Jarrad Davis was not the highest-recruited linebacker the Gators signed in their 2013 recruiting class, but he has made the biggest immediate impact.
Due to solid play on special teams and injuries to the Florida (4-5, 3-4 Southeastern Conference) linebacker corps, the Kingsland, Ga., native will likely make his first career start against No. 10 South Carolina on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Columbia, S.C.
“We thought he was a really good player bringing him in,” defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin said. “The more you’re around, the more you see him, we’re pleasantly surprised. He is a guy who is very mature.”
Davis made an impact on the staff with his play on special teams, but he received little playing time on defense. His statistics hide his true impact — the freshman has recorded only seven tackles, including one for a loss, in nine games played.
But Davis’ maturity has impressed his coaches the most — enough for Durkin to compare him to another true freshman who has made a large impact on the Florida defense.
“We’ve (talked) about [freshman defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III] a bunch as a freshman who handles things well and doesn’t act like a freshman,” Durkin said. “I think Jarrad goes into that same category.
“He just handles himself in a way that, if you didn’t know, you wouldn’t think he’s a freshman. That’s in the meeting rooms, off the field, on the field. He prepares really hard, practices well.”
The Gators need Davis’ practice ability to translate to the playing field against the Gamecocks (7-2, 5-2 SEC) on Saturday.
UF lost starting Mike linebacker Antonio Morrison to a torn meniscus suffered during Florida’s 34-17 loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday. Despite struggling at times during the season, Morrison — UF’s leading tackler — started the past seven games and played a key role leading the Gators’ defense.
“He gets guys lined up. He communicates to everyone on the defensive side of the ball,” Durkin said. “There’s a lot of things you lose with him.”
Redshirt junior Michael Taylor, who previously started at Will linebacker, will take over Morrison’s role; Davis will replace Taylor and serve as one of four captains before the game starts.
“We’ve also reached a point right now where … we’ve been there,” Durkin said. “You know, it’s part of what’s going on … No one really talks about it or feels bad about it. In terms of us for a team, we just got to go move on.”
The Gators hope Davis can help their ailing defense.
After starting the season as one of the best run defenses in the nation, Florida has allowed running backs such as LSU’s Jeremy Hill, Missouri’s Henry Josey and Georgia’s Todd Gurley to shred its run defense. During UF’s four-game losing streak, opponents ran for an average of 165.5 yards per game.
“I felt really good going into the season with where we were,” coach Will Muschamp said. “Certainly, we’ve not had the results we wanted to consistently through the year, and that’s been frustrating.”
Florida has its work cut out for it again against South Carolina.
Gamecocks running back Mike Davis is the SEC’s leading rusher and has already scored 10 rushing touchdowns.
“He is having an outstanding year, certainly has been a huge different in their run game,” Muschamp said.
Added Durkin: “He’s a powerful guy, breaks tackles. He’s got some top-end speed. He’s hit some long ones on teams where maybe because of his size or whatever he doesn’t look like a speed guy, but he’s got speed.
“He can break it.”
Follow Adam Lichtenstein on Twitter @alichtenstein24.
Jarrad Davis comes to a stop following a punt during Florida’s 34-17 loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
