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Florida football is looking to untap the potential of its linebackers heading into the 2026 season.
The Florida Gators head coach knows a thing or two about playing the position. Jon Sumrall was a former college linebacker at Kentucky from 2002-04, who led the Wildcats in tackles in 2004 during his redshirt junior year.
"He played linebacker in the SEC as well," Florida returning junior linebacker Myles Graham said. "So we were able to bond over that and that helped us build our relationship."
The defensive scheme under Sumrall and new Florida defensive coordinator Brad White, a three-year starter at linebacker at Wake Forest (2002-04), is linebacker friendly. The 3-4 scheme will allow linebackers to attack the ball as tacklers and make plays in space.
"We're picking it up well," Graham said. "I think we've had some OTAs and film, player-led meetings. We just got to fine tune the details. His defense, he's very big on us being fast and violent, run to the ball ... so I'm excited.:"
Sumrall also brought his defensive coordinator from Tulane, Greg Gasparato, to coach linebackers. Gasparato said the key is for the position group to grasp the concepts of the defense in order to play at full speed by the start of the season.
"We’ve thrown a lot at them quickly to try and get them a little bit uncomfortable, to be honest, and have them have a sense of urgency about learning, recalling, and trying to slow the game down as much as possible," Gasparato said.
Here are three questions facing UF's linebackers entering fall camp:
The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Graham was limited in the spring after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery.
Graham has posted 106 career tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 4 pass breakups, 3 sacks and 1 pass breakup in his first two seasons at Florida.
"Myles is very mature, played a lot of snaps, and been very productive," Gasparato said. "Football comes very naturally to him."
Graham said he's looking to improve in all areas of the game after posting a team-high 76 tackles and 7 tackles for loss in 12 starts for UF last season.
"I’ve got a long way to go to be the player I want to be," Graham said. "I just need an improvement in every area. I’ve been doing some self-scout and watching my film."
The 6-foot-0, 227-pound Robinson, a senior from Columbia High in Lake City, has started each of the last two seasons
In three seasons at UF, Robinson has posted 105 career tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Gasparato said Robinson has taken on the challenge of being more vocal on the field.
"You've got to be able to talk, run, and hit to play linebacker," Gasparato said. "And if you can’t talk, it’s going to be really difficult to play this position. You have to overcommunicate, and I’ve challenged all of those guys to be vocal, Jaden included, and they’ve all made strides."
Chiles, who was former Under Armour All-American teammate with Graham, is coming off a sophomore season that included 52 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack. The 6-foot-3 pound Chiles is up to 236 pounds after a solid offseason in the weight room.
"The sky is the limit for him," Graham said. "I think he has a great build. He has a lot of potential to fulfill and I'm excited to see it."
Ty Jackson and Myles Johnson showed flashes as true freshmen last season and could be counted more this season, especially if one of UF's projected starting three linebackers get injured.
The 6-1, 239-pound Johnson posted five tackles in 12 games last season, while Jackson (6-2, 225 pounds) had one tackle in 12 games.
Florida also added four-star linebacker Malik Morris of Lakeland, who took part in spring drills as an incoming freshman. Morris helped lead Lakeland to back-to-back state titles in 2022 and 2023.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Breaking down Florida football linebackers heading into 2026 season
Continue reading...
The Florida Gators head coach knows a thing or two about playing the position. Jon Sumrall was a former college linebacker at Kentucky from 2002-04, who led the Wildcats in tackles in 2004 during his redshirt junior year.
"He played linebacker in the SEC as well," Florida returning junior linebacker Myles Graham said. "So we were able to bond over that and that helped us build our relationship."
The defensive scheme under Sumrall and new Florida defensive coordinator Brad White, a three-year starter at linebacker at Wake Forest (2002-04), is linebacker friendly. The 3-4 scheme will allow linebackers to attack the ball as tacklers and make plays in space.
"We're picking it up well," Graham said. "I think we've had some OTAs and film, player-led meetings. We just got to fine tune the details. His defense, he's very big on us being fast and violent, run to the ball ... so I'm excited.:"
Sumrall also brought his defensive coordinator from Tulane, Greg Gasparato, to coach linebackers. Gasparato said the key is for the position group to grasp the concepts of the defense in order to play at full speed by the start of the season.
"We’ve thrown a lot at them quickly to try and get them a little bit uncomfortable, to be honest, and have them have a sense of urgency about learning, recalling, and trying to slow the game down as much as possible," Gasparato said.
Here are three questions facing UF's linebackers entering fall camp:
Can Florida football LB Myles Graham take another step, become dominant SEC linebacker?
The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Graham was limited in the spring after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery.
Graham has posted 106 career tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 4 pass breakups, 3 sacks and 1 pass breakup in his first two seasons at Florida.
"Myles is very mature, played a lot of snaps, and been very productive," Gasparato said. "Football comes very naturally to him."
Graham said he's looking to improve in all areas of the game after posting a team-high 76 tackles and 7 tackles for loss in 12 starts for UF last season.
"I’ve got a long way to go to be the player I want to be," Graham said. "I just need an improvement in every area. I’ve been doing some self-scout and watching my film."
Can LBs Jaden Robinson and Aaron Chiles emerge, make plays for Florida football defense?
The 6-foot-0, 227-pound Robinson, a senior from Columbia High in Lake City, has started each of the last two seasons
In three seasons at UF, Robinson has posted 105 career tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Gasparato said Robinson has taken on the challenge of being more vocal on the field.
"You've got to be able to talk, run, and hit to play linebacker," Gasparato said. "And if you can’t talk, it’s going to be really difficult to play this position. You have to overcommunicate, and I’ve challenged all of those guys to be vocal, Jaden included, and they’ve all made strides."
Chiles, who was former Under Armour All-American teammate with Graham, is coming off a sophomore season that included 52 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack. The 6-foot-3 pound Chiles is up to 236 pounds after a solid offseason in the weight room.
"The sky is the limit for him," Graham said. "I think he has a great build. He has a lot of potential to fulfill and I'm excited to see it."
Will depth at LB come into play for Florida football this season?
Ty Jackson and Myles Johnson showed flashes as true freshmen last season and could be counted more this season, especially if one of UF's projected starting three linebackers get injured.
The 6-1, 239-pound Johnson posted five tackles in 12 games last season, while Jackson (6-2, 225 pounds) had one tackle in 12 games.
Florida also added four-star linebacker Malik Morris of Lakeland, who took part in spring drills as an incoming freshman. Morris helped lead Lakeland to back-to-back state titles in 2022 and 2023.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Breaking down Florida football linebackers heading into 2026 season
Continue reading...
