Caleb Brantley: Is He the Next Great Gators Defensive Tackle?

Whenever you break down tape and try to scout a player that hasn’t had significant playing time, it can be a bit difficult, because all you can usually find are plays that make that player seem like world-beaters.

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With that mind, I had made sure I had a reserved mindset when I sat down to analyze DT Caleb Brantley.

Brantley appeared in the Gators’ 12 games, making 21 tackles with four of them being for loss, so it wasn’t like finding game-tape of Brantley was like finding a needle in a haystack, but it wasn’t a reservoir of film either.

The former 4-star prospect immediately jumped off my computer screen with the plays that he was able to make and my eyes widened as big as Jameis Winston at a crab shack.

Brantley may just be the Gators defender to most likely reek the most havoc on the defensive line in 2015– that’s how impressed I came away from watching this young man.

The one thing that was made obvious right away is that at 6’3, 314 pounds, he is a big load to handle for any offensive lineman.

The second thing that stood up and smacked me in the face was that Brantley can really move along the line scrimmage and make tackles on plays that were initially moving away from him.

I’m going to hesitantly throw this out there; his movement and agility as a DT reminded me so much of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and former Oklahoma Sooner, Gerald McCoy.

Dec 7, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (93) warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Now I’m not saying he’s going to be a surefire first-round NFL selection right now, but his motor and his attitude are great places to begin with.

Obviously, Brantley will surely be named a starter by Jim McElwain before Opening Day, so now he has to prove that he can produce these same highlight reel plays against the opponent’s number one guys.

But from what little I have already seen, I am going to constantly remember to watch for no. 57 during Gator games on Saturday.

You should do the same.

Positives

I absolutely love Brantley’s motor and his desire to get after the football. A defensive tackle who continually tries to pursue the ball carrier helps galvanize the rest of the defense.
Brantley actually moves fairly well for a big DT. In the Missouri game where the Tigers were blowing out the Gators by more than four touchdowns, Brantley was still chasing down running backs, including a 4-yard tackle for loss early in the fourth quarter.
Brantley’s swim move is unreal when he’s fundamentally sound and has a strong base to go with it. This makes him an obstacle to deal with in run blocking, as well as in pass protection.
This guy plays aggressive and active, which I love. He uses his upper body strength to plow into opposing linemen’s chest and neck, giving him all the leverage in run defense. Oh, and then he’ll go and try to make the tackle too.

Question marks

2015 will be Brantley’s opportunity at starting and playing heavy minutes. The SEC is littered with a mix of power running offenses and high-tempo offenses– will Brantley be in peak conditioning and be able to avoid major injuries to last the entire season?
It’s inevitable that the former Crescent City product will see plenty of double-teams come his way. I want to see how Brantley responds when his opportunities to penetrate the backfield and cause disruptions are severely limited. Will he sulk and become frustrated, or will he rise up to the challenge?
Many of Brantley’s highlight-reel plays came against Florida’s weaker opponents like Eastern Kentucky and East Carolina. Can he produce those same standout plays against big-time SEC talent?

Next: 5 SEC Records You Did Not Know The Gators Hold

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