Florida has ‘two dogs’ in LBs Aaron Chiles and Myles Graham

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — One of the highlights from Florida’s scrimmage Saturday was seeing true freshmen linebackers Aaron Chiles and Myles Graham line up next to each other for the first time in The Swamp.

The top-100 recruits are UF’s highest-rated signees after five-stars DJ Lagway and LJ McCray . Graham enrolled early but missed most of the spring after back surgery, while Chiles arrived on campus in the summer.

In their first ever scrimmage with the Gators, both stood out to the small group of onlookers inside the stadium, according to multiple sources.

“Two dogs,” UF linebacker Derek Wingo said. “Aaron Chiles and Myles Graham. Myles has been doing an amazing job. Both of those guys come in every day asking questions, taking notes, try to get extra in the film room, understand the scheme. They’re trying to learn what all 11 are doing already.

“I think that’s amazing as a young guy to just understand and grasp the defense as a whole. … I think at a young age, Aaron Chiles and Myles Graham are doing an amazing job at just being a sponge. Being open to all the different criticisms that they can get to make them the best players they can be.”

Graham was the No. 5 linebacker and No. 57 overall recruit in the On3 Industry rankings , and Chiles was ranked No. 7 at the position and No. 73 nationally.

Chiles is playing the MIKE LB position with Wingo and Grayson Howard , while Graham is taking reps at the WILL LB spot with Shemar James and RJ Moten .

“They’re getting better each and every day. They’re still trying to get a hold to it, but it’s a grind. It’s a day-by-day process and I’m ready to see them grow,” James said of Chiles and Graham. “Aaron, he’s a freak. He comes in every day and wants to learn. He looks at my notebook, ‘What did you write down? What did you learn from that?’ I’d say that’s what I like about Aaron. Not just the physical part, but the mental part. He wants to know what to do and the most efficient way to do it. I would say that about him. He’s ahead of time, for sure.

“Myles Graham, he’s a stud. My little bro now. I gotta coach him up, make him the best linebacker he can be. He’s got history here, so when he walks in, he’s ready to work. No slack at all. He’s physical. He’s physical, he can run, he can hit, he can disrupt, all that stuff. So, it’s kind of just getting him in the playbook so he can play fast.”

RELATED: Florida Gators LB Myles Graham enjoys first spring at UF: ‘It’s been a blast’

After just two days of training this summer, new director of strength and conditioning Tyles Miles told Florida coach Billy Napier that Aaron Chiles is an alien .

James provided some context about what prompted that comment from Miles.

“Let me tell you a story about Aaron Chiles,” James said. “He came in the summer, we were power cleaning, and I can power clean pretty good. I believe I was on about 315, power cleaning. Aaron was like, ‘Let me try that.’ I was like, ‘Are you sure?’ And Coach Miles was like, ‘Hold on, hold on.’

“And he was like, ‘I’m gonna do it.’ He caught it high and I was like, ‘Oh my.’ 315 is a lot of weight, especially when you are power cleaning. He came in and set that standard, set that bar high. I would say that’s the one story I have for you about Aaron.”

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