Gators Notebook: Zuniga Sacks Hype, Zaire's Quick Feet, More Gators Tidbits
Thursday, August 3, 2017 | Football
The Gators opened preseason camp on Thursday with a freshman class that impressed head coach Jim McElwain.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida's linebacker corps and secondary are vastly different from last year and may have some growing pains. One unit that should not have a drop off is at defensive end.
The Gators return 14 of the 15 sacks at that position from a year ago, including the team-high five by sophomore Jabari Zuniga. Junior Cece Jefferson and Zuniga are listed on the preseason SEC second and third teams as one of the league's top young tandems.
More than once this preseason Zuniga's name has surfaced as a potential breakout player for the Gators in 2017. He seeks to build upon last year, when four of his sacks came against UMass and North Texas early in the season. Performing better in conference games will be necessary to take his game to the next level.
Zuniga said his most difficult adjustment to the college game was at the training table. He said by the end of the season he had dropped about 25 pounds and lost some of his muscle mass that helped him start fast. He spent the summer in Gainesville trying to add additional weight and muscle to avoid a similar drop once the season begins.
Zuniga is not concerned about the hype surrounding his name.
"Hype is just hype," he said. "You have to go out there and show up."
*****
Newcomer Malik Zaire was a huge hit with the pack of reporters who surrounded him for an hour on Wednesday at the Gators' annual media day. He shared his perspective on a few things:
-
"The team has bought into the idea that we could be the best offense in the country, so that is how we operate."
-
"For me, obviously, that [being the full-time starter] would be the number one thing in my mind to deem a successful season for me personally. How I view the team's success this year is nothing less than a national championship. I want to be a part of that, that is why I came here. I haven't been able to show everything like I've wanted to, but that's good because opponents don't know either."
-
"Being a left-handed quarterback and a black, left-handed quarterback at the University of Florida is not really too heard of, so being different and doing different things take me out my comfort zone, and when you step out of that comfort zone, that is what greatness is. I just feel like pressure is what you put in tires. I bring that passion. Urgency in a quarterback is the most important thing."
-
On McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier – "They are like the two-headed monster, it's like being a part of LeBron James and Dywane Wade. You just get a chance to be a part of the big three. They have a long history of great quarterbacks that they have been able to develop and put into championship positions. I want to be a championship quarterback. I feel like this team can go the distance in all 15 games. Each game is a playoff game for us."
Zaire made his debut on the practice field Thursday on the first day of preseason camp. Head coach Jim McElwain noticed something right away that he brings to the position.
"You know what, he does really have some good feet,'' McElwain said. "He's got some real good pocket awareness. When it did break down, or I shouldn't say as much break down as when the defense was not in their pass-rush lanes, he actually made them pay a little bit."
*****
The linebacker corps is missing two leaders in graduates Jarrad Davis and Alex Anzalone, but fortunately the Gators have younger players who saw a lot of action last year.
Sophomores Vosean Joseph and David Reese and redshirt sophomore Kylan Johnson will be the favorites to start.
"JD and Anzalone are gone, but they were young at one point where they were playing and they had to adjust,'' Johnson said. "I think we adjusted well and I think we are going to be good this year. Got nothing to worry about. They left with high standards and I think we are going to meet that."
McElwain said Johnson is versatile enough to play some nickel, which Johnson said he won't mind moving around.
"I'm just a ballplayer," he said. "Wherever they put me, I'm just going to do my best and try to be the best at that position."
After playing the nickel for the last couple of years, Duke Dawson will now have to move to the boundary. He does not think the move will be too big of a challenge.
"It's nothing new, I did it in high school," he said. "I know what I can do. Being prepared week in and week out. Just me being able to take all the coaching, trust my technique and believe in everyone around me as well."
*****
*****
QUOTE OF NOTE I
"We did pretty darned good in recruiting, guys. I really feel without naming guys that it was really a good-looking crew. I like the way that they hustled. I liked the way that they didn't get affected by the chaos that's created in our practice plan. If I were to kind of single out a group, those defensive backs look like they belong." – McElwain on how the freshmen performed on the first day of practice
*****
QUOTE OF NOTE II
"The cumulative rep count with each guy is actually a lot. I think that's good. And now you're able to grade every single one of them and see the production they're in. It doesn't matter what the drill is." – McElwain on rotation reps for the quarterbacks
******
QUOTE OF NOTE III
"That was one of the things I think I talked about, just trying to get longer, right, thicker, a little bigger. I think when you look at your schedule, um, you know, some of those teams that you have to beat. A wise man told me there's a reason lightweights don't fight heavyweights." – McElwain on improved size of freshman class
*****
EXTRA POINTS
Freshman OL T.J. Moore was the only player who was forced to leave practice Thursday due to medical issue when his back tightened up according to McElwain … Freshman ATH Kadarius Toney, who impressed in the Orange & Blue Game with his playmaking ability at quarterback, worked primarily at receiver Thursday … DE Jordan Sherit, OL Antonio Riles, OL Kavaris Harkless (leg) are among the players being limited at the start of camp … DB Marcell Harris (out for season), WR Rick Wells, LB Nick Smith and DB McArthur Burnett are unavailable at the start of camp due to injuries … And for the record, McElwain confirmed once more that freshman Tedarrell Slaton is playing on the defensive line. "I don't know how many times I'm going to answer this question: he's a defensive lineman. I don't see him playing nickel or corner, but there's a pretty good chance he'll be inside."
