Only 10 linebackers? How many does one need? Doesn't that make us 3 deep at every position?
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -----Original Message----- From: Shane Ford <[email protected]> Sender: [email protected] Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2010 08:33:25 To: <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected] Subject: [gatornews] [SUN]: Position by position breakdown: Linebackers --- 8/8 00:48 --- [Andreu] Position by position breakdown: Linebackers By Robbie Andreu <[email protected]> Gainesville SUN Staff writer Published: Saturday, August 7, 2010 at 6:01 a.m. Last Modified: Sunday, August 8, 2010 at 12:48 a.m. Editors note: This is the fourth in a series breaking down the 2010 Florida football team. Click to enlarge<http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20100807/ARTICLES/100809532/1136?p=all&tc=pgall##> Florida's Jelani Jenkins runs through drills during day two of summer football practice Friday, August 7, 2009. Doug Finger/The Gainesville Sun *SEC position rankings* 1. Florida 2. Auburn 3. Alabama 4. S. Carolina 5. Tennessee 6. Arkansas 7. LSU 8. Georgia 9. Kentucky 10. Vanderbilt 11. Ole Miss 12. Miss St. * * *The upside* The Gators could have the fastest set of linebackers in school history, especially if redshirt freshman Jelani Jenkins starts at middle linebacker. Jenkins can really fly, and he's coming off a strong spring in which he made plays from sideline to sideline. He ended the spring slightly ahead of sophomore Jon Bostic, but Jenkins and Bostic both could be on the field at the same time if/when the Gators line up in a 3-4 scheme. The Gators have speed and experience on the outside, where three seniors — A.J. Jones, Brandon Hicks and Lorenzo Edwards — will see the bulk of the playing time. Jones, who has started 30 games, is coming off a strong 2009 season that was ended in the 11th game with a knee injury that required surgery. He's 100 percent now. Hicks has started six games and was a key player in UF's victory over Oklahoma in the 2008 national title game. Edwards has been somewhat of an underachiever, but is coming off a great spring and looks ready to become a major contributor. Here's another strength: versatility. Jenkins, Bostic, Hicks, Jones and Edwards have worked at, and can play at, all three linebacker positions. *The downside* Depth is a major issue. The Gators have only 10 scholarship linebackers — and four are true freshmen (Gideon Ajagbe, Darrin Kitchens, Michael Taylor and Neiron Ball). Some of those freshmen probably will have to play. To earn that right, they'll have to prove themselves on special teams first. Sophomore Dee Finley has proven himself on special teams, but the former strong safety is still in his early development as a linebacker. *Young guy to watch* True freshman Michael Taylor was committed to Tennessee last fall, but he backed out of that commitment in January, even before Lane Kiffin bolted to USC. The Gators had great interest in Taylor when he was still committed to the Vols. His MVP performance at the Under Armour All-American game made him a UF priority. During the week of that all-star game, Taylor was a dominant player, showing great instincts and playmaking ability. Possible linebacker depth chart *OLB* 16-A.J. Jones 26-L. Edwards 25-Gideon Ajagbe 53-Scott Peek *MLB* 43-Jelani Jenkins 52-Jon Bostic 51-Michael Taylor *OLB* 30-Brandon Hicks 13-Dee Finley 48-Neiron Ball 49-Darrin Kitchens *Up next* A closer look at UF's O-line, Aug. 15 - Previous Page<http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20100807/ARTICLES/100809532/1136?p=NaN&tc=pg> - 1<http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20100807/ARTICLES/100809532/1136?p=1&tc=pg> - 2<http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20100807/ARTICLES/100809532/1136?p=2&tc=pg> - Next Page<http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20100807/ARTICLES/100809532/?p=2&tc=pg> -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
