Gainesville, Fla. -- Clay Burton found himself in a very unfamiliar place Saturday.
Actually, more like places.
First, Burton was in the game plan. A senior tight end who started his UF career as a defensive lineman, Burton hauled in a career-high seven catches for 42 yards in Florida's 65-0 win over Eastern Michigan.
While that might not seem worthy of headlines, in Burton's case -- and the Gators' -- it was. A year ago Florida's tight ends had four catches all season: Tevin Westbrook had three and Burton, one. Prior to Saturday's coming-out party, Burton had three catches for 24 yards in his first three seasons.
Afterward, Burton was in the spotlight for a change. That's a position normally occupied by older brother Trey, in his first season in the NFL after four years as Florida's Mr. Versatility on offense.
"We're definitely different people,'' Trey said Tuesday night. "We take things in different ways. He is more of a quiet, reserved type of guy regardless of how much success he gets. You are not going to hear him talking too much to the public.
"In the locker room he is talking. I know he is the leader of his group and one of the leaders on the offense. He's more private, especially to the public. That's why people don't hear too much from him."
As a rookie with Philadelphia, Trey spent much of his off day Tuesday searching for a place to live with his wife and daughter after making the Eagles' 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent.
Burton played on special teams in Philadelphia's season-opening win against Jacksonville Sunday and returns to practice today to prepare for the Eagles' game at Indianapolis on Monday Night Football.
While busy trying to establish his place in the NFL, Trey watched the Gators play Saturday and saw what his younger brother did.
He shared his excitement with some of his Eagles teammates.
"All his hard work has been paying off. I was extremely happy for him and the whole team,'' Trey said. "I was happy to see [Jeff] Driskel play really well and [Andre] Debose out there. I know what those guys have been through the past couple of years. I'm happy to see them put a bunch of points on the board. I can't even tell you how many guys I've called and texted this week."
When fall camp started most projected Clay Burton as the backup tight end behind transfer Jake McGee, a fifth-year senior who had 43 receptions a year ago at Virginia. However, when the depth chart was released after camp, Burton was listed as the team's starter.
Gators head coach Will Muschamp said Burton is moving quicker and running routes faster than last season. Also, Burton showed more consistency as a receiver, dropping few passes thrown his way in camp.
He quickly showed off that improvement with six catches in the first half Saturday, including back-to-back grabs that led to a first down and a second-quarter field goal.
"He's a player who has done everything we've asked him to do to put himself in a position to be successful, and he certainly was Saturday," Muschamp said. "He's got really good football instincts to sit in spots as far as zone and those things are concerned. He does a nice job with those things."
A physical presence at 6-foot-4, 257 pounds, Burton spent most of the last two seasons as a blocking tight end. However, in first-year offensive coordinator Kurt Roper's no-huddle spread attack, the tight end is a valuable weapon in the passing game.
That's where McGee figured prominently into the plans. With McGee out for the season due to a broken left leg, Burton will play a more prominent role than already forecast.
While others may have been, Roper wasn't surprised by Burton's performance in the season opener.
"I think what he is is a guy that has been steady for us the whole time," Roper said. "He's got a lot of experience to grow back on. He just gets the game now because he's older. He plays with a great base and he understands how to be in good positions, so that just carried over to the passing game. He gets big picture, so he knows where he fits into schemes and gets in the right spots and makes those plays."
The Gators will use Burton, Westbrook and true freshman tight end DeAndre Goolsby moving forward without McGee. With Burton and Westbrook as more possession-type receivers, the Gators hope Goolsby develops into more of a downfield threat.
Burton, who said he lost around 15 pounds, remains atop the depth chart after spending much of the summer working to improve as a receiver with the help of Jugs machines and extra time working with Driskel.
Burton said he knew he was improving when he would finish practice sessions without a drop.
Another difference for Burton is not having his older brother as a teammate. They played three seasons together at Venice (Fla.) High and the past three seasons at UF. Trey burst onto the scene when he scored a touchdown in his first college game and then scored six touchdowns in his third game against Kentucky, Florida's opponent on Saturday.
The spotlight is uncharted territory that Clay isn't used to.
"It's just kind of something I've been doing my whole life,'' he said of playing in Trey's shadow. "He's a great player. A great person. I was trying to do other things to help the team win. Maybe if it wasn't catching the ball it was blocking or special teams or just giving as much effort as I could to help the team."
The Burtons remain in close contact although their distance has widened. Their significant others also talk frequently. Trey's wife, Yesenia, is close friends with Clay's fiancee, former UF gymnast Dali Lemezan.
Clay and Lemezan got engaged over the summer. Trey and Yesenia married during their time at UF and have a daughter, Ariella.
Trey doesn't discount the role Clay's personal life has made in his improvement on the field.
"That's something he did a lot of thinking about, a lot of praying about,'' Trey said of his brother's decision to propose to Lemezan. "We talked a bunch about it. There is nobody else that can be better for him than Dali. She has been unbelievable. She is my wife's best friend and she is one of my very good friends. She fits in with our family perfectly, and that's one of the best things.
"She is going to keep him on track. That might be another reason for him having some success, a stable off-the-field [life]."
Whatever the reasons, Clay is ready for more passes his way. After three years of rare opportunities, the spotlight is a nice change of pace.
"The fact I was catching a lot of balls, something I haven't done in the past, I really enjoyed it,'' Clay said. "It's a lot of fun."
