hold of and Brown has a hard time picking up his assignments. Both are too talented to just turn away, but it will be later rather than sooner that we see them on the field.
The three true freshmen are intriguing to say the least and if healthy, two of them should play a lot. Omar Hunter is as physically ready to play at the SEC level as anyone the Gators have had at the position in a long time. He is my pick to really push for a starting job early in the season. Matt Patchan had a tremendous spring and really made life difficult for the bigger linemen that could not handle his quickness. He is now 35 pounds heavier than he was in March so a little more muscle comes with that quickness. Byran Jones will likely switch sides of the ball due to all the bodies on defense. The numbers on offensive line are actually a little low, and unless he makes a huge splash early, I see him moving over.
FOR 2009: The numbers don’t warrant a huge class, but the Gators are in on some big ones and would like to finish strong. Gary Brown (6-4, 285) headlines the group and the Under-Armour All-American defensive tackle from Greensboro (FL) West Gadsden will bring quickness and size to the line when he arrives in 2009. At defensive end Dyron Dye (6-4, 225, Sanford, FL Seminole) is one of the big prizes along with Ryne Giddins (6-4, 235, Seffner, FL Armwood) and Anthony LaLota (6-5, 260, Princeton, NJ The Hun School). The Gators would like to sign one more defensive tackle to go along with Brown and the recruitment of Charlotte (NC) Victory Christian’s Curtis Porter (6-2, 330) is not over despite his early commitment to Miami. Miami Columbus tackle Antwan Lowery is also in the picture.
Great Expectations: The Defensive line
Great Expectations: The Defensive line
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