⚡ CFB Dashboard

Gators linebacker Myles Graham met with reporters after Florida's Week 1, 66-21 victory over Florida Atlantic to recap UF's underwhelming defensive performance and how the team's dynamic offensive showing aided his unit during the contest, among other topics. Find everything Graham said after the game below. On Graham's assessment of Florida's defense and if the unit has a lot to work on:  "I agree. We started out high, and then we kind of took our foot off the pedal. So, we definitely have a lot to work on and a lot to improve on if we want to be competitive and win." On Jon Sumrall saying there was a belief that the defense thinks it's better than it actually is, his role as a leader: "I agree, man. We have never arrived. I mean, you don't really know until you step out there and play another team where you're at. So, I'm glad that we can see where we're at, and we can see, you know, what we need to improve on because, all across the board, from the front seven to the back end, we all need to get better." On the defense's effort, handling tempo: "I think we need to get lined up with more urgency. I think we need to get our eyes to the sideline, get the call, and get lined up with more urgency. That eliminates half the mistakes, and we didn't do that at points in the game. So, that's something we definitely need to work on because we're going to play tempo teams in the future." On Florida's offense:  "Offense, man. I'm on punt. I didn't go on punt one time. So, going out there and seeing them just put up 66 points, man. I'm just proud of them, man. They worked so hard, and Coach Faulkner and all the offensive coaches. They worked so hard to get them prepared. You see that, man. They were scoring quick, and it was fun, man. We had a great time." On the offense taking the burden off the defense: "Absolutely. If it was a close game, it would have put more stress on us. And it wasn't. So they ran up the scoreboard, got the fireworks going. So it really took a lot of stress off of us." On safety DJ Coleman:  "Yeah, I think he's playing fast. He's a very smart player. I think he has a lot more of that in the tank this year, and he's going to show it. So that was a really great, like, momentum swing for us in the first drive. So, I'm really proud of him." On quarterback Aaron Philo:  "Yeah, I think Philo's a dog. Honestly, I think Philo is just a competitor at the end of the day. He's just a guy that goes out there, and he wants the best for his team. Like he's gonna put the team first, and that's what we saw today. He was hitting check-downs. He was doing his thing. He was accurate. So, I'm really proud of him, and I'm excited for him this year." On not wanting to run up the score but wanting to give guys opportunities: "Yeah, I think gives them a lot of confidence. When I was a young guy, you know, that's when I got in was at the end of the game. So, it really helped me just get those early snaps, get that confidence, and show my coach like what I can do." On DJ Coleman's early interception:  "I think that really helped us get off to a good start. I think that pick was definitely something that we needed. It got us off the field after a long drive. So, that was definitely something that we needed to get our momentum going." On defensive tackle Jeramiah McCloud:  "Yeah, I love the energy. He's a dog. Like, he would always beat them off ball. He was twitchy. He's always in the backfield, and it makes my job easier." On if Florida played a bend but don't break defense: "With that type of offense, too, you got to bend but not break. They're going to take the easy throws. They're going to take those easy throws. So, I think it's definitely a bend but not break mentality, but we want to be cleaner across the board." On if it helped to play an uptempo offense early in the season "For sure. It was definitely, like, not easy prepared for them, and it's never easy preparing for tempo. That's why the offense does it to their advantage. So it was great for us to come out and play that first game." On if it was an advantage that Sumrall's Tulane team played them last year: "Yeah, it helped a lot because we knew what to expect. Like, we knew what they were gonna do, and they did it. So, that helped a lot.' On what the defense needs to do better: "We need to get our eyes in the right spot. We need to be more disciplined. We need to communicate more. I mean, obviously, it's hard to communicate in the Swamp when it's 90,000 screaming. So, that's something that we need to fix and get better." On the atmosphere in the stadium: "Man, I was emotional coming out of the tunnel, man. I had tears running down my eyes. Like, seeing the fans, like, seeing my family. It just gave me chills, bro. Everything about it, I just enjoyed it. And, the fans, they always show up no matter what. So, we really appreciate it." On if he's ever been that emotional before: "No, I haven't" On what sparked that: "Man, it's just, we worked so hard. It's like, this is everything we dreamed of. Like, we worked so hard throughout the whole year, like, just for 12 of these moments. Really six in the Swamp. We only get six every year, so it's like a dream come true." On if last season influenced that: "Absolutely, you just realize that your opportunities are numbered. And the Swamp, there's nothing like it. It's the best atmosphere in college football." On Sumrall's pregame speech: "Yeah, he was juiced up. He was juiced up. He got us going. He got us fired up. You know Coach Sumrall. Like, he's just a dog, and he's just gonna get us lit." On if anything he said stood out: "I mean, every week it's just the same thing. Just do your job and go 1-0. That's what he always says." On Gator Walk, more juiced up than usual: "Yeah, I think fans were extremely excited. I think that was the most people I ever seen at Gator Walk. Like, the walkway was, like, narrower. I've never seen that many people in the Gator Walk. So, I think the fans are really excited about Coach Sumrall and what he can do, and I'm excited, too."