You could say Ryan Stamper is ready for his close-up.
With preseason All-Southeastern Conference linebacker Brandon Spikes likely to miss Saturday's opener against Hawaii with a foot injury, one would think the Gators would be concerned with how they would replace a player who is expected to improve upon a season in which he totaled 131 tackles.
Guess not.
"He's probably the most reliable person on our football team," defensive coordinator Charlie Strong said of Stamper. "It's so funny because you know with Stamp what you're always going to get. He's really solid and a good football player."
Stamper has only made one start during his tenure as a Gator, but UF's confidence in him is solid. The redshirt junior was voted a team captain this season and is well versed in the Gators defensive schemes, as he is one of the few players who know all three of the Gators' linebacker positions.
It's no surprise that Stamper remains confident entering his second career start.
"If (Spikes) can't go, and I get that opportunity, that's just a great honor for me in the first game," Stamper said. "I'll be ready to go against Hawaii, Miami, Tennessee, whoever. I've just got to be ready when my number is called."
Stamper would likely not only be a starter on most other teams but a featured player. The Jacksonville native has been content to contribute on special teams and gain the respect of his teammates, even if most fans are unaware of his contributions. And that is the reason why he was voted a team captain.
"Stamper is just one of those guys who you can always count on to be there, he'll never let you down," sophomore linebacker Brandon Hicks said. "Spikes is one of those dudes who is real energetic. (Stamper is) not as vocal as Spikes and he won't be hooting and hollering, but he'll always be there.
"I think (being voted a captain) helped him feel like he was in a better position to show what he can do."
Coach Urban Meyer has little fear Stamper will be able to adequately replace Spikes in the interim. Meyer has mentioned Stamper as one of the players who has been the most impressive during the preseason, and his unselfishness has stood out.
"Stamper is a very physical, accountable guy. They've very similar players," Meyer said. "He's one of those guys who works his tail off, and he starts on the punt team, which tells you how much I think of him."
Meyer has always said how important he feels special teams are, so being on the punt team is actually a serious responsibility.
Stamper fancies himself as a guy who has been able to maximize his athletic ability by being a student of the game. Stamper, who has played linebacker since his Pop Warner days, learned all three linebacker positions in the Gators defense to make himself a more versatile player. It's something that young players could learn from Stamper.
"A lot of people think it's talentwise, but it's not talent," Stamper said of being able to play multiple positions. "A lot of people have talent, but they've just got to learn to play on the college level, get the plays down and play fast."
