Tag: The Athletic

The Athletic casts its pick for Florida-Tennessee matchup in Week 3

The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman has a prediction that won’t enamor Gators fans but seems pretty reasonable.

The Gator Nation is gearing up for the Southeastern Conference football schedule opener between Florida and Tennessee inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium this Saturday in the continuation of a once-storied rivalry.

The Volunteers come into the matchup ranked just outside of the top 10 and expected to compete for the SEC title while the Gators are still figuring things out in head coach Billy Napier’s second season on the sidelines. The program has been mired in mediocrity of late, finishing under the .500 mark in the past campaigns and facing one of the toughest schedules among Power Five schools this fall.

The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman took a look at the SEC slate for the coming weekend and presented his picks in comparison to the betting lines. He predicts a final score of 31-20 in favor of Tennessee with the following justification.

“The Vols sputtered last week against Austin Peay, but they still didn’t look as lost as Florida did at Utah in Week 1,” Feldman offers. “Tennessee has more athletes and is still playing with more confidence than the Gators and should cruise here. Florida’s defense hasn’t faced an attack anything like Joe Milton and the Vols.”

The Gators host the Volunteers in the Swamp on Saturday, Sept. 16, for the SEC schedule opener between two historic rivals. The opening kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. EDT and the game can be watched on ESPN.

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Gators-Vols headlines The Athletic’s top Week 3 matchups

The Florida vs. Tennessee game is the top matchup this weekend, per The Athletic.

The Southeastern Conference opens up its league schedule this weekend with a full slate of matchups this Saturday. The 2023 campaign has been sluggish for the premier conference so far as member schools have won just one-third of their Power Five matchups.

The first round of games on the SEC slate is fairly underwhelming — in fact, Week 3 as a whole for the rest of the P5 is also not quite at midseason form. Despite the lack of overall competition, the Florida-Tennessee game appears to be the top pick in mid-September.

The Athletic’s Justin Williams published his top 10 college football matchups for Week 3, anointing Gators-Vols as the number one game this Saturday. Williams justified his pick with the following explanation.

“There’s probably some nostalgia kicking in after I watched the Florida ‘Swamp Kings’ documentary on Netflix, but something about the Third Saturday in September feels like the college football of my childhood in a deep, ineffable way. (Already missing the CBS theme music on this one.)”

He followed that up with a vote of no-confidence overall in the two teams, but nonetheless faith in the SEC brand.

“I’m not sure how good Tennessee is after letting Austin Peay hang around for a bit, though I’m pretty sure the Gators are a long, long way from those Swamp Kings days, so a runaway win for the Volunteers wouldn’t shock me. But on a weekend devoid of any certified bangers, I’ll gladly take a big-brands conference rivalry in the top spot.”

The Gators host the Volunteers in the Swamp on Saturday, Sept. 16, for the SEC schedule opener between two historic rivals. The opening kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. EDT and the game can be watched on ESPN.

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Florida’s starting QB gets negative reviews from The Athletic

The Athletic released its weekly ranking of the new starting quarterbacks in the SEC, but the confidence in Graham Mertz is low.

Highly renowned publication The Athletic released its weekly rankings of the eight new starting quarterbacks in the Southeastern Conference. Florida Gators quarterback [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag] has two games under his belt and the reviews are in, but the experts are showing low confidence in the Wisconsin transfer.

The Florida pass thrower was ranked No. 7.

Mertz played well against visiting McNeese State in week two but was slaughtered in the backfield when the Gators took a trip to Salt Lake City to play the No. 12 Utah Utes.

The redshirt junior has completed 73.6% of his passes for 526 yards with two touchdowns to show for it. His lone interception against the Utes was a tipped pass off the hands of wide receiver Ricky Pearsall.

The Athletic’s Kyle Tucker wrote this about Mertz.

“The book on Mertz, who threw 29 touchdowns and 21 interceptions the last two seasons at Wisconsin, was pretty clear: heat him up and watch him melt. He was eighth in the Big Ten last year and 13th in 2021 in pass efficiency when pressured.”

“While Mertz has only been pressured on 13 dropbacks so far this season, he’s taken five sacks, attempted only seven passes, completed just two and thrown an interception in those situations. He has the SEC’s worst passer rating against pressure, which we could maybe dismiss as a small sample size if the same problem didn’t plague him with the Badgers.”

Tucker finds some positive light for Mertz because of the quarterback’s accuracy when throwing for more than 15 yards. Mertz has the second-best passer rating in the SEC on long throws, going 7-for-12 with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Tennessee Volunteers quarterback and week two Florida opponent Joe Milton is ranked at No. 2 ahead of the week three matchup. The Athletic is high on Milton due to his ability to be a dual-threat QB. Milton has four touchdowns through the air and three rushing and has thrown for 429 yards.

Tennessee and Florida will face off at The Swamp on Saturday at 7 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

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Florida football’s spot in The Athletic’s re-rank unchanged after Week 2

The Gators stand pat in The Athletic’s Week 2 re-rank following the win over an FCS school.

Billy Napier and Co. scored a big confidence-building win against the McNeese State Cowboys in Florida football’s 2023 season home-opener in the Swamp on Saturday.

However, the victory is not expected to move the needle much for the Gators given that their sacrificial lamb came from the Football Championship Subdivision. The visitors came into the game far from heralded on their own tier and were predictably manhandled, but the Orange and Blue still showed some room for improvement.

The Athletic’s Chris Vannini released his college football re-rankings after Week 2 of action on Monday, with Florida remaining a No. 54 out of a total of 133 schools following the win. The Gators had been ranked No. 40 before the start of the season but took a tumble after the loss on the road to the Utah Utes.

Vannini’s rankings feature just one SEC team in the top 10 — the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs, who are seeking a three-peat national championship. The Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 11), Tennessee Volunteers (No. 12), Ole Miss Rebels (No. 17) and LSU Tigers (No. 19) round out the conference representatives in the top 25.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs (No. 26), Arkansas Razorbacks (No. 32), Kentucky Wildcats (No. 35), South Carolina Gamecocks (No. 37), Texas A&M Aggies (No. 38), Auburn Tigers (No. 40) and Missouri Tigers (No. 53) are Florida’s SEC foes who also rank ahead of it.

Only the Vanderbilt Commodores (No. 84) rank lower.

Next up for Florida are the Volunteers who come to Gainesville on Saturday, Sept. 16, for the SEC schedule opener between two historic rivals. The opening kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. EDT and the game can be watched on ESPN.

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Florida remains low in The Athletic’s SEC rankings after Week 2

After placing dead last on the list last week, the Gators moved up significantly in the The Athletic’s SEC rankings.

The Athletic released its weekly SEC rankings and the Florida Gators remained low on the list.

The Gators moved up four spots this week, a huge improvement compared to being ranked dead last out of 14 teams last week.

Article writer Seth Emerson placed the Gators at No. 10, beating out South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and surprisingly, Alabama (ranked No. 10 in the AP Top 25).

Emerson said Florida’s loss to No. 12 Utah looks better after the Utes defeated a talented Baylor team, and the Gators’ 49-7 victory over FCS opponent McNeese State is a significant boost.

“The Gators were in the bottom spot of these rankings last week,” Emerson wrote. “They climb out not just by doing what they should against an FCS opponent. It’s also what Utah did, going to Baylor and eking out a win, allowing the Gators to say they were embarrassed by a pretty good team. And it’s also Tennessee looking weaker as it prepares to come to Gainesville. Things are still bleak for Billy Napier’s team, but not as bleak as last week. There’s a path back to respectability.”

Emerson also pointed out that the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers look weaker, which might instill confidence in the Florida faithful this week before the conference rivals make the trip down south.

The Gators will host the Volunteers on Saturday in a primetime matchup at 7 p.m. EDT on ESPN. Fans, as always, remember to wear blue.

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Riq Woolen named among top 25 most intriguing NFL players in 2023

Seahawks defensive back Riq Woolen will enter his second season in the NFL with high-acclaim and rightfully so.

Seattle Seahawks defensive back Riq Woolen will enter his second season in the NFL with high-acclaim and rightfully so. Earlier this week, editors at The Athletic named Woolen one of the top 25 most intriguing NFL players to watch for in 2023 with sentiments like the one below.

“Woolen is immensely talented and versatile and boasts great smarts and anticipation skills.” via. Mike Jones The Athletic

Woolen’s six interception, three forced fumbles, and one touchdown rookie-season has Seahawks fans eagerly anticipating the sequel. With Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp ruled out for Week 1, Woolen will likely line up across from Van Jefferson, Demarcus Robinson, or other backups.

Not only will the Rams need to to overcome feverish Seahawks fans at Lumen Field in week 1, they’ll have to be cautious when throwing in the direction of one of the NFL’s best ball hawks in Woolen.

(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

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The Athletic’s SEC first impressions has Florida ranked last

The Gators took a punch to the face but there are still plenty of games remaining to bounce back.

Florida football stumbled out of the gates against the Utah Utes to open the 2023 schedule on Thursday, unleashing an avalanche of pessimism among both fans and the media. The Gators simply looked flat and under-coached, and while the game was expected to be a tough one, simply gave no reason for optimism.

Among the many to cast their opinions now that Week 1 of the college football campaign is all but in the books is The Athletic’s Seth Emerson, who published his SEC football first impressions on Monday. In his article, Emerson ranked Florida last in the conference, scolding the team for its miscues.

“On its surface, going almost across the country to face the 14th-ranked team and losing by only 13 is respectable,” Emerson admitted. “But Utah was using its backup quarterback, the score was deceiving, and it was how the Gators looked that was the issue. How does a team have two players with the same jersey number on punt coverage?”

However, there is a chance that the humiliating defeat will be a learning experience the program can grow from.

“Maybe Billy Napier’s group rebounds and it’s the reverse of last year when beating Utah at home didn’t prove the right indicator of the season to come. But based on what we saw in this year’s opener, there’s a long way to go.”

The Gators have an opportunity to even up their record against the McNeese Cowboys, who travel to Gainesville to face them on Saturday, Sept. 9, inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium with a kickoff time slated for 7:30 p.m. EDT.

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Where does Florida’s Graham Mertz rank among Power Five QBs?

The Athletic ranked every starting Power Five quarterback heading into the 2023 season. Here’s where Florida’s Graham Mertz landed.

There are less than 70 starting quarterback spots in college football Power Five conference, and Florida’s Graham Mertz is among the top 25, according to the Athletic’s Cooper Klaus.

On Wednesday, Klaus released his college football quarterback rankings, which he created using a model that considers both passing and rushing ability. Klaus admits that his model should be used as a “starting point for debate, rather than the be-all and end-all,” and he even includes commentary from another writer on which players might be over- or underrated.

Mertz being placed at No. 23 didn’t ruffle too many feathers, but it’s not likely to please Gators fans either. After watching Anthony Richardson scramble around the field seemingly at will for a season, the Florida faithful now get to watch a true pocket passer.

The former Wisconsin Badger ranks in the 95th percentile for passing among Power Five quarterbacks, using expected points added (EPA). A 57th percentile rusher, it’s safe to say Mertz prefers to throw the ball than take off.

Still, he’ll have to show some versatility to succeed in the SEC. Right now, Auburn‘s Payton Thorne, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler, Arkansas‘ KJ Jefferson and Missouri’s Brady Cook are ranked ahead of Mertz.

Mertz isn’t projected to lead the conference in any major passing statistic, but a few strong games could help move him up this list. Florida’s roster is built to run, so he’ll have to make the most of what passing opportunities he does get.

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Paul Burmeister to do play-by-play for Notre Dame home opener on NBC

Jac’s not back yet.

When Jac Collinsworth became too ill to travel to Ireland for Notre Dame’s season opener, many figured he would be back for the home opener. Instead, he will be replaced in the NBC booth once again when the Irish play their first 2023 game at Notre Dame Stadium against Tennessee State. Pete Sampson of The Athletic has tweeted the following:

Burmeister already is employed by NBC Sports, so this decision had to have been an easy one. Irish fans used to watching games on TV but not listening to them on the radio will get a taste of what it’s like to experience the Irish when you can’t see the action. As great as Noah Eagle is, NBC needs him for its Big Ten Saturday Night coverage.

It’s not known as of this writing who will fill in for Burmeister on the radio. Still, the Notre Dame Radio Network has employed some great broadcasters over the years. Someone worthy surely will be chosen, even if for one day only.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Dane Brugler list Texas A&M DT McKinnley Jackson as an ‘underrated’ 2024 NFL Draft prospect

The Athletics’ Dane Brugler has listed Texas A&M DT McKinnley Jackson as an “underrated” prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, one of the leading NFL Draft analysts with an evaluation acumen that rivals most NFL scouts, is already hard at work preparing for the 2024 NFL Draft. While scanning over some of the more underrated potential prospects set to enter the cycle early next year, Texas A&M defensive tackle Mckinnley Jackson is definitely on his radar moving forward.

After releasing his first 2024 NFL Draft Big Board, featuring his Top 50 player rankings for the upcoming 2023 college football season (subscription required), Jackson, entering his final campaign in Aggieland, came in at No. 36, one spot above LSU DT Masson Smith.

Jackson returns for his senior season after appearing in eight games for the Maroon and White last season, having been named defensive MVP for the Aggies in 2022. He recorded 37 total tackles, including seven for loss, along with two sacks and one fumble recovery. In 389 defensive snaps in 2022, he logged 219 as a run defender and 169 in pass rush situations.

Standing at an imposing 6-2 320 pounds, Jackson’s strength and first-step explosiveness immediately jump off the page. As Brugler notes, his backfield vision needs improvement, and there is no better way to reach his full potential than during the 2023 season.

Jackson is the presumptive leader of an Aggie defensive tackle rotation littered with blue-chip talent, including Walter Nolen, Shemar Turner, Shemar Stewart, Fadil Diggs, and LT Overton.

So far this offseason, Jackson has been named to the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy watch lists.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

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