Antonio Morrison is ready to move past the 2013 season.
It started with two summer arrests within a five-week span — the first for punching a bouncer on June 16, 2013 and the second for barking at a police dog on July 20, 2013 — that resulted in the middle linebacker being suspended for the season opener against Toledo.
It ended with the then-sophomore being sidelined after tearing the meniscus in his right knee in Florida’s 34-17 loss to Vanderbilt on Nov. 9, ending his year three games early.
But now, with another year of experience and maturation under his belt and the memories of a 4-8 season fresh on his mind, Morrison is thinking about one thing.
“I just want to win,” he said.
In eight games last season, Morrison tallied 56 total tackles, one tackle for loss and three quarterback hurries.
Defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin sees Morrison progressing as the linebacker heads into his junior year.
“He has always been a guy very serious about football, practices hard and all those things,” Durkin said. “I think he has taken that to another level. His preparation off the field is as strong as it is on the field.”
Added senior defensive lineman Darious Cummings: “I feel he’s still the same playmaker, still bringing the same intensity. … Tony’s the vocal leader on this team and he’s going to say his part and I feel like he’s doing a better job than he did last year.”
For Morrison, the key to success among the linebackers is having sound communication with the defensive linemen up front.
“As a linebacker, it’s important to have a great relationship with your defensive line because they’re right in front of you,” Morrison said. “I mean, you don’t want to be back there giving a guy a hard time because then they wouldn’t want to be playing in front of you.”
Cummings feels his relationship with Morrison on the field is going in the right direction.
“Me and him are clicking real well,” Cummings said. “We compliment each other on everything we do. Whenever he makes a tackle, I give him a high-five. He gives me a high five whenever I shed a block. I feel like the defensive line and the linebackers are all on the same page a lot more than we were last year.”
And outside of Morrison, the rest of the linebacker corps is also brimming with talent.
Sophomore Jarrad Davis — who tallied at least five tackles in each of Florida’s final three games of 2013 — is expected to get the nod at the weak-side linebacker position.
Add redshirt seniors Mike Taylor and Neiron Ball into the mix and coach Will Muschamp has a solid group of players with the potential to wreak havoc on opposing offenses.
“I mean, you know, I’m not sitting there looking to find one guy out there,” the fourth-year head coach said. “I think all four of those guys can play winning football for us. I have confidence in all four guys.”
Behind those four are two up-and-coming sophomores in Alex Anzalone and Daniel McMillian.
The two spent most of their playing time on special teams last season but have made strides throughout training camp.
“They don’t have as much playing experience, but I feel really good about where they’re at,” Durkin said. “They’ve done a great job with their snaps, they’ve really improved.”
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Antonio Morrison chases down a Florida State player during Florida’s 37-26 win on Nov. 24, 2012 in Doak Campbell Stadium.
