[Warning: Long; Disclaimer: I do not have up-to-date injury or redshirt projection info, so take this with a grade of slaw]
Like many of you I got curious as to what the gatas will be returning on defense this year vs. who they lost last year.
Bottom Line: The Gatas are losing a lot of production, but return 7-9 upperclassmen with very solid numbers and experience. Nonetheless, after my analysis, put me down for Florida taking a step back. For Florida to play to its last three season standard, it will need to stay healthy. Beyond the 1st string, the level of experience and production drops significantly. The back-end will be strong with senior safeties and solid corners in Dawson and Gardner, but the interior DL and the LB corps have significant production to make up. In the SEC's line-of-scrimmage game, the seeming lack of proven depth along the interior of Florida's DL could limit the success of Florida's defense.
The gatas will take a significant step back in 2017 IMO.
Position Specific:
Secondary -- The back-end should be solid with Marcell Harris and Nick Washington. Both have four years in Florida's system and had solid production during 2016. Chauncey Gardner and Duke Dawson are both very good, but neither are Vernon Hargreaves. There doesn't appear to be a shut down corner on this roster, though Gardner may be if he continues his play from last year. The starting secondary should be tough, but behind it, the Gatas have similar questions to us with less star power. As it stands, CJ Henderson is the only blue-chipper (and borderline) of the backups. An injury to Gardner or Dawson could make things interesting, and an injury to Harris and Washington, given both are Seniors, could especially make things tough for the Gatas back-end. The Gatas added 6 freshmen DBs in their 2017 that could factor.
DL -- The Gatas' interior (from the info I have) appears weaker than ideal. Losing Caleb Brantley and Joey Ivie is going to sting. As it stands, they are projected to start Clark and Bryan, with two 4* newcomers in Kyree Campbell and converted OL recruit, Tedarrell Slaton (though he likely was recruited as a DL). This group could be strong; no clue, but on paper, it looks like they are not very deep. The Gatas DEs will continue to be strong. Other true freshmen that could factor are Elijah Conliffe and Zachary Carter.
LB Corps -- The Gatas LB corps will be younger and less proven. Projected starters Kylan Johnson, David Reese and Vosean Joseph combined for 101 total tackles last year, 8 TFLs and 1 Sack between them. They will have to replace the production of Jarrad Davis and Alex Anzalone, who combined for 113 Tackles, 10 TFLs and 5 Sacks between just the two of them. I expect this group of starters to take the largest step back, especially when 2nd rotation DTs are in the game. Gatas could have a surprise LB emerge from the Freshman class, but they did not secure any top 50 recruits at the position in their 2017 class.
Stats used in Analysis and Recruiting Ranking Notes:
Gata Draft Picks and 2016 Production:
Jarrad Davis, LB (1st Rd) - 60 Tackles, 6 TFL, 2 Sacks, 4 PBU, 5 Hurries
Marcus Maye, S (2nd Rd) - 50 Tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 INT, 6 PBU
Quincy Wilson, CB (2nd Rd) - 33 Tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 Sack, 3 INT, 6 PBU, 1 Hurry, 1 TD
Jalen "My Daddy is JJ," "Teez" Tabor (2nd Rd) - 33 Tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1 Sack, 6 PBU, 4 INT, 1 TD
Alex Anzalone, LB (3rd Rd) - 53 Tackles, 4.0 TFL, 3.0 Sacks, 2 PBU, 6 QB Hurries
Caleb Brantley, DT (6th Rd) - 31 Tackles, 9.5 TFL, 2.5 Sacks, 3 QB Hurries, 1 FF
Joey Ivie, DT (7th Rd) - 26 Tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2.5 Sacks, 7 QB Hurries, 1 FF, 1 Kick/Punt Blocked
http://www.cfbstats.com/2016/team/235/roster.html.
Gator's 2017 Projected Defense (Our Lads):
DE 92 Zuniga, Jabari RS FR | 95 Davis, Keivonnis SO
NT 54 Clark, Khairi RS SO | 55 Campbell, Kyree FR (4*, 5.9)
DT 93 Bryan, Taven RS SO | 00 Slaton, Tedarrell FR (Conv OT, 4*, 5.9)
DE 96 Jefferson, CeCe SO | 17 Sherit, Jordan RS JR
SLB 28 Johnson, Kylan RS FR | 50 Moon, Jeremiah FR (3*, 5.7)
MIKE 33 Reese, David FR | 56 Garcia, Christian RS JR
WILL 11 Joseph, Vosean FR | 84 Knight, Camrin SO
LCB 7 Dawson, Duke JR | 35 Putu, Joseph FR (2*, 5.4)
S 8 Washington, Nick RS JR | 27 Lenton, Quincy FR (3*, 5.6)
S 26 Harris, Marcell RS JR | 29 Taylor, Jeawon FR (3*, 5.6)
RCB 23 Gardner, Chauncey FR | 00 Henderson, C.J. FR (4*, 5.8)
http://www.ourlads.com/ncaa-football-depth-charts/depth-chart/florida/90498
Notable Returning Players:
Marcell Harris [4*, 6.0 - 2016 (73 Tackles, 4 TFL, 1 Sack, 2 INT, 1 PBU, 1 QB Hurry, 1 FF, 1 TD)]
David Reese [3*, 5.7 - 2016 (49 Tackles, 2 TFL)]
Nick Washington [4*, 5.8 - 2016 (45 Tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU)]
Kylan Johnson [3*, 5.6 - 2016 (39 Tackles, 5 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 PBU, 1 QB Hurry)]
Cece Jefferson [5*, 6.1 - 2016 (30 Tackles, 6.5 TFL, 1.5 Sacks, 5 QB Hurries)]
Jabari Zuniga [3*, 5.5 - 2016 (25 Tackles, 8.5 TFL, 5.0 Sacks, 11 QB Hurries, 1 FF, 1 K/P Blocked)]
Chauncey Gardner [4*, 6 - 2016 (32 Tackles, 0.5 TFL, 3 INT, 3 PBU)]
Taven Bryan [3*, 5.6 - 2016 (17 Tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 PBU, 2 Hurries, 2 FF)]
Khairi Clark [4*, 5.8 - 2016 (16 Tackles, 1 TFL, 1 Sack)]
Vosean Joseph [3*, 5.6 - 2016 (13 Tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PBU)]
Duke Dawson [4*, 5.8 - 2016 (24 Tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 INT, 7 PBU, 1 FF)]
Jordan Sherit [4*, 5.8 - 2016 (38 Tackles, 5.0 TFL, 3.5 Sacks, 2 Hurries)]
Keivonnis Davis [2*, 5.4 - 2016 (27 Tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1.5 Sacks, 5 Hurries, 1 FF)]
@DylanVol, @RockyTopRowdy58
Like many of you I got curious as to what the gatas will be returning on defense this year vs. who they lost last year.
Bottom Line: The Gatas are losing a lot of production, but return 7-9 upperclassmen with very solid numbers and experience. Nonetheless, after my analysis, put me down for Florida taking a step back. For Florida to play to its last three season standard, it will need to stay healthy. Beyond the 1st string, the level of experience and production drops significantly. The back-end will be strong with senior safeties and solid corners in Dawson and Gardner, but the interior DL and the LB corps have significant production to make up. In the SEC's line-of-scrimmage game, the seeming lack of proven depth along the interior of Florida's DL could limit the success of Florida's defense.
The gatas will take a significant step back in 2017 IMO.
Position Specific:
Secondary -- The back-end should be solid with Marcell Harris and Nick Washington. Both have four years in Florida's system and had solid production during 2016. Chauncey Gardner and Duke Dawson are both very good, but neither are Vernon Hargreaves. There doesn't appear to be a shut down corner on this roster, though Gardner may be if he continues his play from last year. The starting secondary should be tough, but behind it, the Gatas have similar questions to us with less star power. As it stands, CJ Henderson is the only blue-chipper (and borderline) of the backups. An injury to Gardner or Dawson could make things interesting, and an injury to Harris and Washington, given both are Seniors, could especially make things tough for the Gatas back-end. The Gatas added 6 freshmen DBs in their 2017 that could factor.
DL -- The Gatas' interior (from the info I have) appears weaker than ideal. Losing Caleb Brantley and Joey Ivie is going to sting. As it stands, they are projected to start Clark and Bryan, with two 4* newcomers in Kyree Campbell and converted OL recruit, Tedarrell Slaton (though he likely was recruited as a DL). This group could be strong; no clue, but on paper, it looks like they are not very deep. The Gatas DEs will continue to be strong. Other true freshmen that could factor are Elijah Conliffe and Zachary Carter.
LB Corps -- The Gatas LB corps will be younger and less proven. Projected starters Kylan Johnson, David Reese and Vosean Joseph combined for 101 total tackles last year, 8 TFLs and 1 Sack between them. They will have to replace the production of Jarrad Davis and Alex Anzalone, who combined for 113 Tackles, 10 TFLs and 5 Sacks between just the two of them. I expect this group of starters to take the largest step back, especially when 2nd rotation DTs are in the game. Gatas could have a surprise LB emerge from the Freshman class, but they did not secure any top 50 recruits at the position in their 2017 class.
Stats used in Analysis and Recruiting Ranking Notes:
Gata Draft Picks and 2016 Production:
Jarrad Davis, LB (1st Rd) - 60 Tackles, 6 TFL, 2 Sacks, 4 PBU, 5 Hurries
Marcus Maye, S (2nd Rd) - 50 Tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 INT, 6 PBU
Quincy Wilson, CB (2nd Rd) - 33 Tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 Sack, 3 INT, 6 PBU, 1 Hurry, 1 TD
Jalen "My Daddy is JJ," "Teez" Tabor (2nd Rd) - 33 Tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1 Sack, 6 PBU, 4 INT, 1 TD
Alex Anzalone, LB (3rd Rd) - 53 Tackles, 4.0 TFL, 3.0 Sacks, 2 PBU, 6 QB Hurries
Caleb Brantley, DT (6th Rd) - 31 Tackles, 9.5 TFL, 2.5 Sacks, 3 QB Hurries, 1 FF
Joey Ivie, DT (7th Rd) - 26 Tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2.5 Sacks, 7 QB Hurries, 1 FF, 1 Kick/Punt Blocked
http://www.cfbstats.com/2016/team/235/roster.html.
Gator's 2017 Projected Defense (Our Lads):
DE 92 Zuniga, Jabari RS FR | 95 Davis, Keivonnis SO
NT 54 Clark, Khairi RS SO | 55 Campbell, Kyree FR (4*, 5.9)
DT 93 Bryan, Taven RS SO | 00 Slaton, Tedarrell FR (Conv OT, 4*, 5.9)
DE 96 Jefferson, CeCe SO | 17 Sherit, Jordan RS JR
SLB 28 Johnson, Kylan RS FR | 50 Moon, Jeremiah FR (3*, 5.7)
MIKE 33 Reese, David FR | 56 Garcia, Christian RS JR
WILL 11 Joseph, Vosean FR | 84 Knight, Camrin SO
LCB 7 Dawson, Duke JR | 35 Putu, Joseph FR (2*, 5.4)
S 8 Washington, Nick RS JR | 27 Lenton, Quincy FR (3*, 5.6)
S 26 Harris, Marcell RS JR | 29 Taylor, Jeawon FR (3*, 5.6)
RCB 23 Gardner, Chauncey FR | 00 Henderson, C.J. FR (4*, 5.8)
http://www.ourlads.com/ncaa-football-depth-charts/depth-chart/florida/90498
Notable Returning Players:
Marcell Harris [4*, 6.0 - 2016 (73 Tackles, 4 TFL, 1 Sack, 2 INT, 1 PBU, 1 QB Hurry, 1 FF, 1 TD)]
David Reese [3*, 5.7 - 2016 (49 Tackles, 2 TFL)]
Nick Washington [4*, 5.8 - 2016 (45 Tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU)]
Kylan Johnson [3*, 5.6 - 2016 (39 Tackles, 5 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 PBU, 1 QB Hurry)]
Cece Jefferson [5*, 6.1 - 2016 (30 Tackles, 6.5 TFL, 1.5 Sacks, 5 QB Hurries)]
Jabari Zuniga [3*, 5.5 - 2016 (25 Tackles, 8.5 TFL, 5.0 Sacks, 11 QB Hurries, 1 FF, 1 K/P Blocked)]
Chauncey Gardner [4*, 6 - 2016 (32 Tackles, 0.5 TFL, 3 INT, 3 PBU)]
Taven Bryan [3*, 5.6 - 2016 (17 Tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 PBU, 2 Hurries, 2 FF)]
Khairi Clark [4*, 5.8 - 2016 (16 Tackles, 1 TFL, 1 Sack)]
Vosean Joseph [3*, 5.6 - 2016 (13 Tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PBU)]
Duke Dawson [4*, 5.8 - 2016 (24 Tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 INT, 7 PBU, 1 FF)]
Jordan Sherit [4*, 5.8 - 2016 (38 Tackles, 5.0 TFL, 3.5 Sacks, 2 Hurries)]
Keivonnis Davis [2*, 5.4 - 2016 (27 Tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1.5 Sacks, 5 Hurries, 1 FF)]
@DylanVol, @RockyTopRowdy58