Billy Napier Anticipates Expanded Florida DL Rotation vs. Arkansas

Billy Napier expects a quartet of underclass Florida defensive linemen to step up with two starters questionable vs. Arkansas.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Linebacker Shemar James isn't the only starting Gators defender on Florida's Week 10 injury report.

Although neither was ruled out of the game — or the season, like James, who underwent surgery on a dislocated left kneecap Wednesday — defensive linemen Cam Jackson and Tyreak Sapp were deemed questionable for Florida's Saturday matchup with Arkansas with respective upper body injuries.

Jackson, a junior offseason transfer from Memphis, starts at nose tackle on the Gators' defensive front and has averaged nearly 25 snaps per game this season, per Pro Football Focus. The redshirt sophomore Sapp aligns as a starting edge rusher opposite junior Princely Umanmielen, and has averaged almost 24 snaps per contest. 

The duo has combined for 42 total tackles this season, with Sapp adding two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a pass breakup. 

Whether either player is available for Florida on Saturday or night, head coach Billy Napier anticipates the Gators' defensive line rotation will depend on multiple underclassmen in expanded roles against the Razorbacks.

"You're going to see Kelby Collins more often, you'll see Jack Pyburn more often, you're going to see Jamari [Lyons] more often, Chris McClellan more often," Napier listed on Wednesday. "So, all the guys that have been playing will continue to play. They'll just play a little bit more."

Napier and his coaching staff have attacked UF's need for depth along the defensive line since their Dec. 2021 arrival, specifically this past offseason by acquiring three transfers and five high school signees. 

While each player has manned backup positions on Florida's depth chart throughout the campaign, the quartet of Collins, Pyburn, Lyons and McClellan have contributed meaningfully to the Gators' front this year as a result.

McClellan and Collins have each averaged over 19 defensive snaps per game, with McClellan being tied with freshman safety Bryce Thornton as Florida's most-utilized non-starting defenders through eight games at 163 snaps apiece. Collins has logged 155. 

A 6-foot-4, 270-pound freshman, Collins has been productive off the edge for the Gators with 11 tackles, half a sack, a pass breakup, 14 quarterback pressures and seven run stops in his rookie season to date. The 6-foot-3, 320-pound sophomore McClellan has rotated between the interior positions of Florida's defensive line en route to seven tackles, five run stops and seven quarterback pressures on the year.

Lyons, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound redshirt freshman, has been a steady presence in Florida's run defense with 13 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and eight stops over 118 snaps. Pyburn, also a redshirt freshman, has recorded 13 tackles and a quarterback pressure over 98 snaps as a 6-foot-3, 250-pound EDGE.

Although he wasn't among the players Napier mentioned, freshman TJ Searcy, Umanmielen's backup, could also see an increase in snaps on the edge if Sapp is not available. With 159 snaps this season, the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Searcy has posted 18 tackles with 2.5 for loss, a forced fumble, seven pressures and nine run stops. 

"Let me tell you, them guys, they're flying around out there because they know their role is going to increase and they're excited about it." Napier shared.

Pointing toward the overall roster rebuild he took on as Florida's head coach, Napier made a point that — while injuries are disheartening and unfortunate — the opportunities that arise for depth players in the wake of players being sidelined can be valuable long-term. 

Should Jackson and Sapp not play on Saturday against Arkansas, the future of Florida's defensive line has room to benefit from the reps that will be there for the taking. 

"I think ultimately, sometimes that can be a good thing," Napier said. "Ultimately what it does is it magnifies the importance of depth, it magnifies the importance of player retention. Having a veteran team, having players that have been in your system for multiple years," Napier said. 

"Even last year it happened to us at the end of the year. So, I think we've handled them a little better, in my opinion, this year because of the depth. We're still not there. We still have work to do. But what it does is it presents opportunity for the next group. They're obviously excited. We got a lot of guys who work their butt off and they'll be excited to go out there and play." 

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