A Florida offensive line that last year had seven of its top eight contributors enter the 2015 season without a single start at the FBS level was thrown into the fire at the beginning of the Jim McElwain era.
The young, inexperienced unit, which notably saw three freshmen in Martez Ivey, Tyler Jordan and Fred Johnson play prominent roles later on in the season, certainly had some growing pains, struggling down the course of the year to get much of a push up front while allowing a nation-high 45 sacks in the process.
But with a year of experience now under its belt, Florida’s offensive line looks to take a step forward in 2016. And anchoring that group is junior left tackle David Sharpe, whom McElwain has seen develop into a vocal leader at the position this off-season and expects to steer what the Gators want to do up front.
That’s a main reason why McElwain chose Sharpe as the lone offensive player to make the trip to SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala., this week along with senior linebacker Jarrad Davis and redshirt senior safety Marcus Maye.
“He’s holding himself to a higher standard,” McElwain said. “Learning that he could push himself and affect the people around him in a positive way and not a negative. It’s something where when he started to do that, it was like, ‘Hey, this is pretty cool, right?’ So I’m really excited about his development and he’s going to be a big part of how good we are up front.”
The 6-foot-6, 345-pound Sharpe, a towering presence who has the look of an NFL tackle down the line in his career, learned plenty about the college level quickly during his first two seasons as a Gator. After serving as a backup in six appearances as a true freshman for an offensive line that saw plenty of faces like Max Garcia, D.J. Humphries, Chaz Green and Trenton Brown land at the professional ranks, the former four-star signee out of Jacksonville (Fla.) Fletcher High School assumed starting duties at left tackle in 13 games for Florida as a sophomore.
“It’s been a long process,” Sharpe said. “I feel like I’m probably in the best shape right now and the best to my ability right now 100%, technique wise and strength wise and physical wise. Just learning from those guys like D.J. Humphries and Chaz Green, and now the younger guys are learning from me. It’s a big step.”
During an up-and-down 2015 season for Florida’s offensive line, Sharpe was perhaps its most consistent and reliable contributor at the left tackle spot – until a nagging foot injury hampered him down the course of the season. Sharpe was not at optimal health to play in the Vanderbilt contest this past year, but did so anyway in the second half for a banged-up O-line that desperately needed him on the edge.
In ways like that, Sharpe has showed his resolve for the Gators. This fall, plenty of the Gators’ younger offensive linemen will look to him to lead by example and help the group battle through whatever adversity it faces.
“I am going to be a more vocal leader, a practice leader,” Sharpe said. “Any type of way I can, I want to be a leader for the team. I want to be a guy someone looks up to and that they can come ask me anything. I definitely am going around with a chip on my shoulder.”
We definitely saw more of that from him this spring, as Sharpe and center Cameron Dillard established themselves as veteran leaders for the still relatively young group. Sharpe is fresh off of a strong outing during spring practices, where he played with a nasty streak and rarely slipped up.
Still, he sees room for growth in himself leading into the 2016 campaign.
“I’ve got to get a little bit better technique-wise,” Sharpe said. “Pretty much learning, I always could learn more about defensive lines, stances, studying opponents, all of that type of stuff. I’m definitely trying to become leaner weight-wise, too.”
If Sharpe can take that next step, Florida’s offensive line should too in 2016. As far as he’s concerned, allowing 45 sacks is something the group won’t do this upcoming year under his leadership.
“We use it as motivation,” Sharpe said of the sacks allowed total. “I feel we’re much better as a group this year and that’s something that we can work on. That definitely won’t happen again this year.”
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20/16 FOR 2016 SERIES:
PT. 1: Return of Powell from foot injury adds weapon to slot
PT. 2: Lewis brings pass-catching threat to tight end position
PT. 3: Dawson aiming to make impact at nickelback spot
PT. 4: Pair of five-stars should play key roles as sophomores
PT. 5: Anzalone's health a question mark moving forward
PT. 6: Goolsby poised for strong season at tight end position
PT. 7: Cox an underrated presence along UF defensive line
PT. 8: Sharpe an important leader along Gators offensive line
PT. 9: Callaway, Cleveland promising faces of wide receiving corps
PT. 10: High expectations surround Tabor entering junior year
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