Notebook: Florida secondary shuffling around pieces in Tabor's absence
With cornerback Jalen “Teez” Tabor set to miss Florida’s season-opener against UMass this Saturday in The Swamp due to suspension for a practice altercation with tight end C’yontai Lewis more than two weeks ago, the Gators have had to shuffle a few pieces around in the secondary.
We’ve seen a handful of Florida’s defensive backs move around in recent practices, and the lineup in some parts should look pretty different when the Gators take the field this weekend.
Junior Duke Dawson, who has played primarily at nickelback since the spring, is listed as Florida’s first-team cornerback opposite of starter Quincy Wilson on the team’s depth chart for the UMass contest.
Chauncey Gardner, a freshman early enrollee who worked mainly at safety during the spring, has been working with the cornerbacks recently and figures to see time at that spot this weekend. Gardner was listed as a backup cornerback on the week 1 depth chart but could very well share the field with Wilson and Dawson when Florida rolls out its nickel defense.
With the lineup moving around pieces, three faces have begun to see more reps at the nickelback spot. Sophomore cornerback Chris Williamson is listed as the second-string nickel behind Dawson on the depth chart, while redshirt junior safety Marcell Harris and freshman safety Jeawon Taylor have also seen time at nickel with Tabor not playing in the season-opener.
"The guys filling in, they're good,” redshirt senior safety Marcus Maye said. “We've got (Joseph) Putu. We've got Chauncey playing out wide and Duke Dawson. Those guys are good enough to play. With Jalen being out, it's nothing that's going to hurt. Those guys are going to step up and play right away."
One player in the secondary in particular to keep an eye on this weekend is the 5-foot-10, 208-pound Dawson, who saw most of his snaps as a safety during his first two seasons as a Gator. Playing cornerback is a new responsibility for him at the college level, but it’s a position where he feels comfortable.
“I can play it all. It’s no big deal to me. It’s just all preparation, film study,” Dawson said. “It’s all normal to me, it’s nothing different, nothing big for me.”
Maye certainly sees Dawson’s versatility helping out the Gators secondary this season.
"He's been doing great,” Maye said. “We know he can do it. He can run. He can cover. He can tackle. You can put him in the slot. You can put him out wide at corner. He can do a lot of different things. So just knowing that he's out there on the field, we're all excited to see him play."
PERINE, SWAIN TURNING HEADS
In recent interview sessions with players, two of the most buzzed-about freshmen on the offensive side of the ball have been running back Lamical Perine and wide receiver Freddie Swain.
Florida head coach Jim McElwain has mentioned that Perine should see the field immediately as a true freshman, and that's something his teammates feel he's deserving of.
"I really like Lamical Perine, the freshman," wide receiver Brandon Powell said. "He’s been running hard this whole camp. He’s been going against the 1 linebackers and everything. That’s tough, going against our defense. But he’s been having a great camp."
Added quarterback Luke Del Rio: "Lamical, a true freshman coming in, really came on later in camp, got some confidence, that guy is hard to bring down."
Dawson called Perine a "sleeper' who is "going to open a lot of eyes this week.” Offensive tackle David Sharpe has also been impressed by his play.
“He looks good, man," Sharpe said of Perine. "He’s a very humble kid, confident guy. He’s in his playbook. He wants to play this year."
Meanwhile, Swain has cemented himself an immediate role in the wide receiver rotation as a true freshman. He's seen most of his slot this fall in the slot and has impressed coaches and players with with his playmaking ability. McElwain recently noted that Swain now has a better grasp of the offensive playbook.
“Young Swain is my boy," senior wide receiver Ahmad Fulwood said. "Nice routes, great hands, fast, quick, agile. All that stuff. When he first got here, he was real raw. He had the hands, he had the speed but he just hadn’t put it all together yet. Once coaching got ahold of him and we took care of him a lot over the offseason. Now he’s just coming into that full receiver that he can be.”
GAMES CIRCLED ON THE CALENDAR
One question asked to a variety of Gators during Tuesday’s interview session was which games this season were circled on their calendars.
A certain team from Knoxville didn’t get a shout-out.
“Definitely the LSU and Florida State games for me,” Maye said. “Just because we’ve haven’t beaten those guys in a while. Those game mean the most, to play against a great team.”
Added redshirt junior defensive end Jordan Sherit: “Well after UMass, I’d say LSU. Those two.”
Fulwood shared a similar sentiment when asked that question, while seemingly throwing some shade at Tennessee in the process.
“LSU and FSU, just because since I’ve been here we haven’t beaten them,” he said. “And those are our rivals, and in order for it to be a rivalry, you’ve got to win. I’m looking forward to those two games.”
Maye was later asked about Tennessee and the expectations for that Sept. 24 contest.
“I mean, Tennessee is Tennessee,” Maye said. "Obviously we’re going to be excited to go there. Everybody’s been on the hype train for them. We know what we’re going to do. … Win, of course. I mean, every time you step on the field, you expect to win. I'm excited to go to Knoxville.”