Lamical Perine has rushed for more than 1,800 yards in his three seasons. (Photo: Carla Kakouris/UAA Communications)
SEC Media Days: Lamical Perine Q&A
Monday, July 15, 2019 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – If there was a single tipping point, it was that Lamical Perine sought more of the same.
That's why when Gators head coach Dan Mullen, defensive end Jabari Zuniga and quarterback Feleipe Franks arrive at the SEC Football Media Days on Monday, Perine will join them instead of preparing for an NFL training camp somewhere far from Hoover, Ala.
As Perine contemplated his decision to return for his senior year, his thoughts often flashed back to the celebration inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta following Florida's victory over Michigan in late December.
Perine had envisioned such moments, but reality had been an unwilling participant for much of Perine's first two years. But that all changed in 2018 as the Gators finished 10-3 in Mullen's first season and Perine played a starring role, leading the team in rushing for the second consecutive season despite playing behind starter Jordan Scarlett.
In putting an exclamation point on the season, the Gators hammered the Wolverines with plenty of help from Perine, who caught a touchdown pass and broke off a 53-yard scoring run. Perine considers the victory the highlight of his UF career.
"That felt really good," he said. "I didn't have nothing on my mind. I was just happy. I haven't ever been that happy just winning a game and having that experience, just knowing everything I've been through since I've been here. I fought through a lot of obstacles and things like that. I felt like, honestly, all that hard work and things I had done in the offseason, it had really paid off."
Soon afterward, Perine announced his intention to return to school and chase more meaningful wins with the Gators. He'll do so as the primary tailback in a backfield that also features Malik Davis and Dameon Pierce. Perine enters his senior season with an opportunity to become the first Gators running back to lead the team in rushing for three consecutive seasons since Errict Rhett did it four years in a row from 1990-93. Quarterback Tim Tebow is the last UF player to accomplish the feat from 2007-09.
Perine's versatility is a core weapon for Mullen's offense, which drew praise a season ago for its creativity and ability to maximize the skill sets of individual players at opportune times.
For Perine, the play calls added up to 826 yards rushing and seven touchdowns, plus 13 receptions. His most important reception was the 5-yard touchdown catch against Michigan that launched the Gators on their second-half runaway over the Wolverines.
Here is our Q&A with Perine:
Q: What was your reaction to being selected to come to SEC Media Days?
A: It's just an honor. I've been a Gators fan since I was 11 years old. It's just a great opportunity to be kind of like the face of the program, going and doing something like this.
Q: What about the chance to do it in your home state?
A: I'm from Mobile, but at the same time, it's [Hoover] still Alabama. I'm kind of familiar with it. It's going to be a great experience for me.
Q: What's your mindset with preseason camp approaching?
A: Things rolling around real fast. I remember my first time coming in, being a freshman and not knowing what to expect, and now it's just crazy going into my last camp. It's crazy. I'm just taking everything in and want to enjoy every moment. I'm just having fun and doing what I love.
Q: What is a specific task you hope to accomplish in camp?
A: Really, just being a leader for my team. When I came back, I felt like I had more in the tank and I felt I had more to give to my teammates. I feel like I can be a big playmaker for this team as well. I felt like the NFL is going to be there, so I'm not going to rush anything. I put everything in God's hands when I made the decision. When I made my decision to come back, it's probably one of the best decisions I could have made.
Q: How would you describe the mood around the team?
A: I know these coaches, they are trying their hardest to make sure that they live up to this Gator Standard, which is a real tradition around here. Winning games is the number one thing, honestly, and just keep that going, seeing the older guys come back and winning games for those guys. They can't live out their dreams so they living it through us.
Q: When you look in the mirror now and think back to the person you were when you got here, what comes to mind?
A: I matured a whole lot, honestly. Not knowing what to expect, if you had told me I'm going to be in the shoes I'm in right now, I wouldn't have believed it. I came in and there were five or six running backs ahead of me. I was just trying to learn plays. It's just a wonder how things turn out. I've done had two head coaches. I've done had three position coaches. A lot of things I didn't expect and I didn't know if I could handle at a young age, but now that I'm a little more mature and going into my senior year, it's things like that that motivate me to go harder and know that I've still got more to give.
Q: What did you learn about your role in the offense under Mullen a year ago?
A: Coach Mullen is a great coach and I say that all the time. He is a great offensive-minded coach and he is always trying to put people in the right position to do good. That's really what it was. He can throw me at receiver sometimes and I can just make a play from the ability I have to catch the ball. He can throw me in a lot of situations. I feel like he increased my game and my ability to do more things just because of the offense he brings.
Q: As a play-caller, what did you think was Mullen's best call last season?
A: We've got so many plays, but to the point, honestly, I'd probably say the game-winning drive when we was playing LSU. That was probably the biggest drive I've been through since I've been at Florida. It was intense, man. He was calling a lot of great plays. I'd probably say when Lucas Krull threw the ball to Feleipe. That was a big play.
Q: What would having a 1,000-yard season mean to you?
A: Honestly, if I get 1,000 yards, that would be great. But man, as long as I'm winning, I don't care about 1,000 yards. If it comes, it comes. I want to win. Winning games, man, that feels way better than having 1,000 yards and losing. I can have 400, 500, 600 yards whatever, I just want to win games. We've got a great talented room so anybody can go out there and do what they can do. Everybody is going to get their opportunity. That's what [running backs] coach [Greg] Knox does.
That's why when Gators head coach Dan Mullen, defensive end Jabari Zuniga and quarterback Feleipe Franks arrive at the SEC Football Media Days on Monday, Perine will join them instead of preparing for an NFL training camp somewhere far from Hoover, Ala.
As Perine contemplated his decision to return for his senior year, his thoughts often flashed back to the celebration inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta following Florida's victory over Michigan in late December.
.@CoachDanMullen, @18franks, @LP_deucedeuce & @JabariZuniga will be in Hoover, Ala. for #SECMD19 on Monday, July 15.
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) July 13, 2019
Details: https://t.co/U9Dc22rXZa #GoGators
Perine had envisioned such moments, but reality had been an unwilling participant for much of Perine's first two years. But that all changed in 2018 as the Gators finished 10-3 in Mullen's first season and Perine played a starring role, leading the team in rushing for the second consecutive season despite playing behind starter Jordan Scarlett.
In putting an exclamation point on the season, the Gators hammered the Wolverines with plenty of help from Perine, who caught a touchdown pass and broke off a 53-yard scoring run. Perine considers the victory the highlight of his UF career.
"That felt really good," he said. "I didn't have nothing on my mind. I was just happy. I haven't ever been that happy just winning a game and having that experience, just knowing everything I've been through since I've been here. I fought through a lot of obstacles and things like that. I felt like, honestly, all that hard work and things I had done in the offseason, it had really paid off."
Soon afterward, Perine announced his intention to return to school and chase more meaningful wins with the Gators. He'll do so as the primary tailback in a backfield that also features Malik Davis and Dameon Pierce. Perine enters his senior season with an opportunity to become the first Gators running back to lead the team in rushing for three consecutive seasons since Errict Rhett did it four years in a row from 1990-93. Quarterback Tim Tebow is the last UF player to accomplish the feat from 2007-09.
Perine's versatility is a core weapon for Mullen's offense, which drew praise a season ago for its creativity and ability to maximize the skill sets of individual players at opportune times.
For Perine, the play calls added up to 826 yards rushing and seven touchdowns, plus 13 receptions. His most important reception was the 5-yard touchdown catch against Michigan that launched the Gators on their second-half runaway over the Wolverines.
Here is our Q&A with Perine:
Q: What was your reaction to being selected to come to SEC Media Days?
A: It's just an honor. I've been a Gators fan since I was 11 years old. It's just a great opportunity to be kind of like the face of the program, going and doing something like this.
Q: What about the chance to do it in your home state?
A: I'm from Mobile, but at the same time, it's [Hoover] still Alabama. I'm kind of familiar with it. It's going to be a great experience for me.
Q: What's your mindset with preseason camp approaching?
A: Things rolling around real fast. I remember my first time coming in, being a freshman and not knowing what to expect, and now it's just crazy going into my last camp. It's crazy. I'm just taking everything in and want to enjoy every moment. I'm just having fun and doing what I love.
Q: What is a specific task you hope to accomplish in camp?
A: Really, just being a leader for my team. When I came back, I felt like I had more in the tank and I felt I had more to give to my teammates. I feel like I can be a big playmaker for this team as well. I felt like the NFL is going to be there, so I'm not going to rush anything. I put everything in God's hands when I made the decision. When I made my decision to come back, it's probably one of the best decisions I could have made.
Q: How would you describe the mood around the team?
A: I know these coaches, they are trying their hardest to make sure that they live up to this Gator Standard, which is a real tradition around here. Winning games is the number one thing, honestly, and just keep that going, seeing the older guys come back and winning games for those guys. They can't live out their dreams so they living it through us.
Q: When you look in the mirror now and think back to the person you were when you got here, what comes to mind?
A: I matured a whole lot, honestly. Not knowing what to expect, if you had told me I'm going to be in the shoes I'm in right now, I wouldn't have believed it. I came in and there were five or six running backs ahead of me. I was just trying to learn plays. It's just a wonder how things turn out. I've done had two head coaches. I've done had three position coaches. A lot of things I didn't expect and I didn't know if I could handle at a young age, but now that I'm a little more mature and going into my senior year, it's things like that that motivate me to go harder and know that I've still got more to give.
Q: What did you learn about your role in the offense under Mullen a year ago?
A: Coach Mullen is a great coach and I say that all the time. He is a great offensive-minded coach and he is always trying to put people in the right position to do good. That's really what it was. He can throw me at receiver sometimes and I can just make a play from the ability I have to catch the ball. He can throw me in a lot of situations. I feel like he increased my game and my ability to do more things just because of the offense he brings.
Q: As a play-caller, what did you think was Mullen's best call last season?
A: We've got so many plays, but to the point, honestly, I'd probably say the game-winning drive when we was playing LSU. That was probably the biggest drive I've been through since I've been at Florida. It was intense, man. He was calling a lot of great plays. I'd probably say when Lucas Krull threw the ball to Feleipe. That was a big play.
Q: What would having a 1,000-yard season mean to you?
A: Honestly, if I get 1,000 yards, that would be great. But man, as long as I'm winning, I don't care about 1,000 yards. If it comes, it comes. I want to win. Winning games, man, that feels way better than having 1,000 yards and losing. I can have 400, 500, 600 yards whatever, I just want to win games. We've got a great talented room so anybody can go out there and do what they can do. Everybody is going to get their opportunity. That's what [running backs] coach [Greg] Knox does.
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