Florida football will bring back a pair of veterans and add some promising newcomers to its linebacker position group in 2024.
There’s also a new coach — Rob Roberts — who will primarily work with linebackers as Florida Gators co-defensive coordinator with Austin Armstrong., Roberts, the defensive coordinator at Auburn last season, replaced Jay Bateman, who left UF last December to take over as defensive coordinator at Texas A&M.
Roberts will demand more physicality from a linebacker group that struggled against the run. Florida ranked 12th in the SEC in run defense last season, surrendering 155.6 yards per game. That included giving up 329 yards on a whopping 9.1 yards per carry in a 33-14 loss at Kentucky.
For the second straight season, missed tackles were more the norm than the exception.
“You can draw it up, but if you can’t tackle them and get them on the ground, it’s kind of a problem,” Roberts said. “So, we’ll focus on those basics and those fundamentals and make sure we’re getting better as a group.”
Here’s a look at UF’s linebackers going into the 2024 season:
Florida football LB projected starters
Junior Shemar James is back for his third season as starter as linebacker. James had 55 tackles. 5.5 tackles for a loss and a sack in eight games for UF last season before undergoing surgery to repair a dislocated kneecap.
The 6-foot-1, 230-pound James has posted 102 career tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He didn’t take part in contact drills during the spring, but should be ready for fall camp, and is looking forward to becoming more of a leader on the defense in his third season.
“Just getting stronger, becoming a better leader, better communicator on the field and just becoming a better overall linebacker,” James said.
Batting for the second starting spot at linebacker alongside James will be senior Derek Wingo and sophomore transfer Grayson “Pup” Howard. The 6-1, 240-pound Wingo tallied 17 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 12 games. Like James, Wingo sat out the spring while recovering from shoulder surgery.
Howard, a Jacksonville native who played as a true freshman last season at South Carolina, brings size to the position group at 6-4 and 235 pounds. He was impressive in UF’s spring game, finishing with 6 tackles and a pass breakup, and earned the Wilber Marshall award as UF’s top linebacker in spring drills.
Florida football linebacker depth
Senior R.J. Moten moved from safety to linebacker in the offseason and at 6-0 and 230 ponds played solid in UF’s spring game, finishing with six tackles. Rising sophomore linebacker Jaden Robinson (4 tackles) also should get chances for more snaps this season, along with Deuce Spurlock II, who played mostly on special teams for UF last season after transferring in from Michigan.
Florida football linebacker future
The future looks bright for the Florida linebacker position with the addition of two incoming freshmen that were Under Armour All-Americans and Top 120 national prospects. Myles Graham III (114th nationally, 247Sports) enrolled at UF early but only took part in a week of spring drills before undergoing surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back. The 6-1, 222-pound Graham, the son of former UF running back standout Earnest Graham, should be ready for the start of fall camp. Aaron Chiles (96th nationally, 247Sports), from Olney, Md., enrolled this summer and at 6-3 and 220-pounds bring versatility to the group with his speed and ability to drop into coverage. Chiles is being mentored by former UF standout linebacker Jelani Jenkins. It’s not clear yet how much either player will contribute this season, but Florida coach Billy Napier hasn’t been shy about playing true freshmen if they show they are ready.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Previewing Florida football linebackers in 2024
The Gainesville Sun
