Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The route Jonathan Greenard took to become a member of the Gators is a relatively new one – he entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal in search of an appealing option – but the reason is as old as skin and bone.

Greenard needed a fresh start.

Coming off a breakout season in 2017 at Louisville in which he led the Cardinals with 15.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks, Greenard envisioned more of the same when Louisville stepped onto the field for the season opener against No. 1-ranked Alabama last September.

"I don't know what it would have looked like," then-Cardinals defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder told the Louisville Courier-Journal late in the season, "but I was counting on him getting … 15, 16 sacks this year."

That was not in the cards.

By the time the first quarter of the season opener ended at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Alabama led by two touchdowns on the way to a 51-14 victory. Meanwhile, Greenard stood on the sideline with a soft cast on his right wrist after landing awkwardly trying to make a tackle.

A team captain, Greenard did not play another snap the rest of the season, a huge loss for a Louisville team that finished 2-10 and resulted in the firing of head coach Bobby Petrino. Once the season was over and Louisville cleaned house, Greenard decided to transfer for his final season of eligibility.

Once he enrolled at UF and began classes in January, Greenard was able to connect with a past acquaintance, Gators defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who recruited Greenard to Louisville and was the Cardinals' defensive coordinator in 2016 when they rose as high as No. 3 in the polls following a 63-20 dismantling of then-No. 2 Florida State. Greenard was a redshirt freshman getting his first playing time that season in Grantham's 3-4 defense.

"He definitely taught me a lot about the game when he was at Lousiville,'' said Greenard. "I came in as a raw talent and didn't really know too much about the game. He taught me the basics about college football and to tie it in on how to make plays. I got a lot of snaps under him while he was there. Basically, all his teachings, I carried them on throughout my time at Louisville. I'm glad to be here so that way we can put the finishing touches on it."
 
The addition of Greenard, a 6-foot-3, 263-pound outside linebacker/defensive end, could provide a jolt to a UF defense that lost defensive linemen Cece Jefferson and Jachai Polite and linebacker Vosean Joseph after last season.

He provides instant leadership and experience, and if he can stay healthy – Greenard said his right wrist he injured last season is getting stronger – he has the potential to become a force on the edge the way Louisville expected last season.

"You're talking about a guy that has shown that he can do it at this level and is going to be ready to go play when we kick off the season," Gators head coach Dan Mullen said. "That's really an important addition for us. [He] has played at an extremely high level, has been productive and can make an immediate impact."

Greenard is from Hiram, Ga., located about 30 miles northwest of Atlanta. A three-star recruit coming out of high school, Greenard was not heavily recruited but recalls a visit from Grantham prior to his senior year of high school that made an impression.

"After that, the rest is history,'' Greenard said. "I don't even think Florida recruited me coming out of high school. I wasn't the biggest. He seen something in me that most others didn't see. For me to miss a whole entire season, for him to even think about me, consider me to be in this position with this talent, in this conference, like I said, it's an opportunity I couldn't pass up."

Their connection grew from that initial encounter five years ago.

Greenard signed and redshirted his first season as part of a Cardinals recruiting class that included future NFL first-round pick Jaire Alexander (defensive back) and Heisman-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson. He developed into a solid contributor in 2016, Grantham's final season as Louisville's defensive coordinator. Grantham left to join Mullen at Mississippi State in 2017 and followed him to Florida last season.



Greenard's production blossomed in 2017 when he earned five starts and played in all 13 games. And then 2018 happened, forcing Greenard to sit and support his teammates the best he could during a disappointing season.

"After this past season, I wanted to graduate. I already knew what the situation was going to end up being, our coaches getting fired,'' he said. "Once I graduated and put my name in the portal I just started shopping elsewhere. Once I saw this opportunity present itself, it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. Any other school I probably wouldn't have went. I know [Coach Grantham's] system and can at least be comfortable in it and make plays."

Greenard was excited to return to the field when he got to UF and started offseason conditioning drills. He said most of his time last season was spent in the film room with his teammates and trying to encourage them as one of the captains the best he could.

It was a difficult period, but one Greenard said he is determined to use to help him with the Gators.

"I learned a lot more about the game,'' he said. "Everything is coming back to how I want it to be and I think it's going to be a good year for me. It's a program that I see is going to rise. We're not done."