John Huggins picked off a pass in the first quarter Saturday and returned it 80 yards for a touchdown. (Photo: Dakota Williams/UAA Communications)
Huggins Stood Out for Defense on a Day Offense Dominated
Saturday, April 13, 2019 | Football
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Most observers will focus on the Gators' offense following Saturday's Orange and Blue Game. After all, a game-record 95 points were scored. Quarterback Feleipe Franks threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns, and receiver Trevon Grimes set an Orange and Blue Game record with 195 yards.
There wasn't a ton of defense played. Both defenses featured a mixture of starters, talented newcomers and walk-ons, and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham kept pressures and coverages pretty simple.
The one highlight defensively came from sophomore defensive back John Huggins. On the Blue team's first possession, Huggins was matched up with senior receiver Freddie Swain on a second-and-6 from the Orange 22-yard line.
Swain ran an out-route into the far side of the field. Huggins said he's seen the play in practice before, and he knew it was coming. Normally, the quarterbacks don't throw to Swain on the play. This time, Kyle Trask tried to zip it across the field. Huggins jumped the route, intercepted the pass and raced 80 yards untouched for a touchdown.
"Made a great break on the ball on the pick-six," head coach Dan Mullen said. "Great athletic ability as a young player coming in last year. You want to see him now understanding the defense and getting a role, getting comfortable at playing the nickel position and getting those reps and being able to play at a higher level."
Huggins splashed in his first game as a Gator in 2018, intercepting a pass in the season opener. He only played in seven more games, primarily on special teams, and recorded just three tackles.
He played safety in 2018 but moved to the "star" position -- UF's version of the nickelback -- this spring as the Gators seek to replace Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.
The transition appears to have gone smoothly, as he stood out throughout spring practices, and his name was mentioned a bunch by players and the media as an emerging force to watch in UF's secondary. Huggins covers like a cornerback and hits hard like a safety, making him an ideal nickel.
"It's big for me, just letting the coaches know I can play," Huggins said. "I can solidify myself here at the University of Florida, at DBU. It's just a great feeling."
Huggins said the star position better fits his skill-set because it allows him to play closer to the line of scrimmage and use his physicality to disrupt receivers.
"I like jamming at the line of scrimmage," he said. "I like playing man. It's really a lot of one-on-one, and I like that. I like that responsibility."
He said his improvement this year mainly has to do with his attitude in practice.
"Last year, in the fall, I usually got a little down on myself because there was a lot of guys ahead of me," he said. "Just really keeping a positive mindset and just keep working and keep getting better and just keep working on my craft."
As a slot receiver, Swain goes against Huggins in practice a lot. He said Huggins' increased confidence is noticeable.
"He's figuring out what he has to do and why he needs to do it," Swain said. "He understands he's not playing by himself. He's playing with 10 more guys."
Huggins could carve out a role for himself come fall. Fellow sophomore Trey Dean III played "star" for the Blue squad and is the favorite to be the starter this season. However, Dean can also play cornerback and safety. So, if Huggins keeps producing, Grantham could move Dean around to find playing time for Huggins.
In a day filled with offense and surprise appearances by Gator Greats, Huggins' play is certain to get overlooked. However, he might've been the most important development on Saturday.
Florida struggled to cover athletic, play-making tight ends in 2018, and Huggins has the physical tools to fill this deficiency. As the Gators enter the long summer months, Huggins said he still has a lot to work on as he adjusts to his new position.
"Keeping my eyes on the near hip of the receivers and deep routes and stuff like that," he said. "Really just learning new formations and types of coverages and all that."
Florida's had a run of great nickelbacks in recent years, such as Brian Poole, Duke Dawson and Gardner-Johnson. None were star players early in their careers, but they improved and became dependable as upperclassmen. It's way-too-early, but Huggins looks like he might follow their trajectory.
"Once he figures it out all the way – 'Why I should be in this zone or why I should be man-to-man like this?' – he's going to be a pretty good player," Swain said.
There wasn't a ton of defense played. Both defenses featured a mixture of starters, talented newcomers and walk-ons, and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham kept pressures and coverages pretty simple.
The one highlight defensively came from sophomore defensive back John Huggins. On the Blue team's first possession, Huggins was matched up with senior receiver Freddie Swain on a second-and-6 from the Orange 22-yard line.
Swain ran an out-route into the far side of the field. Huggins said he's seen the play in practice before, and he knew it was coming. Normally, the quarterbacks don't throw to Swain on the play. This time, Kyle Trask tried to zip it across the field. Huggins jumped the route, intercepted the pass and raced 80 yards untouched for a touchdown.
"Made a great break on the ball on the pick-six," head coach Dan Mullen said. "Great athletic ability as a young player coming in last year. You want to see him now understanding the defense and getting a role, getting comfortable at playing the nickel position and getting those reps and being able to play at a higher level."
Huggins splashed in his first game as a Gator in 2018, intercepting a pass in the season opener. He only played in seven more games, primarily on special teams, and recorded just three tackles.
* a wild @jhuggins_23 appeared *#ToTheHouse 🐊 #RelentlessEffort pic.twitter.com/jjre0wzm2j
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) April 13, 2019
He played safety in 2018 but moved to the "star" position -- UF's version of the nickelback -- this spring as the Gators seek to replace Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.
The transition appears to have gone smoothly, as he stood out throughout spring practices, and his name was mentioned a bunch by players and the media as an emerging force to watch in UF's secondary. Huggins covers like a cornerback and hits hard like a safety, making him an ideal nickel.
"It's big for me, just letting the coaches know I can play," Huggins said. "I can solidify myself here at the University of Florida, at DBU. It's just a great feeling."
Huggins said the star position better fits his skill-set because it allows him to play closer to the line of scrimmage and use his physicality to disrupt receivers.
"I like jamming at the line of scrimmage," he said. "I like playing man. It's really a lot of one-on-one, and I like that. I like that responsibility."
He said his improvement this year mainly has to do with his attitude in practice.
"Last year, in the fall, I usually got a little down on myself because there was a lot of guys ahead of me," he said. "Just really keeping a positive mindset and just keep working and keep getting better and just keep working on my craft."
As a slot receiver, Swain goes against Huggins in practice a lot. He said Huggins' increased confidence is noticeable.
"He's figuring out what he has to do and why he needs to do it," Swain said. "He understands he's not playing by himself. He's playing with 10 more guys."
Huggins could carve out a role for himself come fall. Fellow sophomore Trey Dean III played "star" for the Blue squad and is the favorite to be the starter this season. However, Dean can also play cornerback and safety. So, if Huggins keeps producing, Grantham could move Dean around to find playing time for Huggins.
In a day filled with offense and surprise appearances by Gator Greats, Huggins' play is certain to get overlooked. However, he might've been the most important development on Saturday.
Florida struggled to cover athletic, play-making tight ends in 2018, and Huggins has the physical tools to fill this deficiency. As the Gators enter the long summer months, Huggins said he still has a lot to work on as he adjusts to his new position.
"Keeping my eyes on the near hip of the receivers and deep routes and stuff like that," he said. "Really just learning new formations and types of coverages and all that."
Florida's had a run of great nickelbacks in recent years, such as Brian Poole, Duke Dawson and Gardner-Johnson. None were star players early in their careers, but they improved and became dependable as upperclassmen. It's way-too-early, but Huggins looks like he might follow their trajectory.
"Once he figures it out all the way – 'Why I should be in this zone or why I should be man-to-man like this?' – he's going to be a pretty good player," Swain said.
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