By SCOTT CARTER
GatorZone.com Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Regardless of where you looked Saturday at Neyland Stadium, they were there.
Cody Riggs downing the ball at Tennessee’s 1 on a punt early in the game. Ronald Powell sacking Vols quarterback Matt Simms in the second half. Trey Burton scoring on a 2-yard run. Linebacker Jelani Jenkins making enough plays to be named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week on Monday.
Three games into the season, and it’s obvious Florida’s freshman class is going to play a large role.
During his weekly press conference on Monday, Florida coach Urban Meyer was stopped in his tracks when told that 41 percent of the Gators who traveled to Tennessee were either true or redshirt freshmen.
“That’s a lot of good young players there,’’ Meyer said.
Later, Meyer pointed out the play Riggs made on a punt by Chas Henry after the Gators’ first drive of the game stalled. Henry booted an ideal kick, and Riggs, a cornerback who also plays on special teams, raced down the field, positioned himself in front of the goal line, and made the play on Henry’s kick.
The sequence didn’t lead directly to any points for the Gators, but Meyer said a message was sent.
“Our field position in that game was why we won the game,’’ Meyer said. “That whole thing about 41 percent of our team being freshmen, most of them don’t really understand that.
“It takes a while to beat that into them. ‘So you really want to go find a way to win at Neyland Stadium?’ Here is what you have to do. That started them down in there. When you keep them pinned down in there, it’s demoralizing and it gives you great field position. We’ve seen a lot of guys step up right now.’’
Meyer knew the Gators would have to reload this season after losing nine players to the NFL draft. If early returns hold up, the Gators’ last two recruiting classes feature several players who may one day hear their names called at the NFL draft.
Of the freshmen, Jenkins stood out the most in Florida’s sixth consecutive win over Tennessee. Jenkins had six tackles and a sack. Another young middle linebacker, sophomore Jon Bostic, added an interception in the end zone that played a key part in the win.
Jenkins and Bostic, who led the team with a career-high eight tackles, did their part to limit Tennessee’s Tauren Poole, the SEC’s leading rusher entering the game, to 23 yards on 10 carries.
“Those are two linebackers that played at a very high level in this game against that very good runner,’’ Meyer said. “Ron Powell is starting to make some tremendous strides, he got his first sack.’’
Senior linebacker Brandon Hicks was tied for second on the team with six tackles against Tennessee. He is watching Jenkins and Bostic, a sophomore who played sparingly a year ago, starting to become more confident on each play.
“I’m glad that they have had this time under their belt to actually jump in the fire,’’ Hicks said. “The fact that they are young and they are coming out and they are getting experience a little big ahead of time, it is really helping them out mentally.’’
Burton’s 2-yard run in the fourth quarter capped UF’s 31-17 win over the Vols. In his brief time on campus, Burton has already earned a reputation as a player of many skills.
He played mostly quarterback in high school, but he is working regularly in practice at quarterback in the wildcat formation, fullback, tight end and receiver. Oh, and he also plays on the kickoff teams.
“We all have our own part,’’ Burton said of freshmen. “I can go through the list of all the guys who are our leaders. I think we should be pretty good in the future and we’re pretty good right now.’’
