The defense that Will Muschamp spent two years assembling got its guts ripped out.
Graduation and the NFL draft bulldozed through the middle of it, scattering Florida’s core defenders to places like Minneapolis, Chicago and Baltimore. They are everywhere but Gainesville. And they took their collective 169 career starts with them, prompting Muschamp to survey those vacancies at the start of training camp and admit, “We’ve got a lot of question marks.” Some of the answers came easily, some have yet to be found.
“You’re a new team,” defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin said. “I feel really good about the guys that are replacing those spots. We have guys that played a lot of football that we believe in, and some of those guys get their chance now.”
Their first opportunity is in two weeks, when Florida kicks off the season against Toledo.
No departure cut into the Gators’ strength more than that of defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, a junior who went 23rd overall to the Minnesota Vikings. “Everybody had to account for him,” Muschamp reminisced. However, Florida is fortunate to have a surplus of options to follow him and graduated senior Omar Hunter.
Dominique Easley, one of the SEC’s top linemen, moved inside from defensive end. He had 8.5 tackles for loss last year, which ranked third on the team behind Floyd and safety Matt Elam. Easley will be joined by senior Damien Jacobs, who transferred in from East Mississippi Community College and played every game last year. UF also has redshirt junior Leon Orr, who played every game he was healthy for in the past two seasons and could end up starting if Jacobs remains out with a knee injury.
“Three guys that have played here and understand how we play and what we do,” Muschamp said.
Another asset difficult to replace is middle linebacker Jon Bostic. Bostic, from Palm Beach Central High School, directed the defense for three years as a starter before the Chicago Bears took him in the second round.
The Gators had an ideal solution ready in Antonio Morrison, a sophomore who played in every game and started three last year, but he ensnared himself in a suspension with two summer arrests. He agreed to deferred prosecution after allegedly declaring, “I am Antonio,” and punching a night club bouncer who declined to give him a discount.
He also was arrested for barking at a police dog, and Muschamp immediately announced a two-game suspension. That misdemeanor charge was dropped, and Morrison’s status for the start of the season is unclear. He sat out the first week of training camp, hurting his own development and that of UF’s young linebacker corps.
“It certainly sets you back, but Antonio is a bright guy,” Muschamp said. “Coming in and playing as a true freshman shows how well he catches on. He was a guy who always, from an assignment standpoint, did an outstanding job. He’ll be fine.”
Several players are under consideration to replace weak-side linebacker Jelani Jenkins, now a Miami Dolphin, and possibly to fill in for Morrison during his suspension. The main contenders are redshirt junior Michael Taylor, redshirt junior Neiron Ball and senior Darrin Kitchens. That trio has seven career starts since arriving together in 2010.
The next three in line are all true freshmen.
At safety, Elam, from Dwyer High School, endeared himself to the coaching staff as a vicious hitter, disruptive blitzer and someone who made game-changing plays. He went to the Baltimore Ravens at No. 32 overall, and fellow starting safety Josh Evans was a sixth-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Cornerback Cody Riggs, a redshirt junior, looks ready to take one of the starting spots, but the other is undecided. Redshirt freshman Marcus Maye could be the answer.
“Marcus Maye is having a good camp,” Muschamp said. “He’s really come on and done some nice things for us. Been very pleased with his progress.”
Time is running out for final decisions. One factor that works in UF’s favor is an early bye, which allows the staff to evaluate new starters after two weeks and make changes heading into the Tennessee game.
The six up-the-middle starters who left helped Florida get some footing after it sputtered to a 7-6 record in 2011. Last year, the Gators ranked fifth in the nation in total defense, fourth against the run and 16th against the pass. They were the best in the SEC at stopping opponents on third down.
They established the standard. Now it is time to see if their replacements can live up to it.
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