Gators defensive tackle Tyrone Truesdell, who joined the program this week after four seasons at Auburn, adds experience and depth in the middle of the defensive line. (Photo: Cat Wofford/Montgomery Advertiser via Imagn Content Services)
Carter's Corner: Newcomer Truesdell Fits In -- Immediately
Friday, September 3, 2021 | Football, Scott Carter
Share:
By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — At the start of the week, Tyrone Truesdell barely knew his way to campus. On Saturday, the Gators hope Truesdell can find his way into Florida Atlantic's backfield.
"I feel like adding True to this roster is a big addition," Gators linebacker Mohamoud Diabate said. "He's a big body, experienced guy and played a lot of SEC ball, so he knows what to do. That's somebody that we definitely want a part of your team." Tyrone Truesdell
Truesdell officially joined the Gators on Monday as a graduate transfer from Auburn, where he played the past four seasons. When Auburn coach Bryan Harsin announced at the start of preseason camp that Truesdell was no longer in the program, questions about Truesdell's future roamed the internet.
They were answered this week when the 6-foot-2, 326-pound Truesdell, who is from Augusta, Ga., landed with the No. 13-ranked Gators as they prepare to host the Owls on Saturday night at 'The Swamp.' Once Truesdell enrolled in graduate classes, he was able to take a fresh headshot (see, left) and hit the field in his new No. 95 jersey -- a different shade of Orange & Blue than the one he wore at Auburn.
A former teammate of Gators defensive tackle Daquan Newkirk with the Tigers, Truesdell started for two seasons at Auburn and over his four seasons, he appeared in 44 games and made 19 starts at defensive tackle. Truesdell totaled 67 tackles, with nine for a loss and three career sacks.
UF head coach Dan Mullen expects Truesdell to get on the field right away.
"You got a guy that started a lot of games in this league, the opportunity for him to come in — I know it's kind of a late start, but being a veteran guy that's started in the league, I think he's going to adapt really quick," Mullen said.
Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was more to the point.
"He'll play,'' Grantham said. "We're certainly excited to have him. He's a big-bodied guy that can give us some stoutness in the middle, allow us to maybe expand some roles of some guys in there, and you never can have enough depth at that position as you go through the season. And he was a guy that we were excited about trying to get here, and then we're certainly happy and fortunate that it finally came about and we look forward to watching him play on Saturday."
Grantham said with Truesdell's experience in the SEC, those meaningful game reps will help him overcome some of the newness to Florida's playbook and allow his insticts to take over.
"It'll obviously be a limited package with him in there,'' Grantham said. "We'll make sure he's comfortable with it. I'll make sure I go over the calls with him and make sure he knows exactly what to do and just let him go play and have fun. It's been a long road for him to get here and we're certainly excited we can add him to that unit to give it some depth."
