The next group of players we’ll take a look at on Gators Wire’s positions preview series are the linebackers.
Florida has some talented linebackers for this upcoming 2024 season with a mix of new and returning names. Although Scooby Williams, who played in all 12 games last season at linebacker for the Gators, transferred in the offseason to Texas A&M, Florida won’t have a problem filling that hole.
Shemar James is expected to be the leader of this Florida defense while first-year Gator Grayson “Pup” Howard will be lined up next to him as the other starting linebacker.
Head coach Billy Napier did an excellent job in bringing in some very talented linebackers this past offseason and this is one of those position groups that is very deep for the Gators.
Let’s take a look at every linebacker on Florida’s roster. Check out Gators Wire’s other position previews for the 2024 season below.
- Quarterbacks
- Running Backs
- Receivers
- Tight Ends
- Offensive Line (Tackles)
- Offensive Line (Centers and Guards)
Starter: No. 6 Shemar James (Jr.)
| Year | GP | Solo | AST | TOT | TFL-YDS | Sacks-YDS | INT | PD | FF |
| 2022 | 13 | 18 | 29 | 47 | 2-9 | 2-9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 | 8 | 24 | 31 | 55 | 5.5-13 | 1-7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 21 | 42 | 60 | 102 | 7.5-22 | 3-16 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
James is coming into his third and most important season at Florida. Looked at as the focal point of the defense, James will be in charge of listening in on what the coach on the sideline is saying through the new coach-to-player helmet communication system.
Last season, James started the first eight games before missing the final four due to a knee injury. In 2022, James won Freshman All-SEC honors after finishing the season with 47 total tackles in 13 games.
James’ biggest strength at linebacker is his pass coverage, as he was graded at 75.2 out of 100 in that category according to Pro Football Focus. His biggest weakness is his pass rush and he’ll be looking to improve that area of his game this season.
Starter: No. 10 Grayson “Pup” Howard (So.)
Howard comes in as a transfer from South Carolina and is expected to start as the other linebacker alongside James.
Last season with the Gamecocks, Howard appeared in 11 games and logged 19 tackles (10 solo), a tackle-for-loss and a forced fumble.
Howard attended Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville, Florida where he was ranked as the 42nd-best player in the state, the 15th-best outside linebacker and No. 177 on the ESPN300.
Although Howard doesn’t have the biggest sample size from last season, he has really impressed in camp and has made a strong push for that other starting linebacker spot.
Backups: No. 5 Myles Graham (Fr.), No. 15 Derek Wingo (Sr.), No. 29 Jaden Robinson (So.)
Myles Graham, although a freshman, is a very talented linebacker that the Gators were able to acquire.
Graham, a local product, went to F. W. Buchholz High School in Gainesville and was ranked as a five-star recruit by Rivals as well as the third-best player in his position group.
Derek Wingo is a fifth-year senior who’s the veteran of this group. Wingo logged 17 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season with the Gators.
Jaden Robinson is going into his second season with Florida and was rated as a former four-star recruit out of high school by Rivals and 247Sports. Robinson’s role will likely increase this season as he was primarily used for special teams last year.
Reserves: No. 16 R.J. Moten (Sr.), No. 22 Deuce Spurlock II (R-So.), No. 8 Aaron Chiles (Fr.)
R.J. Moten is going into his second season at Florida after transferring over from Michigan after the 2022 season. Moten has the experience and is a solid piece that the Gators have for depth.
Deuce Spurlock II is another guy who Florida will have for depth. Like Moten, Spurlock is playing in his second season with the Gators. He played in three games last season, all on special teams.
Aaron Chiles is a freshman who was ranked a four-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, On3 and Rivals. Chiles went to Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Maryland. Chiles was also ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Maryland by Rivals.
Walk-Ons: No. 50 Jake Xeller (Fr.), No. 42 Matthew Kade (Fr.), No. 47 Justin Pelic (R-Sr.)
Jake Xeller went to Herndon (Virginia) and earned back-to-back all-district honors in his junior and senior years. He joined the Gators as a walk-on this past spring.
Matthew Kade attended Bucholz High School in Gainesville and recorded 90 tackles, 18.0 tackles-for-loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception and a blocked punt his senior year. Kade walked on to Florida during the summer.
Justin Pelic is coming into his sixth season with Florida after joining the team as a walk-on during the summer of 2019.
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