Tag: Montrell Johnson Jr

Best photos from Trevor Etienne’s 2022 season at Florida

Trevor is quickly following in his brother’s footsteps based on what we saw from the younger Etienne in 2022.

Running back [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] was a bit of an unexpected surprise during his true freshman season in the Swamp serving as one of the three heads in Florida football’s Cerberus-like ground attack in 2022. Making his collegiate debut against the Utah Utes in Week 1, the talented young man played in all 13 games this season for the Orange and Blue.

Over the course of the schedule, Etienne ran the ball 118 times for 719 yards (6.1 yards/per) and six touchdowns to finish second on the team in attempts and yardage behind [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]. and ahead of quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag]. He also caught the ball nine times for 66 yards (7.3 yards/per).

Take a look below at some of the top photo highlights from Etienne’s explosive first collegiate season with the Florida Gators in the Swamp.

Florida in the top 40 of ESPN’s SP+ rankings after bowl season

The Gators are a top 40 team in ESPN’s post-bowl season SP+ rankings for the 2022 season, per ESPN’s Bill Connelly.

ESPN has released their latest college football SP+ rankings after bowl season, with the Florida Gators coming in as a top 40 team in the country.

Connelly developed the SP+ ranking system in 2008 and, in his own words, is “a tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency” and “intended to be predictive and forward-facing.”

The offensive metric is much kinder to the Orange and Blue than the defensive metric. Offensively, the Gators are the 28th-best team in SP+, with a rating of 37.2. Defensively, Florida is the 70th-best team in SP+, with a rating of 27.7. With such contrasting numbers, the Gators’ final 2022 record of 6-7 (including their Las Vegas Bowl loss) makes perfect sense.

The stark difference in the rating properly explains Billy Napier’s first season in charge of the Orange and Blue. Offensively, the Gators were one of the best-rushing teams in the nation. Their three-headed monster of [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]., [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag], and [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] did their jobs behind a talented offensive line led by consensus first-team All-American guard [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag]. Both Richardson and Torrence have declared for the NFL draft. Etienne and Johnson Jr. are expected to be the backbone of the Gators’ offensive identity in 2023.

Florida’s defensive ranking accurately represents the journey the unit took over the course of the season. Sometimes, the defense looked lost and confused. Other times, the defense was locked in and determined to get off the field. They even recorded at least one turnover in all 12 games this season

After their Las Vegas Bowl loss to Oregon State, the Gators turned their attention to the transfer portal and recruiting to continue building the roster in Napier’s image. With over 25 players leaving the program via the NFL draft and the transfer portal, expect to see many new faces in Gainesville in 2023.

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Best photos from Montrell Johnson Jr.’s 2022 season at Florida

Take a look at some of the highlights from Johnson’s workhorse season for the Gators in 2022.

Running back [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]. followed head coach Billy Napier from Louisiana to Florida prior to the 2022 season, hopping over to the Sunshine State through the NCAA transfer portal. The decision was a smart one for both him and the Gators, as the 5-foot-11-inch, 218-pound back played in all 13 games this fall for Florida, getting the starting nod in nine of them.

The sophomore was a workhorse for the Orange and Blue this past season, totaling 155 carries for 841 yards (5.4 yards/per) and 10 touchdowns as the primary option in the backfield while also grabbing 12 catches for 58 yards (4.8 yards/per) and a score through the air.

Take a look below at some of the top photographs of Johnson from the 2022 Florida football campaign — his first in Gainesville.

 

CBS Sports predicts a tight contest between Florida and Oregon State

The Gators are down a ton of players for Saturday’s Las Vegas Bowl matchup with Oregon State, but CBS Sports thinks the game will be close.

Florida is dealing with a ton of roster changes as players depart for the NFL and hit the transfer portal, but there’s still a bowl game to be played on Saturday and CBS Sports thinks the depleted Gators have a shot to keep the game closer than many are expecting.

CBS Sports has the Gators losing to Oregon State by just three points this weekend, 24-21, despite the Beavers entering the game as a two-score favorite. Both teams are down a starting quarterback, so the assumption here is that neither offense will be particularly effective.

“Considering how inefficient the Gators’ offense was all year (79th nationally in success rate), it’s hard to imagine things improving without the one player who seemed capable of making something out of nothing,” CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli wrote.

That might be writing off the tandem of [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] in Florida’s backfield, but their success is not guaranteed this weekend with the anchor of the offensive line, right guard O’Cyrus Torrence, sitting out.

The good news is that Oregon State’s best quarterback is in the transfer portal and the Beavers’ offense “hasn’t been great,” with Ben Gulbranson under center. Florida’s defense will return most of its regular starters, but it’s been an up-and-down year for that side of the ball and there’s no telling which version will be on the field Saturday. That matchup should be the difference-maker in this one.

It’s no surprise to see CBS Sports peg this game to be “an ugly, low-scoring affair,” but Florida could pull off an upset that ends the first year of the Napier era on a positive note.

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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.

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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Two Florida players named to the Freshman All-SEC team

Trevor Etienne and Shemar James have been named to the Freshman All-SEC team after their standout 2022 seasons.

Two breakthrough first-year players have been named to the Freshman All-SEC team for the 2022 season. Running back [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] and linebacker [autotag]Shemar James[/autotag] are being recognized just two days after being Honorable Mentions on the College Football News Freshman All-American team.

Trevor Etienne took the reigns as the Gators’ primary running back option later on in the season after splitting duties with [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]. for most of the season. Paired with [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag]’s rushing ability, that three-headed monster was the backbone of Florida’s offense.

Etienne recorded 704 rushing yards this season, with 129 of those yards coming in a career-high performance against Florida State. He became the fourth true freshman in Florida football history to rush for at least 700 yards, joining [autotag]Emmitt Smith[/autotag], Tony Green and [autotag]Fred Taylor[/autotag].

Shemar James played in all twelve games for the Gators with three starts. He recorded 40 tackles this season, good for the second-most among true freshman SEC linebackers and sixth-most for the Gators. James’ best game came against Eastern Washington, where he recorded a career-high eight tackles. He was one of Billy Napier’s best-recruiting wins in his transition class, as the former five-star was considered the No. 3 prospect in Alabama and the No. 6 linebacker nationally, per 247Sports.

Top players like Richardson, [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] and [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] have declared for the NFL draft and will not be playing against the Oregon State Beavers in the Las Vegas Bowl. Because of that and the over a dozen players that have entered the transfer portal, Etienne and James will play a big role on Dec. 17 starting at 2:30 p.m. EST and broadcast on ESPN.

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Florida maintains position in ESPN’s latest SP+ rankings update

The Gators maintained their top 35 status in the latest SP+ rankings, per ESPN’s Bill Connelly. They will play Oregon State in their bowl game.

Having not participated in conference championship week, the Florida Gators maintain their positions at No. 34 in ESPN’s latest SP+ rankings, per Bill Connelly.

Connelly developed the SP+ ranking system in 2008 and, in his own words, is “a tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency” and “intended to be predictive and forward-facing.”

The offensive metric is much kinder to the Orange and Blue than the defensive metric. Offensively, the Gators are the 17th-best team in SP+, with a rating of 39.4. Defensively, Florida is the 78th-best team in SP+, with a rating of 29.1. With such contrasting numbers, it makes sense that the Gators would finish the regular season with a 6-6 record.

The stark difference in the rating properly explains the Orange and Blue’s regular season. Offensively, the Gators were one of the best rushing teams in the nation. Their three-headed monster of [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]., [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] and [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] did their jobs behind a talented offensive line led by [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag]. Both Richardson and Torrence have declared for the NFL draft and will not participate in the Gators’ bowl game.

Florida’s defensive ranking accurately represents the journey the unit took over the course of the season. Sometimes, the defense looked lost and confused. Other times, the defense was locked in and determined to get off the field. They even recorded at least one turnover in all 12 games this season

The Gators now turn their attention to their opponent for the Las Vegas Bowl opponent, the Oregon State Beavers likely entering the game shorthanded, as multiple players have left the team via the transfer portal, in addition to Richardson and Torrence’s absence.

The Las Vegas Bowl will be played at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. EST with the game broadcast on ESPN.

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ESPN’s bowl picks have Gators playing a close game in Las Vegas

ESPN’s bowl picks have Florida Gators playing in a close Las Vegas Bowl against the Oregon State Beavers.

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg has released his picks for all 47 college football bowl games, including the Gators’ upcoming Las Vegas Bowl matchup against the Oregon State Beavers.

Oregon State had a very successful season, finishing with a 9-3 record for their best mark since 2012 while also becoming bowl-eligible for only the fourth time since 2009. Their three losses came in Pac-12 play at the hands of USC, Utah and Washington — three of the top teams in their conference.

They finished the regular season with a 38-24 upset win over their rival, the Oregon Ducks. They played spoiler in that rivalry game, as the Ducks needed a win to make the Pac-12 championship game. Oregon State now has a chance to win ten games for the first time since 2006.

Here is what Rittenberg had to say about the Gators’ neutral-site matchup against the Beavers:

Oregon State comes in hot after winning six of its final seven games, including an upset of rival Oregon, while Florida lost its rivalry game to Florida State and four of its final six contests. The Beavers improved markedly on defense this season but must contend with Florida running backs [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag], who combined for 1,532 rush yards and 16 touchdowns. Oregon State counters with its own dynamic young running back in Damien Martinez, who scores a late touchdown for the win.

Prediction: Oregon State 27, Florida 24

That prediction is actually generous to Florida. The Gators will field a depleted roster, with multiple players having left the program via the transfer portal. Some of the Gators’ top producers from this year, such as [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] and [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag], have also left the program after declaring for the NFL draft. With the bowl game less than two weeks away, reinforcements will not be on the team in time for the matchup.

The Las Vegas Bowl will be played at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. EST with the game broadcast on ESPN.

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Florida cracks top 35 in ESPN’s regular season-ending SP+ rankings

The Gators finished in the top 35 in the final SP+ rankings of the season, per ESPN’s Bill Connelly. They lost to FSU in their season finale.

After their 45-38 defeat to Florida State, the Florida Gators sit at No. 34 in ESPN’s latest SP+ rankings, per Bill Connelly.

Connelly developed the SP+ ranking system in 2008 and, in his own words, is “a tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency” and “intended to be predictive and forward-facing.”

The offensive metric is much kinder to the Orange and Blue than the defensive metric. Offensively, the Gators are the 15th-best team in SP+, with a rating of 39.6. Defensively, Florida is the 78th-best team in SP+, with a rating of 29.5. Not so nice.

The stark difference in the rating properly explains the Orange and Blue’s regular season. Offensively, the Gators were one of the best rushing teams in the nation. Their three-headed monster of [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]., [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] and [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] did their jobs behind a talented offensive line led by [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag], a potential first-round draft pick in next year’s draft.

Florida’s defensive ranking accurately represents the journey the unit took over the course of the season. Sometimes, the defense looked lost and confused. Other times, the defense was locked in and determined to get off the field. They even recorded at least one turnover in all twelve games this season

Now that the regular season is over, the Gators will wait to find out who they will play in their bowl game. On Sunday, the College Football Playoffs selection show will announce the four teams that will participate in the playoff. Then, they will announce the pairings for the New Year’s Six bowl games. The individual bowl teams will then announce their matchups throughout the evening.

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Two Gators projected to sit during bowl season by 247Sports

Players sitting out of bowl games to preserve their bodies for the NFL draft is a modern-day reality of college football. Here’s which Gators 247Sports thinks will sit.

The Florida Gators secured bowl eligibility with their win over the South Carolina Gamecocks two weeks ago, but the team might be without two of its best players when the postseason finally comes around. 247Sports took a shot at projecting which players are likely to sit out for their team’s bowl game, and for Florida, those names are quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] and guard [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag].

Both players have first-round potential, but Richardson lacks the experience Torrence has and could end up staying another year. Running back [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]. has already begun openly recruiting Richardson to return for another year, but several NFL scouts and draft analysts believe his natural talent will override his lack of experience when the draft comes around. If Richardson has made up his mind, the Florida State game on Friday could be his last appearance in the Orange in Blue.

Torrence’s impending departure is much more of a sure thing. Pro Football Focus has graded him as the top guard in the country all year and he could be the first player at his position off the board. A First Team All-Sun Belt player a year ago, Torrence followed Billy Napier to the Swamp and has shined playing against SEC talent. If that’s not a stamp of approval for NFL scouts, it’s hard to say what is.

Losing both players might spell doom for the Gators come bowl season, but it’s the new reality of college football. When there’s money on the line, it’s smarter to stay healthy than play in a minor bowl game that could cost a player millions if something goes wrong.

Nothing is official yet and both men could end up playing in Florida’s bowl game when all is said and done, but no one would be surprised if they end up sitting.

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