Gators confident in Marco Wilson, young defensive backs
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* Notebook: Cleveland's attention divided this week
* Opening week depth chart released
* For Reese, showdown with Michigan is personal
* Monday Notebook: Mum is the word on starting quarterback
* McElwain PC Blog: No quarterback named
* Take Five: Florida Football Camp Breakdown
* Breaking down each and every defensive player
* Breaking down each and every offensive player
* GET TWO MONTHS OF FREE ACCESS
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Florida signed six defensive backs in its 2017 recruiting class, and many of those newcomers are getting thrown into the fire. The Gators unveiled a game one depth chart Tuesday which listed four true freshmen in the secondary two-deep, including Marco Wilson as starter at nickel and cornerback.
“He’s been great,” sophomore wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland said of Wilson. “First day of camp, he came in with a mindset to get better and compete. And ever since then, he’s been taking the competition level very high. He’s been in the film room. He’s been doing the extra work and that’s to get better.”
Fans might be surprised that the American Heritage product will start the opening game of his freshman season, but not Cleveland.
“I ain’t surprised,” Cleveland said. “His brother’s Quincy Wilson.”
The other three true freshmen defensive backs on the two-deep – safety Shawn Davis, cornerback C.J. Henderson, and nickelback Donovan Stiner – don’t get to call themselves DBU legacies. They do, however, get to learn from upperclassmen like senior cornerback Duke Dawson.
“The young guys right now, they feel like they’re not young guys any more,” Dawson said. “Me being there, I try and get those guys to talk to me, tell me what they’re going to do and then I’ll tell them what I’m going to do. I mean, so far, those guys have done a great job.”
Dawson also recognizes that freshmen defensive backs can be overwhelmed mentally. Thinking too much can sometimes be counterproductive.
“You don’t want to get beat,” Dawson said. “As a freshman, you want to make sure you do everything perfect. I mean they are taking their chances on breaking on the ball, but not as much. As a vet, I take a lot of chances because I know the formations and know what’s happening. Once they get more comfortable they’re going to start driving on the ball more.”
Junior defensive end Cece Jefferson, who was having a little fun Tuesday during interviews, isn’t concerned about so many freshmen defensive backs potentially playing on Saturday. If the coaches are comfortable with them, Jefferson sees no reason to worry.
“They wouldn't be in the position that they are if Coach Mac didn't feel as if they were ready,” he said. “There's no doubt in my mind that those guys are going to go out and use what Coach Bell has taught them and just execute the defense and be successful.”
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