Florida LB Myles Graham talks Gators defense after Week 1 win vs LIU

Florida's defense was absolutely dominant against Long Island, and at the center of it all was sophomore linebacker Myles Graham, who wore the player-to-coach communication system and helped relay playcalls.The Gators held LIU to 86 total yards and just one first down in each half.

Graham hammered home that this kind of night wasn't a fluke, and he said that Florida will play with the same attitude regardless of who the opponent on the other side of the ball is.What makes the performance even more impressive is that several key members of the defense were missing, including All-Conference tackle Caleb Banks and Graham's fellow linebacker Grayson Howard.Here's everything Graham said after Florida's 55-0 win on Saturday.On opening the year with a defensive TD"It means a lot.

We've been preaching takeaways, to take the ball over, get as many turnovers as we can and get the offense the ball back.

But to go home and score, I mean, that's even better.

Creating turnovers and touchdowns on defense, man.

That's the brand of football we want to play."On the overall performance of the defense"We just wanted to establish a standard today, and I think we did that, coming out in the first half.

We came out strong, three-and-out.

Establishing that standard was really important to us, and no matter who we play, it's Long Island or whoever it is, we're going to win.

And we want to keep playing like that, no matter what."On personal performance to open sophomore year"It's a blessing.

I got my feet wet last year.

I'm getting more reps this year, and I'm just building off of what I started last year.

So having them reps and just getting better at every game.

Stacking each and every game."On finishing the game with no penalties"In practice, if you get a penalty, you have to run a lap and that's a long, hot lap.

You know what I'm saying? So, that helps us play more disciplined football, get our eyes where they need to be and just play how we want to play."On shutting out Long Island"It's a great feeling.

That's what we want to do.

Every single game.

That's a standard we want to have every game.

Coach (Ron) Roberts preaches that to us, and we just want to keep having that same execution, the same mentality, that same focus, that same intent.

Every single game, that's what we want to do."On leading the defense with the coach-to-player communication system"I did have a green dot tonight.

I mean, I feel like I it was kind of loud in there.

It was loud.

That was our first time in The Swamp this year.

This was my first time with the green dot.

So, I'm getting used.

I'm still getting used to it, but I feel like I did all right.

But there's always room for improvement, you know what I'm saying?"On Vernell Brown III's catchMan, that was incredible.

I mean, I can't say that I'm surprised.

He's a great, hard-working, confident young kid, and I can't say that I'm surprised at all.

I feel like he's going to keep building off that, keep getting catches like that, keep making great plays.

I feel like he's a great player.

On holding LIU to two first downs and under 100 yards"We can believe it.

All that hard work we put in the off-season is paying off.

It paid off today.

So it'll keep paying off and that's exactly how we want to play.

No matter who it is.

That's what we want.

That's how we want to hold them to."It was a great feeling.

That's a great brand of football, great brand of defense.

It was smashmouth.

That's how we want to play."I didn't even know (about the first downs) until after the game.

Our coaches were talking about it and everything, and they were proud of us.

So, I'm proud of our defense too."On Tramell Jones Jr.'s growth as a true freshman"I've seen a lot of growth.

He's electrifying.

You can see it with his legs.

He can do it with his arm.

You got a great deep ball.

He's accurate.

He'll be a great player for us one day.

Him learning from DJ.

That's a deadly combo right there.

I think after DJ is gone, he'll be a great player for us."On freshman LB Myles Johnson"He was having fun out there, man.

He was relaxed for a young kid.

I know I wasn't that poised at that point and in that moment, you know, having my first play in The Swamp.

There's nothing like it, man.

So I'm really proud of him, and he had a good tackle, a good hit.

And it's fun being in there with him.

He just keeps going every single day."On preparation for South Florida"Same approach as we had for LIU.

The same approach to play Gator football, play our best brand of football, no matter who it is.

Whoever steps into the swamp, we're going to spot the ball and we're going to play."On RB Jadan Baugh"I don't know.

I think I would have had 12 (yards per carry).

Jadan, that's my former roommate.

He's a great player.

He's a dog.

He's a grown man out there, a man amongst boys, and going against him in practice every single day makes all of us better.

Iron sharpens iron.

I can't wait to see the year that he has."On DL Brendan Bett and Michai Boireau in place of an injured Caleb Banks"Brendan Bett and Michai, they're great players.

Having them in front of you, you don't get any plays coming to you because they make all the plays.

They are just swallowing up the O-line, getting them off of them and making plays.

So it's a great thing to have them in front, but maybe not so much for me because I don't get to see as much action."But man, they're a great duo.

They're dogs, for sure."Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida Gators football Myles Graham post-game quotes Week 1 vs LIU.

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