Although Omar Hunter’s hometown of Buford, Ga., is only about 45 miles west of Athens, Florida’s matchup against Georgia doesn’t have any special meaning.
Georgia was never his childhood favorite — that was FSU. And Hunter doesn’t consider the clash with Georgia his favorite game — that honor goes to UF’s matchup with LSU.
Hunter tracked down tickets for friends and family members to watch No. 3 Florida face No. 12 Georgia on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Jacksonville, but he isn’t treating the game any differently.
“It’s going to be fun, but I treat it like any other game,” Hunter said. “Going out and preparing like I always have, and hopefully we can get the win.”
That level-headedness is a key reason why Hunter, a redshirt senior, is one of the leaders on Florida’s defensive line.
UF’s coaches have emphasized that the matchup with Georgia is no more important than any other, and Hunter has embodied that focus.
“I haven’t seen [anything] different from him,” defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said.
“Omar, to his credit, has done a really good job of preparing week in and week out — on film, doing the things necessary to do. I’ve always been impressed [by] the way he’s prepared.”
Defensive end Dominique Easley said playing alongside a veteran like Hunter has been helpful.
With appearances in 50 games, Hunter understands football better than any of Florida’s other defensive linemen.
He also understands how to avoid becoming too pumped up for any one game — a lesson that is proving useful this week.
“It gives him respect on the team,” Quinn said. “(He’s) someone they all look to because of the fact he has a real even disposition.”
Hunter’s teammates can also look up to him for his play in 2012. With 25 tackles, Hunter trails only Sharrif Floyd — who has 26 — for the lead among Florida defensive linemen.
Three of Hunter’s tackles have been for a loss.
Perhaps Hunter’s biggest contributions do not show up in the box score. The biggest lineman in Florida’s regular rotation at 313 pounds, Hunter is the anchor of the nation’s No. 10 rush defense. Florida allows just 97.3 yards per game.
“He needed to do a better job of disengaging on blocks and has held the point extremely well for us this year,” coach Will Muschamp said. “(He) is having an outstanding senior season.”
Hunter has already topped the 17 tackles he posted in 2009 and the 23 tackles he notched in 2010.
He set a career-high with 31 in 13 games last year and is on pace to shatter that mark this season.
Hunter said he feels more explosive than he has at any point in his career, an improvement he attributes to new strength and conditioning coach Jeff Dillman.
Muschamp said Hunter needed to be stronger at the point of attack. Hunter has answered the call, leading to the best season of his career.
“He’s really playing his best football in our two years here, and really since he’s been here,” Muschamp said. “He accepted the challenges in front of him, and he certainly has capitalized.”
Contact Greg Luca at gluca@alligator.org.
Defensive tackle Omar Hunter (right) rips off Marcus Lattimore’s helmet during Florida’s 44-11 win against South Carolina on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
