GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In recent offseasons, it was easy to point to the secondary as a sure strength for the Gators that coming fall. Over the past four seasons, Vernon Hargreaves III, Keanu Neal, Brian Poole, Marcus Maye, Teez Tabor and Quincy Wilson were regular, multi-year starters. Between graduation and early entries into the NFL Draft, all six have moved onto the pros.

In 2017, Florida’s defensive backs have some big shoes to fill. Pick an SEC passing defense stat, and chances are the Gators were near the top. Florida allowed the lowest passing yards per game, as well as the fewest opponent passes for 10-plus and 20-plus yards. UF was also tied for first in interceptions. It’s with good reason that Florida called itself “DBU.”

The Gators had 46 INTs in the past three seasons, most among SEC East teams.

Due to injuries and some misses on the recruiting trail, depth was a noticeable issue in the secondary this spring. Florida will be able to field a starting four of familiar faces, but if any of the starters face injury or suspension, things could get dicey.

There is help on the way in the class of 2017, which includes six defensive backs. While the unit takes shape, there’s hope that the front seven can take the pressure off the new-look secondary.

Sack artist

By the numbers, DE Jabari Zuniga had a breakout redshirt freshman season, leading the team with 5.0 sacks. The problem for Zuniga, however, was the sacks dried up after Week 5. In fact, four of Zuniga’s five sacks came in Weeks 1 and 3 when Florida faced two of its weakest opponents, UMass and North Texas. Against SEC and Power 5 offensive lines, Zuniga only had one sack (Week 5 against Vanderbilt).

The encouraging thing is that Zuniga has shown he knows how to outduel an offensive tackle. This season, he needs to show he can do it against the bigger, stronger offensive lineman in the SEC. This spring, coach Jim McElwain was encouraged that Zuniga was becoming that kind of pass-rusher.

“I thought some guys that showed up defensively,” McElwain said when recapping a March scrimmage. “I thought Jabari Zuniga is a guy who has really taken that next step. We all saw flashes of it a year ago, but I think he is turning into a dominant force on that defensive front. You know, along with other guys, but I think he’s a guy that has kind of just stood out a little bit as we go.”

Best cover linebacker

In two seasons under former defensive coordinator Geoff Collins, now the head coach at Temple, the Gators often employed nickel coverage, opting for a fifth defensive back instead of a third linebacker. The scheme made sense when Florida had depth in the secondary, but this year under new defensive coordinator Randy Shannon, that appears to be changing.

This spring, McElwain talked about the Gators using a hybrid nickel/linebacker position on defense. He specifically mentioned linebackers Jeremiah Moon and Kylan Johnson working at this position. Johnson appeared in all 13 games last fall, but only had one pass breakup. As a former safety converted to linebacker by Shannon, Johnson should have the ideal skill set for the hybrid position. Moon missed much of last season due to injury, but was a 4-star recruit in 2016.

“Our ability with Moon and KC (Kylan Johnson) to play that hybrid piece in some of our packages that you would consider nickel but are actually linebacker, I think that gives us a lot of versatility in the different looks that we can do defensively,” McElwain said after a March scrimmage.

Secondary scheme

Under Collins, the Gators used man coverage. This spring, it appeared that Shannon is staying with primarily man coverage. One thing to watch will be whether the Gators stick with their formation regardless of where the opponent’s No. 1 wideout lined up.

Granted, last season this wasn’t a big deal with Tabor and Wilson on the exterior. This strategy was most noticeable in 2015 when despite a much hyped matchup between Hargreaves and Laquon Treadwell, it was Wilson who came away some of the most notable highlights in coverage against the Rebels’ star wideout.

The 2017 secondary isn’t on the level of Hargreaves, Tabor and Wilson, so it would not be surprising to see Shannon make sure his top corner is always covering the top wideout.

Shutdown corner

With Tabor and Wilson gone, Florida’s top cover corner will be Duke Dawson. Last season, Dawson primarily played nickel, occasionally filling in on the outside to give Tabor or Wilson a breather. While throwing at Dawson might have seemed like a smart approach, quarterbacks learned the hard that Dawson has quite the knack for making plays. Dawson’s seven pass breakups led all the Gators last seasons. This year, the senior is tasked with moving to the exterior opposite of sophomore Chauncey Gardner.

One stat that must improve

It’s admittedly difficult to find many problematic stats with UF’s passing defense from 2016. One area of improvement, though, could be in pass breakups. Florida was tied with Alabama for No. 1 in the SEC in passes intercepted (16), but in passes defended (interceptions plus pass breakups), the Gators were No. 9 (57). For comparison purposes, Alabama was No. 2 in passes defended (71).

Better or worse in 2017?

This was settled in January when Tabor and Wilson declared for the NFL Draft and opted to skip their senior seasons. Dawson and Chauncey Gardner Jr. might prove to be good cornerbacks, but neither would be a considered a second-round draft pick (as both Tabor and Wilson were).

Gardner impressed as a freshman playing some nickel and safety, but depth dictates he’ll be playing as an exterior corner this season.

The secondary also replaces a first-round pick in Maye. With veteran safeties Marcell Harris and Nick Washington rounding out the starting four, the Gators at least have experience on their side. If Zuniga and Cece Jefferson lead a productive pass-rush up front, the loss of Maye, Tabor and Wilson might be less noticed than some are expecting.

The front seven, however, has a lot of big shoes to fill as well, with Jarrad Davis, Alex Anzalone, Caleb Brantley and Bryan Cox all gone.

Florida is unlikely to be one of the conference’s top passing defenses in the SEC in 2017, but if the starting four stay healthy or some freshmen step up, it could prove to be serviceable unit.