AlligatorSports continues its positional breakdown of the 2014 Gator football team by turning its attention to the secondary, specifically the cornerbacks.
Last year, the unit featured talented defensive backs like Loucheiz Purifoy, Marcus Roberson and Vernon Hargreaves III. Jaylen Watkins began the year playing corner, but switched to safety early in the season.
Upperclassmen Roberson, Purifoy and Watkins all declared for the NFL Draft following last year’s 4-8 season, which means the leadership role of the unit is placed on the shoulders of Hargreaves. With the résumé the sophomore put together as a true freshman, being the group’s leader this year is the next step Hargreaves needs to take in his career.
During his freshman campaign he started in UF’s last 10 games of the season, and accounted for three interceptions along with 11 pass breakups. He was voted a third team All-American by the Associated Press at the end of the year, and was placed on the Bednarik Award Watch List — given to the nation’s top defensive player — for 2014.
But Hargreaves’ more important job besides continuing as a lockdown corner at this point is setting an example for the youngster who will likely start at the corner spot opposite him this season.
Heading into fall camp, two early enrollees who had impressive spring seasons are the current frontrunners to win the starting spot. They are Duke Dawson and Jalen Tabor — both highly touted recruits in the 2014 class.
Tabor came in as the No. 3 corner in the class, and was one of Muschamp’s flips during the recruiting cycle, as Tabor was previously committed to play at Arizona. Tabor has impressive instincts that show promise for the true freshman.
Dawson stepped on campus as the ninth ranked corner for the 2014 class. Dawson remained toe-to-toe with Tabor throughout spring — following the Orange and Blue Debut there wasn’t enough separation between the two to name a starter.
Two talented young guns already with the skillset capable of starting at the spot isn’t a bad problem to have, but the lack of experience will be a concern. If the pair can continue to develop and progress through fall camp, one of them is likely to win the job for the season opener.
Junior defensive back Brian Poole repped mostly at the nickel spot (otherwise known as the fifth defensive back in the defense) during spring, and can play conventional corner if absolutely necessary. Dawson saw action at nickel behind Poole, and will also compete for the spot come fall camp.
There are a few guys who have the skillsets to play both cornerback and safety — something that is a luxury when there’s uncertainty at the open corner spot. Redshirt freshman Nick Washington, who is fully recovered from a shoulder injury that kept him off the field last season, played mostly at safety during spring, but can play corner if he is needed there.
Two members of Florida’s 2014 recruiting class can come in and potentially make an impact early. Defensive back J.C. Jackson (5-foot-11, 185 pounds, Immokalee, Fla., Immokalee High) can play both corner and safety, as can Quincy Wilson (6-foot-1, 200 pounds, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., University School).
Hargreaves and a young group of freshman will look to pick up where last year’s secondary left off. Florida’s defense finished the year ranked second in the country in team passing efficiency defense, and seventh in passing yards allowed—giving up just 171.8 per game.
Follow Morgan Moriarty on Twitter @Morgan_Moriarty
Vernon Hargreaves III intercepts a pass in the end zone during Florida’s 24-7 victory on Sept. 28, 2013, at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky.
