Fewer have benefited from an open competition for starting spots than receiver Quinton Dunbar. The Gators’ redshirt freshman went from needing to adjust his work ethic to a starting spot in the span of a year.
Dunbar admitted to being inconsistent as a freshman, something that he said led to a meeting with then-coach Urban Meyer. They discussed his work ethic, and Dunbar’s change in attitude apparently paid off with a new coaching staff. Dunbar was listed as a starter when the depth chart was released on Monday.
“When we started off the spring, Quinton Dunbar was so far down the depth chart he was probably underneath this table,” Weis said on Tuesday. “You couldn’t even find him. And by the end of the spring, he was a starting wide receiver. So without slighting Deonte or Frankie or Andre or anyone else that’s involved in the mix right here, the fact that the kid who was way down on the depth chart and worked the way up just showed the players that, you produce, we’re going to put you out there.”
Although Dunbar has been praised for providing a deep threat with his speed, he said he’s been working on shorter routes as well. The biggest adjustment has been run blocking, he said.
“Very important. If you can’t block, you won’t play,” said Dunbar. ” My blocking in the spring wasn’t all that, but I think I made great strides to being a good blocker.”
