Key takeaways from Florida’s homecoming victory over Missouri

Florida’s rushing attack showed up and willed the Gators to a 24-17 victory over Missouri, the team’s first SEC win of the season.

The Florida Gators left the Swamp victoriously on Saturday after a tough battle against the Missouri Tigers. [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co. claimed their first SEC win of the season, 24-17, thanks to some outstanding defense from the secondary and clutch performances from the Gators’ top two running backs in the second half.

The entire offense was weak in the first half. A long punt return and pick-six gave Florida a 10-point cushion to start the game, but the Gators only managed 65 yards of total offense in the first half. [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] picked things up in the second half, and that helped a scuffling [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] pull things together a bit. AR looked better as the game went on, but he turned the ball over twice and had an atrocious first half.

The defense looked a bit stronger than it has in the past. [autotag]Jaydon Hill[/autotag] picked off the first two passes of his collegiate career, and [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] was a leader on the field in every sense of the word. Heck, even [autotag]Trey Dean[/autotag] made a stop in the backfield early on.

That’s not to say everything was perfect on that side of the ball, though. Missouri converted on third down nine times and totaled 370 yards of offense. That number probably could have been lower, but it was enough to win the game.

Here are five key takeaways from Florida’s first conference win of the year.

Florida will be without this defensive back against Missouri

The Gators will be without one of its young and promising defensive backs this week, according to multiple reports.

The Florida Gators won’t have true freshman cornerback [autotag]Devin Moore[/autotag] on Saturday when they take on the Missouri Tigers, according to 247Sports among others.

Moore was not dressed for the game and did not participate in the early warmups this week despite being listed as healthy on the weekly depth chart. Fortunately, the return of [autotag]Jaydon Hill[/autotag] to the rotation gives Florida a bit more depth at cornerback to work with, and Moore was listed fourth behind [autotag]Jason Marshall Jr[/autotag]., Hill and [autotag]Avery Helm[/autotag]. The Gators should be able to survive without him, but Moore has done well as a first-year player that was thrown into the fire of an SEC schedule almost immediately.

He played 35 snaps a week ago against Eastern Washington, which ranked sixth on the team but finished with just one tackle and no other stats. He’s looked like one of the young players Billy Napier is high on, but missing multiple weeks could hurt his development. Napier should provide an update after the game if it’s appropriate to do so.

This will be the second-straight week Florida is without a member of its defensive back rotation. Safety [autotag]Trey Dean[/autotag] missed last week’s game and returned to action after a week. Hopefully, Moore is only out for this week and can play against LSU.

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Florida getting a big piece of the secondary back against EWU

Florida cornerback Jaydon Hill hasn’t played in a game since 2020, but he’s finally ready to return and is getting the start for the Gators against Eastern Washington.

It’s been over a year since [autotag]Jaydon Hill[/autotag] has played in an actual football game, but that should change on Saturday when the Florida Gators take on the Eastern Washington Eagles.

Hill missed all of 2021 after tearing his ACL in preseason camp. After practicing with the team in a non-contact capacity during spring, Hill was shut down for most of all preseason camp. He hasn’t played through the Gators’ first four games of the 2022 season either, and now Gators fans know why.

According to Gators Online, Billy Napier confirmed that Hill suffered a setback over the summer, which explains his delayed return to the team. The wait will be worth it, though. Hill is listed as a starting cornerback for Saturday’s contest, moving [autotag]Avery Helm[/autotag] to the second team. Napier’s been impressed with Hill, and EWU is a good opponent to test how game ready he is.

“I think Jaydon has been very much a work in progress as he’s kind of made his return to play,” Napier said speaking to the media Wednesday night. “He’s done everything that he’s been asked to do. He’s worked extremely hard. And, you know, I think Jaydon is a guy I’ve got a ton of respect for.

“You talk about what he’s been through from an injury perspective. He had a knee in high school, had a knee here, had kind of a minor knee issue in the summertime, and then he’s been on that path to recovery.”

Napier’s hopeful that Hill can pick up right where he left off. Before getting hurt, Hill was slated to be the No. 2 cornerback on the team behind [autotag]Kaiir Elam[/autotag]. Now [autotag]Jason Marshall Jr[/autotag]. is in front of him, but it’s still the same spot. It’s rare to go through a major injury and setback and get your spot back, but that speaks to the work Hill has put in.

“Jaydon was one of the better players that we had on our team in spring practice in my opinion,” Napier said. “I was very impressed with him as a player. It’s no surprise to me, you know. He showed pretty quickly here that he’s very capable. So, I’m excited to watch him play. I’m excited how he can impact our team.”

If Napier is excited to watch him play, then the fans should be too. Shuffling up the defense after a poor performance is good, and Hill’s return could help right the ship.

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Billy Napier makes big changes to Florida’s depth chart ahead of Week 5

Trey Dean won’t play against Eastern Washington after popping up on the Gators’ injury report this week. Here’s who will start in his place.

The Florida Gators will be without safety [autotag]Trey Dean[/autotag] this week, according to the Week 5 depth chart put out by the team Wednesday evening.

Dean is listed on the injury report as “out” with a lower-body injury, and freshman [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] is in his place with [autotag]Donovan McMillon[/autotag] listed as the “OR” option. Both are expected to play against Eastern Washington, and that’s far from the only change on the depth chart.

[autotag]Justus Boone[/autotag] is listed ahead of [autotag]Princely Umanmielen[/autotag] at the defensive end spot alongside [autotag]Gervon Dexter Sr[/autotag]., and cornerback [autotag]Jaydon Hill[/autotag] is in the starting spot opposite of [autotag]Jason Marshall Jr[/autotag]. The defense will certainly look different on Sunday, and the shakeup couldn’t come at a better time.

Many fans were critical of Dean’s performance against Tennessee. He blew a few coverages that proved costly, but the truth is that the Volunteers carved up the defense in its entirety.

The front seven already has seen some movement with [autotag]Desmond Watson[/autotag] moving ahead of [autotag]Jalen Lee[/autotag] on the depth chart, and [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] is now firmly back in the starting 11 after dealing with his own lower-body injury over the past few weeks.

[autotag]Jack Miller III[/autotag], [autotag]Marco Ortiz[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] remain on the injury report, but Miller is now listed as “questionable,” which means he should return in the next few weeks. Offensive tackle [autotag]David Conner[/autotag] and tight end [autotag]Arlis Boardingham[/autotag] are no longer on listed on the injury report, but they aren’t on the two-deep either.

Keep in mind that Florida’s opponent this week is an FCS school. If there’s a week to rest some guys, this is it. Expect Napier to try to get some game action out of his reserves if the Gators can run the score up early.

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Florida Football Depth Chart: Updates ahead of Week 4 matchup with Tennessee

Big Desmond Watson got a promotion on the depth chart after last week’s performance against USF. Here’s what else is new for Florida as the Gators prepare for the Tennessee Volunteers.

Florida’s Week 4 update to the two-deep roster had some major surprises, but it’s mostly good news for the Gators as they prepare to take on No. 11 Tennessee.

UF will go with [autotag]Desmond Watson[/autotag] as the starting nose tackle this week instead of [autotag]Jalen Lee[/autotag]. Watson had a breakout game last week and recorded his first tackle for a loss as a Gator. At 6-foot-5-inches tall and 415 pounds, Watson requires extra attention from the offensive line, and that should free up other members of the front seven.

The other main updates come from the injury report at the bottom of the depth chart. While backup quarterback [autotag]Jack Miller III[/autotag] remains out with a thumb injury, Florida could be getting a pair of playmakers back this week. Cornerback [autotag]Jaydon Hill[/autotag], who hasn’t played in a game since the 2020 season, is listed as probable, and linebacker [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] should be a game-time decision after moving from “out” to “questionable.”

The defense really struggled without Miller last week, so getting him back would be huge from a leadership standpoint. Freshman [autotag]Shemar James[/autotag] is still getting the start in Miller’s place, and this will be his first road game at the collegiate level. If Miller returns, Florida stands a much better chance against Tennessee on Saturday.

Hill’s return is more certain. He’s been out for over a year and recently returned to practice. Don’t expect him to be in for the majority of the game, but he should get some snaps under his belt at some point.

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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.

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Florida updates depth chart ahead of Week 2 matchup with Kentucky

Florida’s week two depth chart looks pretty similar to what Billy Napier submitted ahead of the Utah game, but there are a few key changes that could make a difference on Saturday.

Florida football released its Week 2 depth chart on Wednesday, and [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] has made very few changes following an upset win over then No. 7 Utah.

Long snapper [autotag]Marco Ortiz[/autotag] joined the injury report this week and is one of five Gators out for Saturday’s contest against Kentucky. Replacing him is [autotag]Rocco Underwood[/autotag], and [autotag]Chase Whitfield[/autotag] is the backup. Other than that, Florida stayed relatively healthy through week one and returns all offensive and defensive starters for Week 2.

The one addition to the depth chart is running back [autotag]Lorenzo Lingard[/autotag] in the fourth-string spot behind [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright[/autotag], [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag]. He didn’t receive a carry after being left off the Week 1 chart, but was back in the gym the night of the victory. This could be a sign that he’ll be in the mix this week against the Wildcats.

Another minor change worth noting is [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] has lone possession of the starting slot receiver spot. [autotag]Trent Whittemore[/autotag] previously received an “OR” designation, but Pearsall was Richardson’s favorite target in Week 1 and is the clear No. 1 there.

Cornerback [autotag]Jaydon Hill[/autotag] could be coming off the injury report in the next few weeks. Napier said he returned to practice and is expected to be back soon.

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Four players ruled out for Florida football’s season opener vs Utah

Four players have been ruled out for the Florida Gators home opener against Utah.

Florida football released its Week 1 depth chart for their season opener against the Utah Utes, with four players officially ruled as out for the game.

Tight end [autotag]Arlis Boardingham[/autotag] (upper body), cornerback [autotag]Jaydon Hill[/autotag] (lower body), quarterback [autotag]Jack Miller III[/autotag] (upper body – thumb surgery) and offensive tackle [autotag]David Conner[/autotag] (upper body – thumb surgery) will not suit up on Saturday night for the Orange and Blue.

Wide receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] and cornerback [autotag]Jason Marshall Jr[/autotag]. did not appear on the injury section of the depth chart, giving optimism that the highly touted transfer and the former five-star recruit will be available for Billy Napier’s first game as Florida’s head coach. Both players were battling injuries during camp with Pearsall dodging a bullet after initially being ruled out indefinitely.

Notably, Pearsall was given the No. 1 jersey this summer. The No. 1 jersey is given to a player that has earned the privilege to wear it. The fact that a transfer wide receiver was given the number before playing in an official game goes to show how highly Napier believes Pearsall to be. Former Gators Percy Harvin and Kadarius Toney both have worn No. 1.

Marshall Jr. is primed to make a leap in his second year on campus. The former Palmetto Panther played in 12 games as a true freshman and is listed as CB1 on the Week 1 depth chart. Marshall has the potential to reach “elite Florida cornerback” status in his second year, following in the footsteps of Gators defenders to emerge on the scene in their second year. Former players Vernon Hargreaves III, Teez Tabor, Quincy Wilson, and the Buffalo Bills’ 2021 first-round pick [autotag]Kaiir Elam[/autotag] all solidified themselves as top-tier college defensive backs in their sophomore seasons.

The Florida Gators kick off their season against the No. 8 ranked Utah Utes Saturday on ESPN. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT.

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2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Cornerbacks

Kaiir Elam is off to the NFL, but the Gators still have plenty of talent at cornerback. Here’s who Florida will be using in the secondary for 2022.

The penultimate group in Gators Wire’s preseason position-by-position breakdown of the 2022 Florida football roster is none other than the cornerbacks.

Gone is [autotag]Kaiir Elam[/autotag], the team’s lockdown and lead corner last season. The man who backed Elam up in 2021, sophomore [autotag]Jason Marshall Jr[/autotag]., will replace him as the team’s No. 1 in the position room after proving himself worthy as a true freshman.

Behind him, things are less clear, but there’s a group of serviceable defensive backs that could use some playing time to reach their full potential. There’s also [autotag]Jaydon Hill[/autotag], who missed all of last year with a torn ACL. He’s out to start the season but should work his way back into the rotation over the course of the year. Before the injury, he was projected to compete for starting time opposite of Elam.

Here is a look at all seven cornerbacks on the 2022 Florida football fall roster.

See also:

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Quarterbacks

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Running Backs

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Wide Receivers

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Tight Ends

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Offensive Line

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Defensive Line

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Outside Linebackers

2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Linebacker

Report: Florida CB Jason Marshall dealing with minor injury

It’s better to be safe than sorry. CB Jason Marshall Jr. will be wearing the non-contact jersey for a bit.

The injury bug has bitten the Florida Gators a few times during the first few weeks of fall practices, but the latest player to put on the non-contact jersey shouldn’t be limited for too long.

All Gators’ Zach Goodall is reporting that cornerback [autotag]Jason Marshall Jr[/autotag]. is dealing with a minor hamstring injury and that he’s expected to take things easy for the rest of fall camp as a precautionary measure. Goodall added that the expectation is for Marshall to be back in time for the Sept. 3 season opener against Utah.

The sophomore cornerback is the presumed No. 1 cornerback for UF this season following the departure of [autotag]Kaiir Elam[/autotag]. Marshall started six games as a freshman and appeared in all 13 games for the Gators. He finished the season with 23 total tackles, four pass deflections, two tackles for loss and an interception.

Behind him are Georgia transfer [autotag]Jalen Kimber[/autotag], sophomore [autotag]Avery Helm[/autotag] and freshman [autotag]Devin Moore[/autotag]. [autotag]Jaydon Hill[/autotag] should be back at some point, but he hasn’t practiced with the team yet this fall and is dealing with an injury still. It’s unknown if that injury is related to the ACL repair that kept him out all of last year.

With all of that in mind, prioritizing Marshall’s health makes a lot of sense for first-year coach Billy Napier and his staff. They’ll need him to take down the Utes and he can’t do that properly if he has a sore hammy.

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