CB Jalen Kimber Shining at Full Health in Second Year at Florida
The Gators' defensive turnaround to begin the 2023 campaign can be correlated to a multitude of additions from the offseason, including the likes of transfers Cam Jackson and Caleb Banks on the interior defensive line and true freshman Jordan Castell at safety.
However, a returning backup from last year's secondary has also contributed heavily to the unit's resurgence.
Through four weeks, cornerback Jalen Kimber has arguably performed as Florida's best boundary coverage man, proving his worth for the unit in his first season at full health of his collegiate career.
Florida head coach Billy Napier on Wednesday acknowledged Kimber's strides forward.
"Kimber has had a great year," Napier said when asked about the cornerback's performance.
The praise comes nearly a month and a half after Napier set high expectations he set for the redshirt junior on Aug. 11.
"Jalen’s been steady. Jalen’s done a good job keeping the ball in front of him. He's more physical," Napier described at the time. "This was just really his first complete offseason. He gained significant lean mass. So we're very pleased with Kimber."
Kimber yearned for a fresh start when he transferred into the Florida program from Georgia an offseason ago, hoping the move to the Sunshine State would allow him to put a difficult sophomore season hampered by hurt behind him.
Ending his sophomore season early due to a shoulder injury that required surgery, Kimber saw younger pieces emerge at a premier spot in the Bulldogs' historically strong defense, effectively burying him in the room.
The Mansfield, Texas, native hit the open market in early 2022 as a result, switching sides in the state-line rivalry to join the rebuilding Gators program with an immense opportunity at his fingertips.
When Kimber arrived at UF, after a brief acclimation process and shoulder recovery, he entered into competition with the likes of Jason Marshall Jr., Avery Helm and Devin Moore for reps at boundary cornerback to begin the 2022 campaign. Jaydon Hill, who was rehabbing a serious knee injury then, looked to rejoin the cornerback corps a few weeks into the season.
The crowded nature of Corey Raymond's position made it difficult for Kimber to carve out a solidified spot in year one. That reality became even harsher when the former Bulldog was once again bitten by the injury bug, suffering a broken hand early in 2022.
However, understanding the importance of remaining in the race for reps at his new stop, Kimber elected to forgo surgery and power through with a club cast on his left hand. He finished the year for Florida, operating consistently in rotation, ending the year with 13 tackles, one pass breakup, one interception and one touchdown despite the fractured hand.
Despite the toughness he showed, Kimber's second hurt in as many years forced him to overcome his frustration.
"Me personally, especially coming off a shoulder injury, having back-to-back injuries, I really learned how to be in tune with myself, making sure I have positive thoughts because negative thoughts can really take over your mind and things like that," Kimber shared on Aug. 9. "Trying to have a positive mindset was really the main thing for me."
However, it marked a turning point in his career. His perseverance made a lasting impression on the coaching staff.
Returning to full health this offseason, Kimber was offered his first full camp regimen since his freshman year at Georgia. Having meaningful reps under his belt this time around, Napier believes Kimber's jump in performance is a byproduct of that undisrupted offseason regimen.
"Year one to two is where most players make the big jump and he's certainly done that," Napier said.
"It's been very competitive in that room with Devin Moore coming back off the injury, you know, and then obviously the two freshmen are very talented. Kimber tests well. I mean, his force play numbers, I mean, this guy can jump, he can create power, he's got twitch and he's long, right?"
He took advantage of the opportunity he was provided, performing namely against Moore for the starting spot opposite Marshall in the Gators cornerback room. Despite running neck-and-neck toward the finish line with his counterpart throughout the offseason's entirety, Kimber eventually used Moore's absence due to injury as a way to climb in front in the competition.
Although it may not show up in the box score, having only compiled three tackles and one pass breakup — coming in Week 3 against a high-powered Tennessee offense — in his four starts for Florida in 2023, he's shining for the Gators and enabling an aggressive Austin Armstrong to call the defense at its fullest form.
Pro Football Focus credits Kimber with allowing only one catch for six yards over five targets in coverage, illustrating the limitation he’s put on his side of the field.
The unit ranks No. 5 in the FBS in total defense through four games, with Kimber deserving a fraction of the credit.
Now, heading into Week 5 against an uncharacteristically explosive Kentucky offense currently sitting at 38 points per game and the nation's eighth-best 7.8 yards per play, Napier, Armstrong and Raymond will look to Kimber, among others, to uphold the unit's early-season form to secure the Gators a much-needed victory over their SEC East foe on the road.
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