Where is the pass rush from our defense going to come from? Princely is gone and we have no pass rushers who have shown on the field yet they can get after the QB. You also have a Miami team who one of their strengths will be at tackle. That is not a good situation to be in when they have a QB that buys time pretty easily on passing plays. He took about the same amount of sacks as Mertz but his sacks were mostly from waiting to long to try and find something downfield. At Miami with much better tackles that likely will result in a lot less sacks for him. He also had about the worse rushing per attempt average from their running game in the whole country so defenses really came after the QB.
The interior DL (DT's) looks
better/stronger/faster to me for 2024, so some pass rush from there should happen.
Florida football's EDGE unit, consisting of the
JACK/WDE and F/SDE positions, experienced significant turnover in 2023, and the unit is hoping for more continuity in 2024 when fall camp opens.
Princely Umanmielen exits to Ole Miss.
Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr. exits to VaTech
The starters have NOT been set yet, nor have the positions been set.
However, Sapp & Searcy have the inside track so far imo.
Edge 'F' - Tyreak Sapp 6-2.5 275 rsJr - 24 Tkl's -12 solo, 2 sacks, 4.5 TFL starting 11 Gms.
Justus Boone 6-3.75 267 rsJr
(2023 injured out)
Edge 'Jack' - T.J. Searcy 6-5 254 So - 26 Tkl's - 9 solo), 3.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 2 QBH, 1 FF.
----- Primary backups, possible starters:
Ja'Markis Weston 6-2.5 234 rsSr
Jack Pyburn 6-3 261 Jr -
(2023 injured out)
Kamran James 6-5.5 274 So
"F" LJ McCray 6-6 274 Fr ***** (DT/DE position flex)
----- Depth:
George Crumbs Jr. 6-4 242 rsJr - N.Ill>Cincy xfer, from a WO WR to TE to DE...
Quincy Ivorya 6-3 252 Jr - E.LA-CC xfer
Bryce Capers 6-3.75 239 rsSo - PWO
Layne Swafford 6-2 251 rsFr - PWO
----- Position Flexibility:
>> Kelby Collins 6-3.75 275 So (DE moved to DT in Spring but could be moved back)
Collins logged 23 Tkl's, 1.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 4 QBH, 1 PBU, 1 FF.
Brien Taylor Jr 6-4.5 267 - Blinn College xfer - "F" in Spring, moved back to DT.
With Boone and Pyburn still working their way back from significant injuries when fall camp opens, the unit will seemingly once again be
led by Sapp, while Collins and Searcy appear set for a larger role throughout spring camp.
Furthermore, UF added to the position via the transfer portal and through the high school ranks, with 5-star signee LJ McCray and N.ILL xfer George Gumbs Jr.
(N.Ill>Cincy xfer) competing for roles within the room ahead of the season. Then factor in Kamran James, and the Gators have multiple sophomores in the fold poised to contribute at a significant rate this season along the EDGE.
Well, like every new season, someone must step up for the unit to take a step forward, though there are multiple potential quality players poised to do just that when fall camp opens. (so no-worries-mates)
New 5-Star Alpha Team Leaders:
QB-dt DJ Lagway - ILB Myles Graham - EDGE 'F' LJ McCray
Some really nice Fr building blocks arrived in the 2024 class.
An in-depth look at the EDGE position ahead of fall camp
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