South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
His versatility has enhanced Diabate’s value
LB is passing concept on to younger mates
GAINESVILLE — UF linebacker Mohamoud Diabate had one thing on his mind and one skill he leaned on when he joined the Gators in 2019.
Diabate is now one of the UF defense’s most versatile weapons.
The sophomore shared the story of his rapid evolution with the team’s younger defenders, who quickly are learning that the more things they can do, the better for them and the Gators.
“He spoke to the young guys and said, ‘Guys, when I first got here, all I wanted to do is rush the passer. That’s all I did in high school,’ ” Florida inside linebackers coach Christian Robinson said of Diabate. “But in order to create value for himself on our team, to create opportunities in the future, [he said,] ‘I have to go perform in different places and get outside my comfort zone.’ ”
Diabate is now poised to make opposing offenses uncomfortable as they to figure out where he’s lined up. Blessed with blazing speed at 6-foot-2, 213 pounds, Diabate showed last season he can come off the edge of the defense, highlighted by a threesack day against Vanderbilt. But his work with Robinson has allowed Diabate to line up inside, read his keys and stop the run — or create havoc shooting gaps in the interior offensive line.
“His strength is just being able to move [around],” Robinson said “You’re really never going to know where he’s at; that’s the blessing of having him in my room this
year.”
Diabate sets an example for a unit built on the ability to develop i nterchangeable parts.
“T h a t ’s a Todd Grantham defense,” said Robinson, who played linebacker for Grantham (2010-12) at Georgia and has coached on his staff another four seasons.
“Every year I’ve been with Coach Grantham, it’s about creating depth. That’s the No. 1 thing that we look for when bringing people in our program: Do you have position flexibility?
Flexibility could be especially paramount during a pandemic. The Gators have reported seven COVID-19 cases during the past two weeks. If players have the virus or are quarantined due to exposure to them, UF will need players able to perform at multiple positions.
Beyond coronavirus concerns, the long-term benefits of position flexibility have become increasingly obvious in coach Dan Mullen’s program. Four receivers from the 2019 squad made NFL rosters because of the ability to line up at multiple spots and also play special teams.
“That’s how you create value,” Robinson said. “That’s how you have a team-first mentality.”
In addition to doing more things on defense, Diabate is saying more than he did as a freshman, adjusting to the college game and the expectations of his coaches.
“He’s looking great,” Florida redshirt senior l i n e b a c ke r Je re mi a h Moon said of Diabate. “They’ve got him coming off the edge, standing up and he’s [inside]. He’s improved so much, and he’s definitely stepped up become more boisterous.
“I’m excited to see what he does this year.”