Football is won in the trenches.
Developing a strong defensive front, from the down linemen to the linebackers, is essential to compete — especially in the physical Southeastern Conference. Florida head coach Billy Napier has already made the defensive line a priority, recruiting several top linemen for the future.
As for the present, Florida’s defensive front is a mix of a few established veteran stars and a cavalcade of prospects looking to prove themselves at the college level.
The Gators front seven starts with junior Gervon Dexter in the heart of the defensive line. Dexter, a former five-star recruit, is one of the most talented lineman in the SEC. He brings an elite blend of athleticism and size — standing at 6 feet, 6 inches tall and 312 pounds.
Dexter was named a second team Sporting News preseason All-American, and he was voted second team preseason All-SEC by the coaches. The Lake Wales, Florida, product has been an impact player his entire career thus far, even intercepting a pass in his first ever game.
Beyond Dexter, the interior defensive line is incredibly inexperienced. Freshman Chris McClellan, a top player in last season’s recruiting class, could make waves in his first season. Sophomore Desmond Watson, who stands at a physically imposing 6 feet, 5 inches tall and 415 pounds, could also see more playing time in his second year.
Napier has noted his excitement to see these young players step into significant roles.
“We got a number of players who maybe haven't played college football, they haven't had a significant role, that I think have the ability to affect our team,” Napier said in a Aug. 21 press conference.
On the edge of the defense, redshirt senior Brenton Cox Jr. is expected to wreak havoc in opposing backfields. Cox was also named to the preseason All-SEC second team by the coaches after racking up 8.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss last season.
Cox has dealt with a multitude of injuries since transferring to Gainesville from the University of Georgia, but when healthy he is one of the best edge defenders in the country. With a strong final season in the Swamp, Cox could be a top NFL draft selection.
As seen along the defensive line, depth at outside linebacker is young and inexperienced. Redshirt sophomore Antwuan Powell-Ryland Jr. and redshirt junior Lloyd Summerall III are among the top edge options behind Cox.
At inside linebacker, Ventrell Miller is back for one last ride in orange and blue.
Miller is entering his sixth season of college football under his third full-time head coach. He’s racked up 166 total tackles in his career with 15 tackles for loss. Miller was named to the preseason All-SEC third team by the coaches.
Fifth-year senior Amari Burney adds another veteran leader to the Gators defense. Burney has played a multitude of positions since arriving on campus in 2018, but should be a locked-in figure for Florida at the second level.
Freshman linebacker Shemar James was one of the gems in Napier’s first recruiting class, flipping back to the Gators before early signing day. A top-100 prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings, James is as talented as they come. The Alabama native will likely see the field at multiple positions this fall.
Like most of Florida’s roster, the defensive front is a largely unproven group brimming with talent and potential. With new coaches in place — like defensive coordinator Patirck Toney, defensive line coach Sean Spencer and linebacker coaches Jay Bateman and Mike Peterson — the Gators hope to see significant development and improvement from this vital unit.
Florida opens its season Saturday against the No. 7 Utah Utes at 7 p.m. at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Contact Topher Adams at tadams@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @Topher_Adams.
Topher Adams is a fourth-year communications major and in his fourth semester with the Alligator. He previously covered football, baseball and women's basketball. He also enjoys professional lacrosse and Major League Soccer.
