Florida Gators
Tennessee
Gators DE Earl Okine could see more playing time after solid opener
Saturday, September 10, 2011 | Football, Women's Tennis, Scott Carter
The start of Earl Okine's redshirt junior season is off to a much better start than the end of his sophomore season.
With projected starter Sharrif Floyd sidelined for the first two games of the season, Okine received extra playing time at defensive end behind starter William Green in the Gators' 41-3 win over FAU in the season opener.
Okine finished with a career-high three tackles -- only two fewer than he recorded all last season playing primarily on special teams.
Okine missed the final game of the regular season and the Outback Bowl win over Penn State due to injuries. His performance in the season opener provided defensive coordinator Dan Quinn with hope that Okine can become a regular contributor on the defensive line.
The 6-foot-7 Okine, who played not too far from The Swamp at Gainesville High, is athletic enough for multiple roles in Quinn's system.
"As a tall guy, he's got length, and sometimes as a defensive lineman, especially as a two-gap defensive lineman, you look for a guy who has got length who can keep the blockers off him,'' Quinn said. "Earl's a tall guy, he played with good effort, and we feel like he's kind of developing in the system here to play both 3-4 and 4-3 [fronts]."
