(QB Graham Mertz – Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB Graham Mertz, RB Montrell Johnson Jr., WR Eugene Wilson III, TE Arlis Boardingham, OC Jake Slaughter, OG Damieon George Jr., OT Austin Barber, DE Tyreak Sapp, LB Shemar James, LB TJ Searcy, CB Ja’Keem Jackson, CB Jason Marshall Jr., CB Devin Moore, FS Jordan Castell, SS Bryce Thornton, PK Trey Smack, and PT Jeremy Crawshaw.
Key Players Departing:
RB/KR Trevor Etienne (Georgia transfer), WR/PR Ricky Pearsall (49ers R1), OG Richie Leonard (FSU transfer), OG Micah Mazzccua (Nebraska transfer), LB Princely Umanmielen (Ole Miss transfer), LB Scooby Williams (Texas A&M transfer), CB Jaydon Hill (Ole Miss transfer), CB Jalen Kimber (Penn State transfer), and CB Miguel Mitchell (Arkansas transfer).
(QB DJ Lagway – Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)
Top 10 Recruits:
Blue Chip Recruits: QB DJ Lagway (Willis, Texas), and DE LJ McCray (Daytona Beach, Florida).
4 Star Recruits: OL Jason Zandamela (USC transfer), LB Aaron Chiles (Olney, Maryland), CB Cormani McClain (Colorado transfer), LB Myles Graham (Gainesville, Florida), OT Fletcher Westphal (Leesburg, Virginia), TE Amir Jackson (Portal, Georgia), RB KD Daniels (West Point, Mississippi), and DL Joey Slackman (Pennsylvania transfer).
2023 Results:
G01 @ #14 Utah L 11-24
G02 MCNEESE W 49-7
G03 #11 TENNESSEE W 29-16
G04 CHARLOTEE W 22-7
G05 @ Kentucky L 14-33
G06 VANDERBILT W 38-14
G07 @ South Carolina W 41-39
G08 vs. #1 Georgia L 20-43
G09 ARKANSAS L (OT) 36-39
G10 @ #19 LSU L 35-52
G11 @ #9 Missouri L 31-33
G12 #5 FLORIDA STATE L 15-24
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 5-7 (5th in SEC East)
Home: 4-2
Away: 1-4
Neutral: 0-1
SEC: 3-5
Non-SEC: 2-2
Head Coach: Billy Napier
Florida: 11-14
Career: 51-26
Bowls: 2-2
(RB Montrell Johnson Jr. – Getty Images)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Graham Mertz (261-358, 2903 yards, 72.9%, 8.1 avg., 20 INT, 3 INT)
Rushing: Montrell Johnson Jr. (152 car., 817 yards, 5.4 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving: Eugene Wilson III (61 rec., 538 yards, 8.8 avg., 6 TD)
TD’s Scored: Montrell Johnson Jr./Eugene Wilson III (6)
Sacks: Derek Wingo (2.5)
Tackles: Jordan Castell (60)
Interceptions: Jordan Castell/Devin Moore (1)
Pass Deflections: Jason Marshall Jr. (10)
Tackles For Loss: Shemar James (5.5)
Forced Fumbles: Tyreak Sapp (2)
Kick Returns: Andy Jean (2 ret., 44 yards, 22.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: Trey Smack (17-21 fg/fga., 81%, 42-43 xp/xpa., 80 pts.)
Punting: Jeremy Crawshaw (42 punts, 2052 yards, 48.9 avg., 15 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 15 Graham Mertz (RS SR/TR)
RB: 1 Montrell Johnson Sr. (SR/TR)
WR: 3 Eugene Wilson III (SO)
WR: 22 Kahiell Jackson (RS JR)
WR: 17 Chimere Dike (SR/TR)
TE: 8 Arlis Boardingham (RS SO)
LT: 58 Austin Barber (RS JR)
LG: 77 Knijeah Harris (SO)
OC: 66 Jake Slaughter (RS JR)
RG: 76 Damieon George Jr. (RS JR/TR)
RT: 65 Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson (RS SR/TR)
KR: 10 Tank Hawkins (FR)
PK: 29 Trey Smack (JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 1 Justus Boone (RS JR)
NT: 99 Cam Jackson (SR/TR)
DE: 97 Joey Slackman (GR/TR)
LB: 19 TJ Searcy (SO)
LB: 6 Shemar James (JR)
LB: 10 Grayson Howard (SO/TR)
NB: 0 Sharif Denson (SO)
CB: 28 Devin Moore (JR)
CB: 3 Jason Marshall Jr. (SR)
FS: 14 Jordan Castell (SO)
SS: 20 Asa Turner (RS SR/TR)
PR: 10 Tank Hawkins (FR)
PT: 26 Jeremy Crawshaw (SR/TR)
(WR Eugene Wilson III – USA Today Sports)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: A
Punters: A
Schedule:
08/31 MIAMI (FL) HURRICANES | Florida trails the series 27-29. The Gators won (24-20) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
09/07 SAMFORD BULLDOGS | Florida won (70-52) the only prior meeting between schools in 2021.
09/14 TEXAS A&M AGGIES | The series is tied 3-3. The Gators won (41-24) the last meeting between schools in 2022, and they lost (38-41) the prior meeting in 2020.
09/21 @ Mississippi State Bulldogs | Florida leads the series 34-19-2. The Gators won (13-6) the last meeting between schools in 2018, and they lost (7-10) the prior meeting in 2010.
10/05 UCF KNIGHTS | Florida leads the series 2-1. The Gators lost (17-29) the last meeting between schools in 2021, and they won (42-0) the prior meeting in 2006.
10/12 @ Tennessee Volunteers | Florida leads the series 32-21. The Gators are 8-2 since 2014, and their last series loss (33-38) was in 2022.
10/19 KENTUCKY WILDCATS | Florida leads the series 53-21. The Gators are 6-4 since 2014, and their last series win (34-10) was in 2020.
11/02 vs. Georgia Bulldogs | Florida trails the series 44-55-2. The Gators are 4-6 since 2014, and their last series win (44-28) was in 2020.
11/09 @ Texas Longhorns | Florida trails the series 0-2-1. The Gators lost (0-26) the last meeting between schools in 1940.
11/16 LSU TIGERS | Florida trails the series 33-34-3. The Gators are 2-8 since 2014, and their last series win (27-19) was in 2018.
11/23 OLE MISS REBELS | The series is tied 12-12-1. The Gators won (51-35) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
11/30 @ Florida State Seminoles | Florida leads the series 37-28-2. The Gators are 3-6 since 2014, and their last series win (24-21) was in 2021.
Predictions:
Home: 3-4
Away: 1-3
Neutral: 0-1
SEC: 3-5
Non-SEC: 1-3
Overall: 4-8 (12th in SEC)
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