The Florida defense had an evening to forget in their first loss of the season, surrendering 45 points on the road against Missouri after entering the week as an undefeated team.
The Gators struggled to slow the Tigers down throughout the entire contest, but safety DJ Coleman provided a bright spot for the Orange and Blue. His activity across the field and reliability earned him Gators Wire's defensive player of the game
for Week 5.Coleman finished the 45-17 loss with seven tackles, including two solo stops and one tackle for loss. While his traditional numbers were solid, his impact becomes even clearer when looking deeper into his performance.
According to Pro Football Focus, Coleman earned a 73.3 overall defensive grade, the seventh-highest
mark among Florida defenders. However, he was the highest-graded Gator among defenders who played at least 42 snaps, showing his consistency despite handling a significant workload.
Coleman was especially effective as a tackler. His 84.7 tackling grade led the entire Florida defense, while his 75.4 coverage grade ranked second on the team.
Perhaps the most impressive part of Coleman's performance was his versatility. Florida moved him around the defense throughout the game, with Coleman taking snaps in the box, in the slot, and at free safety. He even lined up on the defensive line for a possession, showing the variety of responsibilities the Gators trusted him to handle.
There weren't many positives to take away from a defensive performance in which Florida lost and gave up 45 points, but Coleman was one of them. Hopefully, the Gators continue to lean on their defensive bright spot as they look to respond next week.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: DJ Coleman gives positive contribution in Florida's loss to Missouri
