“He’s a freak”: Freshman Linebacker Aaron Chiles Turns Heads in Weight Room
It didn’t take long for Florida’s coaching staff to recognize the exceptional talent they had in linebacker Aaron Chiles.
“He’s an alien,” said strength and conditioning coach Tyler Miles about Chiles. “After just two days of training, I told Coach Napier that Aaron Chiles is a very impressive young man. Honestly, a lot of guys have come in, hit the ground running, and haven’t missed a beat. They’ve done a phenomenal job.”
Chiles, a four-star recruit from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, was ranked as the No. 1 player in Maryland by Rivals. Standing at 6’2.5” and weighing 234 pounds, he’s as physically prepared for SEC football as a true freshman can be. His college-ready build was a key factor in his decision to join the Gators.
“Physically, I feel like I’m up to par and one of the bigger linebackers they have,” Chiles said during his recruitment. “It’s not the physical aspect that’s a challenge for me, but retaining the playbook information and getting those mental reps. That’s what’s crucial for me right now.”
Although Chiles couldn’t early enroll due to his high school’s policy, he joined the team in the summer and quickly impressed during offseason workouts. In one of his first weight room sessions, he watched junior linebacker Shemar James power clean 315 pounds. Chiles asked to give it a try, and despite initial hesitation from James and Tyler Miles, he executed the lift perfectly.
“He caught it high, and I was like, ‘Oh my,’” James said. “315 pounds is a lot of weight, especially for a power clean, but Aaron came in and set that standard high for all of us.”
James praised Chiles not just for his physical prowess but also for his eagerness to learn. “Aaron’s a freak,” James said. “He comes in every day wanting to learn. He looks at my notebook, asking what I wrote down and what I learned. He’s ahead of his time, for sure.”
Co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Ron Roberts is thrilled to have two physically gifted true freshmen in Aaron Chiles and Myles Graham.
“He’s a tremendous athlete,” Roberts said of Chiles. “Physically, he’s ready as a freshman to do anything you ask, and he’s at the top level. He’s an elite player.”
Chiles is working hard to absorb as much knowledge as possible before Florida’s week one game against Miami. While the mental aspect of the game may be the only thing keeping him off the field, physically, he’s already among the best in the group.