Florida sophomore EDGE TJ Searcy to enter transfer portal

The edge defender exodus in Gainesville continued on Tuesday with TJ Searcy’s transfer portal announcement.

Sophomore edge defender [autotag]TJ Searcy[/autotag] is the latest Florida Gator to announce his departure from the program and enter the transfer portal.

“After much prayer and great consideration, I have decided to enter the transfer portal,” Searcy said in a written statement posted to social media. “I’m excited for the next chapter of my journey and look forward to the opportunities ahead.”

Searcy played the third-most snaps (362) among Florida edge defenders this season, earning a 70.0 overall grade on defense from Pro Football Focus. He was Florida’s best edge defender in coverage (77.9), according to PFF.

A consensus four-star recruit out of high school, Searcy signed with Florida as a member of the class of 2023 and played in all 12 games as a true freshman. He earned Freshman All-SEC honors and ended his time in Gainesville with 60 total tackles (29 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Florida’s options at EDGE in 2025

Searcy is the sixth edge defender from Florida to leave the program for the transfer portal, following [autotag]Justus Boone[/autotag], [autotag]Bryce Capers[/autotag] (walk-on), [autotag]Kelby Collins[/autotag], [autotag]Quincy Ivory[/autotag] and [autotag]Jack Pyburn[/autotag].

Those departures may indicate that veteran edge defenders George Gumbs Jr. and Tyreak Sapp intend to return, although neither has officially announced a decision. Behind those two are Kamran James and LJ McCray, and Florida is adding four-star recruit Jayden Woods to the position room.

The only scholarship loss from this group through graduation is specialist [autotag]Ja’Markis Weston[/autotag]. Walk-on [autotag]Tyreik Norwood[/autotag] also concluded his eligibility.

Walk-ons [autotag]Titus Bullard[/autotag], [autotag]Charles Emanuel III[/autotag] and [autotag]Layne Swafford[/autotag] could also return.

There’s also a chance Florida will be active in the edge defender market during the winter transfer period. Amaris Williams, a former five-star recruit and Florida commit, is leaving Auburn and is a priority target.

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

Gators EDGE Justus Boone to enter NCAA transfer portal

After four seasons with the Florida Gators, edge defender Justus Boone is planning to enter the NCAA transfer portal.

The second Gator to announce his departure from Florida’s football program is redshirt junior edge defender [autotag]Justus Boone[/autotag].

A four-star recruit out of Sumter High (South Carolina), Boone figured to be a key piece of Florida’s 2021 recruiting class. He was ranked No. 201 overall by 247Sports and No. 183 by On3, and both recruiting services agreed he was the second-best player in South Carolina that year.

Boone played two games as a freshman under head coach Dan Mullen and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, recording two tackles and half a sack in his debut against Vanderbilt and a tackle for loss (TFL) in the Gasparilla Bowl under interim head coach Greg Knox.

His role increased in Year 1 of the Billy Napier era, playing all 13 games for Florida, including two starts. Boone finished the 2022 season with 24 tackles, one TFL, one sack, and a quarterback hurry.

Disaster struck ahead of the 2023 season when he suffered a torn ACL in fall camp. He made a full recovery over the next year and entered the 2024 campaign as a veteran leader of Florida’s defensive front alongside Tyreak Sapp, his competition at the ‘F’ position.

“I can’t even put into words how hard it was,” Boone said in the spring. “It was just very tough. Over my years, I’ve put my head down and I’ve progressed each year, and I’ve worked hard to be in a position that I’ve been put into as far as being a leader, being a part of the defense. To have it kind of stripped away from you in the moment is very devastating, but I can honestly say that I’m at peace with it and I found a lot of peace during my time of rehabbing and while it happened.”

Unfortunately, Boone’s impact wasn’t as great as expected in the 2024 season. Sapp and Jack Pyburn played bigger roles at his position, and Boone saw his snap count decrease. He played the first 11 games of the season, totaling 10 tackles (two solo), 0.5 sacks, 2.0 tackles for loss, one QB hurry and one pass breakup, but it became clear that he was falling down the depth chart in the second half.

Boone should be able to find a new home with a Power Four program. Pro Football Focus gave him a 73.2 overall grade on defense in 2022, and he earned a 68.8 grade this season returning from injury. He posted the best run defense grade of his career this year (75.1) and was the strongest tackler (79.5) in Florida’s edge room.

He is the second Gator to enter the transfer portal, following Andy Jean’s decision earlier in the day. Boone has one year of eligibility remaining.

Florida’s options at EDGE

Both Sapp and Pyburn have a year of eligibility remaining, and Boone’s departure could signal an intent to return for both.

Even if both players were to depart, Northern Illinois transfer George Gumbs Jr. played a significant role in Florida’s defensive front this year, and a number of young players are hungry for more snaps.

Kelby Collins, Kamran James, LJ McCray and TJ Searcy are all set to return, barring any future transfer announcements. Redshirt junior Quincy Ivory, a JUCO transfer ahead of the 2023 season, could also come back.

Four-star recruit Jayden Woods will join the position room this spring, as well.

The Gators are only losing one scholarship player from the position room, specialist Ja’Markis Weston. Walk-on Tyreik Norwood is also out of eligibility.

Walk-ons Titus Bullard, Bryce Capers, Charles Emanuel III and Layne Swafford also of enough eligibility to return to the roster.

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

Florida Football 2024 Position Preview: EDGE

The most competitive position room in Gainesville might be the edge rushers. Led by two veterans of the program, Florida has plenty of options.

Next up in Gators Wire’s position preview series is the edge corps.

Billy Napier says that the edge rushers might be the most competitive unit on the team heading into the season and it’s easy to see why. Two veterans are at the top of the depth chart for the ‘F’ position, and there’s depth at jack too.

If those position names are unfamiliar, don’t worry. They aren’t a part of the typical nomenclature football fans are used to seeing. The F, or fox, position is a hybrid of the outside linebacker and defensive end position that requires more versatility than the jack, whose strength is often against the run.

The fox needs to be able to drop back in coverage and act as an extra pass rusher when needed. It’s among the most complex positions in Florida’s defensive scheme, but it’s a sure marker of a modern defense.

Let’s take a look at every edge rusher on Florida’s roster. Check out Gators Wire’s other position previews for the 2024 season below.

Back From Injury: No. 1 Justus Boone (R-Jr.)

Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun

Defensive Stats:

Year GP SOLO AST TOT TFL SACKS INT FF FR
2021 2 1 2 3 1.5 0.5 0 0 0
2022 13 11 13 24 1 1 0 0 0
Total 15 12 15 27 2.5 1.5 0 0 0

There’s good news and bad news here. Two of Florida’s edge rushers are dealing with injuries to start the season, but one is close to making a comeback.

[autotag]Justus Boone[/autotag] tore his ACL a year ago and missed the entire 2023 season. It was a devastating injury to the unit, but now Boone is ready to return and is a clear team leader. We’ll have to wait for the official depth chart to see where Boone lands, but he’s expected to be one of the main faces up front for Florida this year.

In 2022, Boone played 282 snaps for Florida and earned a 73.2 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus. His weak point was tackling (57.4), but Boone was the best coverage guy in the position room that year. If healthy, we could see him fit into the starting fox spot and Tyreak Sapp moves back to a true defensive end role.

“Boone has been one of the best leaders that we had,” Napier said. “Losing him last year was a big deal. Not only because of his production on the field and the depth issue there but also just his passion, his ability to affect people.”

Starting ‘F’: No. 94 Tyreak Sapp (R-Jr.)

Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun

Defensive Stats:

Year GP SOLO AST TOT TFL SACKS INT FF FR
2022 13 8 12 20 0.5 0 0 0 0
2023 11 12 12 24 4.5-18 2-12 0 2 0
Total 24 20 24 44 5-19 2-12 0 2 0

[autotag]Tyreak Sapp[/autotag] is the other veteran leader of the unit and he’s close friends with Boone. The two are hoping to take the field together this year, but they might do a bit of switching off at the fox position to start the year.

He stepped up big time in the wake of Boone’s injury and is Florida’s best-returning edge rusher statically. Pro Football Fous gave him a 74.4 overall grade on defense, second only to Princely Umanmielen in the position room, and he was an excellent tackler (85.1) without giving up too much in other areas.

“Sapp and Boone were here when we first got here, and both have been awesome,” Napier said. “They have great practice habits. They bring energy. They’ve got personalities that I think rub off on the team and the group. Those two have been in the trenches together for a couple of years now.”

Starting JACK: No. 11 Kelby Collins (So.) or No. 19 TJ Searcy (So.)

Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner

Kelby Collins: 

Year GP SOLO AST TOT TFL SACKS INT FF FR
2023 12 6 17 23 1.5-6 1.5-6 0 1 0

TJ Searcy:

Year GP SOLO AST TOT TFL SACKS INT FF FR
2023 12 9 17 26 3.5-6 0.5-2 0 1 0

Similar to the F, there are two players in contention for the starting jack linebacker role, sophomores [autotag]Kelby Collins[/autotag] and [autotag]TJ Searcy[/autotag]. Both played north of 250 snaps last season and excelled in different roles.

Collins is the better run defender and pass rusher, giving him an overall edge, but Searcy is an elite tackler and might be the best-returning edge in coverage. The platoon spells itself out here, but we could see both on the field together in theory.

The defensive line and edge rooms are a bit fluid, and Collins could even end up playing somewhere on the interior with [autotag]Jamari Lyons[/autotag] out for the year. That gives way to Searcy as the full-time jack and allows some of the younger guys on the depth chart to see the field too.

Backup ‘F’: No. 24 Kamran James (So.) or No. 17 LJ McCray (Fr.)

Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun

Kamran James:

Year GP SOLO AST TOT TFL SACKS INT FF FR
2023 12 6 17 23 1.5-6 1.5-6 0 1 0

[autotag]Kamran James[/autotag] appeared in all 12 games for Florida a year ago, but mostly in a special teams role. James should see the field more often in Year 2 as a Gator, though.

James is one of the rare players who can fit in at both fox and jack, so he’s going to be in the second unit in some capacity. Pro Football Focus gave him a 62.5 defensive grade over 77 snaps last season.

Then there’s true freshman [autotag]LJ McCray[/autotag], a former five-star recruit who was considered the defensive crown jewel of Florida’s 2024 recruiting class. Players with that kind of hype are often told they’ll get early playing time, and it’s hard to see McCray not being a factor by mid-October.

It takes some time for the young guys to adjust to the speed of the college game, but McCray is going to get the chance.

Backup JACK: No. 34 George Gumbs Jr. (R-Jr.) and No. 44 Jack Pyburn (Jr.)

Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images

George Gumbs Jr:

Year GP SOLO AST TOT TFL SACKS INT FF FR
2021* 4 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
2022* 7 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
2023* 12 15 17 32 6.5-20 3.5-15 0 2 0
Total 23 15 17 32 6.5-20 3.5-15 0 2 0

* = while at Northern Illinois

A former tight-end turned linebacker, [autotag]George Gumbs Jr[/autotag]. is certainly one of the more interesting players in Florida’s edge room. He’s often named among the players expected to see the field regularly this season, but he still needs some development.

Gumbs should line up on the weak side at jack for Florida behind Searcy. James might be ahead of him, too, but he’s still more likely to line up at the fox, at least until McCray gets his feet on the ground.

Jack Pyburn:

Year GP SOLO AST TOT TFL SACKS INT FF FR
2022 8 3 0 3 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
2023 9 6 11 17 1-1 0-0 0 0 0
Total 17 9 11 20 1-1 0-0 0 0 0

[autotag]Jack Pyburn[/autotag] is also working his way back from a torn ACL, suffered in the middle of last season. He’s ready to return to game action, but he’ll be used in as a rotational backup to both positions similar to James. The injury should hold him back a little, but Pyburn made a name for himself as a strong tackler last year over 124 snaps.

Reserves: No. 9 Ja’Markis Weston (R-Sr.) and No. 48 Quincy Ivory (R-Jr.)

Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun

Ja’Markis Weston Defense:

Year GP SOLO AST TOT TFL SACKS INT FF FR
2023 5 4 0 4 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

[autotag]Ja’Markis Weston[/autotag] started off as a receiver for Florida before switching over to the defensive side of the ball a year ago. Entering his final year of college ball, Weston is set to be a designated pass rusher for Florida, according to Billy Napier.

The short of it is that Weston will enter the game on obvious passing downs and do what he does best, get after the quarterback. It’s not the most glorified role on the team, but it’s Weston’s path to playing football at the next level. He’s also going to remain in the gunner role on special teams.

“Ja’Markis was considering maybe pursuing the NFL last year,” Napier said. “We had quite a few conversations. I can still remember where I was at when he called me and told me, said, ‘Coach, I’m coming back,’ because I thought it was a big deal for our team.”

Quincy Ivory: 

Year GP SOLO AST TOT TFL SACKS INT FF FR
2023 8 1 0 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Quincy Ivory joined the team last year as a JUCO transfer and saw all of two snaps as an edge rusher. That role should be increased this year, but it’s hard to see Ivory breaking into meaningful snaps anywhere but the special teams unit.

Walk-Ons: No. 36 Bryce Capers (R-So.), No. 45 Layne Swafford (R-Fr.), No. 55 Charles Emanuel III (Fr.), No. 59 Titus Bullard (Fr.) and No. 91 Tyreik Norwood (R-Sr.)

Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun

Florida has five non-scholarship edge rushers on its 2024 roster.

The senior-most walk-on is Tyreik Norwood, who is entering his seventh year in college athletics. He played four years with Kentucky Wesleyan before walking on at Florida in the fall of 2022. He’s yet to see the field as a Gator, but that might change this season. Napier likes rewarding loyalty, and FCS Samford in Week 2 could present the right opportunity.

Bryce Capers chose to attend Florida as a preferred walk-on in 2022 and ended up playing in three games as a true freshman while redshirting. He didn’t see the field at all last year, but maybe the pattern is every other year for him.

Redshirt freshman Layne Swafford is the final returning walk-on in the position room. He was another PWO who joined the program in the summer of 2023. No appearances yet, but Swafford still has four years of eligibility to see the field.

The two newcomers in the edge room are Titus Bullard and Charles Emanuel III. Both joined the Gators over the summer, so they are likely just scouting team players for now, but Bullard’s name should sound familiar. He’s the son of WWE Global Ambassador Thaddeus Bullard, better known as Titus O’Neil.

Yes, the younger Bullard was named after his father’s fictional persona on television, and he’s also the nephew of Earnest Graham.

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

LJ McCray will make his mark per ESPN’s freshman football predictions

It might take a couple of games but expect to see Florida’s LJ McCray getting regular action by the middle of the season.

The Florida Gators have put a lot of stock in their recruiting efforts as [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co. continue to rebuild a once-proud college football program and it appears that their work off the field is beginning to yield positive results.

The Orange and Blue saw a good deal of attrition through the NCAA transfer portal this past offseason but also reloaded its roster with some of the top prep prospects in the nation. Among them was [autotag]LJ McCray[/autotag], a five-star defensive end from the Sunshine State in the 2024 cycle.

ESPN’s Eli Lederman and Adam Rittenberg recently took on the task of predicting freshman roles for college football’s top 10 recruits which included Florida’s top-rated defensive lineman.

Florida’s DE position outlook

“Florida lost sacks leader [autotag]Princely Umanmielen[/autotag] to Ole Miss, but the Gators bring back the rest of their production at the position from last fall.

“Between veteran [autotag]Tyreak Sapp[/autotag] and sophomores [autotag]Kelby Collins[/autotag] and [autotag]TJ Searcy[/autotag], Florida returns 73 total tackles and four sacks from a year ago, while redshirt junior [autotag]Justus Boone[/autotag] rejoins the Gators’ pass-rushing depth after missing last season with an ACL injury.

“Northern Illinois transfer [autotag]George Gumbs Jr[/autotag]. and sophomore [autotag]Kamran James[/autotag] present reserve options with experience.”

ESPN’s projection for McCray

“McCray signed with the Gators as one of the most physically impressive high school prospects in the 2024 cycle,” the authors note. “In his seven-plus months at Florida, McCray’s physical development has only bolstered confidence within the program that the five-star freshman can contribute this fall.”

That physical development appears to be elite and will be his ticket to success if he can connect all of the dots.

“He already has the body and the frame and the athletic ability and the tools and all that to allow him to be able to be considered to play early,” a team source told ESPN. “But he’s just worked hard over the summer and gotten stronger, developing his upper body. It takes a little bit of time at this level, but he’s physically far ahead of where a typical freshman would be coming in.”

The Gators have sufficient depth on the defensive line this season despite some losses, but there are also a lot of moving parts as well.

“Despite the blow of Umanmielen’s departure, Florida enters the season with capable depth on the edge,” they continue. “However, the Gators are already reshuffling on the defensive line following a preseason injury to defensive tackle Jamari Lyons, and McCray’s size and talent could make him difficult to keep on the sideline by the latter stages of his freshman season.”

While McCray might appear to be lower on the depth chart to start the season, do not be surprised if he quickly climbs in the early weeks.

“It’ll start off slow, but by midseason I think he’ll be out there,” a team source said. “He’ll be (used) sparingly early and then I would think he gets in there a lot. He’s a real guy.”

Florida’s season opener for 2024

The Florida Gators and No. 19 Miami Hurricanes square off on Aug. 31 in Gainesville, Florida to open their schedule for the 2024 season. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC Sports.

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

Two Mullen-era holdovers provide veteran leadership at EDGE for Florida

There aren’t many Mullen era players left on Florida’s roster, but Justus Boone and Tyreak Sapp are leading the Gators’ EDGE room.

Most of Florida’s 2024 football roster consists of players recruited by Billy Napier, but two rare holdovers from the Dan Mullen era are on top of the depth chart at edge rusher — at least, for now.

[autotag]Justus Boone[/autotag] and [autotag]Tyreak Sapp[/autotag] both stayed in Gainesville after Mullen was fired, knowing they’d have to compete to keep their roles under a new coach.

It’s the kind of perseverance and loyalty to the program that’s made both welcomed additions to Napier’s defense.

“Sapp and Boone were here when we first got here, and both have been awesome,” Napier said. “They have great practice habits. They bring energy. They’ve got personalities that I think rub off on the team and the group. Those two have been in the trenches together for a couple of years now.

“They’re doing a good job, and I mean, the reality is they’re competing, right? I mean, they’re in scenarios where they’re competing. So both of those guys are two of our guys that provide a good example. They have character. and we need more of them.

However, Napier called the EDGE room the most competitive position group on the team because of the young players behind these veterans. Kelby Collins and TJ Searcy figure to get playing time after impressive freshmen seasons, and freshman LJ McCray could be a Day 1 factor on the defense.

Boone and Sapp must prove themselves to stay on the field this year, and the former is coming off a season lost to injury. If Boone can stay healthy, he might be the most impactful player in the bunch.

“Boone has been one of the best leaders that we had,” Napier said. “Losing him last year was a big deal. Not only because of his production on the field and the depth issue there but also just his passion, his ability to affect people.”

Sapp is no different.

“Sapp’s motor is always running hot,” he said. “I mean, he never has a bad day. He’s on it all the time. Both of those guys are good teammates.

While both aren’t usually on the field at the same time, there’s a bond between the two that let’s them play through each other.

“It’s crazy. When he gets on the field, I feel like I almost know what he’s about to do,” Sapp said of his connection with Boone. “I can kind of feel me playing through him. I just love it when he’s out there because me and him give that same effort, he goes hard, he has a motor and he understands the game.”

Boone started fall camp still working his way back from last year’s ACL tear, so it looks like Sapp will start the season on the field for Florida at the F position.

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

2023 Florida Football Position Preview: EDGE/JACK

Florida’s pass rush has a chance to be elite in 2023 with Princely Umanmielen leading the way and a group of young edge rushers behind him.

Florida’s edge rushing corps is filled with position converts and true freshmen, but it might very well be one of the deepest position rooms on the roster heading into 2023.

Despite a season-ending injury to a major contributor, the Gators still have a  loaded room of edge rushers ready to go. Defensive lineman turned JACK Princely Umanmielen has the most experience among the group. He’s emerged as a team leader and should help guide the front seven during games.

Tyreak Sapp is another lineman turned edge rusher who could start, and a trio of true freshmen appear to be game-ready.

Here’s a look at every edge rusher on Florida’s 2023 fall roster.

Florida football’s sophomore defensive lineman suffers ACL tear

“This is a guy players really care about… We’re going to rally around Boone.” — Billy Napier

Florida football’s defensive roster took a blow when defensive lineman Justus Boone went down with an injury during Thursday night’s first preseason scrimmage.

On Friday during his press conference, head coach Billy Napier revealed that the sophomore sustained an ACL tear and will undergo surgery in the next several weeks, effectively ending his season before it began.

“Believe it or not, it was celebrating after a play was over,” Napier admitted. “It was really non-contact. He was just coming off the field. One of those head-scratchers, you know. Any time a non-contact injury occurs, it causes you to ask questions.”

Boone appeared in all 13 games last season as a redshirt freshman, starting two of them. He finished the 2022 campaign with 24 total tackles, including one for a loss, a sack and a quarterback hurry. The year prior, he appeared in just two games – including the Gasparilla Bowl — before taking a redshirt.

Napier attempted to find a silver lining in the loss.

“This could really galvanize our team,” Napier suggested. “This is a guy players really care about… We’re going to rally around Boone.”

The Gators opened camp Sunday, July 30, and the team held its first practice of the 2023 season on Monday, July 31. Florida opens its 2023 schedule on the road against the Utah Utes on Aug. 31, with a kickoff time of 8 p.m. EDT.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1368]

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

Florida EDGE Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr. to enter transfer portal

After three years with the Florida Gators, edge rusher Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr. is hitting the transfer portal.

Florida edge rusher [autotag]Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr[/autotag]. is entering the transfer portal, according to a social media post he sent out Friday afternoon.

Powell is the second Gator to leave the team following the Orange and Blue Game. Offensive lineman [autotag]David Conner[/autotag] officially entered the portal on Thursday after leaving the team during spring practices.

He didn’t give a reason for his decision, but playing time was likely a factor for the rising fourth-year junior. [autotag]Princely Umanmielen[/autotag] switched to the edge after [autotag]Brenton Cox Jr[/autotag]. was dismissed from the team last season, and he’s the expected starter heading into the summer.

Powell would have been competing for secondary snaps with redshirt sophomore [autotag]Justus Boone[/autotag] had he stayed, and a trio of true freshmen led by [autotag]Kelby Collins[/autotag] are hungry to take away snaps too.

Over three seasons in Gainesville, Powell recorded 34 total tackles (14 solo), including 7.5 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks, through 27 games played. He started five times for Florida in 2023 and played snaps in all 13 games.

Although the Gators are losing a consistent piece of its defense, the line is loaded with young Napier-recruited talent ready to take off, so this might have been the best move for both parties.

Still, the announcement is surprising from a player who seemed to have bought into Napier’s system.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1368]

[mm-video type=video id=01gxxeqq2vhjmccteth4 playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gxxeqq2vhjmccteth4/01gxxeqq2vhjmccteth4-2346b84476bb420195db0f813431176e.jpg]

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

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.

[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=92917,92904,92893,92880,92879]

[listicle id=92916]

[listicle id=92822]

[listicle id=92809]

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!

Was it a clean hit? Florida’s Justus Boone sacks Kentucky’s Will Levis

Florida’s defense came to play. Check out defensive lineman Justus Boone’s monster hit on Kentucky’s Will Levis.

All eyes were on the quarterbacks coming into Florida’s matchup with the Kentucky Wildcats, but it’s the defense that’s turning heads early.

Gervon Dexter Sr. kicked things off with the first Gators sack of the season during the Wildcats’ first drive, but it’s defensive end Justus Boone’s leveling hit on UK quarterback Will Levis that has people talking. The Swamp immediately erupted after Levis went down, but a flag for targeting quickly changed the mood in Gainesville.

After a fairly short review of the play, the referees overturned the call and ruled there was no targeting or intent to go after Levis’s head from Boone. That meant that the sack and seven-yard loss held up as well, making it easy for the Gators to force a punt.

Here is a look at the big hit itself and the social media reaction to Boone’s first sack of the season.