Cornerbacks Quincy Wilson, left, and Teez Tabor are a special duo. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
An Orange and Blue Dynamic Duo: Tabor and Wilson
Saturday, October 15, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter
Florida cornerbacks Teez Tabor and Quincy Wilson are shining bright this season.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida defense barely had time to sit down on the bench before it was time to go back onto the field.
After a sixth consecutive three-and-out for the Missouri offense, on the second play of the ensuing drive, Gators quarterback Luke Del Rio threw an interception.
Junior cornerback Teez Tabor quickly strapped on his helmet and reported back for duty. Tabor, who studies as much film as perhaps any player on the roster, intercepted a Drew Lock pass at Missouri last season and returned it for a touchdown.
But as Missouri lined up on first down at its 37-yard line in a six-point game, Tabor's mind didn't flash back to last season. Instead, he noticed the Tigers' one-back alignment and recalled a similar play he recently was beaten on at practice.
Tabor was lined up across from Missouri tight end Sean Culkin, who was spread wide. Freshman running back Damarea Crockett flanked Lock in the backfield.
"I always remember plays I get beat on in practice,'' Tabor said. "I saw the same formation. The back was a little bit wider. I said, 'OK, just remember on that play in practice, if I sink back a little bit, he's going to think he's got the running back wide open. I'm just going to sit there and he's going to throw it right to me.
"I'm thinking this before the play even started."
As Culkin released from the line, Tabor dropped a couple of steps and let him run free up the field. Crockett did exactly as Tabor expected. He popped from the backfield and into the flat toward the sideline.
Lock's throw never had a chance.
With Crockett still in his route and his back to the quarterback, Lock's pass was thrown right to Tabor, who raced 39 yards for a touchdown, his third career interception for a score.
"Once he sees you back up a little bit, he's thinking probably Cover 3, not Cover 2,'' Tabor said. "He thinks you are going to chase the receiver, so he thinks the running back is going to be wide open."
Tabor's pick was the defining play in Florida's 40-14 homecoming win over Missouri on Saturday, igniting the crowd and equally important, igniting fellow cornerback Quincy Wilson.
"I think Quincy was jealous," Gators head coach Jim McElwain said. "They feed off each other."
Both juniors, Tabor and Wilson are arguably the nation's top cornerback duo. Good luck on winning the argument that they're not based on how they are playing. Both are potential first-round picks in next year's NFL Draft.
"To have one first-round corner, that's special,'' UF quarterback Luke Del Rio said. "To have two, that's unheard of."
Leading 13-0 following Tabor's interception, it was Wilson's turn to pad Florida's lead. With the Tigers driving and at UF's 32, Lock's third-and-7 pass was intercepted by Wilson and returned 78 yards for a score.
In a matter 2 minutes, 11 seconds, Florida's 6-0 lead ballooned to 20-0 thanks to the dynamic duo. It marked the first time in 22 years the Gators returned two interceptions for touchdowns in an SEC game (1994 against Georgia).
"They've got to be really careful what they do with the ball in the air,'' Wilson said of opponents. "Jalen only had one pass thrown his way and it went the other way. With mine it went the other way. It's hard to throw on our defense."
Wilson and Tabor arrived at Florida in 2014 and joined a very talented secondary. Three of their former teammates – Brian Poole, Vernon Hargreaves III and Keanu Neal – are NFL rookies. Hargreaves and Neal were first-round picks.
And similar to last season, when Hargreaves was the most hyped player among the group but was often outplayed or matched by Tabor, Wilson is right there beside Tabor this season.
A dream team for the Gators, a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
"When you got two great corners like that, they've got to pick one side of the field,'' McElwain said. "Pick your poison."
Tabor and Wilson didn't bond immediately. As freshmen vying for playing time, their relationship was frosty at times. Soon, they realized they could make each other better through competition at practice. Eventually, a friendship developed.
Teammates joke you can't see one without the other nearby.
"We thrive on competition,'' Tabor said.
"We are competitors and push each other every chance we get,'' Wilson said.
Florida has 10 interceptions in six games, with Tabor (four) and Wilson (three) accounting for 70 percent of that total. In fact, when one gets a pick, the other usually follows.
"That's been the story of the whole season,'' Tabor said. "Kentucky, he got one and I had to get one. Tennessee, he got one and I had get one. Today, I got one and he had to get one."
Defensive lineman Cece Jefferson wasn't about to tackle a question about which one he views as the better player.
"Both of those guys are great players,'' Jefferson said. "It's like if one does something spectacular, the other is guaranteed to do something spectacular. You all have to judge that. I'm just happy to have them behind me. They are both going to be wealthy."
They made the Gators wealthy on Saturday.
Jefferson smiled. He knows what the Gators have. A dynamic duo in orange and blue.
Two passes. Two interceptions. Two touchdowns. A close game turned into a rout.
"It definitely changed the momentum,'' he said. "We were just rolling from there."
After a sixth consecutive three-and-out for the Missouri offense, on the second play of the ensuing drive, Gators quarterback Luke Del Rio threw an interception.
Junior cornerback Teez Tabor quickly strapped on his helmet and reported back for duty. Tabor, who studies as much film as perhaps any player on the roster, intercepted a Drew Lock pass at Missouri last season and returned it for a touchdown.
But as Missouri lined up on first down at its 37-yard line in a six-point game, Tabor's mind didn't flash back to last season. Instead, he noticed the Tigers' one-back alignment and recalled a similar play he recently was beaten on at practice.
Tabor was lined up across from Missouri tight end Sean Culkin, who was spread wide. Freshman running back Damarea Crockett flanked Lock in the backfield.
"I always remember plays I get beat on in practice,'' Tabor said. "I saw the same formation. The back was a little bit wider. I said, 'OK, just remember on that play in practice, if I sink back a little bit, he's going to think he's got the running back wide open. I'm just going to sit there and he's going to throw it right to me.
"I'm thinking this before the play even started."
As Culkin released from the line, Tabor dropped a couple of steps and let him run free up the field. Crockett did exactly as Tabor expected. He popped from the backfield and into the flat toward the sideline.
Lock's throw never had a chance.
With Crockett still in his route and his back to the quarterback, Lock's pass was thrown right to Tabor, who raced 39 yards for a touchdown, his third career interception for a score.
"Once he sees you back up a little bit, he's thinking probably Cover 3, not Cover 2,'' Tabor said. "He thinks you are going to chase the receiver, so he thinks the running back is going to be wide open."
Tabor's pick was the defining play in Florida's 40-14 homecoming win over Missouri on Saturday, igniting the crowd and equally important, igniting fellow cornerback Quincy Wilson.
"I think Quincy was jealous," Gators head coach Jim McElwain said. "They feed off each other."
Both juniors, Tabor and Wilson are arguably the nation's top cornerback duo. Good luck on winning the argument that they're not based on how they are playing. Both are potential first-round picks in next year's NFL Draft.
"To have one first-round corner, that's special,'' UF quarterback Luke Del Rio said. "To have two, that's unheard of."
Leading 13-0 following Tabor's interception, it was Wilson's turn to pad Florida's lead. With the Tigers driving and at UF's 32, Lock's third-and-7 pass was intercepted by Wilson and returned 78 yards for a score.
In a matter 2 minutes, 11 seconds, Florida's 6-0 lead ballooned to 20-0 thanks to the dynamic duo. It marked the first time in 22 years the Gators returned two interceptions for touchdowns in an SEC game (1994 against Georgia).
"They've got to be really careful what they do with the ball in the air,'' Wilson said of opponents. "Jalen only had one pass thrown his way and it went the other way. With mine it went the other way. It's hard to throw on our defense."
Wilson and Tabor arrived at Florida in 2014 and joined a very talented secondary. Three of their former teammates – Brian Poole, Vernon Hargreaves III and Keanu Neal – are NFL rookies. Hargreaves and Neal were first-round picks.
And similar to last season, when Hargreaves was the most hyped player among the group but was often outplayed or matched by Tabor, Wilson is right there beside Tabor this season.
A dream team for the Gators, a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
"When you got two great corners like that, they've got to pick one side of the field,'' McElwain said. "Pick your poison."
Tabor and Wilson didn't bond immediately. As freshmen vying for playing time, their relationship was frosty at times. Soon, they realized they could make each other better through competition at practice. Eventually, a friendship developed.
Teammates joke you can't see one without the other nearby.
"We thrive on competition,'' Tabor said.
"We are competitors and push each other every chance we get,'' Wilson said.
Florida has 10 interceptions in six games, with Tabor (four) and Wilson (three) accounting for 70 percent of that total. In fact, when one gets a pick, the other usually follows.
"That's been the story of the whole season,'' Tabor said. "Kentucky, he got one and I had to get one. Tennessee, he got one and I had get one. Today, I got one and he had to get one."
Defensive lineman Cece Jefferson wasn't about to tackle a question about which one he views as the better player.
"Both of those guys are great players,'' Jefferson said. "It's like if one does something spectacular, the other is guaranteed to do something spectacular. You all have to judge that. I'm just happy to have them behind me. They are both going to be wealthy."
They made the Gators wealthy on Saturday.
Jefferson smiled. He knows what the Gators have. A dynamic duo in orange and blue.
Two passes. Two interceptions. Two touchdowns. A close game turned into a rout.
"It definitely changed the momentum,'' he said. "We were just rolling from there."
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ FootballFlorida Football | Interim Head Coach Billy Gonzales Press Conference | Kentucky
Monday, November 10
Florida Football | Myles Graham Press Conference | Kentucky
Monday, November 10
Florida Softball | Townsen Thomas UNREAL Catch 🤯
Saturday, November 08
Florida Men's Basketball | Todd Golden on Hanging 2025 National Championship Banner
Saturday, November 08
