Gators 2022 Enrollee Profile: DT Jamari Lyons

Jamari Lyons, defensive deal with 

College: Viera (Melbourne, Fla.)

Peak/Weight: 6-foot-3.5, 298 kilos

SI All-American Rating: No. 11 inside defensive lineman

Recruitment Historical past

Jamari Lyons was coveted nationally as a member of the 2022 recruiting class, choosing up 23 gives from each main program within the state of Florida in addition to Georgia, Texas A&M, Penn State, Auburn, South Carolina and Indiana, to call a couple of.

However one college all the time stood out amid his recruiting course of, that being UF. Lyons paid the Gators three unofficial visits and two officers — granted a second by NCAA guidelines attributable to Florida’s head teaching change — whereas visiting different applications not more than as soon as. 

Lyons dedicated to the Gators in October 2021 and held agency on his pledge regardless of Dan Mullen’s November firing, signing with Florida throughout December’s Early Signing Interval as one of many core members of latest head coach Billy Napier’s transition class.

Sports activities Illustrated All-American was increased on Lyons as a prospect than most different shops, giving him the No. 11 rating amongst inside defensive position recruits in his class. Comparatively, Lyons completed because the No. 25 defensive deal with and No. 207 total prospect within the On3 Sports activities consensus rankings.

The place Lyons Matches

Lyons was an immensely productive defensive lineman in highschool, incomes significant taking part in time as a freshman and thriving in a beginning function by the top of his senior season.

Throughout 38 profession video games, Lyons tallied 289 tackles, 41 sacks, 81 tackles for loss, three compelled fumbles, three interceptions and 12 go breakups. Lyons’ dominance started with 9 sacks as a freshman, and he posted profession highs as a senior with a freakish 13 sacks and 37 tackles for loss. 

Standing at practically 6-foot-4, 300 kilos with an 81-inch wingspan, Lyons possesses a body that’s not solely college-ready however can proceed to be molded with extra muscle to enhance his energy whereas trimming down physique fats to reinforce his explosion off of the road of scrimmage.

You could find SI All-American‘s scouting report for Lyons beneath.

Jamari Lyons is an athletic, disruptive defensive finish with a knack for sacks. He’s a improbable soccer participant and reminded our workers of [Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman] Chris Jones, the best way he makes use of his relative size to sidestep his blocker. Ankle mobility is price nothing, short-area lean could be very spectacular. Good imaginative and prescient and he’s a violent finisher. Lengthy arms that he makes use of very nicely; he is developed a superb long-arm transfer. Disciplined together with his method. Crosses face on down blocks, though he may simply use his pace to backdoor these. Performs with nice leverage and retains his palms inside to regulate the blocker’s chest plate. Very excessive ceiling for Lyons together with his finest ball nicely forward of him.

Lyons and fellow 2022 defensive deal with Chris McClellan, who enrolled at UF in January, may contribute fairly instantly given the Gators’ lack of depth on the defensive position.

Co-defensive coordinator Patrick Toney’s scheme will definitely transfer defensive linemen across the three-man (plus the JACK edge rusher) entrance. That being mentioned, given their measurement and skill-set, Lyons and McClellan are most definitely to tackle inside roles at three-technique and perhaps even nostril deal with.

This projection may lead to taking part in time for each gamers as true freshmen in 2022, as lengthy they’re ready bodily and inside the scheme to take the sphere.

The Gators are lucky to have junior Gervon Dexter, already projected as a second-round caliber prospect ought to he declare early for the 2023 NFL Draft, main the cost at defensive deal with. He is more likely to begin at three-technique and might be a cornerstone of Florida’s protection this yr.

Set to begin subsequent to Dexter at nostril deal with is Desmond Watson, an intriguing sophomore who performed in each recreation in 2021. He is an efficient run-stopper given his huge body at 6-foot-5, 415 kilos, however the second side of his measurement is certain to restrict his utilization.

Watson merely will not be capable of play on an every-down foundation till he trims down fairly considerably, which opens the door for different defensive linemen to rotate in at nostril deal with. Contemplating Watson’s strengths as a run defender, a lineman that may go rush will finest match this function.

The problem? A succesful defensive deal with for the gig has but to emerge.

Junior Jalen Lee is probably the most skilled member of UF’s defensive deal with depth, with 13 appearances underneath his belt and one sack to indicate for it. Redshirt junior Jaelin Humphries has performed in two video games, and redshirt freshman Chris Thomas Jr. has performed in a single.

The Gators might need to rely on Lee this season attributable to his taking part in expertise, however Lyons and McClellan needs to be thrilled with the chance to rapidly stand up the depth chart in entrance of them.

McClellan could have a leg up on Lyons since he participated in spring camp, however Lyons isn’t any stranger to stepping right into a program and instantaneously making an impression. If the Gators find yourself asking their younger defensive tackles to step in and play in 2022, who’s to say Lyons cannot do what he did in highschool once more?

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