Florida football: 3 big impact sophomores for the Gators

By Jack Neary | Apr 16, 2020

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 19: Jacob Copeland #15 of the Florida Gators makes a catch over Dakereon Joyner #7 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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MIAMI, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 30: Kaiir Elam #5 of the Florida Gators reacts after intercepting a pass against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half of the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 30, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Kaiir Elam, DB

After losing CJ Henderson to the NFL and Marco Wilson to a torn ACL in 2019, the Florida Gators will be looking for a lengthy lockdown defensive back to step-up.

(Queue your favorite entrance music) May I introduce to you Kaiir Elam.

Standing at 6-foot-2 Elam is a long corner with supreme lockdown skills. In 2019 he had just 3 starts, but an interception in every one of them- including one in the Orange Bowl. In addition to interceptions, he also had 4 passes defended, and 10 tackles.

Kaiir Elam Wide Receiver

Florida Gators Football /

Big impact on defense

He has excellent one-on-one- coverage skills and seems to have a knack for knowing where the quarterback is going with the ball.

Florida football needs his best in order to be considered for the playoff, and I believe they’ll get it. If fact, I’ll make a prediction and say that Elam wins The Jim Thorpe Award, which goes out to the best defensive back in college football.

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