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Florida Football: Top 5 spring 2019 position battles to watch

By Briley Hughes

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Dan Mullen of the Florida Gators looks on during warm ups prior to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the Michigan Wolverines at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Dan Mullen of the Florida Gators looks on during warm ups prior to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the Michigan Wolverines at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 22: Jeremiah Moon #7 of the Florida Gators celebrates a safety during the second quarter of the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 22: Jeremiah Moon #7 of the Florida Gators celebrates a safety during the second quarter of the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

2. Buck

Jachai Polite was a revelation last season, breaking out in Todd Grantham’s aggressive defense. Florida’s defense boasted great marks thanks in large part to the success of the buck position. With Polite headed to the NFL, Grantham and the defensive staff begin in earnest to identify who will become their next dominant pass rusher.

As the projected starter, Jeremiah Moon still has much to prove. He’s garnered high praise from his teammates and has the physical characteristics to become the next Polite. He’ll have to out-perform Jon Greenard who joins the program after transferring from Louisville.

Greenard is familiar with Grantham’s scheme (Grantham actually recruited Greenard when he served as Louisville’s defensive coordinator from 2014-16) and should learn the ins and outs of the defense by the end of spring. Greenard was injured for much of last season, but will bring depth, leadership, talent and production to the buck position.

A potential wildcard at this position is Jabari Zuniga. Though he’s expected to anchor the defensive end position, Zuniga has potential to steal some time at buck. Additionally, Florida welcomes highly-touted early-enrollee Mohamoud Diabate this spring. If he lives up to his potential this spring, Diabate has an outside chance of pushing for the starting role.

Either way, Grantham and fans will be watching closely the development of each of these players hoping to find the next defensive lineman to terrorize opposing quarterbacks.

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