Florida Gators Position Breakdown: Defensive End

After losing junior Derrick Harvey to the 2008 NFL Draft as the 8^th overall pick, the Florida Gators will simply look to reload at the defensive end position.  Budding superstar Jermaine Cunningham appears well on his way to continuing the recent trend of great Florida defensive ends.  Starting opposite him, will be Carlos Dunlap, a guy who some Florida faithful have already dubbed “the Freak” after former Florida defensive end Jevon Kearse.  Dunlap possesses that same kind of freakish athleticism and looks to live up to his high billing during recruiting.  He looked awesome in the spring game, routinely getting to the quarterback of the opposing team.  Should he continue to develop, the Gators should be stacked at the defensive end position in 2008.  The Gators also have plenty of depth behind these two talented starters and would like to get back to more of a rotation along the defensive line, similar to the one they had in place during the 2006 National Championship season.  With Cunningham likely to occupy a lot of double teams in 2008, it will be very important for whoever is playing on the other side to be able to generate consistent pressure on the quarterback.  Should the Gators do this, the secondary could improve dramatically as a result, something that all Gator fans would love to see.

Jermaine Cunningham

Cunningham quickly developed into a legitimate pass rushing threat opposite Derrick Harvey in the 2007 season.  He recorded 17 tackles in the game against LSU and looked absolutely dominant at times.  He will likely be the target of plenty of double teams in 2008, so his statistical production could see a drop-off next year.  However, similar to Derrick Harvey last year, Cunningham must learn not to get frustrated with these double teams and understand that he is freeing up space for his teammates on the other side of the line.  Should he grasp this concept, he will quickly develop into the unquestioned leader of the Gator defensive line.  In any case, Cunningham is sure to get into the opposing backfield more than a few times in 2008 and Gator fans should enjoy watching him bring down opponents behind the line.

Carlos Dunlap

Dunlap appears to have a pretty solid hold on the starting defensive end position opposite Cunningham, although he may be asked to slide inside from time to time.  Dunlap has freakish size and athleticism at 6’8, 280 lbs.  He looked very promising in limited action during 2007 and should see the field much more often in 2008.  He was a phenom in the spring game and if he can continue that kind of success against SEC defenses he should quickly garner some votes for the All-SEC team.  Dunlap is fully capable of recording eight to ten sacks next year, especially given the fact that Cunningham should often receive double teams.  Dunlap will be asked to produce early and often and if he can match the mental aspect of the game with his athleticism, he will be an absolute terror on the defensive line in 2008.

Justin Trattou

Trattou got a good deal of playing time in 2008 and his future certainly looks bright at the University of Florida.  Referred to by Coach Urban Meyer as the “Tim Tebow” of the defense, Trattou has an awesome motor and never stops driving his legs.  He will undoubtedly be a mainstay on the defensive line next year and will likely see time both at defensive end and defensive tackle.  Meyer loves Trattou’s work ethic and hustle and will likely try to use him in a role similar to the one Ray McDonald played for the Gators in 2006.  Trattou has a nose for the football and always seems to find his way to the ball, especially when it’s on the turf.  He had a great spring and looks ready to be a key contributor on defense for the Gators in 2008.

Duke Lemmens

Lemmens received a similar amount of playing time as Dunlap and Justin Trattou during the 2007 season and figures to play into the rotation even more at defensive end in 2008.  Coach Urban Meyer criticized Lemmens for his lack of strength in 2007, and Lemmens has worked hard in the dining room and in the weight room to bulk up for the 2008 campaign.  He did a surprisingly good job getting pressure in 2007, despite his relatively small stature and should be even better with the added weight and strength.  Lemmens is one of the better defensive ends on the Gator roster against the run and might see more time on early downs, while taking a seat to the quicker pass rushers on obvious passing downs.  In any case, Lemmens should be the third or fourth man in the rotation at defensive end, which means he should see a good deal of playing time in 2008.

Jaye Howard

Howard was one of the most improved defensive linemen during spring practice and he may have worked his way into a good deal of playing time during 2008.  He will likely compete with Duke Lemmens for the majority of the snaps as the primary backup defensive end.  Howard is one of the smaller defensive ends on the Gator roster, but makes up for it with an incredibly quick first few steps off the line.  He should be able to blow by some of the slower offensive tackles in the league, which makes him an ideal fit for passing situations.  Howard could still afford to put on a few pounds without losing any of his quickness and strength coach Mickey Mariotti has likely been working hard with Howard over the summer to improve his strength.

Earl Okine

The first commitment in Florida’s 2008 class, the local prospect from Gainesville created a lot of buzz when he showed up at spring practice.  Wearing Derrick Harvey’s old #91, Okine quickly drew comparisons to the 2008 NFL Draft pick.  He has an incredibly similar physique and the coaches are more excited about his growth potential than any other player on the roster.  Okine is already a fearsome looking defensive end and has the frame to add a lot more weight.  He looked very good in spring practice and according to some recent reports, has bulked up considerably since then.  Okine will almost definitely figure his way into the defensive end rotation in 2008 and avoid a redshirt.  If he continues to progress, both physically and mentally, the way the coaches expect, he could quickly become the next terror on the defensive line, following in Harvey’s footsteps.