GATORCOLLECTIVE CORNER. MEET DIWUN BLACK: A Player Who Stuck To His Commitment

Transcribed from an interview on The Buddy Martin Show

By KYLE CURTIS, GatorBait Intern

“I think my favorite position to play is inside linebacker, because during the season on scout defense I was playing inside linebacker and when I was playing it was much easier. I was there every time as inside linebacker. It was much easier than holding an inside slot receiver, so I like that more than star.”

--Diwun Black

Question: What is it about your game that translates so well to this defense?

Answer: “Just being so big and long and versatile with my speed. Going sideline to sideline is my biggest aspect on defense.”

Question: Why was wearing the orange and blue and coming to Florida so important to you?

Answer: “I was committed to Mississippi State under Dan Mullen and then once he left, I didn't get a UF offer yet, but I always wanted to play at UF. So, when Dan Mullen went to Florida, I texted him and was like ‘I guess I’m about to be a Gator now.’ And then a couple of weeks later he had sent me my official offer. I went to my first visit, and I had been to a bunch of different college campuses but when I went to Florida it was different. I had to be here.”

Question: How are the players feeling after recruiting season has ended?

Answer: “We feel good. We are always on Twitter trying to build the recruiting process. Trying to get it bigger than what it is now. But right now, I think we just did it alone. So, we just started pushing forward.”

Question: You already seem to be a fan favorite, what is it about the fans that excite you?

Answer: “After I committed, since the first day I wanted to be a Gator, even after I went JUCO they stayed loyal, they stayed the same. They would even inbox me, motivate me through JUCO. Some would even watch my games, and it was fans that I wouldn’t even follow them. It’s just the love and support through two years of going through JUCO the love still stayed the same, it’s just unreal here.”

Question: How much does your mom mean to you and what has she done for your football career?

Answer: “My mom means everything to me. She keeps me pushing through school, football. She was there for me when I had to move to Florida to attend another high school. She was scared for me moving, but she knew what we had to do to get where I needed to be. That’s my queen.”

Question: How has NIL affected you and your teammates up to this point?

Answer: “We all love it; I love making it to events. We get to see the fans, eat with them, and take pictures. I love all of that, I love doing it. My favorite one we went bowling, it was a bunch of fun.”

Happy to be at Florida, Diwun Black shares the joy. (UAAPhoto)

Question: How much did JUCO prepare you for ultimately ending up at Florida?

Answer: “I think it prepared me a lot, especially with all the workouts and keeping a straight mind. I think it gave me an extra edge instead of coming straight out of high school. I really like that I went JUCO first because I picked up a lot of things that help me at Florida.”

Question: You were so happy to put on the uniform when you got to campus, can you talk about your excitement to be a Gator?

Answer: “First day I got to campus, and I moved into keys it was really unreal… It is still so surreal to me. I go outside and I’m looking at the building like yeah. I walked to the stadium and tapped on the gator head and it’s crazy.”

Question: What do you bring to the team, not from an athletic standpoint, but rather in the locker room as a teammate?

Answer: “I bring a lot of confidence. I bring energy to my teammates, and I will be competitive with them. I will race them, beat them out in a drill, whatever. It’s just the whole vibe of being great and being cool at the same time. My energy is always there, never down.”

Question: Through JUCO you were always Florida, what was it about UF that kept you committed throughout that process?

Answer: “When I went JUCO I actually picked up more division one offers. I used to tell my coach if a coach came and talked to him tell him ‘I’m UF, I’m good’. I wouldn’t change. After I went and I made a post that I’m coming back home.”

Question: What’s your strength as an inside linebacker?

Answer: “Recently I just weighed in at 218 but now I’m 227. Me and AR can do the most with our size on the team. Our body movement and our size, I think me and him have versatility.”

Question: What are learning about you through Gator Collective that you wouldn’t have known without it?

Answer: “I think I came down I never knew I was that social. I never thought I’d be hanging around that many people and love it. When I started Gator Collective, and I was hanging out with friends and fans I didn’t want to leave. It was so cool to me seeing kids happy to see me in their presence. I don’t leave until everyone else leaves.”

Question: What is your favorite position to play and where will you lineup this year?

Answer: “I think my favorite position to play is inside linebacker, because during the season on scout defense I was playing inside linebacker and when I was playing it was much easier. I was there every time as inside linebacker. It was much easier than holding an inside slot receiver, so I like that more than star.”

Question: Basketball background?

Answer: “When I moved to Osceola, we won a state championship. My senior year I didn’t lose a game in Florida. I used to play five on five with the girls basketball team, they used to call me LeBron.”

Question: Can you tell me about Mark Hocke and the matt drills?

Answer: “I puked the first day I think, matter of fact, I think half of the team of puked. It’s tough, I even breathe hard during the warmups. He makes it fun though, it’s hard, but he makes it fun and competitive… I can’t wait until the season starts.”

Question: How good can Anthony Richardson be?

Answer: “He’s deadly now. We watch him in practice, and he can run and if he gets more than three seconds in the pocket it it’s over. He can throw on the run, he’s getting bigger and better every day.”

Question: How do you feel about the new staff coming in and how welcoming has it been?

Answer: “It hasn’t been hard. They are really open; each coach come in every day and shows us where they came from and show us their family. I love my strength coach. It’s amazing to me how everyone has bought in so fast to the process already.”