Tag: Austin Barber

This Gator was named to College Football News’ Freshman All-American First Team

Florida saw a few freshmen break out in 2022, but you might be surprised by which Gator made College Football News’ Freshman All-American First Team.

When talking about Florida’s standout freshmen in 2022, names like [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] and [autotag]Shemar James[/autotag] quickly come to mind, but it’s offensive tackle [autotag]Austin Barber[/autotag] who made College Football News’ Freshman All-American First Team on Tuesday.

Etienne and James received honorable mentions, but it’s Barber who has cemented himself as one of the top young offensive linemen in the country. He started the season as Florida’s sixth offensive lineman but quickly stepped into a starting role once right tackle [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] went down. Barber ended up starting five games for UF and playing over 600 snaps this season.

Pro Football Focus gave Barber an offensive grade of 80.7, which is good for 12th best among players that aren’t draft eligible this year. The numbers say he’s a better run blocker (80.3) than a pass blocker (75.9), but he’s got at least another year to get even better. Florida’s offensive line allowed just 15 sacks this season, which is good for the second-best number in the SEC and a share of the No. 15 spot nationally.

Etienne’s honorable mention status might surprise some Gators fans, but splitting carries with [autotag]Montrell Johnson J[/autotag]r. (and [autotag]Nay’Quan Wrigh[/autotag]t early in the year) ate into his production. He finished the year with 705 yards and six touchdowns on 110 carries.

James played in all 12 games for the Gators and started three of those en route to a 40-tackle season that ranked second among SEC true freshmen. He should be a starter for the Gators next season with the departure of [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag].

[mm-video type=video id=01gdg3yhc6d6jb3c59xg playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gdg3yhc6d6jb3c59xg/01gdg3yhc6d6jb3c59xg-c640babe687004c896ec7a3af514c1b9.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=97492,97486,97481,97475,97461]

[listicle id=97276]

[listicle id=97254]

[listicle id=97242]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Florida G O’Cyrus Torrence listed on injury report ahead of LSU game

Florida might be without its best offensive lineman on Saturday. Here’s what Billy Napier had to say about O’Cyrus Torrence being listed as questionable:

Offensive guard [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] is questionable for Florida’s upcoming game against the LSU Tigers, according to the Gators’ Week 7 depth chart.

Losing Torrence for any length of time would impact Florida’s offense significantly. Pro Football Focus ranks him as the No. 1 guard in all of college football and he’s anchored the right side of Florida’s line for all six games this year. Florida’s running game might not see the same success if he can’t go on Saturday.

Head coach Billy Napier fielded questions from the media during his weekly availability Wednesday night and was optimistic that Torrence would play despite his inclusion on the injury report.

“I think we’ll be okay,” Napier said when asked about Torrence’s injury. “We’re just telling you the truth. He’s a guy who hasn’t participated 100% in practice, and we’ll make some decisions over the next couple days.”

If Torrence can’t go, Florida will go with [autotag]Richie Leonard IV[/autotag] at right guard and have Jalen Farmer as a backup. UF listed Leonard as the backup left guard last week, so Torrence is clearly banged up enough for the team to make some changes to the rotation in case they are actually without him,

The good news in the trenches is that [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] is off the injury report and listed as “OR” option at right tackle with [autotag]Austin Barber[/autotag], who has earned a shot to keep the starting job over the last few weeks. PFF says Barber is a top-20 tackle in the Power Five right now, but Tarquin has the better pass-blocking grade.

Torrence could end up being a game-time decision on Saturday, but he’s not the kind of player to take a game off unless he’s forced to. He’s playing himself into a first-round grade, so staying healthy is important.

[mm-video type=video id=01gdg3yhc6d6jb3c59xg playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gdg3yhc6d6jb3c59xg/01gdg3yhc6d6jb3c59xg-c640babe687004c896ec7a3af514c1b9.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=93985,93983,93977,93959,93969]

[listicle id=93954]

[listicle id=93921]

[listicle id=93899]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Big changes made to Florida’s depth chart ahead of Week 3 meeting with USF

The Gators will be down two key starters in Week 3 against the USF Bulls, according to the newest depth chart. Here’s who is replacing them.

Florida’s Week 3 depth chart confirmed what many fans had feared since the conclusion of the Kentucky game last weekend: starting linebacker [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] and starting right tackle [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] are out with lower body injuries and no public timetable for a return.

Billy Napier left things at “they won’t play this week” when asked about the severity of the injuries, but he did name their replacements on the weekly depth chart that is provided each Wednesday night before a game.

Redshirt freshman [autotag]Austin Barber[/autotag] is taking over for Tarquin on the right side of the line with [autotag]Kamryn Waites[/autotag] serving as his backup. Waites was previously starting left tackle [autotag]Richard Gouraigae[/autotag]’s backup, but Josh Braun has moved into that role for now.

Braun is best served as a backup guard, but Napier decided that he’s the best option to come in at left tackle with Barber now in a starting role. The new addition to the offensive line rotation is freshman [autotag]Jalen Farmer[/autotag] at right guard. 

For Miller, Jeremiah [autotag]Scooby Williams[/autotag] is his listed backup, and the expectation is to see true freshman [autotag]Shemar James[/autotag] get some more snaps as well.

As far as the other injured players go, the same five from last week are still listed with just one exception. Cornerback [autotag]Jaydon Hill[/autotag] has been upgraded from “Out” to “Questionable,” which is an encouraging sign for a player that missed all of last year following ACL surgery. Hill could be back in the next few weeks, which would give the Gators another weapon in the secondary to work with.

[mm-video type=video id=01gcanp8p75etm5jpf3g playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gcanp8p75etm5jpf3g/01gcanp8p75etm5jpf3g-b5b5608bf0c14ef31aa8056f71bc10a1.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=92004,92000,91979,91958,91929]

[listicle id=91678]

[listicle id=91619]

[listicle id=91707]

[listicle id=91716]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Two Gators dealing with injuries following Week 2 loss vs Kentucky

Florida is in danger of losing two key starters after the injury bug reared its ugly head in Week 2.

Two Gators left Saturday’s contest against the Kentucky Wildcats early due to injury. Starting right tackle [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] departed during the second quarter due to a lower leg injury, and sixth-year linebacker [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] returned to the locker room in the second half with the same diagnosis.

Following the game, Billy Napier didn’t have much information to give on the two.

“Ventrell’s a little bit banged up,” Napier said. “We’ll have an update for you next week,” Billy Napier said after the game. “Obviously, two injuries in the game with Ventrell and Mike Tarquin. Both are lower leg injuries, and we’ll give you that information later next week.”

The Gators lost Miller last year after Week 2 to a torn bicep. He didn’t play for the rest of the season, which caused [autotag]Mohamoud Diabate[/autotag] to shift into the starting position. Diabate is in Utah now and it would be either true freshman [autotag]Shemar James[/autotag] or [autotag]Scooby Williams[/autotag] to step up at linebacker if Miller is out for a while.

Tarquin’s backup is [autotag]Austin Barber[/autotag], who is a fine replacement for the first-year starter. The problem is Florida only has so many offensive linemen it trusts, and adding Barber to the starting group means less depth behind him. Kamryn Waites would be the next tackle up, and then the options get pretty slim.

Hopefully, Miller and Tarquin aren’t out for too long, and Florida doesn’t have to worry about it for too long. But Miller’s injury history is concerning and Napier’s non-update isn’t very reassuring.

[mm-video type=video id=01gcanp8p75etm5jpf3g playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gcanp8p75etm5jpf3g/01gcanp8p75etm5jpf3g-b5b5608bf0c14ef31aa8056f71bc10a1.jpg]

[mm-video type=video id=01gc3bpvy2ev89x09akk playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gc3bpvy2ev89x09akk/01gc3bpvy2ev89x09akk-d8cc58dc3f40ec361ed4ec09f42453e4.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=91737,91729]

[listicle id=91598]

[listicle id=91541]

[listicle id=91626]

[listicle id=91678]

[listicle id=91619]

[vertical-gallery id=91539]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!