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Dan Mullen values ‘position flexibility’ and sees plenty of it in Gators’ current class
By Cody McClure
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Florida head coach Dan Mullen seems awfully excited about the Gators’ position flexibility.
In today’s game of college football, it can be vital for “hybrid” football players to show off their respective skill sets at more than one position.
Long gone are the days where an outside linebacker was just an outside linebacker. Now that same outside linebacker may need to possess similar qualities as a defensive end or a safety.
After the Early Signing Period, Mullen said the Gators have landed several players who have an ability to play multiple positions.
“When you look at the tight ends, when you look at the DBs, the running backs, linebackers … the biggest thing to me is position flexibility,” Mullen said. “What I want, both offensively and defensively, is to create mismatches out there on the field. The ability for guys to play corner, safety, nickel, even a dime linebacker, and blitz off the edge on the defensive side of the ball — that’s a lot of flexibility and it can create mismatches.
“Tight ends that can go out, receivers and running backs that can motion out of the backfield and motion into the backfield create position flexibility and give you an opportunity to create mismatches. I’m excited about the athleticism we’ve brought in and the flexibility those guys have.”
It’s certainly hard to convert an offensive lineman into a defensive back or a punter into a quarterback. Some guys are destined for just one position. Others, however, are just special athletes.
And few coaches are as good at bringing out their particular skill sets as Mullen is.
“I’m excited about the athleticism of the guys we’ve brought in and the position flexibility they have.” — @CoachDanMullen #NSD18 Info: https://t.co/5LVP2inulv pic.twitter.com/SzcD4ydtg0
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) December 23, 2017
Cody McClure is an SEC Football Writer for Saturday Down South. He lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he also co-hosts a midday sports radio show for FOX Sports. Cody previously worked for Athlon Sports.
