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Gators name first Danny Wuerffel Man of the Year

After six years at the University of Florida, linebacker Ventrell Miller is being honored as the inaugural Danny Wuerffel Man of the Year award winner.

The GatorMade program announced that linebacker Ventrell Miller won the inaugural Danny Wuerffel Man of The Year award on New Year’s Eve.

“The Man of the Year is something that honors somebody who embodies leadership,” Wuerffel said in a video announcement. “This is someone who is making everyone around them better.”

Miller became a fan favorite over his six-year career in the Swamp, and it’s clear that just about everyone who has ever interacted with him thinks just as highly of him as Wuerffel does. He was the glue that held Florida’s defense together in 2022, and his leadership extended off the field as well.

The program got a few of Miller’s teammates to say some words and thank him in the announcement video, and it’s obvious just how much the rest of the team respects him.

A leader in all respects. Honored to honor you @ventrell_miller as #GatorMade Man of the Year.
God bless and #GoGators https://t.co/zeFtrMfMcI

— Danny Wuerffel (@DannyWuerffel) December 31, 2022

“Ventrell Miller definitely got our appreciation and love a lot because of the impact he has on the team and the people around in the building,” quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] said. “He pushes you to be the best you can be.”

Miller served as a mentor for several underclassmen and passed down some wisdom that should help establish the next class of Gator greats on defense.

“It was an honor playing next to you,” freshman linebacker [autotag]Shemar James[/autotag] said. “I just want to say thank you for being a big brother to me and the rest of the freshmen and underclassmen.”

[autotag]Derek Wingo[/autotag] echoed those sentiments and said that he hopes to follow in Miller’s footsteps as a leader now that he’s headed to the NFL.

Miller leaves Florida with 240 total tackles (124 solo), 23.5 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles.

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This Florida linebacker just declared for the 2023 NFL draft

After five years in Gainesville, linebacker Amari Burney is turning pro and has declared for the 2023 NFL draft.

After serving as a team captain for Florida in the Las Vegas Bowl, senior linebacker [autotag]Amari Burney[/autotag] has declared for the 2023 NFL draft.

Burney, a former four-star recruit from the class of 2018, spent five years with the Gators playing at both the STAR position and at linebacker. He made the switch from the secondary in 2019 and was a full-time linebacker by 2020. He appeared in all 37 of Florida’s contests over the past three seasons, starting 18 games, including every game of the 2022 season.

His biggest moment in the Orange and Blue came during the season opener against Utah when he made a game-sealing interception. He also recorded an interception against Georgia and finished the season with a career-high 79 tackles (41 solo).

Forever Grateful🧡💙 pic.twitter.com/Wa6jWn6GNf

— Amari Burney (@amari_burney) December 23, 2022

Burney is the second starting linebacker to depart from the program this offseason, the first being [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag]. It will be hard to replace that level of talent quickly in the Swamp, especially with other linebackers hitting the transfer portal. Fortunately, Florida is expected to add Ohio State linebacker [autotag]Teradja Mitchell[/autotag] through the portal and has [autotag]Shemar James[/autotag], [autotag]Scooby Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Derek Wingo[/autotag] to lean on next season.

Burney could be a late-round pick in the upcoming draft with draft grades as high as the fifth round, but he could wind up as an undrafted free agent as well. His combine and pro-day performances should heavily influence whether an NFL team is willing to give him a shot or not.

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This Ohio State linebacker is transferring to Florida

Florida is losing a linebacker to the NFL but it’s also gaining one via the transfer portal as well.

After five seasons with the Ohio State Buckeyes, linebacker [autotag]Teradja Mitchell[/autotag] is headed to Gainesville to join Billy Napier’s Florida Gators, according to Edgar Thompson of the Orlando Sentinel.

The 2022 season would have been his final year at the collegiate level, but Mitchell played in just four games over the regular season meaning he can redshirt and retain a year of eligibility. Mitchell has vowed to play through the postseason with his team, but a waiver granted by the NCAA renders those snaps meaningless when it comes to redshirting.

A former five-star recruit, Mitchell served as a reserve linebacker until breaking out in 2021. He was named one of six Buckeyes co-captains that season and started eight games. Unfortunately, a new defensive coordinator meant that Mitchell’s role would decrease, which lead to a transfer. He played just one defensive snap all season while serving mostly as a special teamer. He leaves Columbus with 64 total tackles, including 8.5 tackles for a loss.

There should be plenty of opportunity for Mitchell to play in Gainesville. Florida has just four linebackers lined up to be on scholarship next year: junior [autotag]Derek Wingo[/autotag], redshirt sophomore [autotag]Scooby Williams[/autotag], sophomore [autotag]Shemar James[/autotag] and true freshman [autotag]Jaden Robinson[/autotag].

Wingo has stepped up as a team leader and James is viewed as one of the freshmen with the highest upside this season, but there should be plenty of room for Mitchell to find snaps along with Williams while Robinson learns the ropes.

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Taking a look at Florida’s depth chart ahead of the Las Vegas Bowl

The Las Vegas Bowl is almost here and Florida is working with a different look roster after a busy start to the transfer season.

Florida’s depth chart for the Las Vegas Bowl looks a whole lot different from the opening-day roster, but that’s expected as players leave for the draft, enter the transfer portal and suffer injuries over the course of the year.

Starting with the offense, Florida is down players at every position but running back. [autotag]Jack Miller III[/autotag] is making his first start at quarterback with [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] headed to the NFL, and walk-on [autotag]Kyle Engel[/autotag] true will serve as the backup. True freshman [autotag]Max Brown[/autotag] is listed as the third-string option under center.

[autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] are the only available running backs on Saturday, but that duo has the bulk of Florida’s carries over the season so it shouldn’t be a problem.

[autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] is preparing for the draft, which means [autotag]Xavier Henderson[/autotag] is the new No. 1 out wide for the Gators. True freshman [autotag]Caleb Douglas[/autotag] gets the No. 2 spot (and his second start) with [autotag]Daejon Reynolds[/autotag] in the transfer portal, and [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] is still in the slot. Despite losing some talent from the receivers room, Florida is in an okay spot heading into the bowl game.

#Gators depth chart for the Las Vegas Bowl vs. Oregon State pic.twitter.com/PltcIFsftl

— Graham Hall (@GrahamHall_) December 15, 2022

At tight end, [autotag]Keon Zipperer[/autotag] is still dealing with an injury, meaning [autotag]Dante Zanders[/autotag] is the starter once again. [autotag]Jonathan Odom[/autotag] was productive as the team’s second tight end towards the end of the season and will get another shot to audition for next year against Oregon State.

Florida’s offensive line features a new face: Redshirt freshman [autotag]Kamryn Waites[/autotag], who will get his first start at right guard with O’Cyrus Torrence headed to the pros. Left tackle [autotag]Richard Gouraige[/autotag] is also going to the NFL, but he could start in the bowl game and is officially listed as an “or” option along with [autotag]Austin Barber[/autotag]. [autotag]Ethan White[/autotag] and [autotag]Kinglsey Eguakun[/autotag] remain at left guard and center, and [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] returns to the right tackle spot. Christian Williams could see an increase in snaps as the primary backup for either guard spot with [autotag]Richie Leonard[/autotag] injured.

Now on to the defense.

Florida’s defensive line looks the same as it was through the final few games of the season: [autotag]Gervon Dexter Sr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Princely Umanimielen[/autotag] at defensive end, [autotag]Desmond Watson [/autotag]at nose tackle and [autotag]Antwaun Powell-Ryland J[/autotag]r. at the JACK linebacker spot. The big change in the front seven comes at [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag]’s linebacker spot which now belongs to [autotag]Derek Wingo[/autotag]. [autotag]Amari Burney[/autotag] is the other starting linebacker, but expect [autotag]Shemar James[/autotag] and [autotag]Scooby Williams[/autotag] to get some work in too.

In the secondary, [autotag]Jason Marshall Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Jaydon Hill[/autotag] remain as Florida’s starting cornerbacks, and [autotag]Trey Dean III[/autotag] and [autotag]Rashad Torrence[/autotag] will get another run at their respective safety spots. [autotag]Jadarrius Perkins[/autotag] is stepping in for an injured [autotag]Tre’Vez Johnson[/autotag] at the STAR, but that shouldn’t disrupt the defense too much.

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Florida lacking receiver depth ahead of rivalry game against FSU

The Gators don’t have a ton of depth at the receiver spot this week after injuries have ravaged the position room over the past few weeks.

The Florida Gators are once again dealing with depth issues ahead of their final game of the 2022 regular season against Florida State.

After getting back starting wide receiver [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] a week ago for the Vanderbilt game, No. 4 finds himself back on the injury report this week. He’s not the only starting receiver listed as “out” this week, either. The team’s No. 2, [autotag]Xavier Henderson[/autotag], won’t be playing against the Seminoles, and starting slot receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] is “questionable” after missing most of last week’s game.

Pearsall suffered an upper-body injury against the Commodores, but Billy Napier expects him to be ready on Friday. [autotag]Ja’Quavion Fraziars[/autotag], [autotag]Marcus Burke[/autotag] and [autotag]Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman[/autotag] won’t be available either.

In place of Shorter and Henderson will be redshirt freshman [autotag]Daejon Reynolds[/autotag] and true freshman [autotag]Caleb Douglas[/autotag]. Reynolds had a breakout game against Vanderbilt last week, leading the team with 165 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches. He dropped just one pass and made up for it two plays later with his second score.

Douglas got the start against South Carolina and hauled in three catches for 53 yards. He’s appeared in six games so far this season and has two touchdowns on the year.

#Gators depth chart vs. #FSU pic.twitter.com/hgdBECs1Bv

— Graham Hall (@GrahamHall_) November 23, 2022

Tight end [autotag]Keon Zipperer[/autotag] is still dealing with a lower-body injury that has him listed as questionable and down to the third-string spot on the depth chart. If he’s fully healthy, Zipperer could get some of his snaps back, but there doesn’t seem to be a ton of optimism that he’ll be ready to go. [autotag]Dante Zanders[/autotag] and [autotag]Jonathan Odom[/autotag] should be Florida’s two main tight ends this week. True freshman [autotag]Arlis Boardingham[/autotag] is also listed on the depth chart for the first time after dealing with an injury for most of the year.

Florida has fewer depth problems on the defensive side of things. Safety [autotag]Rashad Torrence II[/autotag] is listed as the starter this week, but he suffered an injury during the Vanderbilt game that could limit him. Florida’s other starting safety, [autotag]Trey Dean[/autotag], said that the team would be fine if either true freshman, [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] or [autotag]Miguel Mitchell[/autotag], had to step up in place of Torrence.

Finally, linebackers [autotag]Derek Wingo[/autotag] and [autotag]Shemar James[/autotag] are expected to see the field a bit more often with [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] likely to miss the first half of the game after being disqualified for targeting against Vanderbilt.

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2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Linebackers

Florida may only have six inside linebackers on scholarship but it’s a strong group with both veterans and youth to work with.

After going over the outside linebackers on Tuesday, the next position group up in Gators Wire’s position-by-position breakdown of the 2022 Florida Gators football roster are the middle linebackers, or inside linebackers.

This is the more traditional linebacker role and Florida’s scheme calls for two starters — the outside linebackers cover the JACK position that usually lines up with the DL, so that’s why they are separated. Last year’s No. 1 in the position room, [autotag]Mohamoud Diabate[/autotag], transferred to Utah over the offseason, but there’s still a decent amount of depth at the position.

[autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] is the leader of the group and should be the top inside linebacker on the team this year. Florida could have used his elite rushing defense several times in 2021, so he’ll be a major boost to the defense and help guide the younger players below him on the depth chart.

Florida only has six scholarship inside linebackers on its roster, which is a bit low considering the scheme it runs. The good news is most of them are ready for game action and there are outside linebackers, such as [autotag]David Reese[/autotag], that could change positions if the injury bug bites the Gators hard.

Here’s a look at all eight inside linebackers on the 2022 Florida football roster.

Here’s where Florida football stands in ESPN’s top 25 Future Power Rankings

You’re probably not going to like where ESPN ranks the Gators. We certainly didn’t.

Florida’s football program reached stratospheric heights during the first decade of the 21st century under head coach [autotag]Urban Meyer[/autotag], but since his departure, the team has taken a massive U-turn back into a level of mediocrity not seen since before [autotag]Steve Spurrier[/autotag]’s tenure. Exacerbating the issue is the coaching carousel that the Orange and Blue experienced in recent years, having burned through three new skippers before bringing on [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] to right the ship.

There is little question that the new administration has a steep hill to climb to get the Gators back to their previous level of success. Even though [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag]’s tenure saw three straight New Year’s Six bowl game appearances, it still came to a tumultuous close as the program imploded upon itself due to neglect, leaving things in shambles for the next coach to clean up.

With that in mind, ESPN senior writer Adam Rittenberg recently published his college football’s top 25 future power rankings and where he placed Florida may rustle a few jimmies among the Gator Nation. Take a look at his entry below.

22. Florida Gators
2022 Future QB ranking: Not ranked
2022 Future offense ranking: Not ranked
2022 Future defense ranking: 21
2021 Future team ranking: 8

Scouting the Gators: Florida is the type of program that could surge in these rankings as soon as 2023. There’s always talent in Gainesville, and coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] looks like a smart hire for a program that hasn’t made the CFP and last won the SEC in 2008, the Gators’ most recent national championship. But an unexpected transition — no one pegged [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag] to be fired at this time last year — could lead to a down year or two, especially in the improving SEC East Division. The biggest immediate question is the offense and whether dual-threat quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] will provide a consistent spark. Richardson must show greater accuracy and fewer mistakes in the pass game, but he has sophomore eligibility and room to grow under Napier.

Florida also received some QB insurance in Ohio State transfer [autotag]Jack Miller[/autotag]. Running back could become a multiyear strength. [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag] followed Napier from Louisiana to Florida after a 12-touchdown season as a freshman in 2021. Johnson leads a sophomore group that includes [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright [/autotag]and [autotag]Demarkcus Bowman[/autotag]. Florida also added ESPN 300 recruit [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag]. Junior [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] leads a young wide receiver group with opportunities to shine. The Gators need sophomores [autotag]Trent Whittemore[/autotag] and [autotag]Xzavier Henderson[/autotag] to stay healthy, or someone else to emerge. They return two veteran tight ends in [autotag]Keon Zipperer[/autotag] and [autotag]Dante Zanders[/autotag] but need options for 2023 and 2024. Offensive line has some concerns, especially depth at tackle, but returns junior center [autotag]Kingsley Eguakun[/autotag] and some other interior pieces. Florida has a 2023 commitment from [autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag], ESPN’s top-rated center in the class.

The defense has fewer immediate questions. Florida returns proven players such as safety [autotag]Trey Dean III[/autotag], end [autotag]Brenton Cox Jr[/autotag]. and tackle [autotag]Gervon Dexter[/autotag]. Both Cox and Dexter could play multiple seasons and lead a line that needs others to emerge this fall, including sophomore end [autotag]Princely Umanmielen[/autotag]. Florida could become a back-to-front defense in Napier’s first few seasons, as the secondary returns Dean and sophomores [autotag]Rashad Torrence II[/autotag] and [autotag]Tre’Vez Johnson[/autotag] at safety, and talented young cornerbacks such as [autotag]Jason Marshall Jr[/autotag]., an ESPN top-50 recruit who appeared in every game as a true freshman. [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag], ESPN’s top-rated safety and No. 18 overall recruit, headlined Napier’s first class. Seniors [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] and [autotag]Amari Burney[/autotag] lead a linebacker group that will look to build long-term depth this season. [autotag]Derek Wingo[/autotag] has sophomore eligibility, and Florida added ESPN 300 linebacker [autotag]Shemar James[/autotag] in the 2022 recruiting class.

Despite just making the top 25 list by a few spots, the future is beginning to look bright again in Gainesville. Napier and Co. have done a great job on the recruiting front so far, and once the new regime has its plans for the future fully implemented, the Swamp should once again be a favorable destination for the best in the business.

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Take a look at 247Sports’ Florida football breakout candidates for 2022

Here’s what we think of 247Sports’ 2022 breakout candidates.

It was a disappointing season for Florida football in 2021, but as they say, hope springs eternal. With the Dan Mullen era now in the rearview mirror, Billy Napier and his staff are poised to rebuild a once-proud program and return glory to the Swamp.

Much like how Rome was not proverbially built in a day, rebuilding a top-tier college football program does not happen overnight, but the steps taken so far by the new regime appear to be laser-focused on putting the team in a position to take advantage of every edge it can get. But even with all of the changes taking place, those who remain from the previous regime can still be expected to uphold the glory of the Orange and Blue in the interim.

Among those holdovers are a handful of players who will hopefully keep the team afloat in what looks to be a very challenging debut schedule for Napier and crew. This group of players have either shown signs of brilliance in the past or were well-heralded prep players before their times in Gainesville.

Take a look below at former Gator and 247Sports contributor Brett DioGuardi‘s breakout candidates for 2022 and our take on his choices.