Another key piece of the Gators defense announced that he would be turning pro, as redshirt junior defensive tackle Caleb Brantley made it known Friday that he would be forgoing his final season at Florida and declaring early for the 2017 NFL Draft.
The decision makes sense for Brantley, who could very well land as one of the top 40 picks of the 2017 draft.
Brantley’s decision to return to Gainesville for his fourth season proved to be a smart one. The 6-foot-2, 297-pound defensive tackle was one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in the country and also proved to be a force in the interior against the run. Brantley finished his 2016 season with 29 tackles, 6.5 TFL, three sacks and two quarterback hurries.
During his Florida career, Brantley logged 79 tackles, 17 TFL, five sacks and two forced fumbles.
“Brantley is probably as good a player as any in college football in his position, in terms of how difficult he is to block,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said, “and I think that's what makes great defensive players.”
Florida certainly loses a great defensive player in Brantley, and now it must fill his void. With he and Joey Ivie leaving the program, the Gators lose a combined 36 starts over those two from the past two seasons.
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In 2017, Khairi Clark and Taven Bryan should see increased role as redshirt juniors, with Clark filling in at nose guard and Bryan likely seeing the majority of his playing time at defensive tackle in place of Brantley. Although at times inconsistent, Bryan proved to be a playmaker for the Gators defense in 2016 with two forced fumbles (as well as two fumble recoveries), a sack, three TFL, two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.
After Clark and Bryan, the depth is a question mark, as Florida hasn’t had much success recruiting defensive tackles in recent years. 2014 signee Thomas Holley and 2015 signee Andrew Ivie receiving medical hardships and seeing their careers end at Florida, as well as Gerald Willis being dismissed from the program, also didn’t help out the numbers there.
Jachai Polite could make a move from defensive end to seeing time primarily at tackle this offseason if he can add some more bulk to his 6-foot-2, 271-pound frame. The Gators also have Luke Ancrum and 2017 early enrollee Kyree Campbell as options at defensive tackle, but they hope to add some more pieces to the equation at that position near the close of the 2017 recruiting cycle.
With Brantley, cornerbacks Jalen Tabor and Quincy Wilson, linebacker Alex Anzalone, and offensive tackle David Sharpe all draft-bound - and Duke Dawson returning for his final season at Florida - the Gators now await the decision of punter Johnny Townsend.
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