Montrell Johnson – Syndication Server

Montrell Johnson ‘down for the challenge’ on Saturday, expects extra carries

Florida Gators running back Montrell Johnson addressed the media ahead of the Vanderbilt game, says he’s “down for the challenge.”

Transfer running back [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag] spoke to the media on Wednesday to preview the homecoming game against the Vanderbilt Commodores.

The depth chart was released Wednesday afternoon and Florida sophomore running back Trevor Etienne is listed as questionable with an upper-body injury. That means Johnson will be the primary ball carrier for the Gators offense on Saturday.

Montrell hasn’t been quite as elusive or dangerous as his counterpart, but he has the potential to break out a stellar day against Vanderbilt. The Commodores rushing defense ranks No. 83 among FBS teams, surrendering 147 rush yards a game.

Florida head Billy Napier is familiar with Johnson’s game, coaching him up as a Louisiana Ragin’ Cajun and may utilize that chemistry this weekend.

Florida offers former Louisiana Ragin’ Cajun DB in transfer portal

He might not fit the Gators’ immediate needs but Napier might be able to snag another former Cajun from the transfer portal.

When Florida hired Billy Napier to take over the football program in November of 2021, the new head coach brought with him a pair of studs from the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns through the transfer portal who were critical to the Gators’ gridiron efforts during the 2022 season.

Between running back [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag] along with offensive lineman and second-round NFL draft pick [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag], the Orange and Blue benefitted greatly from that talent pipeline. It appears that connection could once again bear fruit as Napier and Co. recently offered defensive back [autotag]Trenayvian Amos[/autotag], a rising redshirt junior who saw significant playing time during his three years in the bayou.

The 6-foot-1-inch, 197-pound defender recorded 59 total tackles (46 solo, 13 assisted), including 2.5 for a loss, an interception, a forced fumble and 13 passes defended over 30 collegiate games. Amos saw his production increase meteorically in 2022, amassing 26 solo and nine assisted tackles (including one for a loss) plus eight passes defended.

After tweeting that he had entered the portal on Monday night, the former Ragin Cajun quickly received scholarship offers from the Alabama Crimson Tide, LSU Tigers, Miami Hurricanes, Michigan State Spartans and Ole Miss Rebels. While Napier has mentioned his desire to bolster the defensive backfield, it remains to be seen if Amos’ experience on the outside fills the role when the team is looking more for someone at the safety position.

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Florida’s assistant running backs coach takes job downstate with Hurricanes

Florida’s assistant running backs coach just took a job with the ‘Canes doing pretty much what he did for the Gators.

Billy Napier lost another member of his army of staffers on Tuesday with the departure of assistant running backs coach [autotag]Benedick Hyppolite[/autotag], who took a job with the Miami Hurricanes as an offensive analyst working specifically with the running back corps — much like he did in Gainesville last season.

Hyppolite’s burgeoning coaching career has already had three stops on the collegiate circuit, starting as the offensive coordinator at Florida Memorial University — and HBCU in South Florida — in 2019 before joining the Hurricanes’ staff as a graduate assistant in 2020. He then got his big break with the Gators under Napier last season assisting with Florida’s successful running backs room before moving back south for a similar role in Miami.

Last season, UF’s rushing attack was among the top in the nation for most of the season thanks in large part to his efforts off the field. Transfer [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag] and true freshman [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] combined for 1,560 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns, building the foundation of what should be a terrorizing ground attack for the Gators in years to come.

The departing analyst was no slouch on the recruiting trail either, shouldering a load in wooing four-star running backs [autotag]Treyaun Webb[/autotag] and [autotag]Chauncey Bowens[/autotag], while also stepping out of the backfield to assist in the recruitment of four-star wide receiver [autotag]Andy Jean[/autotag].

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Final CBS Sports’ re-rank of 2022 has Florida in top 50

CBS Sports’ final rankings are out and the Gators’ ranking might be a bit surprising.

The final CBS Sports 1-131 rankings of the 2022 season saw Florida football come in as the No. 50 team overall, finishing the 2022 season as the No. 10 team in the SEC.

The Gators closed things out with a 30-3 loss to Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl. Florida’s only points of the game came late in the fourth quarter, extending the Orange and Blue’s scoring streak to 436 consecutive games dating back to 1988. It is the longest streak in NCAA history and 57 games longer than the next closest team.

Florida finished the 2022 season with a 6-7 record, with five of their losses coming in SEC play.

Before that, they suffered a 45-38 loss to in-state rival Florida State. Florida’s performance was a microcosm of their autumn, as they started off strong and took a 41-21 lead into the half before a disastrous third quarter put them behind for good. A last push during the fourth quarter was valiant but not enough to pull the Gators ahead in the end.

Needless to say, they did not participate in conference championship week.

The offense finished as one of the better-rushing offenses in the country as [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag] established himself as the power back in Napier’s system. But it was [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag]’s explosiveness and speed that made him a bright spot this season, and he will be the player to watch going into 2023.

With over two dozen players leaving the program, either via the transfer portal or to prepare for the NFL draft, [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] has a lot of roster rebuilding this offseason. The 2023 recruiting class currently has 21 players in it, with at least 18 blue-chip (four or five-star) prospects. Napier has also been active in the transfer portal, landing multiple players that are expected to make an immediate impact next season.

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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’ post-Week 11 re-rank sees Gators continue to rise

The Florida Gators rise in the latest CBS Sports’ full ranking of all FBS teams, after dominating against South Carolina. They are 6th in the SEC.

The latest CBS Sports rankings see the Florida Gators rise for the second consecutive week. They are currently the No. 30 team in the nation and the No. 6 team in the SEC, an improvement of six spots overall and two spots in the SEC.

The Gators are coming off a dominant 38-6 victory over South Carolina which put them at 6-4, clinching bowl eligibility. The game was dominated on the ground, as the Gators racked up 374 rushing yards with [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag] leading the pack with 161 yards. The defense also stepped up. They have now gone six consecutive quarters without allowing a touchdown.

Florida’s final two games will be played on the road. They wrap up their SEC schedule against Vanderbilt before making the short trip northwest to take on Florida State in a special Black Friday edition of the Sunshine State Showdown. The game will return to its normal post-Thanksgiving Saturday date next season.

The Vanderbilt game will be played in Nashville this Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for noon EST and the game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.

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Gators make big improvement in USA TODAY Sports’ latest re-rank

The Florida Gators make a big improvement in USA TODAY’s latest re-rank of all FBS college football teams after Week 11 of the CFB season.

The Florida Gators rose 11 spots in USA TODAY Sports’s latest re-rank of all FBS college football teams. They come in at No. 35, over 50 spots ahead of this week’s opponent, Vanderbilt. They are also 12 spots behind their in-state rival, Florida State.

The Gators had an up-and-down first half of the season. They came out of the gate swinging with an upset win over the defending Pac-12 champion Utah Utes in [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s first game as Florida’s head coach. They went from unranked to No. 19 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll after the victory.

They then lost to Kentucky and barely got a win over in-state rival USF, leaving them out of the top 25 entirely. Their close loss to Tennessee paired with their win over Eastern Washington caused expectations to stabilize.

Since their victory over Eastern Washington, the Gators have found their form. Despite losing to LSU and Georgia, the Gators have managed to find their offensive identity. They’re rushing attack is lethal with running backs [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] emerging as a two-headed monster, not to mention [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag]’s effectiveness on designed quarterback runs. The defense has also improved and has not allowed a touchdown in six quarters.

Florida’s 6-4 record has confirmed their bowl eligibility. They have an opportunity to finish 8-4 in Napier’s first season in charge. If they are going to finish 8-4, they’ll need to do so on the road, with last week’s win over South Carolina serving as the final home game of the season.

The Gators’ next game will be against Vanderbilt. That game will take place in Nashville this Saturday with kickoff scheduled for noon EST and the game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.

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These 4 Gators to serve as team captains for USF game

Here are the four Gators who will serve as team captains against the South Florida Bulls.

Florida football is getting geared up for its Week 3 date with the South Florida Bulls in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium this Saturday and ahead of the in-state matchup, head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] has released his four team captains for the upcoming game.

Outside linebacker [autotag]Brenton Cox Jr[/autotag]. was among those picked to lead the team against USF. The highly-heralded hybrid linebacker has been a leader on and off the field for the Gators, with his 12 tackles so far good enough for fourth-best on the team — which also included a half-tackle for a loss. The redshirt junior also leads the team in quarterback hits, with three.

Offensive tackle [autotag]Richard Gouraige[/autotag] also got the call due to his diligence on the offensive line. The redshirt junior has kept quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] protected while also helping to open seams for the running game. The offensive line has allowed just one sack so far while helping the ground game earn 423 rushing yards.

Running back [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag], a transfer during the offseason who followed Napier from the Lousiana Ragin’ Cajuns, gets the nod as a sophomore thanks to his team-leading 137 rushing yards on 19 carries along with a touchdown. The sophomore has been the focal point of a Cerberus-like backfield for the Gators and is well-acclimated with the new head coach’s system.

Finally, there is punter [autotag]Jeremy Crawshaw[/autotag], who is in his second year as the Gators’ primary punter. The sophomore from Australia pinned his opponent inside their own 20-yard line on three of five attempts last week while averaging 47.4 yards per punt. He has also stood out as a vocal leader on the special teams squad.

Florida kicks off its game against USF at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, with the game broadcast on the SEC Network and head on the Gators Radio Network.

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2023 Florida Football Season Preview: Running Backs

Is it finally Nay’Quan Wright’s time to shine at Florida or will the Louisiana transfer who followed his coach win out the starting running back job?

The quarterback controversy in Gainesville during the 2021 season may have overshadowed how badly the running back room was handled, but there’s hope [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and position coach [autotag]Jabbar Juluke[/autotag] will provide the right template for success on the ground in their first season at Florida.

Unfortunately, the team lost its top two running backs from a year ago to the NFL. [autotag]Dameon Pierce[/autotag], who didn’t hit the 10-carry mark in a game until after [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag] was fired, now looks like a legitimate part of the Houston Texans‘ backfield, and [autotag]Malik Davis[/autotag] recently rushed for 51 yards on eight carries in a preseason game for the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. Losing both to the pros left just [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright[/autotag] on the roster with a decent amount of SEC experience under his belt.

Napier brought over one of his players, [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag], from Louisiana through the transfer portal and there’s still former five-star [autotag]Lorenzo Lingard[/autotag] to consider. All three should see carries throughout the season, and there’s even a chance [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] sees some action as a true freshman.

In 2021, Napier’s Louisiana team scored 34 of its 53 offensive touchdowns on the ground and three backs broke the 500-yard mark — two eclipsing 800 yards. A similar mix could be in store for his first year at Florida, and at least Johnson has played in Napier’s system before.

Here’s a look at all eight running backs listed on the 2022 Florida Gators’ fall roster.

This Gator made CBS Sports’ 2022 Preseason All-America team

Florida’s best player heading into the 2022 season might be someone who wasn’t even on the team in 2021.

The SEC dominates most preseason All-American rosters, but the Florida Gators aren’t exactly stocked with the talent they’re used to having. Just one Gator made the CBS Sports 2022 Preseason All-America second team, and it’s an offensive lineman who wasn’t even in Gainesville a year ago, Louisiana transfer [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag].

Torrence was one of three Ragin’ Cajuns that followed [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] to Florida. He joined [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Kamryn Waites[/autotag] as the newest additions to the Gators and has been considered a team leader since arriving. A four-year player, Torrence has come to the SEC to prove himself before entering his name into the draft pool and hopes to rack up as many accolades as he can. A preseason second-team nod is a good start, and there’s plenty of room to surprise people.

Despite his high ratings in the transfer portal and obvious interest from many Power Five programs, many still consider Torrence an underrated player. He allowed just three pressures last season in over 320 passing plays, so the numbers are there but playing in the Group of Five leaves questions for many at the next level.

The SEC doesn’t have that problem. Look no further than the makeup of the CBS Sports All-America teams for confirmation. Eighteen of 54 players across both rosters are on an SEC program. Surprisingly, not a single one of the five first-team offensive linemen hail from the conference. A big year on the ground from Florida/Torrence could change that.

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