Cover Two: One strength and one question for the Florida Gators’ D-Line

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators returned nearly the entire defensive line and added several players through the transfer portal and high school recruiting ranks. How will the Gators’ front line of defense pave the way for a defense that is looking to improve after a down season in 2023?

Past Cover Two Breakdowns
Quarterback
Running Back
Tight End
Receivers
Offensive Line

Depth, depth, depth

I don’t know that the Florida Gators have an All-American or First-Team All-SEC player on the defensive line. What they do have is a unit that goes two or three deep at every position. It was shocking what Dan Mullen left along the defensive line and what Billy Napier inherited. 6’6″ 330-pound defensive tackle Gervon Dexter had to play 68 snaps against Utah in the season opener because the Gators simply didn’t have depth to give him a break.

Now, Florida goes three deep at nose guard with seniors Cam Jackson and Desmond Watson along with redshirt sophomore Jamari Lyons. They’re at least three deep at defensive end with redshirt junior Caleb Banks, senior Joey Slackman, and sophomore Kelby Collins. The Gators might not have one standout but the sum of the parts should help each individual play with maximum effort as they keep a healthy rotation in games.

“It’s a collaboration of guys. “Our biggest thing is, hasn’t been necessarily trying to focus on one leader, I think we’ve been really trying to focus on being a united group,” new defensive lineman Gerald Chatman said this spring. “Because that’s what we need to push, that’s what we need to put out there. You know, that’s how we need to play, we need to play as a united group.”

Can the Florida Gators get pressure from inside?

Of the top 10 players who created quarterback pressure in 2023, only Caleb Banks and Kelby Collins return on the defensive line, but Collins played mostly EDGE for the Gators last season.

Cam Jackson, and Jamari Lyons only combined for four pressures last season. The Gators also lost Princely Umanmielen (45 pressure, 28 hurries, 10 hits, 7 sacks). The scheme last year mainly asked for Jackson and the nose tackles to hold blocks, demand double teams and eat space, so their numbers aren’t entirely indicative of their impact. But if the Gators can get more pressure up the middle it will certainly help them replace Umanmielen and help the new EDGE rushers to make up for the loss of Florida’s leading sack-getter in each of the last two seasons.

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