Gardner Emerges as Key Piece to DBU's Future

Outback Bowl MVP holds a souvenir from Monday's win. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)

Gardner Emerges as Key Piece to DBU's Future

Thursday, January 5, 2017 | Football, Scott Carter

The freshman safety did not surprise his high school coach during his first season with the Gators.

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Cocoa High football coach John Wilkinson, who graduated from UF in 1992, was tuned into the Outback Bowl on Monday to see if the Gators could cap the season with a victory over Iowa.

Early in the fourth quarter Wilkinson's phone rang. The call was from Delatron Johnson, mother of Gators freshman defensive back Chauncey Gardner.

"I could hear the crowd,'' Wilkinson said.

He could hear Johnson's voice, too.

"Are you watching?" she yelled. "Heck yeah, I'm watching. It was awesome. We talked for a minute. All of a sudden you get a second one a little while later."

Wilkinson has known Gardner and his family for several years, even before the Outback Bowl MVP joined Cocoa High's team as a freshman and immediately started for the Tigers.

Gardner became the first player in school history to start every game from his freshman season to his senior season according to Wilkinson. It was a no-brainer.

"I just knew right way. The speed is what stuck out,'' Wilkinson said. "We play a lot of good teams around the country and he didn't bat an eye or wasn't nervous or anything. He's just got that 'it' factor."

Not much changed for Gardner in his first season at Florida. While the 5-foot-11, 204-pound Gardner didn't start from day one with teammates such as Teez Tabor, Quincy Wilson, Marcus Maye, Duke Dawson, Marcell Harris and Nick Washington ahead of him on the depth chart, he played in every game.

And when Washington went down with an ankle injury late in the season, Gardner started the final three games and made his case as one of the best young players on the team. Gardner was at his best on Monday, picking off a pair of passes by Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard.

DBU: A look at other notable Florida defensive backs as true freshmen in recent years:

PLAYER	SEASON	STATS
Chauncey Gardner	2016	13 G, 3 GS, 32 tackles, 3 INT, 1 TD, 3 PBUs
Teez Tabor	2014	12 G, 5 GS, 31 tackles, 2 sacks, 8 PBUs, 1 INT
Quincy Wilson	2014	12 G, 2 GS, 22 tackles, 4 PBUs, 1 INT
Vernon Hargreaves III	2013	12 G, 10 GS, 38 tackles, 11 PBUs, 3 INT
Keanu Neal	2013	12 G, 0 GS, 5 tackles
Loucheiz Purifoy	2011	13 G, 0 GS, 27 tackles, 1 forced fumble
Marcus Roberson	2011	10 G, 10 GS, 22 tackles 1 INT, 2 PBUs
Matt Elam	2010	13 G, 0 GS, 22 tackles, 1 sack, 1 PBU

Gardner returned the first one 58 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, prompting his mother to give his high school coach a ring.

"He did what he does,'' Harris said. "That's how you make plays."

Gardner had another interception minutes later and returned it 30 yards to Iowa's 7. By that time, the Gators were close to celebrating a 30-3 victory over the Hawkeyes and Gardner had clinched the game's MVP award.

Gardner joined two-way standout Dave Hudson (1958 Gator Bowl), Tony Lilly (1983 Gator) and Ahmad Black (2011 Outback) as the only UF defensive backs to be named bowl MVP.

His breakout performance provided a lift for a defense that is losing several key players. Gardner finished the season with 32 tackles, three interceptions and three pass break-ups to establish himself as a future leader in the secondary.

"It's just another step of getting better and improving as a player,'' Gardner said. "I loved my first season. I love being part of the Gator program. I learned a lot from the older guys."

"He's got a lot of talent, a lot of potential,'' senior defensive lineman Joey Ivie said.

Gators head coach Jim McElwain praised the effort of Gardner and several of the young players who stepped up Monday. In their first career starts, freshman linebacker Vosean Joseph had six tackles and walk-on linebacker Cristian Garcia had five. Garcia also played a role in defending the Iowa receiver that led to a deflected pass and Gardner's pick-six.

"Chauncey is a heck of a player,'' McElwain said. "If he'd slow down and listen every now and then, he'd make those plays more often, and he knows I'm saying that because I love him. He was part of that recruiting class that jumped in here, came in here early, and you know what, made a huge difference."

Wilkinson has traded a few messages with Gardner since the game. Gardner is already talking about next season, which isn't a surprise to Wilkinson.

Neither was what he did in the Outback Bowl.

"I knew he had all the skills, the speed and all the ball skills coming out of high school,'' Wilkinson said. "It's a big jump, especially from high school to the SEC. It took a little time but I always knew he had it in him."