GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Gators defensive tackle
Gervon Dexter Sr. has been forced to grow up fast.
Dexter was raised in Lake Wales and developed into a five-star recruit, one of three signed by former UF head coach
Dan Mullen straight out of high school during his tenure. Defensive back
Jason Marshall Jr. and linebacker
Derek Wingo are the others.
Dexter's much-ballyhooed signing was tempered by personal loss. His father, 50-year-old
Gerald Dexter, died in April 2020.
Meanwhile, the 6-foot-5.5, 312-pound Dexter was called into duty during his freshman season to help bolster Florida's defensive front. Dexter has been a mainstay since, starting 17 games over that span, including all six games this season. He also became a father earlier this year to newborn son
Lashawn Dexter Jr.
Amidst the transitions in his life, Dexter's production doesn't jump off the stat sheet — he ranks seventh on the team with 21 tackles and has only 1.5 TFLs — but Dexter often faces double-teams as arguably Florida's most physically gifted interior lineman.
With the Gators (4-2, 1-2) set to host LSU (4-2, 2-1) on Saturday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, the more Dexter's presence is felt by the Tigers, the better for the Gators. LSU rushed for 321 yards against the Gators a season ago in a 49-42 win in Baton Rouge.
Dexter discussed the matchup and more earlier this week. Here is a Q&A with Dexter from his press conference Wednesday night after practice:
GERVON DEXTER Q&A
Q: W
hat's your take on the defense's performance at midseason?
A: As a unit we had some up and downs, but I think we're getting on the right track to where we need to be.
Q: What's the biggest challenge?
A: I just think it's communication. It's always one person that's wrong, so when we get 11 on 11, it'll be perfect. It's always 10 guys doing it right and one person here or one person there. Right now I think we have to focus on everybody doing their job.
Q: Encouraged by the team's 13 TFL against Missouri?
A: Again, I say, just 11 guys doing their job. That's how we got those tackles for loss — somebody's going to come free when we're executing the right way. I feel like that was the main thing, that everyone did our job.
Gators defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. in last week's win over Missouri. (Photo: Jordan McKenzie/UAA Communications)
Q: What's the frustration level when a quarterback gets away from rush to make a play?
A: For me that's very frustrating. That could be anything — could've started with my get-off or a wrong move that I made to give him another second to get out the pocket. But we watch it on film, we see it on film, and try to get better from it.
Q: How often are you double-teamed?
A: I've been obviously getting a lot of double-teams this year, and the way I've been learning how to play it is to get the double-team on two different levels. So if I come off the ball like I'm supposed to — say, I'm in a three-technique and the guard is coming at me and so is the tackle — I try to get the guard and tackle on two different levels then there won't be no double-team. I have to [execute] that better going forward.
Q: What about linebacker Ventrell Miller's performance last week and his overall impact?
A: I mean, you've got to just know coming into the game, you know Ventrell is gonna be where he needs to be and he's gonna make the play that he needs to play. He's a great leader for us on the D-line, on the defense, even the whole team. He's just a great guy. It's like, you know where Ventrell's at, he'll help you get lined up. He's like a quarterback on defense and he's a great leader.
Q: How much focus is there for the D-Line on preventing a repeat of last year's LSU game?
A: We remember it and we ain't forget about it. So we know what's coming and we're gonna have that chip on our shoulder when we get there on Saturday.
Q: What impact has the high volume of snaps you have played had?
A: I don't think it should impact the way I play. Like I said, I prepared myself coming into the season. I just don't think that it should impact [me] any type of way. And coming forward, we got a lot of young guys playing well. Some of the guys, like, of course,
Chris McClellan and some of the young guys are now building trust from some of the coaches. So, now that should help a lot with some more reps as well. So, just going forward, I think that, like I said, some of the young guys are building trust and now getting a little more reps each week and it gets a little less and less. That's been a help, for sure.
