GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- With star rush end Jachai Polite gone, one of the big question marks on the Florida defense is who will fill the void getting after the quarterback.

The Gators have no lack of options, though those options thinned just a hair earlier this month when the news broke that redshirt freshman David Reese will miss the season with a torn Achilles.

Reese's injury could be another's gain, though. He was one of several first- or second-year players vying for major playing time behind the likes of Louisville graduate transfer Jonathan Greenard and redshirt junior rush end Jeremiah Moon.

Another was Mohamoud Diabate, one of Florida's highest-rated 2019 signees and a prospect who was on campus for spring practice as an early enrollee.

"He's still a young guy, but by graduating early, I do think sometimes you give yourself that advantage of getting to go through an offseason to understand what it is and you get to physically develop a little bit better," coach Dan Mullen said at SEC Media Days. "And it gives you that opportunity to get on the field and play right away as a freshman."

Diabate was a big recruiting win for the Gators. From Auburn, Ala., he wasn't necessarily considered an easy pull from the two in-state SEC programs.

Still, Florida's Todd Grantham did a good job selling Diabate on the importance of that pass rush position in his defense. After all, Diabate was able to watch it turn Polite into a high third-round NFL Draft pick.

He flashed some of his own ability in the spring.

"I think, you know what, he's got a great attitude and a great work ethic. Had a pretty solid spring for us," Mullen said. "Obviously it's making that adjustment and wanting to see how that adjustment translates onto the field as young players."

Listed at 6 foot 3, 219 pounds, Diabate has already added some weight since the spring. He's shown the knack for bending around the edge well, and he's got good instincts.

As he continues to add more weight, he could be a valuable player. He'll likely be a situational backup on defense this fall, as well as a possible special teams contributor.

But his future is bright. He wasn't rated as the No. 109 overall prospect in the nation by the industry-generated 247Composite recruiting rankings, for nothing.

And Florida stealing him out of Auburn's back yard was huge.

"You know what? I think he's done a great job," Mullen said. "He's such a high-end character young man and he's a great academic student. I know the draws of coming to the University of Florida for him and his family, as such a great, not just football player but academic student as well, were huge."