A maligned group, constantly groaned about by Florida fans in 2013, is now one of strength.
It’s amazing what happens when offensive linemen play in the positions they’re best suited for with no injuries to shake up the group.
Max Garcia is a rock at center. Roderick Johnson is a wonder kid at right tackle, and David Sharpe, the other wet-behind-the-ears freshman, isn’t far behind him on the outside either.
Trip Thurman along with Tyler Moore have been consistent in his play at guard and Trenton Brown has moved opposite them and brought his phone booth size frame to play well at a spot often termed as playing inside of one.
Chaz Green, free from the snare of nagging injury, has shown he can be solid at either tackle spot this season.
What has been missing is the former No. 1 offensive tackle recruit in the nation in D.J. Humphries, but he plans to be back Saturday against Tennessee after sitting out with a chipped bone in his ankle.
"Yeah, it was one of those things like, ‘Here it is again,’" Humphries said.
"You know what I mean? I never really had any injuries where I did anything that hurt me. I always have people kind of falling on me. It was one of them things like, ‘Again?’ I’m more ready now, though. Back on the field. I’m happy."
Humphries returns to a Florida unit that is allowing .67 sacks per game, 13th nationally and has only allowed five yards to be lost on two total sacks.
The yardage number is good for third nationally. The total sack number is fifth nationally.
"I love having D.J. on the field," Garcia said. "Just having his energy really lifts us all up. You could really tell when he was out, during practice we just didn’t have that much fire that D.J. brings every day. So I’m just really excited to have him back and it’s going to take him a little bit to get him back to where he was, playing to the speed of the game after being out.
"But I’m sure he’s going to do a good job on Saturday."
The Gators head to Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, the site of Humphries’ first collegiate road game.
He was wide-eyed then, entranced by an insane atmosphere.
Two years later, it’s his job to impart the wisdom on Johnson that Green and former Gators Xavier Nixon and Jon Halapio gave to him.
It was simply that he needed to calm down on the field.
Humphries said when he first suited up for UF he had trouble consistently keeping his cool throughout a full game because he was so energetic. One good thing would happen and he’d dwell on it instead of moving on to the next play.
"(Johnson) reminds me a lot of me when I was a kid, when I was a younger," Humphries said.
"He’s so energetic and just excited to play ball and just turnt up as soon as he makes a play he’s just ready to sell out everybody. I just try to tell him you gotta calm down, bro, just be ready to make the next play, good or bad and be ready to do the same thing over again."
Follow Richard Johnson on Twitter @RagjUF
D.J. Humphries blocks an Arkansas defensive lineman during Florida’s 30-10 win against Arkansas on Oct. 5 in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
