It wasn’t exactly a keepsake after Florida’s 41-7 loss to Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. Still, someone gladly accepted the sweaty No. 1 jersey of corner Vernon Hargreaves III, a potential top 10 pick in this year’s NFL draft.

The best part? It was practically free. All it cost Jalen Tabor was the jersey off his back.

The exchange wasn’t just “a little jersey swap” as Tabor put it after the game. It symbolized a passing of the torch as Tabor assumes a leadership role — not just within the secondary, but for the entire defense.

While Florida fans eagerly wait to see who will emerge as the face of their offense, there’s no need to speculate on the other side of the ball. Tabor surpassed expectations last season, showcasing his ability as a shutdown corner, so much so that his name sat alongside his more-trumpeted teammate on the first-team All-SEC squad.

However, don’t expect Tabor to remember those accolades with the way the 2015 season ended. The loss to Michigan punctuated a sluggish end for a Florida team that had life before Thanksgiving.

“We’ll learn from this,” Tabor said standing outside the stadium after the game. “It’s definitely a motivation piece.”

Tabor admitted coach Jim McElwain was right in his assessment that the Gators got complacent once clinching the SEC East was within reach.

“You know, after that Georgia game, we just went downhill after there,” Tabor said. “9-7 Vandy, that’s not supposed to happen, (20-14) overtime with FAU, that’s not supposed to happen, get blown out at home by FSU, that’s not supposed to happen.”

Nobody saw the team’s disappointing finish coming, but the same can be said about Tabor’s phenomenal season.

Sure, there were signs. Tabor did earn first-team Freshman All-America honors. Heck, he had 5 tackles, a sack, a pass breakup and a forced fumble and recovery in his first career start against Tennessee in 2014.

Still, Tabor went from promising to elite last season.

The 6-foot, 199-pound sophomore from Washington D.C. tied for the SEC lead in passes broken up (14) and passes defended (18) along with Ole Miss senior Trae Elston.

He also had 4 interceptions and was one of only four players in the conference to record multiple pick-sixes. In fact, he became the first Gators defensive back since Ahmad Black in 2008 to return two picks for scores in the same season.

“I know I got to step up and become a leader,” said Tabor, who will line up opposite fellow junior Quincy Wilson in what could be the finest cornerback tandem in the country. “I wouldn’t say I’m the face of the defense because we have a lot of great players on our team, but I definitely have to step up and be a leader.”

What’s the first order of business for Tabor as he imparts wisdom on the first-year players that weren’t around in 2015?

“That you can’t ever take a step back. We were pedal to the medal for the first eight weeks,” he said. “Just like we learned from that 7-5 team (in 2014) to get to an SEC East championship, we’re going to learn from this team and how we got there.

“We’re going to learn from it.”