Now that all six of Florida's early enrollees have arrived on campus, over the next two days Inside the Gators will take a closer look at each of them with these quick player profile Q&A sessions.
Up next is Miami (Fla.) Southridge 6-foot-3, 220-pound tight end Kemore Gamble.
Southridge High School assistant coach Curtis Brown spoke with Blake Alderman on Tuesday about Gamble.
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* Tabor declares for NFL Draft
* Big questions moving forward as Florida heads into offseason
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What are some things Gamble has mentioned he looks most forward to doing in his first year at Florida?
Brown: “Really he just talks about the experience of playing in The Swamp and playing in front of that type of crowd. He really gets excited for big games and it seems like the bigger the crowd the bigger his excitement level. Really he just wants to come in and contribute, that is the thing he always says. He wants to play and he wants to come in and contribute. I haven’t heard anything about trying to be a freshman all-American they just want to go and play and not get too ahead of themselves. He’s seen [Antonio] Callaway go up there from Miami and he’s seen Jordan Scarlett go up there from South Florida and do well. Seeing that has given him confidence to play next year.”
Has he mentioned what number he would want to wear?
Brown: “Well he wore 15 in high school and that is the Tim Tebow number, so he wasn’t sure if that was a special number they don’t want to use there. He hasn’t said anything for sure of what number they are going to give him.”
We already know Gamble is going to be rooming with Shawn Davis. How close are those two guys?
Brown: “We have a lot of guys at this school that are going to a bunch of different places all around the state or even the country. Gamble was always locked in and it was Shawn really that was still looking around. Once Shawn started trending towards the Gators they really saw that they could continue their future together. I think knowing they can be together competing for the next couple of years really helped forge their bond. I really saw that take shape once they both were set on Gainesville.”
Gamble used to be more of a wide receiver, with Florida being the first school to really mention tight end. How much has he embraced that position?
Brown: “Florida has a history of good tight ends and he really embraced that role of how they want to use him. He was sold on being used in a unique way with how his body is put together, especially his lower body combined with his hands. Once they mentioned that position he just ran with it. For us coaching him it sure was easier to convince him to put his hand in the dirt and block, so I guess we should thank Florida for that. He just embraced playing in tight on the line.”
He committed in the summer and never really took any other visits, which isn’t always the case in this day and age. What does that say about him or the job Florida did recruiting him?
Brown: “Once he made that commitment that was it and I think he did that so he could be done with it, so he could focus. It allowed him to have a carefree senior year. I hope a lot of our guys do that down the road. It’s cool to play the recruiting game and everything, but to get it done with and be locked in and stay locked in is mature beyond his years.”
Nobody is perfect, what does Gamble need to work on most in your opinion?
Brown: “Maybe just getting his blocking better. Going to the next level is a much better defensive line to block. We have a nice size line here and he’s played against some talented guys, but the SEC knows how to breed lineman. He has the frame and he isn’t scared to be physical. If he drives himself he can get better.”
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