Watch & Read: Will Napier change the Georgia narrative

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Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators

• October Superlatives
• Former Florida Player Feedback: 10 Observations
• Recruit Reaction: I thought the atmosphere was electric
• Parental Perspective: Florida Football Commits Parental RoundTable
• September Superlatives
• OTM: Is there a path to a fourth year
• Ranking UF’s commits from least to most likely to jump ship
• What names are on your Coaching Hot Board

Florida head coach Billy Napier, receiver Chimere Dike, and defensive end Jack Pyburn met with the media on Monday to discuss the upcoming game against No. 2 Georgia.

BILLY NAPIER

BILLY NAPIER: Okay, we’ll keep it short and sweet here. Obviously kind of a next-challenge mentality for our team. Thought we did a lot of good things last week. Certainly the guys benefited in a couple days off.

Georgia has a good football team. Offensively it starts with the veteran quarterback and a veteran offensive line, just a multitude of skill players at every position.

I do think defensively they have an identity and it starts with the personnel, the height, length of the personnel. Certainly speed at the second, third level as well.

Then the kicking game. They’ve got really good specialists. Kicker, punter, snapper, obviously returners, and they have good variables there that can cause some problems for you.

The entirety of the team obviously makes this thing a challenge. I think for our team it’s important that we zoom in on the parts of our process that can grow and improve. I think each individual player has to continue to focus on getting better.

One of the reasons we’ve been able to improve is we emphasized those parts of our team. We need to continue to play with really good effort. We need to continue to take great pride in how we compete.

I do think spending our time and energy on the things that actually can produce results and not wasting time on anything that can’t. I do think that we’ve challenged our team to be very consistent, be an everyday guy. If we have a lot of players doing it every day we have a chance to be an everyday team.

This will require our best and we look forward to going to Jacksonville this weekend.

Q. Talk about bye week improvements. What did you see out of last week? Do you feel a similar sentiment or it was taken to another level?

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, much of the same. You know, I think, yeah, our kids have bought into the concept that practice is the most important thing that we do. The attitude and the urgency and the focus, we have to be very deliberate about how we practice.

You know, to improve at this game you have to do it on the grasp it’s a repetition based game. It’s development. It’s the quality rep from the start to the finish that matters.

I think we’ve bought into that concept. I’m hopeful. It was competitive and be no different this week.

Q. How important is it for this program to shift the narrative in this series a little bit? Georgia is obviously the pinnacle of the SEC.

BILLY NAPIER: Right.

Q. Dominated the series for a while now.

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, these are all good challenges. I mean, I think Georgia has been doing it, I think it’s the 9th year for Kirby here. Obviously he’s established systems. They’ve got good processes across the board. The personnel has been built over time.

There is quality depth and identity, so you got to beat them. I think ultimately the things that I mentioned earlier will help us do that.

Q. Defense against Texas looked different than it had with Mykel Williams. What does he bring? Another edge guy that Georgia didn’t have.

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, no, he’s one of the more talented defenders in the country this year and most years I would say. He’s been that way for a while.

So, yeah, he can be a challenge. Obviously slippery on the rundowns. Very versatile in terms of where he rushes on third down as well.

So he’s got the height, length, and the bulk to be an inside rusher and edge rusher. He’s one of the better players in the country for sure.

Q. The emotion of seeing Trevor Etienne on the other sideline and then game planning against him, your familiarity, the defense’s familiarity, how does that play into the matchup?

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, well, it’s become the norm of college football. It’s already happened a handful of times this year that we played against players on the other side that were on our team in the past.

Look, feels like there is a story each week about scenarios like that. It wasn’t the first and won’t be the last, unfortunately.

Q. Was that one different because did it hurt more because you maybe didn’t see it coming and maybe obviously one of your better players on offense? How much did that one hurt when he dropped that news?

BILLY NAPIER: Again, I think for me, it’s gotten to a point where you just move on to the next one, you know. I think we’ve done what we needed to do to be productive at running back. Obviously Jadan, Ja’Kobi; Montrell has been very productive for us this year.

That position for us is at the centerpiece of our offense and I couldn’t be more proud of the guys that we have there. And Coach Juluke in particular has done a nice job.

But we identify players. We fit them into our blueprint there for that position and they produce, they have success.

So, yeah we’ll be handing it to somebody this weekend.

Q. 54 to 10 is the combined scores at halftime the last two years against Georgia. How imperative is it to get off to a good start from a confidence standpoint?

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah. Part of starting fast in general in the game of football is really important I would say. It’s a contributing factor from an analytics standpoint. If you took a deep dive into that you would see starting fast is very important.

These games are no different. That game will be much like every game we played this year. The key is that we are ready to play from a fundamental standpoint so that we can win some of these one on ones. These games are about point of attack wins and then you have to have a certain mindset and mentality and be ready to go.

This one will be no different than the ones from the past.

Q. Speaking of point of attack wins, you touched on their offensive line. I mean, line of scrimmage, both sides, how better equipped do you feel like you are than — compared to earlier in the season or even last season?

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, I think we have some players that have developed nicely over the last year. Coach Chapman has done a good job and certainly some of these guys that got significant experience for the first time last year, they’ve improved.

But much like I’ve said before, in this league if you want to be a consistent team, you want to be a contender, you got to be good on the line of scrimmage and on the edges. That starts with the evaluation and recruitment of the personnel. Once they arrive have to do a good job developing those players.

You have to have an identity there that allows for them to be productive. So we’ve made progress in that area and we need to continue to do that to be productive.

Q. You’ve known Glenn Schumann since he was at Alabama as a GA. What has it been like watching his rise as one the top defensive coordinators in the nation? What are some of the staples of the defense that you got to look out for?

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, Coach Schumann is an outstanding coach, good human being, works extremely hard. No one works — this guy is a football guy. Been in the trenches with him. Respect him. Certainly be a great challenge for our players and our staff.

So again, they got height, length, personnel is really good. There is depth, there is quality depth, and there is variables. Front variables, pressure variables, and coverage variables. It’s a combination of all these things that make it a challenge.

Again, we understand that. We’ll be ready for it.

Q. Not to take anything away from Graham because he’s been everything you wanted for two years, but how much of what we’re seeing can DJ is the Billy Napier offense? Having that guy running the show who has the entire playbook at his fingertips and can give all the different looks.

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, no, I think in a perfect world we would have a guy that’s a capable runner, a guy that is a factor in the read elements, and then also obviously the ability to push it down the field.

DJ, we were very fortunate to find him early in the process and have been blessed with the opportunity to coach the guy.

More importantly is just the makeup of the kid just from a character perspective. The humility and the work ethic. And Graham being around has been huge. That will be a big factor going forward for DJ the rest of the year.

Q. You touched on humility and those traits. This will be his first big game. He started two games. How do you think that can translator is going to handle that kind of atmosphere do you think?

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, I mean, I think they’re all big, okay? We tried to build in this concept of, hey, you are one play away. The urgency that you need to feel going all the way back to January relative to, hey, you’re preparing as if you’re going to have to do this at some point.

Playing them in every game has made for a preparation that becomes real, like I’m going out there. He’s been able to do that each week. Yeah, so I think that helps. We played several top 10 teams so far this year. Obviously last week was — two weeks ago was his first SEC start.

Then Georgia, you know, we all understand what comes with that, so hopefully the first of many for him.

Q. Forgive my ignorance on the recruiting process with him, but when did you identify him? When did you notice he had something different mentally in terms of fearless attitude he brings to the field?

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, he was here our first spring. I think he came to spring practice our first spring. I can remember being on the stadium. We were at the stadium. That’s back when a facility was over there and we were all on the third or fourth level there, offensive staff.

He sat in on the quarterback meeting. We walked over together from practice. At that point he was kind of an unknown to some degree, so that’s when probably my first memory of meeting him and spending time with him.

We had a common relationship. The quarterback trainer was a guy that coached one of our quarterbacks at Louisiana. Yeah, so that part, I do think probably the spring game was where I would say, just seeing him kind of raise his level that day in that environment.

You kind of felt like he stepped up to the plate and performed really. Made some big throws and seemed like no big deal. He’s a great competitor. It all comes back to he’s got a foundation there. He has a set of values. A faith. A family. He kind of knows who he is.

So that allows him to compete freely. I think he turns into a great competitor on game day. I think that’s one of his best traits.

Q. Pretty good bond with both his dad. How would you characterize your relationship with him?

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, just a healthy respect. For me, I think watching him handle his recruitment is ultimately when I gained the most respect for the kid and the family. They went from a — I just think they stuck to who they were. Very grounded. Stayed in Willis, Texas.

Guy could have went anywhere in that Houston footprint to be the quarterback and kind of stuck there in their hometown. Did great things with that high school there that was uncharted waters.

Then obviously just stayed focused throughout the entire recruiting process.

Q. I know we’ll get an update on Wednesday, but how is Jason doing after the bye or maybe some of the guys at corner that if he can’t go you’re looking to step up?

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, I think we’ll have an update for you Wednesday. 8:10 pm I think it is.

Q. …improvements you’ve seen over the last month especially, what do you attribute to those two and is there something more you would like to see out of that unit for the final month of the season?

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, I think we settled into a lineup there. I think the competition has helped, and then ultimately I think they’ve just gotten the experience and improved. Some of them were relatively green to this league, this level, whether that was Brandon or Knijeah; Damieon played a new position. Obviously Barber and Slaughter have experience, but really Slaughter played half the year last year.

I think they gained experience and some confidence and gotten — I think the practice environment has helped. I think just going against good personnel every day. You know, getting into a little bit of a rhythm in terms of how to prepare during the season.

Experience matters. I think it’s an important part of the game.

Q. Carson Beck been a little up and down lately. What is the challenge of defending him obviously?

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, no, we don’t buy into that narrative. This guy is elite. He’s an elite quarterback. Been fantastic throughout his career. Really seen a lot of football. Their practice environment, number of variables he’s seen from a front pressure coverage standpoint, and he’s a big, tall, athletic guy that can throw it all over the park.

Any player that you play you have to anticipate them being at their best, so he’s highly regarded for a reason.

Q. You have a good time to see your secondary really beginning to emerge.

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, it’ll be a big part of this game and every game going forward. Again, there will be a ton of matchups in the slot, outside. These games, they come down to point of attack wins. You got to have point of attack, one on one wins and have to do that consistently.

Q. What kind of progress do you think you’re seeing in the program year three to two at this point?

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, mindset has shifted a little bit I think. I think the makeup of our team, you know, I think we’re in a lot better place in that regard.

Look, I mean, it’s a production business. We got to do it on the grass. We played better the last few weeks, a little bit more like we anticipated playing as a team, certain parts of our team in particular.

But, yeah, I have a respect for the attitude and the effort of the group, the resiliency of the group. That’s the term I would say that’s impressed me the most.

Again, these things I talked about, the performance, character of the group has improved, sure. There is a noticeable difference in the effort, the intensity, and the execution of the football.

More importantly, there is a moral character that allows them deal with the criticism and the noise and to stay loyal, stick together, to be solution oriented, not splinter, point fingers, to continue to — I think that takes some character to do, especially in today’s era.

I’m hopeful that will pay off.

Q. …DJ’s personality, who he is, his physical attributes of course, but the game management aspect was something you talked about you wanted to see a little bit more out of him coming into the season. Over the last couple weeks how have you seen him improve in that regard and what areas are you still looking to see him take the next step?

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, it’s all reps. It’s experience. It’s not only experience in the game, but experience in practice. We did quite a bit of situational work last week and then we had a pretty exhaustive remedial session on all the situational football, verbiage, all these things that come up.

I think you get a lot of work with the ones and the twos throughout but some of the situational work is very specific to the first unit, so we’re just trying to get him caught up there.

He has no trouble processing. It’s just a matter of time, repetition. And there is no substitute for living it, you know, and living the success, but also with the consequences of making a bad decision.

Q. Seems to have a connection with Elihjah Badger. Did that start when both of them were running with the second team in fall camp?

BILLY NAPIER: I think our skill worked together throughout. I think Badger is an easy guy to like, you know. If I’m playing quarterback, I think I would try to connect with him, too.

But no, Badger has improved. His game has really taken another step. I think the detail in his route running has improved. Receiver is a skill game. The release part of the game, the top of the route separation, the hand selection, and then obviously the coverage, there is a football IQ element there.

But I think Coach G has done a good job with him. He’s a very durable, consistent player, so he’s got some play strength.

Q. It’s been an up and down season for Trey and he’s been banged up. What have you seen from him in the bye week and maybe how important is he going to be the next five games?

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, no, it’s unfortunate. I think the injury bug is part of the game. We’ve got to — every team, I mean, you think about each team we’ve played, it’s more about the players that are available each week and what you do with that group.

That’s when it’s hard, is when you’re getting into the middle of the week. You’re building the plan in early part of the week and you’re unsure who is available. I think we have done a good job adjusting in that regard, but that’s part of the equation.

Q. He getting a little closer to full speed? What was the bye week like do you think?

BILLY NAPIER: We’ve done quite a bit of work with him. I think obviously we’re not commenting specifically on injuries, but, yeah, I think the open dates are good in that regard. We’re able to get a lot of guys healthy.

Much like a number of guys on our team, we’re hopeful we get a couple of these guys back.

Q. Last contest was a big one for Jadan Baugh. Montrell Johnson’s status up in the air for this week. What do you anticipate seeing from Jadan going forward, against Georgia, and the rest of the season?

BILLY NAPIER: We’re hopeful we get some guys back at that position. Jadan will get better. You can see he’s getting comfortable. I think early in the year you saw there was some ability there, but just the overall, what’s it like out there performing at that level. I think he’s improved in his pass protection. He and Ja’Kobi both need to continue to grow in that area.

Yeah, played well with the ball. And he’s a big guy. He’s slippery. Obviously he has showed to be very productive. So we’re hopeful he continues in that direction.

Q. Lagway and Jadan worked really well together last week. You also have a lot of the strong talent in the receiver room. All freshmen, redshirt freshmen, true freshmen. What do you think this spells out for the future of Florida’s offense to have so many young guys contributing like this?

BILLY NAPIER: I think you got to take what you have available each year and try to make the most of it. I think the world we’re living in now it’s literally one team at a time to some degree.

Now, if we’re doing this the right way, then we’re building quality depth, experience, we’re able to retain players, and we can build in that fashion.

But there is nothing to say that it will work out that way. You got to take each cycle relative to acquiring players and do the best you can for the team.

Once you get through that spring portal, coach what’s left, right? That’s what we’ve done.

Q. A little bit away from this weekend’s game. Wanted to talk about Ricky Pearsall’s game last against the Cowboys. He did really well for the 49ers. How did that make you feel seeing him do so well after that traumatic injury?

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, no, we’re proud of Ricky. Obviously been through some challenges and adversity there. First of all, we’re glad he’s healthy. I think that paints a picture of perspective that we all got to evaluate practice.

But Ricky did it right when he was here. I think he was a great teammate. He did things with class. Prepared the right way. Was a very productive player and leader for us.

And got better every day. His work ethic was second to none. He’ll be a great pro. Obviously now that he’s back in the lineup he’ll get better each week. There is no question about it.

Q. Without going into specifics about Asa Turner’s recovery, what have you seen from him behind the scenes and serving as a leader to some of the younger defensive backs? How difficult has it been for him this year not going the way he envisioned?

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, no, injuries are challenging, man. It’s one of the more challenging things for the players. And coaches as well, I think. Asa has been a very steady player and person/leader. He’s provided some veteran kind of good work ethic, example, how to communicate, go about your business.

He’s done a nice job in that regard. And even when he’s been absent there are some things he’s done to help the squad as a whole. He’s another player that’s on a long list of hopeful to get him back.

Q. I think Jadan’s first offer might have been Georgia. One of the reporters there was telling me. What kind of recruiting win is it to get a guy out of Georgia for one? I know I wasn’t the most highly rated guy, but he is obviously extremely talented.

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, no, I think we ended upbeating Alabama at the very end. Yeah, I mean, I think Jadan first of all went to school in January and we were evaluating the guys at linebacker. That just goes to show how much we knew. But we knew he played running back.

He was a kind of hybrid Wildcat quarterback. He played receiver. Just to see how big he was, you know, you are watching the tape and you meet him and you’re like, okay, this is a little bit different cat here.

My brother actually played their team in a scrimmage and at that point he was committed to Arkansas and he picked up the phone after that scrimmage and called me and said, hey, you need to get on that Jadan Baugh guy. We turned it up after that scrimmage.

Q. (Indiscernible.)

BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, no, I think that’s one of the things that was impressive about him. Loose hipped and could change direction. To be 237 pounds, I think he’s unique. Incredible kid and family. Just he’s got it. I mean, you can tell going to that school that day.

He’s a really good basketball player, too. Point guard in a basketball team. Well-rounded. Parents are phenomenal people. Very ground. He’s the right kind. You take that one every time.

CHIMERE DIKE

Q. First Florida/Georgia game. You were part of the Paul Bunyan Axe and so forth and everything. What are you learning about the rivalry?

CHIMERE DIKE: Kind of like Tennessee, B. Spikes in the summer, we had a Georgia day where some of the new guys came in, the transfers and the freshmen. He kind of gave us a feel for it.

Just being a college football fan you definitely know about this game. My cousin, unfortunately, went to Georgia. She has a great education. She’s doing great, but she has told me about this game as well, just growing up.

Obviously it means a lot to our fans and our university, so I’m excited to be able to play.

Q. DJ, his presence, what stands out just about the way he just kind of conducts himself during the game, handles himself? He seems pretty fearless.

CHIMERE DIKE: For me it’s the poise to be able to be 19 and be able to play like even the Tennessee game. Obviously big fourth quarter down the stretch and stepped up in those moments. I think it just shows the kind of competitor he is. Then just the way he approaches every single day in the building is also really impressive to me.

Q. Just his ability to attack down field and willingness is pretty rare. It’s a declarative statement, but what you do think about it?

CHIMERE DIKE: When you can make some of the throws he makes, I would be confident too. He’s a really special player. I’m excited to continue to see him grow and take steps each and every single week.

Q. What do you think are the biggest challenges on Saturday?

CHIMERE DIKE: Georgia is a really good football team. I think it’s just being able to execute our game plan. Obviously we’re still early in prep, but they’re a well-coached football team. They’re really athletic. They know how to win.

We’re going to have to have a good game. We’re going to have to execute. It’s going to be a battle, but I’m excited, and I think as a competitor that’s a challenge that you want.

Q. A lot of guys described the first bye week as fun, competitive. Was that taken to another level when maybe considering the schedule the rest of the way and what is at stake here for bowl eligibility, and stuff like that?

CHIMERE DIKE: We had a lot of competitive good-on-good stuff. I think the first bye week was really good for our team. I think we were able to find kind of our identity a lot during that time.

Obviously we have a lot of really good teams, and we have a really good team this week. So I think that we definitely took advantage and competed and tried to take steps forward.

Q. How do you feel like this year has gone for you so far, just what you have shown? You have better stats than you did last year.

CHIMERE DIKE: I feel like I’ve been playing good football. My focus is just on executing as much as I can. I feel like I’ve been able to go out there and do different things, but our coaches do a great job preparing me. I have great teammates around me. It’s really easy for me. I just go out there on Saturdays and have a great attention to detail and play as hard as I can.

Q. I know Graham was part of that pitch, but what did Florida sell you on being able to showcase you in this offense, and do you feel like that’s come to fruition?

CHIMERE DIKE: Yeah, definitely. I think it was somewhere I felt I could make an impact on the field and off the field. I felt like I could be a guy that could make an impact in the locker room and our receiver room with a lot of really young talented players. That’s something that I take really seriously as well.

Then on the field obviously kind of a way they’ve utilized me is the way I envisioned. As well it’s a great university, so it was a pretty easy sell.

Q. Obviously you’ve been a crucial cog in the Florida offense at this point, but you’ve also established yourself as probably the top return man on the field. What do you think has allowed you to find your role here and just settle in both as a weapon on two different ends of the field if that makes sense?

CHIMERE DIKE: Yeah, I think when you get to somewhere new, you just want to work extremely hard. I think I wanted to prove to the guys how much I cared. I came in winter workouts and worked as hard as I can. Spring practice, just continued to improve, listened to all the coaching points.

They put me where they need me. I’ve blessed to be able to represent this university.

Q. What do you think a rivalry win would do for this program right now?

CHIMERE DIKE: Rivalry wins are huge obviously, especially against a team like Georgia with their success and the level of talent, how well-coached they are. I think that every single win in a game in the SEC is huge, but I definitely think this is a big one this Saturday. We understand that.

Our approach is the same. Just continue to take it one day at a time and be as immersed in the game plan as we can.

Q. You said you spoke to a couple of teammates about what this game means.

CHIMERE DIKE: I spoke to B. Spikes, and obviously the guys have talked about it too. That’s just throughout like regular talk. We haven’t necessarily sat down and been, like, you know, what importance. I think that if you are a college football fan, you know the importance. It’s one of those rivalries.

Q. How is B. Spikes, by the way?

CHIMERE DIKE: He’s been good. I haven’t gotten a chance to really talk to him, but I think he’s doing all right.

Q. What are you seeing from Trey behind the scenes and if he starts playing like the guy we’re expecting before he got hurt, what can that do to elevate the offense?

CHIMERE DIKE: I mean, I’ve said it before. Trey is special. He’s got an extreme ability to hit his top speed quick. He’s a dynamic playmaker. He is continuing to work, and he’s the same guy every single day in the facility. Just continuing to make plays.

I’m excited that whenever he’s involved and he’s making plays that we’re definitely have a key to our offense that can really help us.

Q. I don’t know how much film work you’ve done, but anything that stands out about Georgia’s defense on film and how Kirby coaches them and so forth and the challenge of being able to move the ball against them?

CHIMERE DIKE: You see it by the results that they have that they’re a very good defense, and obviously through the past couple of years they’ve been very, very, very good. I think they have a lot of athletic people up front. Their secondary is disciplined. They’re really physical. They have a lot of really good players back there.

They’re a disciplined defense as well. So I think that when you have a lot of talented players and you’re well-coached, it makes for a good defense. I think as a competitor, like I said, you want that. You don’t want to go against somebody who is not prepared, who is not disciplined. I’m excited for the challenge.

Q. Coach Miles mentioned your top speed five times since you have been here. How much do you think that’s helped your game? I think you only started returning punts last year at Wisconsin. How much has that top end speed and agility kind of helped you there as well?

CHIMERE DIKE: Coach Miles has done a great job of pouring into us. Even during in-season lifting I feel like I’ve been able to maintain my weight and my strength as well.

I think that the faster you can be, especially in a conference like the SEC where I think speed is more at the forefront, I think it’s important. I think it’s definitely helped me.

Q. Did it surprise you at all, just seeing the numbers when you first got here?

CHIMERE DIKE: I feel like I’ve been fast for a while, if I’m being honest (laughing).

Q. What kind of physical kind of marvel is Jadan?

CHIMERE DIKE: Oh, Jadan Baugh? I remember the first time you really get a look at running backs is in scrimmages or spring games. They’re running the ball, but it’s kind of like thud. It’s not the same. That spring game I was, like, Oh.

I’ve been around some good backs. My senior year at Wisconsin it was Jonathan Taylor. I went to every home game because I was an hour away from Wisconsin. I got to see him every single week.

I saw Braelon Allen, Chez Mellusi, Isaac Guerendo, who just had 100 yards for the 49ers. He has that special ability to get the ball in his hands too. Like Coach Napier was saying, he is a great kid. He has high character, and I think the sky is the limit for him.

Q. Do you think the open week maybe helped DJ in terms of playing experience and stuff, but another week to get a lot of reps with the receivers and so forth and how can that translate on Saturday?

CHIMERE DIKE: Yeah, I think it was huge for everyone, especially some of the younger guys being able to work, but DJ took advantage of it having a great week at practice. I think the more reps you can get, the more comfortable you can be come Saturday.

I think it was huge for him. Obviously I think he’s very well-prepared even before the open day as you could see, but I think that it’s just huge for our team to continue to take every single week and get better.

Q. Did you guys split the teams up again?

CHIMERE DIKE: Yeah, we split. It was good. It was good. I love the feeling of the competition. Not that practices aren’t competitive, but when you see that score on the scoreboard and there’s something on the line, it gets the juices flowing a little bit more. We had fun with it.

Q. How many gassers did you have to run?

CHIMERE DIKE: One. I ran one of the days. One of the days I won; one of the days I lost. It was two come-from-behind victories, which was huge.

Q. As teams start to look at the film and respect DJ’s deep ball, how much do you think that will open things up underneath for you guys?

CHIMERE DIKE: Yeah, I think that when you can make teams defend the run, can you make them defend the short pass, medium pass, and the long ball, it spreads them out. I think that if we’re able to have success in all those areas, it will be definitely a lot tougher to defend us.

Q. Two come-from-behinds. Did DJ direct any of them?

CHIMERE DIKE: The first day it was DJ’s team, and the second day Aidan Warner went and turned up in four-minute drill. You know, it’s one D and two 0, so it’s good competition. Our defense is playing at a really high level. It’s good to be out there and go against those guys because they make us better.

Q. How is Graham doing?

CHIMERE DIKE: Graham is doing good. I was able to spend a lot of time with him on Sunday. I think that the way he’s handling it is amazing. He’s handling it better than I would.

His character is something that as his friend, I’m really proud of him for. I think that when you are presented with a challenge, you kind of have two ways to go about it. You can sulk, or you can kind of attack it and grow from it. He’s definitely doing the latter. I’m excited to see kind of the success that he has going forward.

Q. How important is it for him to have you in his ear as one of his best friends?

CHIMERE DIKE: I hope I can be there for him during this time. I think that we’re extremely close. We can talk about stuff that maybe we can’t talk about with other people. Whenever he needs me, I want to be somebody that’s there for him.

He’s done an amazing job of still being in the locker room and being a guy who DJ can lean on, a guy who the rest of our team can lean on because obviously he’s a big part and a huge leader of our team.

Q. Before the surgery he made a point to tell us that he is going to have a pro day, which is kind of a tight timeline, but what would that mean for you to catch passes for him on his pro day when he comes back from this?

CHIMERE DIKE: That would be amazing. A guy that you went through all these experiences with, the ups and downs, to be able to go out on pro day and obviously we have a lot of stuff to take care of before then, but that would be a really cool experience.

Hopefully he’s able to be back by then. That would be a really special day.

Q. Could it be an underappreciated aspect, his influence on DJ these eight, nine months?

CHIMERE DIKE: Yeah. I mean, I think that any time as a young guy — at least speaking for myself, when I had players that I thought did it the right way and I was able to learn from them, I think back to my time at Wisconsin. I had three senior receivers in the room that I was playing with. Danny Davis, Kenderic Pryor, and Jack Dunn. All those guys, I took something from their game and just from how they approached it.

I think that when you have a guy like Graham who obviously is an extremely talented quarterback, but also somebody who knows the game, super smart, and is a leader. Kind of does things the right way in my opinion.

A guy like DJ, who is super talented and young and being able to learn from him is something that he can take with his career and obviously kind of put his own spin on it, but I think that is very valuable.

Q. Are there any receivers specifically that you have kind of taken under your wing?

CHIMERE DIKE: Yeah. I try to be somebody who any of the young guys can lean on. Guys like Tank, TJ, a lot of the younger guys I try to be able to share different things with them. DeBraun Hampton, like all those guys. I try to be somebody who they can come to talk to, but also just as a leader by example and how detailed I am in my preparation and the way I practice, things like that.

Q. You mentioned all those talented running backs at Wisconsin that you got to watch. Is there anything in Jadan’s game that you have seen from a guy like Jonathan Taylor or one of the other guys you mentioned?

CHIMERE DIKE: He is different. He has very good size obviously, but his lateral movement and he is patient, but he is not too patient, which is — for him to be a freshman and have that. I saw Braelon kind of develop that where he had the patience, but he would also run downhill.

I feel like Jadan had that since spring, which is really impressive. I think that that’s something that kind of shows the kind of player that he is.

JACK PYBURN

Q. Jack, being from Jacksonville, what does this game kind of mean to you and Pup and the other guys from that area?

JACK PYBURN: I can tell you for me it means everything. Since I’ve been growing up, there is not a Georgia/Florida game that I can’t remember not going to. I’ve been to every single game since I remember what Florida/Georgia is.

Growing up in that environment and really truly knowing what this game is like, it makes or breaks some people’s year for them. You know, it’s a year of trash talk on both sides of the ball, your neighbor.

It’s like the Florida State rivalry to a certain extent. There’s a lot of Georgia fans in North Florida. There’s a lot of Florida fans. It’s a heated rivalry that truly is special.

Q. You’re coming up on the one year that you had your knee injury. If you take time and reflect on everything you have put into being able to come back, how gratifying is it to really start playing at your peak right now?

JACK PYBURN: Yeah, I thank God, first of all. It wouldn’t be possible without him. It wouldn’t be possible without my family. It wouldn’t be possible without this great university and the people that have stayed with me this entire time and pushed me to be the best version of myself and come back at a high level.

I am so thankful just for the opportunity to be back in a position where I can play the game that I love and do what I love most in the world.

Q. Do you remember Carson Beck when he played high school football in Jacksonville?

JACK PYBURN: I do. I don’t remember what year exactly I was, but he played, and I remember watching his state championship team. I knew a lot of people who played against him. He was obviously a great player then. He’s still a great player now. I respect his game and look forward to playing against him.

Q. How important is it going to be for you guys to kind of make it a little uncomfortable for him on Saturday?

JACK PYBURN: Any great quarterback you have to get them off their spot and cause them to be under duress and get hits on quarterback. It’s going to be a big part of our game plan to make him move out of the pocket, make him move around and have to make tougher throws and not be able to sit back there and have all day to make reads and become comfortable.

Q. Seeing Etienne again, probably not something you were hoping to have to — a guy you were hoping to have to tackle. What’s that like to see a former teammate on the opposing team now?

JACK PYBURN: At the end of the day the guy is my brother. Blood, sweat, and tears here together for two years. Came in with him. He’s a great friend to me. He always has been. I have respect for him.

I’m just really looking forward to competing against him in the game. There’s no friends on the field, but before and after the game, always buddies, always friends. Just looking forward to competing against him because he’s a great player.

Q. Do you see yourself in the same position group now that you’re a fullback, running back?

JACK PYBURN: No, not quite. Not quite.

Q. How did that come about, and how much did you embrace that fullback role? Did you even go seek it out?

JACK PYBURN: No, they came to me about it. They used me in a variety of ways. They use me on special teams. My defensive role, and now offense. It’s been a package that we’ve had in for a good while.

We’ve practiced it. We’ve repped it, but just had to get the right situation to run it and call it. I was definitely excited when they called it because I knew it was going to be a touchdown for sure. I was pretty juiced up about it.

Q. Did you ever play fullback in high school?

JACK PYBURN: I did. Yeah, I did. I played running back when I was in Pop Warner. Every kid plays running back when they’re in Pop Warner. Who doesn’t?

I played running back when I was younger and tight end and all that kind of stuff. In high school I was our fullback and would lead block for my buddy who plays at Air Force now. That was super fun. It was reliving a little bit of those experiences too because at the end of the day it’s putting me on the goal line, letting me put my head down, and it’s one-on-one with someone, and I like me over anybody, so…

Q. Fullback is kind of a lost art. What do you like about that position, that responsibility?

JACK PYBURN: I just feel like when they put you in at fullback, you know your assignment, you know your job. It’s coming down to, Hey, Jack, we need to you blow up the edge. Okay, I do that pretty well on defense, so I can do that well pretty well on offense too.

I look forward to putting my face into someone and running through someone, if I’m being honest. I love contact, so…

Q. Speaking of blowing up the edge, I don’t know if you saw the highlight that circulated on social media of you making some plays off the edge. How much have you taken pride in some of those plays that you have made at your natural spot?

JACK PYBURN: It’s what I do, man. I love contact. At the end of the day you watch the best edges in the NFL, you watch the best edges in college football, the best edges are ones that set edges and set edges with violence.

Like I say, it’s better to be the hammer than the nail because if you’re the nail, you’re the one that’s getting hurt. If you are the hammer, you ain’t going to feel nothing. So when I come there it’s a mentality that I’m going to run through your face, and you’re going to have to stop me. Hurts them a lot more than it hurts me. It’s fun.

Q. There was one play where you went for the offensive lineman and ran past the running back with the ball in his hand because that was your responsibility. How much discipline does it take to do that?

JACK PYBURN: A lot. It’s hard, especially in a situation that you see the running back, but at the end of the day can I make that play? Am I good enough? I think so, but if I don’t, I just sold out ten other guys on defense. I think that’s something that gets lost in today’s age.

You know, at the end of the day you have to be a football player, play disciplined football and not just be an athlete. Sometimes when you try to make those wow, crazy plays, you end up hurting the other ten guys that have worked their tails off all week and all year to do their assignment, and you could potentially cost them the game because you decided to be selfish in the moment.

When I have plays like that, I read my keys, I know what I have, and I do my job. Most of the time if I do my job well enough, it allows me to make the play on top of it also.

Q. Sometimes your job might be just to force this play back inside where we have more people instead of getting out of my responsibility to try to make it for myself. Is that —

JACK PYBURN: 100%, yeah. At the end of the day if you are the edge, you set the edge, you do it to the best of your ability.

If you’re the inside piece, you take on the inside. You cut off the blocks and force it to your linebackers and spill. That’s just called playing team defense and elite defenses play team defense. If you want to be an elite defense, you have to play team defense.

Q. When was it first evident that you had that kind of mode and this attitude because a lot of kids when they start playing — how young were you?

JACK PYBURN: When I first put the bobble head tackle football helmet on? Probably 7, maybe 8. Pee Wee or whatever it’s called.

Q. A lot of kids at that age shy away from contact a little sometimes, and then you kind of — where were you? Did you have the mode and love of contact at a young age?

JACK PYBURN: Yeah, I did. It was a funny situation. I do remember it. It was my mom — or it’s my dad. I forget which one, but they tell me about it. It might have been both of them.

They tell me all the time about it was right after my first football practice ever because I was the kid that would be in soccer and all the parents would come off the sideline screaming because all the kids would be kicking the ball in the pile, and I would come through there and plow everybody over, and they would all be mad.

I remember after my first practice they came, and I was, like, So I can hit people and not get in trouble for it? They were, like, Yeah. I was, like, Wow, this is great. So ever since then I have just loved — I just love being physical. I love contact. I don’t know why. I guess something might be wrong with me. I don’t know.

Q. Probably, but were you Tasmanian Devil around the house breaking things?

JACK PYBURN: Oh, yeah. I was the kid on Saturdays who you would be sitting there watching college football. I’m, like, stacking up pillows and holding the football and trying to truck pillows. Yeah, for sure.

Q. How do you view the current state of the rivalry? You talked about bragging rights. What do you think it’s going to take to change or how do you players view that?

JACK PYBURN: First off, all credit to Georgia. I think they’re a fantastic team. I think what their coach has done there over the past since he has been there has been great. They’ve built a culture of winning. They’ve established a strong prince amongst the college football world.

At the end of the day you have to come with a mentality that you’re going to win every game. If you don’t, you’re not going to win the games. I think that’s something that I have been trying not only me, but all the leaders on our team, all the coaches that, listen, we have the talent to play with and beat any team in the country, but you have to show up on Saturday with that mentality to do it.

Q. At the same time you have talked about having a chip on your shoulder type mentality here in a sense. How do you balance the two of feeling like you have a chip on your shoulder and also that you can compete with anyone in the nation?

JACK PYBURN: I feel like having your chip on your shoulder is a big reason why you feel like you can compete with anyone in the nation. I feel like when people lose sight of that they have something to prove and that they’ve arrived, that’s when they’re lost.

If you always feel like you’ve never arrived and that you always have more to gain, which is how every football player should feel, because at the end of the day there’s always more that you can bring out of yourself and the game of football. There’s always more you can learn. There’s always techniques you can learn.

If you approach everything with a chip on your shoulder, I think it brings the best out of people’s character.

Q. Are you one of the guys who has attacked to some of the recent transfers? This program has added 30-plus transfers in the last two years. Have you talked to them about the importance of this game and what it means to not just to you guys as a program, but the fan bases and everyone else out there who is tuning in on Saturday?

JACK PYBURN: Yeah, I remind everybody how important this game is. Whether it’s someone in EQ, whether it’s someone in the training room, whether it’s a player, whether it’s a transfer, everyone needs to understand the importance of this game and any rivalry at Florida because this place is a special place.

The rivalries that have been built over the years have been built because of the great players that have come through there. We have to maintain that standard that those players have set and played for them and respect those that have come before us by playing our hardest we can every Saturday.

Q. Combined scores the last two years are 54-10 at halftime. Georgia has really put it away. How imperative is a better start, fast start for you guys?

JACK PYBURN: It’s everything. From the first drive you have to look to impose your will on another team no matter what game it is. I think that is something that especially our defense has done much better in the past four weeks as we’ve been starting fast. We’ve been getting three-and-outs on the first drives. We’ve been coming out and getting our offense the ball early as well as our offense going down, gaining touchdowns earlier in the game, setting the tone.

I think at the end of the day it’s going to come down to we have to come out there with the right mindset and set the tone early.

Q. You mentioned going to this game growing up. What was it like last year coming in and seeing all the tailgating, running out onto the field and just being a part of it?

JACK PYBURN: Yeah, it’s been crazy the past two years because I know where my family sits, and knowing that there’s hundreds of people there at that game to watch me play, and it’s going to be even crazier this year. It’s honestly kind of surreal.

When you grow up sitting in the stands your whole life and seeing the orange and blue — or the orange and red and blue divided, it’s crazy. But when you are on the field and it’s sitting there, it’s split down the middle, to me it’s almost more of a home game than even here to an extent because I’ve been to that game my entire life. It’s where I’m from. It’s my home.

That game, I mean, it meant everything. I was one of the people that was riding around on little mini-scooters on Thursday or Wednesday at the game. It’s incredible. I’m just really looking forward to getting back there and playing it again and performing for my university.

Q. On that note, would you ever want that game moved from Jacksonville?

JACK PYBURN: No.

Q. Why not?

JACK PYBURN: You just can’t replace that game. For the fans, for us, the atmosphere. They call it the largest outdoor cocktail party for a reason. I mean, you think the game is packed. There are hundreds of more thousands of fans outside of the game everywhere.

When you go to RV City on a Thursday night, and there’s 40 Georgia buses all lined up wrapped with Georgia wraps, and every single one is a Georgia fan. Then you go the next street, and it’s all Gator fans, the exact same. It’s just special.

Being at a middle ground between North Florida where a lot of Gator fans can come to and a lot of Georgia fans can migrate to, I feel like it’s a great venue and great spot to play one of the greatest rivalries in the country.

Q. What do you think the high school kids think about with that game being there in terms of recruiting right now? Are there a lot of Georgia guys or a lot of Florida guys? Were you recruited by Georgia?

JACK PYBURN: No, I wasn’t. I do remember that their coach had brought up that point in the past that they want it for more recruiting. I can see that to an extent, but at the end of the day when you become a player and get to play in it, you kind of forget about things like that.

I wouldn’t mind if they made it better to be able to have recruits on both sides. Kind of make it a home and home for recruiting for both teams. I think that would be — I don’t know if they do that now. I’m not really sure how it all works because I was obviously just at the game as a fan all those years, but I just think the uniqueness and the experience of it is irreplaceable.

Q. When did it hit you that you were going to play in a game that you went to as a kid and running out in the tunnel? Was that part of the motivation in a sense to come to Florida to play in this game?

JACK PYBURN: Oh, it always has been to play in these rivalry games. Growing up watching Florida play against these teams, and I was one of those people where this game would make or break my year, make or break my week. It was bad.

For me this is why you come to the SEC is to play in these kind of games, these unique experiences that you don’t get in some other conferences and playing against the best team in the country.

Q. A lot of coaches and players kind of say it’s a nameless face, it’s just the next opponent. You have kind of spoken to how important rivalry games are. Is that something that the team feels this week? Not to take anything away from a Kentucky or a Stanford, but does this week feel different being Georgia?

JACK PYBURN: Yes, 100% especially how good of a team they are. I view everything as opportunity. You know, not only a rivalry game, but if we want to be where we want to be as a team and put Florida back where I believe that this university deserves to be, we have to win games like this. We have to be competitive in games like this, and we have to show up in moments like this.

That’s something in the big message that I have been harping to the team all week and I think all the guys have sewed in their head is that this is a game that we need to come and play our best ball at.

Q. Did you have any fullbacks that you grew up watching or admiring? Were you a Mike Alstott guy?

JACK PYBURN: No, I’m going to be honest. Not really. I was always paying attention to defense.

Q. Michael Williams, being an edge guy, what’s your familiarity with him on Georgia? Do you know of him or not?

JACK PYBURN: I don’t think so, no.

Q. I wanted one more question on Trevor, though. Just the way Georgia uses him, what challenge does that pose? He’s caught 15 passes the last three games in addition to running it a dozen plus each game.

JACK PYBURN: I think a big key for this game is going to be ID’ing where he is on the field. You have to pay attention to what they do, watch a lot of film, and be detail-oriented. It’s like any week.

Georgia is a team that’s going to do what they do because they execute at a high level. They’re going to have some tricks and some trades here and there, but they’re going to line up, and they’re going to play physical. They’re going to come at you, and they’re not going to shy away for four quarters. You need to understand what your assignment is and understand what kind of game it’s going to be.

ID’ing where he is on the field and trying to contain him and get after him all game is going to be a big part of success on Saturday.

Q. Since you do have a background as a ball carrier, will you be lobbying for any fullback dives?

JACK PYBURN: Always, always. I mean, you always want to be selfish as a player and get the ball, so…

Q. Did you have any in high school from that spot?

JACK PYBURN: We had some plays installed. Kind of the same thing in high school. We didn’t end up running them because pretty much every single time we would just run power and we would score because I would tray one or two guys, and we would just score. So what was the point in changing something that ain’t broke? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix you.

Q. But if they need you?

JACK PYBURN: I can do it.

Q. The offensive line picks up the running backs when they score. Do you think that would happen if you had a fullback dive touchdown, like Austin Barber picking you up?

JACK PYBURN: It would probably take an extra lineman to do it, but they would probably try. It would be pretty cool. I would probably be running around too much and too hyped anyway for anybody to grab and pick me up, so I would be running around like my head was cut off, but it would be hilarious, but it would awesome.

Transcripts courtesy ASAP | Videos courtesy GatorVision & YouTube

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