Florida Gators position reevaluation: Defensive Backs

Before the season started, I evaluated each position group for the Gators. Five games in, let’s look back at how each of those groups has done.

Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson ran down a UT-Martin wife receiver to break up a pass deep down the field. The ball fell harmlessly to the ground, but the junior defensive back did not. He stepped on the leg of the WR on his way to the ground and twisted his ankle. 

The later-diagnosed ankle sprain has kept Henderson from playing for the past three weeks. Weirdly, this might be the best thing that ever happened for this secondary. Here’s why:

3-0 without him 

The schedule plays a role in this, but the Gators haven’t lost since Henderson’s been out. Anytime a star player can’t play for your squad you obviously hope to somehow manage, and the way the corners have managed is the main reason  I argue the injury was a good thing.

The depth is now greater

The absence of Henderson gave true freshmen Kaiir Elam, Jaydon Hill, and Chester Kimbrough frequent opportunities. Elam and Hill especially have played excellent football and proven they can be trusted in big games whenever a healthy Henderson or Marco Wilson need a breather. The two freshmen have combined for 12 tackles and five defended passes, with Elam recording two interceptions.

UF gets Henderson back this week vs. Auburn, and it has a new slate of backup DB’s that have proven they can play as well. 

 The safeties reps have shifted

Jeawon Taylor has nursed a shoulder injury from the start of the season, and that has freed his backup Shawn Davis. Davis has been inarguably better than Taylor and earned more time on the field. The Gators safety position has been significantly better with Davis on the backend. 

Also, Brad Stewart has been back after missing the first two games and has played decent football as well. He splits reps at the other safety spot with Donovan Stiner who has not overly impressed so far in 2019. The more that Stewart and Davis are on the field, the better. 

This group, outside of pitiful tackling against Miami, has played much better football as of late. As bad as Tennessee is, the Volunteers have enormous and athletic wide receivers and Florida’s DB’s locked them down completely, and without Henderson. 

There is no reason that the Gators should not be able to rely on the defensive backs for the rest of the season.