Over the next couple of days, Inside the Gators will review how each position on Florida's roster has performed up to this point in the 2016 season with a matchup against Iowa in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 2 on the horizon. Today, we look at the defensive line.
OVERVIEW: Despite losing its leader and top contributor in Jonathan Bullard, as well as Alex McCalister, to the NFL Draft this offseason, Florida still returned the majority of its core along the defensive line in 2016. And under the leadership of defensive coordinator Geoff Collins and defensive line coach Chris Rumph, the position continued to be one of the greatest strengths on the Gators' roster.
Florida finished in the top 40 for the second straight year with 30 sacks on the year, as well as in the top 40 nationally in the rushing defense department. Both of their finishes were slight drop-offs from a year ago, but the Gators still fielded one of the better, deeper defensive line rotations the SEC had to offer in 2016.
Choosing to return to school for his redshirt junior season, defensive tackle Caleb Brantley significantly boosted his draft stock with a strong 2016 campaign. When they were healthy, Joey Ivie, Jordan Sherit and Bryan Cox Jr. all were solid contributors in the rotation.
However, various injuries to those three opened up opportunities for Florida's younger contributors on the defensive line. Sherit missed the Vanderbilt and Missouri games after getting a scope on his knee and then missed the Alabama game with another knee injury. Ivie missed two games as well with a thumb injury, while Cox missed two games but was limited throughout much of the year due to an ankle injury, a broken hand and knee tendinitis.