Countdown to Camp: Defensive Line

Senior Cece Jefferson will be given every opportunity (and put in literally every position on the defensive front) to become a playmaking star in 2018.

Countdown to Camp: Defensive Line

Sunday, July 29, 2018 | Football, Chris Harry

The fifth installment of our position-by-position look at the Gators heading toward the start of preseason practice Aug. 3.

By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer

Defensive Line

They're back: Cece Jefferson (6-1, 242, Senior); Khairi Clark (6-1, 315, R-Senior); Jabari Zuniga (6-3, 246, R-Junior); Jachai Polite (6-2, 260, Junior); Tedarrell Slaton (6-4, 358, Sophomore); Antonneous Clayton (6-2, 254, Junior); Luke Ancrum (6-5, 263, R-Junior); Elijah Conliffe (6-4, 317, Sophomore); Kyree Campbell (6-3, 305, Sophomore); Zachary Carter (6-4, 317, Sophomore).

Fresh faces: Malik Langham (6-6, 269, Freshman); Marlon Dunlap Jr. (6-3, 328, Junior); Adam Shuler II (6-4, 268, Graduate).

Fourth-year junior (and "freakish" athlete) Zabari Juniga (92) is expected to have a big season as a pass-rush specialist.

Overview: Of the three levels on defense, this is the deepest group. That's saying something at a program that brands itself "DBU," but figures to be the case as the Gators line up a rotation of (at least) 10 guys who could see quality game-day snaps without much dropoff. New defensive line coach Sal Sunseri has groomed some awfully good players during his 34 years on college and NFL sidelines, most notably with the Carolina Panthers when they reached

Super Bowl XXXVIII with Julius Peppers, Kris Jenkins, Brentson Bruckner and Mike Rucker up front. His time in the NFL (three other seasons in Oakland) and at places likes Alabama and Florida State got the attention of the young men in the DL room, starting with Jefferson, who earlier this month was voted to the 2018 Preseason All-SEC first team at Media Days. Jefferson, who led the team in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (13.5) in '17, will not be assigned a position in the base 3-4 front, but rather be used in Defensive Coordinator Todd Grantham's "rush" spot, which on one three-down series could find Jefferson lined up (maybe even standing up) in three different positions. Jefferson, who suffered a torn labrum in the spring but is good to go for camp, is fired up about the prospects of building the front around his skill set. If Jefferson isn't making the big splash plays, it'll be Zuniga from his outside spot. Zuniga checked in on NFL.com's annual "freakish" athletes list at No. 3, thanks to his 7.9-percent body fat ("roughly what a typical fitness model reportedly carries"), his timed speeds in the shuttle and cone drills, a 9-11 broad jump, and 27 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. He's had a history of being banged up and did not make his first career start until the Georgia game last season, then finished the season second in sacks (4) and third in tackles for loss (8.0).

In Jefferson and Zuniga, with an offseason in UF's upgraded strength/conditioning program, the Gators have two guys with a chance at 10-sack and 20-TFL seasons. Inside, Clark is a fifth-year guy who can be counted to do everything right. Though a tad undersized, he is a reliable player at the nose position who can eat up blocks and allow teammates to clean up ballcarriers. Clark will rotate with Slaton, a prototypical nose for the 3-4. At nearly 360 pounds, with mobility and incredible strength (he squatted 550 this summer), Slaton could be a player along the lines of what Jenkins, a first-team All-Pro, meant to the Panthers under Sunseri; a guy who can split double teams with each arm and chase down the quarterback. Can he stay in shape? Can he rev the motor every play? If so, the Gators' next great defensive lineman may be about to break out. Another who falls in the high-ceiling category is Polite, who flashed at times throughout the first half of the season before an injury against Georgia finished his sophomore year. Though also somewhat undersized, he's fast, plays low and will bring it every snap. The depth will be rounded out with Ancrum, Conliffe, Carter, Campbell and, if necessary, a true freshman that might leap into the conversation.Throw Shuler into the latter mix, as well. He grad-transferred in from West Virginia in time for Summer "B," so the Gators don't know much about him other than what they've seen on tape. And his tape with the Mountaineers, by the way, was pretty good: 10 starts last season, 37 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss and three sacks.

Fifth-year senior Khairi Clark is by far the unit's most experienced nose tackle with 42 games and 15 starts, including all 11 in 2017.

If season started today: The Gators' best, most consistent three guys to run out there on defense would be Jefferson and Zuniga on the outside, with Clark, as the veteran leader, on the inside (but with Slaton at the ready).

Speculation: Though everyone talks about the Gators playing a base three-man front, Grantham figures to constantly switch up the defensive looks. Don't be surprised to see a heaping helping of four-man fronts, an occasional five, and (with all these live athletic bodies), maybe, just maybe a sixth. And with regard to Shuler, the kid represents a bonus. We'll know a lot more about him in the coming camp weeks.

Up next: Linebackers

The Series
Part 1: Quarterbacks
Part 2: Running backs
Part 3: Receivers
Part 4: Offensive line