Countdown to Camp: Linebackers

Junior inside linebacker David Reese led the team in tackles last season with 103 and become just the third UF player since 2007 to total at least 100 tackles in a season.

Countdown to Camp: Linebackers

Monday, July 30, 2018 | Football, Chris Harry

The sixth installment of our position-by-position look at the Gators heading toward the start of preseason practice Friday.

By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer

LINEBACKERS

They're back: David Reese II (6-1, 239, Junior); Jeremiah Moon (6-6, 228, R-Sophomore); Vosean Joseph (6-1, 227, Junior); Kylan Johnson (6-2, 236, R-Junior); Rayshad Jackson (6-0, 217, R-Junior); Jahim Lawrence (6-0, 224, R-Junior).

Fresh faces: Ventrell Miller (5-11, 222, R-Freshman); Nick Smith (6-1, 213, R-Freshman); James Houston IV (6-1, 226, R-Freshman); Lacedrick Brunson (6-1, 229, R-Freshman); Andrew Chatfield Jr. (6-2, 243, Freshman)

Long, lanky and athletic Jeremiah Moon will get a chance to make plays on the edge for the Gators.

Overview: It's not just this group that begins with Reese, it's the whole defense. Oh, for sure, guys like Cece Jefferson, Jabari Zuniga and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson are going to be serious playmakers this season, but Reese, the junior, figures to be the heart, soul and captain of a defense that will be light years ahead of the offense from

Day 1. Despite missing the entire 2017 offseason after undergoing surgery on both wrists, Reese returned to lead the team in tackles (102) and become just the third Gator since 2007 (joining Brandon Spikes and Antonio Morrison) to amass at least 100 tackles in a season. He's not just productive and tough, but accountable. He's the one who spoke up in the locker room and questioned the team's effort in that ugly loss at Missouri (following the firing of Coach Jim McElwain and installment of defensive coordinator Randy Shannon as interim coach), thus bolstering his cred with teammates. Reese has limitations, but he worked on his lateral speed and coverage during the offseason, and had the build of a soda machine at SEC Media Days earlier this month. He figures to pair alongside either Jackson or Johnson, both of whom got first-team reps in the spring, on the inside when the Gators line up in their base 3-4. On the outside, Moon is a player along the likes of Zuniga (long, rangy, athletic) and will

be moved around to take advantage of his best traits. NFL scouts like him as a hybrid type, but want to see Moon do his thing more consistently, especially after playing just two games as a freshman before missing the rest of the season due to injury, and fighting hamstring and ankle woes last season. Everyone remembers Joseph for his big hit in 2016 at LSU on quarterback Danny Etling (watch below). He's better against the run than pass, but is a hard worker and wants to be a more well-rounded player. Miller, as a true freshman last season, showed up with splash plays in scrimmages, but ended up getting suspended for the entire season. How will he respond? Smith, another second-year freshman, blew out his knee during camp last season. The rest of the core is young, unproven, unknown, and probably will be vying for special teams duties.

If the season started today: The inside spot alongside Reese (Jackson vs. Johnson) looms as one key position battles of camp. Both, however, will play a bunch. The outside spots are Moon's and Joseph's from the get. Because the group is so slight on overall experience, Johnson could be a guy who gets reps both inside and out. He's that good of an athlete, having played both quarterback and safety in high school.

Speculation: We've already mentioned in this series of stories that Grantham is not married to his 3-4. He's also not married to players and positions, per se. As such, Jefferson and Zuniga, a couple so-called defensive linemen, are guys who could be rolled into certain situations at outside linebacker.

Up next: Defensive backs

The Series
Part 1: Quarterbacks
Part 2: Running backs
Part 3: Receivers
Part 4: Offensive line
Part 5: Defensive line