GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida will be without one of its young defensive players for the 2019 season, Swamp247 can confirm.

Redshirt freshman linebacker David Reese suffered a torn Achilles and will miss the entire campaign. He redshirted a year ago, tallying just four tackles in two appearances. The former four-star recruit wasn't expected to make a major contribution this fall, but he was an intriguing athlete for the future.

Reese was one of several young players vying to get into the mix at the 'buck' rush end position in the spring.

While Louisville transfer Jonathan Greenard seems set to start at the position, Florida is relatively unsettled behind him. Redshirt junior Jeremiah Moon figures to be next in line assuming he has no complications recovering from a foot injury that kept him out this spring.

Beyond that, though, virtually everyone was a first- or second-year player. Redshirt freshman Andrew Chatfield and Reese seemed next in line at the position, though true freshmen Mohamoud Diabate and Jesiah Pierre also flashed in the spring.

Even if Reese hadn't played a major role at buck this fall, there was the possibility that he could contribute at linebacker. Florida is relatively settled there, but Reese offers something most of the other current linebackers don't: elite length.

At about 6 foot 3, 221 pounds (for some reason UF lists Reese at 6 foot), he has a terrific wingspan and could really impact the passing lanes in coverage. He runs very smoothly, a natural athlete for a guy his size.

All that, instead, will have to wait a year.

And unfortunately for both Reese and the Gators, he'll have very little playing experience heading into 2020, a year when Florida most likely will need him on the field defensively.

247Sports reporter Blake Alderman contributed to this report.