KYLE CURTIS: Looking For The ‘Face’ Of Florida Football? Maybe There’s More Than One.
By KYLE CURTIS
GatorBait Intern
After last year’s underwhelming finish to the season, the Gators’ have had one of the most promising football offseasons in all the country.
“It’s not a lack of players. It’s not a lack of talent,” said Derek Wingo, returning linebacker. “We have all the tools we need to be successful.”
Every successful team has a successful leader in the eyes of the fan base, as well as the locker room. During last season, the Gators went lacking on a week-to-week basis for “The Guy” that could step up in times of need.
There have been speculations and projections that perhaps quarterback Anthony Richardson has somewhat been designated as “The Face” of the team and stepped up to embrace that role.
Derek Wingo, on the other hand, has a new and fresh take on the face of the team.
“That’s something that will be a question this year,” Wingo recently said. “A lot of the guys that came back, we have kind of adapted to new morale this year. I think the biggest thing between last year and this year is that there won’t be a specific face. Rather, it’s going to be a group of guys who hold each other accountable and be able to lead successfully to get to our goals, such as the SEC and National Championship.”
Wingo, a former top-100 recruit, is in line for a much bigger role this year. He has impressed the staff along with a new defensive mastermind at the helm in Patrick Toney. Wingo has lost weight during the offseason improving his speed and becoming a bit leaner. He says he is not as much worried about individual success as success for the team and getting better during the offseason.
“The older guys have really been able to step up and take that leadership as a whole,” Wingo said.
Wingo described the group approach of leadership growth from last year. He had praise for many of the top returning players, in particular, Justin Shorter. Wingo says Shorter is a relentless worker who continues to work on his routes and footwork even once practice is over. He says this kind of work ethic from seniors is contagious to the younger guys. Wingo is thankful for this new morale the team has adopted.
“Overall, this makes the team amazing,” Wingo said. “Whenever something goes wrong you have guys on your left and right that are always willing to help.”
Wingo was also not short on words about Richardson. After the departure of Emory Jones recently, quarterback seems destined to become Richardson’s job. Wingo says the team has embraced Richardson and everyone looks at him as a leader.
Running back Nay’Quan Wright told the media after practice how much of an improvement Richardson’s game has made, but also bragged on his leadership qualities.
With the new group mentality about leadership and shift in locker room morale, the job of “Face” appears to be open – but Anthony Richardson is closing in on it. And certainly appears there’s a leader in the clubhouse. Or maybe "leaders."
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