Florida head coach Jim McElwain is set to appear at SEC Football Media Days on Monday. (File photo)
Gators Sharpe, Davis and Maye to Join McElwain at SEC Media Days
Wednesday, July 6, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter
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Florida's contingent appears at the event on Monday in Hoover, Ala.
By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 2016 SEC Football Media Days start Monday and Gators head coach Jim McElwain will be joined by linebacker Jarrad Davis, defensive back Marcus Maye and offensive lineman David Sharpe.
The SEC office on Wednesday announced the full list of players attending the four-day media festival, which runs Monday through Thursday in Hoover, Ala. The Gators will attend the event Monday along with Auburn and Vanderbilt.
The Gators return to Media Days as the defending SEC East champions for the first time in six years. In McElwain's first season, the Gators finished 10-4 and advanced to the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta, where they lost to SEC West champion Alabama.
As McElwain enters his second season, Florida's most experienced starter on the offensive line is the 6-foot-6, 347-pound Sharpe, who started 13 games as a sophomore and is projected to start at left tackle. Gators offensive lineman David Sharpe. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA)
Sharpe drew praise from McElwain throughout spring camp for his development since the end of last season.
"David Sharpe stepped up his leadership and his work day-to-day in practices," McElwain said after the Orange & Blue Debut. "He's become a true leader. It's good to see."
Meanwhile, a pair of veteran defensive stalwarts will join Sharpe.
Davis blossomed into one of the SEC's top linebackers a season ago and opted to return for his senior season. He will be relied on for some of the leadership lost by linebacker Antonio Morrison from a season ago.
Davis finished second on the team last season with 98 tackles, including 11 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks. McElwain credited Davis with taking over as a key team leader as soon as last season ended. He was named to Bednarik Award Watch List earlier this week, as was Maye and junior cornerback Jalen Tabor.
Maye, like Davis, had the best season of his career in 2015, earning First Team All-American honors from USA Today and Pro Football Focus. A fifth-year senior, Maye had 82 tackles and forced five fumbles a year ago, which ranked second in the country.
"Marcus Maye coming back, that was huge,'' McElwain said.
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