Vernon Hargreaves III plays starring role for resurgent Florida

Nicole Auerbach | USA TODAY Sports

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Vernon Hargreaves Jr. tried coaching his son one time, and just one time only.

That’s a little surprising, considering he’s coached in college football for 30 years — and his son, Vernon Hargreaves III, is arguably the best cornerback in the country on a Florida team that's a surprise SEC contender, undefeated at 5-0 and ranked 12th in the nation.

But back before all this, in the days of flag football, when the son was about 7 years old, his dad did give it a shot.

“We went 0-for, so I never coached him again,” the elder Hargreaves said. “That was it.”

He didn’t really coach his son unofficially, either, even during his son’s early introduction to football.

“You would think that that would kind of be a natural deal, but I coached linebackers and I had no idea what he would end up being,” the elder Hargreaves said. “In the younger days, obviously he ran the ball quite a bit, and he kind of played in the secondary, but I wasn't sure exactly where all that stuff was going to go. From a technique standpoint, or a kind of fundamental — I didn't really do a whole heck of a lot, because I didn't teach him how to backpedal, I didn't teach him how to do anything like that.

“He was just around the game, and anytime he might've asked a question about this or that, I'd answer it as best I could. That was really kind of about it. I think a lot of people think we was probably out in the back doing drills and watching film together and all that, but we didn't do very much of that at all.”

The younger Hargreaves had a unique introduction to college football. For the first 10 years of his life, his dad was the linebackers coach at the University of Miami. Hargreaves III grew up on the sidelines, watching guys such as Ed Reed, Sean Taylor, Vince Wilfork and Reggie Wayne. Many players would drop by the house to visit, and Wilfork used to babysit the younger Hargreaves sometimes.

“They're all grown men now, but they were all great kids,” the elder Hargreaves said. “I think that's part of the reason why they were such good players. They were good kids, and they worked hard. He was really young, being around those guys, and as he grew to be a little bit older I think he realized what those guys were doing and how they did it, and all those types of things.”

His son said it was “crazy” and “unique” to grow up in that environment.

“There are no words,” he said. “I don’t know what to tell you, or how it motivated me to be who I am today.”

But it did. Hargreaves developed into a standout cornerback, one of the best in his class nationally, and he collected about 50 scholarship offers before choosing Florida. There, he rose up the depth chart quickly and started the Gators’ final 10 games as a freshman in 2013.

The 5-11 cornerback only continued to develop — and star — last season, leading the Southeastern Conference with 13 pass breakups. He also recorded 50 tackles and nabbed three interceptions.

When new head coach Jim McElwain, a former offensive coordinator in the SEC, joined the Florida program during bowl prep last winter, the first thing he thought to himself was this: I wouldn’t throw it at him. Then he laughed. Anywhere else.

“You talk about great instincts, great feel for the game,” McElwain said. “He’s got unbelievable ball skills. He’s a guy that could play on offense. He’s that kind of player. He’s fun to watch.”

In fact, McElwain has incorporated Hargreaves III into his offensive attack and special teams, too. During Florida’s season opener against New Mexico State, Hargreaves III returned punts and also caught a pass. He also grabbed an interception. He's up to three takeaways on the season, including an interception as part of Florida's thoroughly dominant 38-10 win Saturday against previously unbeaten Ole Miss.

Though Hargreaves missed Florida's Week 2 game vs. East Carolina and battled some short-term back tightness, he's been an integral part of the Gators' strong bounce back this season.

"This is one of the best players in the country in the way he prepares and practices — and the fact that anytime the ball's in the air, he's got a shot at picking it off," McElwain said. "He challenges guys, and he's incredibly fun to watch. With that, obviously, it helps the confidence of that whole side of the ball."

The Florida defense has been predictably and reliably good, as it was under previous head coach Will Muschamp; but now it's coupled with a quarterback that can move the ball and an offense that can score.

Moving forward, the question becomes: Can the Gators handle success as well as they've embraced what McElwain and his staff have brought to their program?

With a game at Missouri looming on Saturday, the coach expects to find his answer quickly.

"What I’ve seen is maybe not as much the confidence as I have the unity," he said. "How guys are actually doing things because they’re being held accountable by their teammates, which in turn, through that preparation should give you confidence. You’re actually putting in an investment. It kind of just keeps rolling. I do like that there’s a sense of, 'You know what, we can do this because of what we’ve done.' I think the interesting thing there will be how they handle this.

"Let’s look at it from a historical standpoint. This is where the University of Florida should be."

Though the Gators' offense is vastly improved, it still may borrow the jewel of its defense from time to time. McElwain said he still hopes to incorporate Hargreaves into offensive planning throughout the season.

"We still have some (packages)," McElwain said. "We'll still work it in because he's a guy who's electric with the ball."

What’s impressed McElwain the most — enough to make sure his star is on the field as much as possible — is what he’s seen from Hargreaves outside of Saturdays, and when the lights aren’t on.

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“He loves to practice; usually the great ones have that DNA,” McElwain said. “It’s not just about the game on Saturday or Sunday. They look to perfect their craft every day — and he’s one of those guys.”

Hargreaves III's next step for growth, according to both his father and McElwain, is understanding the entire defense, all concepts. When watching film, he doesn’t just watch himself.

“He needs to be a little bit more aware of the whole defense, just because down the road here, he's going to have to have a working knowledge of the whole thing,” the elder Hargreaves said. “I think that'll be helpful for him.”

Said McElwain: “Those are the things at the next level that I think really separate a lot of those guys.”

As Hargreaves has morphed from flag football player to college football standout, one thing has shifted in his relationship with his father: It’s finally involved a bit more football.

“Throughout high school, I was just a dad in the stands,” the elder Hargreaves said. “It’s become a lot more of a coach/son here just lately, just because he's become a little bit more football savvy, and now we start to talk about some different things, like what (other players are) doing and how to do it.”

There’s one caveat, though. They won’t discuss football specifics. The elder Hargreaves is in his first year as Arkansas’ linebackers coach, meaning now both father and son compete in the SEC. Florida does not have Arkansas on its schedule this year.

“We don't play each other," the elder Hargreaves said, "so that's a good thing.”

Contributing: Dan Wolken

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