{"id":81317,"date":"2022-09-29T03:31:26","date_gmt":"2022-09-29T03:31:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/gators-shake-up-defensive-depth-chart-vs-eastern-washington\/"},"modified":"2022-09-29T03:31:26","modified_gmt":"2022-09-29T03:31:26","slug":"gators-shake-up-defensive-depth-chart-vs-eastern-washington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/gators-shake-up-defensive-depth-chart-vs-eastern-washington\/","title":{"rendered":"Gators shake-up defensive depth chart vs. Eastern Washington"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Update: Florida has amended its depth chart release and included junior linebacker Diwun Black on the updated depth chart.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Florida’s depth chart for Eastern Washington, released at the conclusion of Wednesday’s practice, revealed several alterations to UF’s defense. <\/span><\/p>\n

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The Gators will start several players for the first time in their collegiate careers, while others were either listed as out or were left off the depth chart entirely. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Sunday’s contest will also feature the long-awaited return of one defensive playmaker: cornerback Jaydon Hill<\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Listed as the starting cornerback against Eastern Washington has missed more than a year of competition as he’s recovered from a torn ACL, in Aug. 2021, though he was able to impress his new head coach during spring camp despite working in a non-contact jersey. Napier also revealed Hill had a previously undisclosed knee injury during the offseason, which set him back even further. <\/span><\/p>\n

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“Yeah, I think Jaydon has been very much a work in progress as he’s kind of made his return to play. You know, he’s done everything that he’s been asked to do. He’s worked extremely hard. And, you know, I think Jaydon is a guy I’ve got a ton of respect for. You know, you talk about what he’s been through from an injury perspective. He had a knee in high school, had a knee here, had kind of a minor knee issue in the summertime, and then he’s been on that path to recovery,” Napier said. “So, Jaydon was one of the better players that we had on our team in spring practice in my opinion. I was very impressed with him as a player. It’s no surprise to me, you know, he showed pretty quickly here that he’s very capable. So, I’m excited to watch him play, I’m excited how he can impact our team.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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At defensive end, the Gators will start redshirt freshman Justus Boone<\/b> for the first time this season, and for the first time in his collegiate career. A native of Sumter, South Carolina, Boone has primarily backed up defensive end Princely Umanmielen<\/b> throughout the first four games this season, but he’s played an increased role as the season has progressed. He recorded a solo tackle in Florida’s most recent contest, a 38-33 loss in Knoxville to Tennessee. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Florida fifth-year safety Trey Dean<\/b> is listed as out for Saturday’s contest due to a lower-body injury, and the Gators have designated highly regarded freshman Kamari Wilson<\/b> as the starter in place of Dean for Sunday’s contest against Eastern Washington. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cTrey is injured and won’t be available for the game this week,” Napier said. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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He may be joining Boone in making his first collegiate start, but Wilson won’t be the only safety to fill in against the Eagles, as Napier confirmed UF plans to rotate in either Donovan McMillon<\/b> or Miguel Mitchell<\/b>the safeties behind Wilson on the depth chart, throughout the game. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYeah I think we have those guys bracketed at that position,\u201d Napier said. \u201cYou can anticipate to see both players.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

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Ventrell Miller<\/b> will once again start at linebacker after missing the fourth quarter of UF’s loss to Kentucky and the following contest, Florida’s 31-28 win over USF. Miller returned for UF’s loss to Tennessee, only to exit the field briefly in the third quarter before returning to finish the game. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Of the depth chart’s linebacker rotation, there was a noticeable absence, albeit briefly. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Diwun Black<\/b>who recovered the onside kick in the final minute against the Volunteers, wasn’t listed at either linebacker position on the depth chart upon its release, though an updated depth chart provided later Wednesday did include Black as the third-string linebacker behind Amari Burney and Shemar James in the rotation. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Earlier Wednesday, on the SEC’s teleconference, Napier addressed Black’s progress and the strides he must continue to make to secure a larger role within the defense. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYou know, I think it is a privilege and a great honor to step between the lines, to be one of the 11 that represents the University of Florida. Not to be taken lightly, you know we just don’t give those opportunities away, right. So I think the key, much like a lot of players on our team maybe who role is small, or maybe not as big as we would like or they would like, it’s about consistency, right, not only as a football player but as a human being,\u201d Napier said. \u201cYou know, understanding the plan, knowing what to do, and in a practice environment proving and showing that you can do your job consistently for the team. But there’s no question Diwun at times flashes and has some ability, so we’re hopeful that he continues to grow and mature and gets more opportunities in the future, but that’s going to be up to him and his attitude and his work ethic. “<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n