College Football: Who’s the new DBU?
Florida
Number of DBS in the NFL: 11
Number of projected NFL starters: 5
Notable players: Joe Haden, Vernon Hargreaves, Reggie Nelson, Keanu Neal, Marcus Maye
Florida has consistently developed some of the best defensive backs in the nation for decades.
In recent seasons, Florida has used a 4-3 defensive front but this scheme wouldn’t have been nearly as effectively without a strong defensive backfield. The Gator’s secondary was often deployed in a single high formation, with one safety deployed in deep center field, while was tasked with patrolling the box and covering tight end, similarly to the defense used by the Seattle Seahawks.
In this system, Florida’s cornerbacks often find themselves facing opposing wide receivers one-on-one in man coverage without safety help from over the top. These corners would often have to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage with press techniques in order to disrupt opposing receiver’s routes, and set themselves up to make a play on the ball.
The 2015-2016 Gator’s secondary was one of the best in the school’s history. The defensive backfield consisted of two future first round picks and three future second round picks. They regularly blanketed opposing offenses with their impressive coverage abilities and made plays on the ball from all over the field. Both Vernon Hargreaves and Keanu Neal have since made an immediate impact in the NFL upon entering the league, and Tabor, Wilson and Maye could very well continue this trend in the forthcoming NFL season.
Who’s next?
Florida will have to replace three starters next season, including it’s two outside cornerbacks. However, this shouldn’t derail the team’s chances of fielding a contender. Other than Duke Dawson, the team’s lone returning cornerback, Florida’s secondary will be forced to feature underclassmen at both the outside and nickel corner position. At safety, returning starter Nick Washington will continue to man a safety position. Marcell Harris is expected to line up at the other position.
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After spending the entire 2016 season as the team’s slot corner, Dawson will now be asked to serve as the team’s defacto number one cornerback. It’s impossible to predict just how Duke’s game will translate when placed one-on-one on an island against opposing team’s best wide receivers. Yet it’s entirely possible that Florida’s defensive coordinator will choose to call more cover two sets to give his inexperienced secondary additional help over the top.
Of Florida’s current defensive backfield, both Nate Washington and Duke Dawson will be eligible to be drafted in next year’s NFL draft. While neither player is presently expected to be high draft selection like UF’s previous class, they could very well continue Florida’s legacy of DBs in the NFL, and help to cement the Florida Gators as the new DBU.