There's a certain point when a talented prospect becomes a great player. It's the point where athletic ability meets experience.
If you listen to the Gators coaching staff, defensive tackle Lawrence Marsh has reached that point. The redshirt sophomore had a minimal impact in 2007, as he finished the year with just five tackles and 0.5 sacks.
With UF struggling to get a push up the middle last season, Marsh was moved from defensive end to defensive tackle in an attempt to boost production on the inside. Defensive coordinator Charlie Strong has said the defensive line needed "someone who could move a body," and Marsh has found a way to fulfill that role. And apparently it wasn't that difficult.
"It wasn't that big a difference because once I came here I started getting bigger and stronger," Marsh said. "Last year I moved to defensive tackle and this year at nose guard so as long as I keep working at it I think I can get better at it."
Marsh understands the defense often let down what was one of the country's most prolific offenses last season. If the Gators are going to make a serious run at a Southeastern Conference title, the defense needs to show vast improvement.
"Last year it wasn't like we didn't want the push," he said. "We were just lacking in some areas. This year we've just worked real hard at it, and we've believed in one another, and we're going to get that push we're going to get it done.
"This year we're putting it on ourselves. We feel like if we go out there and stop other teams there's no way we're going to lose. We just need to come together as a group. If all of us are successful there's no way we can fail."
The coaching staff is placing a lot of responsibility on the Georgia native by implementing more defensive sets that feature just three down lineman, rather than four. It's a situation that Marsh is relishing, and it's mostly the result of a large attitude change.
"I approached this year like I'm a senior, like there's no tomorrow," Marsh said. "I know I can do these things I just had to put my mind to it and buckle down. So far it's working out for me."
Coach Urban Meyer has certainly noticed, but he still does have just one complaint related to Marsh.
"If I get him to shave, he'll be much better," Meyer said to reporters as he watched Marsh enter the locker room.
