Though the Gators outscored Florida Atlantic by 45 in Jon Sumrall’s highly anticipated debut in Gainesville, the first-year Florida coach wasn’t pleased with the performance of his defense.
In a 66-21 rout of the Owls, Florida allowed 396 total yards, including 276 through the air at the hands of FAU graduate quarterback Caden Veltkamp.
“Early on with them, we couldn't keep pace,” Sumrall said. “Our defense was atrocious at times, quite honestly … I'm really a little bit frustrated with how we play defensively at times. I don't think we're as good as we think we are. I think we got some guys who feel like, you know, we've arrived in some spots, and that'll be addressed.”
A Florida defense that allowed less than 223 passing yards per game in 2025 saw Veltkamp with ample time to make reads and find a receiver. FAU senior Kelby Valsin grabbed double-digit receptions and tallied 92 yards and a touchdown, while fifth-year receiver Easton Messer added 73 yards on seven receptions.
Aside from struggling to pressure FAU’s signal-caller, Florida’s defensive line couldn’t bring down Veltkamp as much as it would have liked. However, sophomore Jeramiah McCloud managed to make an impact. He posted eight tackles and two quarterback hurries along with breaking up a fourth-down pass late in the second quarter.
“I love his energy,” junior Myles Graham said. “He’s a dawg … It makes my job easier.”
Along with McCloud, senior defensive linemen Brendan Bett and Kamran James and fifth-year Emmanuel Oyebadejo combined for 10 tackles and five quarterback hurries. James logged one of Florida’s two sacks, while Oyebadejo added constant pressure and a pass breakup.
After a statement first quarter in which the Gators nabbed an interception and forced back-to-back three-and-outs, Florida’s defense seemed to hit a wall. The Gators allowed touchdowns on both of the Owls’ ensuing drives in the second quarter, cutting UF’s lead to 10.
But after FAU’s 245-yard, two-touchdown first half, the Gators attacked the second with a new mindset, allowing just 151 yards of offense and a single touchdown.
“I think with that type of offense you have to bend but not break,” Graham said. “They’re going to take the easy throws … So, I think it’s definitely a bend-but-not-break mentality, but we want to be cleaner across the board.”
Graham headlined a solid linebacker unit, pacing the Gators defense with 10 total tackles. The double-digit mark stamped a collegiate career high for him.
Even leading 59-21, Florida’s defense refused to give up another score. Though UF allowed the Owls to string together chunk plays and march downfield to the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter, the Gators put together a goal-line stand headlined by Bett’s forced fumble.
“Our guys rose up and they didn't just look at the scoreboard and go, ‘Hey, this touchdown, we're still going to win if it's scored.’ They said, ‘No, we're not going to let them in,’” Sumrall said. “It was a great play by Brendan Bett down there to fight, get off the block and tear off and go make the play. I appreciate the fact that they continue to play.”
The takeaways and physicality were there; UF’s defense just allowed Veltkamp to string together enough yardage to sustain drives and keep FAU’s offense on the field. Despite the lopsided score, FAU held the ball for 28:24, just minutes less than Florida’s 31:36 time of possession.
“We've got a lot of room to grow on defense, and if it doesn't happen real fast, we're going to get embarrassed and exposed pretty handily in some spots because that wasn't a great performance by us,” Sumrall said.
Senior defensive back DJ Coleman was one of the bright spots in a Florida secondary that needs to considerably improve if it wants to meet Sumrall’s lofty standards. His game-opening interception and tipped pass late in the first half led to two of Florida’s three takeaways in the win. Coleman also logged an interception during Florida’s Orange & Blue Spring Game and has been one of the secondary’s most efficient defenders against the pass through the offseason. He finished the win over FAU with two tackles, a pass deflection and an interception.
“DJ [Coleman] is one of those guys that is just really consistent,” Sumrall said. “He's a high-level communicator, he's got a high football IQ, he's smart, he's tough, he's dependable. So, not surprised.”
Senior Kanye Clark and sophomores Ben Hanks III and J’Vari Flowers made some of the most considerable impacts of the night in regards to perimeter tackling. Clark logged seven tackles — the third-most on Florida’s squad — and added two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup, while Flowers trailed with six tackles. Hanks also recorded one of Florida’s seven pass breakups, and he added four solo tackles.
“Grateful for the guys' effort, a lot to work on, a lot to grow from,” Sumrall said. “I told them just now the journey of 1,000 miles starts with a single step. That was step one. The goal this week was to be 1-0, and we gotta go back to the drawing board and get a little bit better each day this week to keep improving.”
Despite the dominant 66-21 showing, the defense has much more work to do. The Gators will look to build off their Week 1 win and display a stronger defensive front and tighter secondary against the Campbell Fighting Camels Sept. 12 at 5:30 p.m.
Contact Ava DiCecca at adicecca@alligator.org. Follow her on X at @avadicecca24.
Contact Curan Ahern at cahern@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @CuranAhern.
Ava DiCecca is a senior sports and media journalism student and a Fall 2026 sports editor and football beat reporter. Now in her fifth semester with The Alligator, she previously served as the Summer 2026 assistant sports editor, Spring 2026 sports editor, Gators volleyball beat reporter and an enterprise writer. In her free time, she watches Boston sports (Brad Marchand we still love you).
Curan is a senior sports journalism student in his sixth semester at The Alligator. He is currently a sports editor and football beat reporter for the Gators and the Jaguars. He previously served as a men's tennis and sports enterprise reporter, and he is pursuing a public relations minor.
