Carter's Corner: Putu Crossed Paths with North Texas
Saturday, September 17, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter
The junior-college transfer has played in both games for the Gators.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Defensive back Joseph Putu's tumultous odyssey to Florida almost didn't happen.
If you don't know Putu's backstory, Zach Albolverdi of SECCountry.com documented many of the obstacles Putu has faced in this story over the summer.
But the near-detour focused on here involves North Texas, the Gators' opponent tonight at the Swamp. There was a time earlier this year when Putu expected to be playing for the Mean Green along with a pair of teammates from last season at North Dakota State College of Science.
Instead, Putu ended up at Florida, E.J. Ejiya at North Texas, and Darren Kelley at North Dakota State University.
"North Texas was my first big offer,'' Putu said this week.
The first sign the teammates would not continue their college careers in Denton, Texas, surfaced when Kelley, a safety, was not offered a full scholarship. He looked elsewhere.
A linebacker, Ejiya is the only member of the trio to sign with the Mean Green. He has played in both games this season and recorded six tackles.
And then there is Putu, who was somewhat of a mystery until Arkansas offered him a scholarship. Other Power 5 schools jumped into the mix, and Florida defensive coordinator Geoff Collins got Putu to commit to Florida.
Putu's interest in North Texas centered on the Mean Green's defensive scheme, the same system he played in at NDSCS.
"They run the 4-2-5 defense. If I wasn't going to get any big offer, I was going to stay with that defense,'' he said. "My linebacker was good at it and I was good at it."
Putu never took a visit to North Texas once more prominent offers began to pour in. Still, he and Ejiya remain close.
"He hit me up on Snapchat [this week],'' Putu said. "He said, 'you know this Texas is coming, right?' I'm ready."
A 6-foot-2, 195-pound defensive back, Putu has played in both games. He has two tackles and continues to transition to major college football.
He realized how far he was from North Dakota right before the season opener.
"I remember the first time it hit me was when we were by the Gator Head about to walk out and I heard all that noise,'' Putu said. "I tried my best not to look around. I just tried to focus on my assignments, but it was something I had dreamed of for a long time."
