Clayton ‘getting better every day’

GAINESVILLE — UF freshman Antonneous Clayton was the highest-ranked member of the Gators’ 2016 recruiting class. But for some time he looked like a lost cause. “When he first got here, I thought, ‘Wow. You sure missed out on that one,’ ” defensive line coach Chris Rumph recalled. “He was bad. I mean he was bad, bad, bad, bad.” But Clayton continued to work and learn. Eventually, he went from a certain redshirt candidate to a surprise contributor on the SEC’s top-ranked defense. During his first action, Oct. 1 at Vanderbilt, Clayton recovered a fourth-quarter fumble. He finished an Oct. 15 win against Missouri with two tackles and two quarterback hurries.

A native of Vienna, Ga., Clayton will be on the field when the Gators face Georgia Saturday.

“I think he’s starting to settle down,” Rumph said. “He’s getting better every day.”

Recruiting service 247Sports.com’s composite ranking pegged Clayton as the nation’s No. 26 player — and No. 2 weakside end. At Dooly High School, though, the 6-foot-3 Clayton used his length and burst off the edge to dominate even at 218 pounds. At UF, Clayton needed to develop his body and technique.

Clayton now tips the scales at around 250 pounds and has begun to grasp the college game. Rumph credits Clayton’s desire and drive.

“He wants it so bad,” Rumph said. “He's just so eager and he’s just great to be around.”

Next game: No. 14 UF vs. Georgia, 3:30 p.m. Saturday, CBS