GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Brad White, currently in his first season as Florida’s defensive coordinator, jokingly takes credit for Trinidad Chambliss’ rise to stardom.
White was in the same role at Kentucky when the Wildcats knocked Ole Miss starting quarterback Austin Simmons out of a game early last season with a right ankle injury. It’s a development that cleared the way for Chambliss to shine the following week — and as it turned out, the rest of the season as the Rebels made a run to the College Football Playoff semifinals before coming up short in a Fiesta Bowl loss to eventual runner-up Miami.
“So, yeah, you’re all welcome,” White quipped.
This week, White and the 21st-ranked Gators (3-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) have the daunting task of slowing down Chambliss, a Heisman Trophy front-runner who is 14-2 as a starter for fourth-ranked Ole Miss (3-0, 1-0). Florida is counting home crowd being a factor against a dynamic dual threat who requires defenses to look for every advantage possible.
“This guy, he’s as good a college football player I’ve ever seen with my own two eyes,” Florida first-year head coach Jon Sumrall said.