GAINESVILLE, Fla. --Â In the first start of his career and on Miami's first drive of the game, Gators linebacker
Ventrell Miller stormed through the middle and dropped Hurricanes quarterback
Jarren Williams for a 7-yard loss.
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Miller had his first sack of the season, matching his total from a year ago when he played mostly on special teams and as a reserve linebacker behind veterans
Vosean Joseph,
Rayshad Jackson and
Kylan Johnson. However, with Joseph now in the NFL and Jackson and Johnson opting to play elsewhere as fifth-year graduate transfers, Miller's starting debut was a memorable one in Florida's 24-20 victory over Miami.
Miller picked up his second sack when he planted Williams for a 9-yard loss in the second quarter.
"It was exciting to get that first sack,'' Miller said. "It was great to get that second sack."
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A redshirt sophomore from Lakeland, Miller finished with a career-high five tackles (four solo, two assisted) and his two sacks highlighted a 10-sack performance by Florida, the most sacks by a team in the Southeastern Conference since Ole Miss had 11 against Mississippi State in the 2008 Egg Bowl.
"We feed off the D-line,'' Miller said of the sack-fest. "When the D-line eating, we eating. Young O-line, young quarterback. The plan was to get pressure on him and that's what we did."
Miller's performance is a good sign for Florida, which lacks significant experience at linebacker behind senior
David Reese. Eight of Miller's 15 tackles as a freshman came against FCS opponents Charleston Southern and Idaho. He didn't let up throughout Saturday's win over Miami, Florida's first victory over the Hurricanes since 2008.
As Miami drove for a potential game-winning touchdown in the final minute, Miller frantically urged his teammates to close out the win.
"I was trying to get them boys out there turned up,'' he said. "Let's win this game on defense."
The Gators did following some tense moments down the stretch. In addition to having the best game of his career, Miller paid tribute to one of his former teammates. Miller played with No. 40 scribbled on the white tape around his wrists in honor of former Gators linebacker
Nick Smith,
who had to retire from the game in January due to a medical condition.
Miller and Smith both signed with the Gators in the 2017 recruiting class.
"I know he'd do the same thing,'' Miller said.
Miller made sure everyone knew by the way he played.
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