To defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, age is just a number for Jonathan Bullard and Dante Fowler Jr. Both sophomores will play key roles in Florida’s pass rush in 2013.
"They may be young in terms of their second year in the program, but they’ve played a lot of snaps," Durkin said. "In terms of football life, they’re not young guys anymore."
Bullard and Fowler saw action in 13 games each as freshmen. Fowler and Dominique Easley lead all returning Gators with 8.5 tackles for loss last season. Bullard recorded five tackles for loss and led UF with seven quarterback hurries in 2012.
With a year of experience under each player’s belt, both will see more responsibility.
Bullard will play inside and outside on the defensive line. Fowler takes on a larger role at Buck linebacker, where he will rush the passer as well as drop back into coverage.
"Both those guys are mature," Durkin said. "They’re mature young men. They were that way coming in. It’s not often true freshman, especially up front, play, but they were able to handle themselves already last year. It’s not just how you do on the field. It’s how you handle yourself in meetings and everything off the field. Those guys are great."
Life without Sturgis:Given Florida’s offensive struggles in 2012, offensive coordinator Brent Pease had his work cut out for him. Fortunately, with Caleb Sturgis at his disposal, Pease only needed to get the Gators to the 35-yard-line to score points.
Now Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman has that luxury, and Pease needs to reach the 25-yard-line for competing kickers Brad Phillips and Austin Hardin.
"I’ve never been in that situation where you had such a luxury of a kid saying ‘OK, we’re at the 40, we’re good. He can boot it in from here,’" Pease said. "Now you’ve got to probably say to yourself, ‘OK, I’ve got to get one more first down.’"
While Sturgis recently earned the starting job in Miami over veteran Dan Carpenter, UF is still undecided on which man will take over the primary kicking duties. A groin injury hampered Phillips early in camp, prolonging the competition between them.
"Brad’s kicked in live situations before in game; he has that experience," coach Will Muschamp said on Aug. 16. "I’ve been pleased with Austin’s progress through camp. And Brad, when healthy, has kicked the ball well. We haven’t made a decision."
Bostic fined:The NFL fined Chicago Bears linebacker and former Gator Jon Bostic $21,000 on Wednesday for his hit on San Diego Chargers wide receiver Mike Willie on Aug. 15.
"That was such a bang-bang play," Durkin said.
"Obviously, I don’t think he was intending to do anything with it. I just texted him a little bit ago … and I said, ‘The good news is, you have the money now that you can go pay that. The bad news is you just got fined that.’"
NFL.com originally described the hit in a video description as "spectacular" before changing it in wake of the fine. Many Gators agreed with that original assessment.
"The clip of that hit? It was pretty popular," Durkin said. "Coaches, players alike — everyone looked at it. Obviously we’re all really proud of him. You can’t find a better guy than Jon Bostic to represent our program. All the guys feel strongly about that, so everyone was talking about it."
2014 schedule released:Will Muschamp will face his mentor for the second time as a head coach when Nick Saban and Alabama host Florida on Sept. 20, 2014.
The road game is part of the Gators’ 2014 schedule, released by the Southeastern Conference on Wednesday.
Alabama has had Florida’s number in recent matchups, winning three straight games by a combined score of 101-29. The Crimson Tide defeated the Gators 38-10 in The Swamp during their most recent meeting in 2011, scoring 28 unanswered points to seal the win.
LSU remains Florida’s fixed SEC West crossover opponent and will come to Gainesville on Oct. 11, 2014.
With the Tigers and the Crimson Tide on their schedule, the Gators will not travel to face the Razorbacks next season after hosting them this year on Oct. 5.
Florida opens SEC play in 2014 on Sept. 13 by hosting Kentucky, starting its league schedule against an opponent besides Tennessee for the second time in three seasons after doing it only once since 1996.
The Gators will play the Volunteers in Knoxville on Oct. 4 after facing the Wildcats and the Crimson Tide in preceding SEC matchups. UF will make a second trip to Tennessee to face Vanderbilt in Nashville on Nov. 8.
Florida plays Georgia in Jacksonville on Nov. 1, hosts South Carolina on Nov. 15 and travels to Tallahassee on Nov. 29 to play Florida State.
Other games include home dates against Idaho on August 30, Eastern Michigan on September 6, Missouri on Oct. 18 and Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 22.
Freshmen Jonathan Bullard (90) and Dante Fowler Jr. (6) celebrate a stop of Missouri tailback Kendial Lawrence (4) during UF’s 14-7 win on Nov. 3 in The Swamp.
