GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Junior-college transfer Trenton Brown isn't the type to walk into a room and take over the conversation.
"He is kind of quiet, but he's slowly opening up to us, which we really appreciate," senior center Jon Harrison said Thursday.
While Brown might not say much, the conversation has slowly turned toward the 6-foot-8, 361-pound mountain midway into fall camp. Brown started off slow but has quickly moved into the rotation along the offensive line as a reserve at both left and right tackle.
"Trenton Brown is going to play for us this year," Gators coach Will Muschamp said. "He's a good football player."
Big-and-tall style.
The Gators haven't had an offensive lineman this big since Max Starks, who checked in at 6-7, 349 pounds his senior season a decade ago.
Brown's size was a hot topic of conversation among the Gators who spoke to the media Thursday.
"I never want Trent to ever fall on me because if he does I'm pretty sure my body will be imprinted in the grass," sophomore defensive lineman Dante Fowler Jr. said. "I don't want that to happen."
Offensive lineman D.J. Humphries, who at 6-5, 285 pounds isn't exactly a candidate for a role on "Little People, Big World," compared Brown to a giant.
"I've never seen a lineman that big," Humphries said.
And this from offensive lineman Tyler Moore, who goes 6-5, 320 pounds: "We felt like we were in third grade again looking up at a high-schooler" when he first got here.
Fortunately for the Gators, Brown is more than just a big body. He has shown signs of being a good player after a slow start in camp.
"He's big, he's strong, and he can move, so he's going to be a real good football player," offensive coordinator Brent Pease said.
Brown arrived at UF after two years at Georgia Military College in Albany, Ga. He was a second-team NJCAA All-American last season.
He has focused on getting in better shape and learning better technique early in camp.
"Our guys are making him work," Pease said.
Fowler has seen enough improvement to know that when he gets fully acclimated to Division I football, Brown will help the Gators.
For now, Fowler is enjoying their one-on-one battles in camp.
"I can beat him around the edge with my speed, but Trent gives good sets sometimes and he can make it difficult," Fowler said. "He's got a little nasty streak. You don't want that nasty streak to come out, I can tell you that."
