Trikweze Bridges – Syndication Server

Gators DB calls for ‘all hands on deck’ approach in wake of defensive injuries

Florida’s defense has impressed over the past month. Gators defensive back Trikweze Bridges spoke to the media about the many changes made over the past five weeks.

Florida defensive back [autotag]Trikweze Bridges[/autotag]’ versatility has been on full display over the past few weeks, and with several injuries hitting the secondary this week he was asked to step into a new role.

During a second-half drive that saw three Florida defensive backs come up slow with injuries, Bridges moved from safety to cornerback.

“When I seen [autotag]Dijon Johnson[/autotag], when he was coming off the sideline, I knew then that’s when I was going to have to step up,” Bridges said. “We already had talked about it at the beginning of the season and just like this week if anything would happen. I’m the emergency corner.”

Bridges made his first start for Florida against Tennessee three weeks ago, replacing [autotag]DJ Douglas[/autotag] as the starting safety opposite of [autotag]Jordan Castell[/autotag]. He hasn’t spent much time practicing as a corner, but he’s told coaches all season that he can play wherever they need him in the secondary. The plan is to focus a bit more on corner in the following week.

“I wanted to focus on the things to do at safety (in practice),” he said. “Being a safety, you know what everybody’s doing … there have been times where I go to corner and do some drills with them to keep my technique clean and stuff like that. So, I’ll be doing a lot of that this week coming up to be ready to play safety and corner and just be ready where they need me.”

For Bridges, being asked to move positions is a sign of trust from the coaching staff and something he feels could help come draft time.

“If they need me at corner, that is where I’ll be playing,” he said. “I’m glad that the coaches are able to trust me to be able to play that position and be here to contribute and help the team out. I always told them I can play corner, I can play safety, wherever you can put me. That’s good for me. You know what I’m saying? Being able to show my versatility off and I’ll be ready to do that.”

The defense is coming together

Florida forced Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, a player that has been mentioned as a potential first-round pick, to throw three interceptions in the first half on Saturday.

“I feel like in the first half we did what we were supposed to do,” Bridges said. “We went out there and executed, and we had a lot of turnovers. We just kept going at it, kept going at it, and I think that Georgia was not prepared or ready for us to do that. But at the end of the day, that’s our mentality every week, week in and week out. We just got to go out and dominate.”

Things got a bit more difficult once DJ Lagway went down, but the defense put pressure on itself to help out third-string quarterback Aidan Warner.

“We had to just turn it up and run a notch and just keep executing because we have to give him the opportunity to warm up and get in his mode and his game and just be ready to play. I was on the sidelines saying let’s go on defense as well. So, our mindset was just let’s turn it up a notch and keep going.”

Should Lagway miss more games moving forward, Bridges knows the defense will have to stick to the game plan and execute things perfectly to take the pressure off Warner.

“It’s going to take a lot of communication as a group, and it’s going to take a lot of film, doing a lot of things together and really just get those guys in the mindset to be ready to play and be ready for your name to be called. No matter what situation we’re in, everybody has to be ready. All hands on deck.”

There’s a newfound confidence among the defense following four straight games of success. Bridges’ move into the starting lineup matches up with the efficiency adjustment, so it’s safe to say he’s one of the leaders of that unit.

“We always we always felt like (we could compete with any team). We just had to clean things up at the beginning of the season. We just kept going, kept going and believed in ourselves and blocked the outside noise and whatnot. All we’re doing is just keep going every day. Every week, we try to show up and show out. Because we know what we can do and we wasn’t surprised what we did today. That’s something that we want to put out for you guys to see, and that’s what we will continue to do.”

Depth players such as Cormani McClain have also stepped up in the wake of injuries. Bridges is taking it upon himself to encourage McClain moving forward, knowing the difference a bit of confidence can make.

“I was excited to see him make a lot of plays today. A few good tackles. I was pumped up for him. Pretty good in coverage, and when I see him again, I’m just going to talk to him and say keep going, keep doing your thing and keep that confidence up. Because when you have confidence like that, you can’t be stopped.”

Still, one or two players don’t make all the difference. Getting all 11 players on the same page is paramount if Florida is going to keep up this high level of play.

“We still have to show up as a team, and that’s is the main goal. We trust in everybody on the team. We trust in Aidan. So, as a defense, it’s our job to get him harder looks (in practice), give him a lot of pressure and stuff so he can be ready for next week.”

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Energized Gator Nation fuels Florida’s first half success vs Kentucky

DJ Lagway and Jadan Baugh steal the show for the Gators offense in the first half against Kentucky.

In a game under the lights in the Swamp on Saturday night, Florida football hosted the Kentucky Wildcats for its 2024 homecoming game. It was a wild first half, with the Gators leading 27-13 after 30 minutes of play.

To get things started and get the crowd energized was Gators legend running back John L. Williams who served as the game’s honorary Mr. Two Bits. The 1984 SEC Championship team was also honored as well.

Florida received the ball first and as true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway trotted out onto the field, chants of, “DJ Lagway!”, echoed throughout Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

First half overview

The Gators moved down the field in a hurry and with ease on their opening possession. Lagway’s first pass completion was to receiver Eugene Wilson III for a gain of 40 yards and Florida made it into the red zone, but couldn’t punch the ball into the endzone.

Instead, they were forced to attempt a 29-yard field goal which was drilled by Trey Smack to give the Gators an early 3-0 lead.

The Florida defense started out strong and was all over the field as they forced Kentucky to punt on their first two possessions. But, it was the same story for the offense in terms of the struggles to get touchdowns in the red zone.

Florida was marching down the field on their third offensive drive of the half, but as soon as they reached the 20-yard line, the offense stalled. Smack managed to knock in the 33-yard field goal to give Florida a 6-0 lead at the beginning of the second quarter.

Kentucky finally got their offense going on their third drive as quarterback Brock Vandagriff connected with receiver Barion Brown for a 45-yard touchdown. However, the game stayed tied 6-6 after Kentucky’s kicker missed the extra point.

With just over eight minutes to go in the first half, Lagway completed a 50-yard throw down the middle of the field to Elijhah Badger to put the Gators on Kentucky’s 7-yard line. That set up a touchdown run by Jadan Baugh to give Florida their first touchdown of the night and a 13-6 lead.

The following drive for Kentucky ended with an interception by defensive back Trikweze Bridges to set the Gators up with possession at midfield. But it didn’t matter because Lagway threw an interception two plays later.

But remarkably, Florida’s defense held their ground as Kentucky was inching towards the goal line and forced a turnover-on-downs. Florida was able to score a touchdown on the ensuing drive thanks to a 10-yard rushing touchdown by Baugh.

But things continued to go Florida’s way as Devin Moore picked off Vandagriff to set the Gators up with Baugh’s third touchdown of the first half.

Kentucky returned the kickoff immediately after the Gators scored for a 99-yard touchdown.

Florida’s first-half stats

Looking at the first-half stats for the Gators, Lagway was 4-for-11 with 152 yards passing. Lagway also had 40 rushing yards on seven carries.

Baugh really played a perfect first half of football, rushing for 88 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries.

The Gators’ defense forced two interceptions and allowed just 159 total yards in the first half.

Let’s see if Florida can keep it going in the second half.

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Florida Football 2024 Position Preview: Safety/STAR

The Gators brought in a few experienced players to bolster the safeties room, but returner Jordan Castell should lead the group.

Wrapping up the defensive side of Gators Wire’s position preview series are the safeties.

Defensive backs coach Will Harris is in charge of this group, too, which is comprised of a mix of new and returning talent. Leading the group is sophomore Jordan Castell, who showed great promise as a true freshman. Behind Castell, is a trio of talented transfers that should shore up the position room.

We’re including Florida’s nickelback position, the star, here as well. Some of the star guys could play corner too since it’s a hybrid position of sorts.

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

Starting Free Safety: No. 14 Jordan Castell (So.)

Defensive Stats:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	PD
2023	12	30	30	60	1.5-11	0-0	1	4

[autotag]Jordan Castell[/autotag] was Florida’s best defensive back in 2023. Pro Football Focus gave him a 75.6 overall defensive grade, and he didn’t have a true weak spot in his game. Florida coaches expect Castell to take a step forward in 2024, too, as he physically matures and enters the season with more than 650 snaps under his belt.

“He’s just a different place right now,” Napier said. “He’s playing faster. He’s got a better comprehension of the system. He’s communicating better. You see him barking out calls.

“I think he would probably tell you that the veteran safeties that we’ve added to the team have made him a better player. Number one, they do it the right way — their work ethic, their attention to detail, the way they approach their business.”

Don’t let his 68.8% completion rate against fool you. Castell thrives in Cover 3 situations and can completely take a team’s top option out of the game. He’s the kind of guy opposing quarterbacks will see on one side field and target the other.

Starting Strong Safety: No. 20 Asa Turner (R-Sr.)

Defensive Stats (at Washington):

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	PD
2019	12	16	3	19	2-3	0-0	1	1
2020	4	9	8	17	0-0	0-0	1	2
2021	10	22	12	34	2-3	0-0	2	2
2022	10	33	19	52	1-3	0-0	2	3
2023	7	16	10	26	2-5	0-0	0	0
Total	43	96	52	148	7-14	0-0	6	8

[autotag]Asa Turner[/autotag] was the heartbeat of Washington’s defense last year, even though he missed most of the season recovering from injury. Pro Football Focus gave him a 72.4 overall defensive grade, but he’s not the same all-around safety that Castell is.

Turner is a strong tackler, often scoring in the 80s on PFF in that category. He’s good in coverage but can struggle against the run at times. He played a lot of free safety at Washington, but a move to strong safety could be best for him in the SEC.

There shouldn’t be any concerns about Turner’s ability to perform entering his sixth season at the college level, either. He wasn’t phased out or fighting with the coaching staff. It was simply time for a change of scenery.

“I needed a change,” Turner said. “I had been at Washington for the past five years, been doing the same routine, living in the same apartment, seeing the same people, driving the same car. I probably felt it was time for a change, and I wanted to go out with a bang this sixth year.”

Starting STAR: No. 0 Sharif Denson (So.) or No. 13 Aaron Gates (So.)

A pair of second-year Gators are standing out at the star position heading into Week 1 of the college season.

Sharif Denson:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	PD
2023	12	3	4	7	0.5-2	0-0	0	0

[autotag]Sharif Denson[/autotag] played in all 12 games for Florida a season ago, both in a special teams role and as a reserve defensive back. He only saw the field for 49 snaps, but now he’s competing for a starting role. Pro Football Focus graded him the highest against the run (81.9), but he wasn’t a strong tackler (48.4). More snaps means more responsibility, but he’ll be able to share the load with Gates.

[autotag]Aaron Gates[/autotag] only played one snap on defense last year en route to a redshirt, but he’s right in the thick of the competition for a starting spot this year.

“Very competitive at the star position. He’s (Gates) in the thick of it here,” Florida head coach Billy Napier said Wednesday. “It was great for him to get four games of experience. He played a little bit on special teams. Aaron’s a young player. This is his first shot, his first go-round, and he’s right in the middle. Every day for him is critical.”

Backups: No. 7 Trikweze Bridges, No. 12 DJ Douglas (R-Sr.) and No. 18 Bryce Thornton (So.)

DJ Douglas (at Tulane):

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	PD
2021	10	3	2	5	0-0	0-0	0	0
2022	13	16	3	19	0-0	0-0	1	2
2023	13	39	15	54	1-1	0-0	3	5
Total	36	58	20	78	1-1	0-0	4	7

[autotag]DJ Douglas[/autotag] was a consistent contributor for Tulane over the past three years, so it’s a bit odd to see him enter the 2024 campaign as a potential backup. Douglas figures to be the primary backup to both Castell and Turner, and he could even work his way into a starting job.

In a perfect world, he’s an elite depth option that Florida can bring in off the sidelines once fatigue sets in. He’s also an option at the star position.

Trikweze Bridges (at Oregon):

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	PD
2020	6	2	0	2	0-0	0-0	0	0
2021	14	17	9	26	1-2	0-0	1	2
2022	13	30	19	49	1-2	0-0	3	8
2023	13	7	9	16	0.5-1	0-0	0	3
Total	47	56	37	93	2.5-5	0-0	4	13

[autotag]Trikweze Bridges[/autotag] is another transfer (from Oregon) who has a ton of experience. Bridges can play anywhere in the secondary, which should get him on the field a good amount at Florida. His best fit might be the star position, and a lack of experience at the position could provide the open door he’s looking for.

Bryce Thornton:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	PD
2023	12	19	15	34	3.5-21	0.5-7	0	1

Did we mention there’s some depth in Florida’s secondary? [autotag]Bryce Thornton[/autotag] appeared in all 12 games for the Gators last season, including four starts, but he remains a backup thanks to an influx of talent in the position room.

Thornton offers a unique skill set to the room, though. He has a penchant for getting to ball carriers behind the line of scrimmage, at least more so than your average defensive back. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Thornton enter the game in short-yardage and goalline situations as an extra blitzer.

Freshmen: No. 23 Josiah Davis (Fr.) and No. 30 Gregory Smith III (Fr.)

Florida welcomes two first-year safeties to the position room this year, [autotag]Josiah Davis[/autotag] and [autotag]Gregory Smith III[/autotag].

Smith was a four-star recruit out of high school but he might not see the field any sooner than Davis. Florida has depth at both safety positions, which could bury Smith in Year 1. Davis, on the other hand, might be a better fit at the star position. The hierarchy is less clear there than at the two safety positions, so a door could be opened.

Look for both to redshirt this season barring an injury to one of the guys ahead of them on the depth chart.

Walk-Ons: No. 31 Ahman Covington (R-Fr.), No.32 Cahron Rackley (R-Jr.), No. 39 Brayden Slade (R-Fr.), No. 43 Alfonzo Allen Jr. (Jr.) and No. 46 Ethan Wilson (R-Sr.)

Florida has five walk-on safeties on its roster heading into the fall.

Redshirt junior Cahron Rackley is the most tenured of the group, entering his fourth season with the Gators. The former Miami Palmetto defensive back walked on to the team in the spring of 2021 and made his first appearance last season during the win over McNeese.

Ahman Covington, Brayden Slade and Ethan Wilson are entering their second year with the program. Wilson is a redshirt senior, which might get him on the field sooner than the others, but the two redshirt freshmen are both preferred walk-ons. The PWO tag usually means there’s a chance to earn a scholarship.

Finally, there’s former Baylor reserve Alfonzo Allen Jr. He appeared in all 25 games for the Bears over the past two seasons, primarily in a special teams role. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him as a regular in the third phase of the game for Florida.

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Gators linebacker at SEC media days names 4 teammates to watch

Shemar James thinks everyone needs to keep an eye on these four fellow defensive players in 2024.

SEC media days have come and gone, and the past week has offered many delicious morsels to help tide the nation’s appetite until the start of the college football season at the end of August.

One story of interest for fans of the Florida Gators comes from junior linebacker [autotag]Shemar James[/autotag], who was one of three players along with head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] to represent the Orange and Blue in Dallas, Texas.

He had some encouraging words about his team’s secondary this fall, naming four members of the secondary when asked if there are any defenders on his side of the ball that people do not know about yet.

“[autotag]Gregory Smith[/autotag], a freshman that came in, [autotag]Jameer Grimsley[/autotag], another freshman,” James offered first.

“[autotag]DJ Douglas[/autotag]…” he followed. “Got [autotag]Trikweze Bridges[/autotag], a transfer from Oregon. Those are some names that we have in the household right now that I believe are going to make a big splash this year.”

Gators four who will ‘make a big splash’

Smith was a four-star recruit and ranked No. 319 overall and No. 13 at the athlete position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at No. 262 overall and 19 at safety nationally in the 2024 cycle.

Grimsley was a top-100 transfer after enrolling early with the Alabama Crimson Tide but departed after the retirement of Nick Saban.

Douglas finished the 2023 campaign at Tulane with 54 tackles (39 solo), three interceptions, two pass breakups and a tackle-for-loss over 13 games with 12 starts at safety.

Bridges played cornerback and nickel at Oregon but switched to safety by coming to Gainesville. His peak came in 2022 when he started all 13 games, amassing 49 tackles (including a tackle for a loss), three interceptions and a forced fumble at cornerback that season.

Florida’s 2024 season opener

The Florida and the Miami Hurricanes open their schedule on Aug. 31 in Gainesville, Florida. Kickoff time is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on ABC Sports.

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Gators add Oregon DB, third transfer portal commit in 24 hours

Some say three is the charm. Others say three is a magic number. The Gators just completed their transfer portal 3-pack with this Pac-12 addition.

Billy Napier and Co. have been busy in the college football transfer portal since Sunday, adding a pair of veteran players on Sunday before adding their third on Monday morning.

Former Oregon Ducks defensive back [autotag]Trikweze Bridges[/autotag] announced his decision via a Twitter post on his personal account — 13 days after he announced his intent to enter the portal. He had reportedly received offers from other schools including the Kentucky Wildcats, Temple Owls, Houston Cougars, Washington Huskies, Pitt Panthers, Vanderbilt Commodores and Baylor Bears before choosing the Orange and Blue.

The 6-foot-3-inch, 198-pound defender played four seasons with the Ducks, Bridges played in 42 games, recording 90 tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles. His peak came in 2022 when he started all 13 games, amassing 49 tackles (including a tackle for a loss), three interceptions and a forced fumble at cornerback that season.

The fifth-year junior’s role in 2023 was much smaller than in 2022, taking 205 snaps this fall against 704 last season.

Bridges joins former San Diego State Aztecs offensive tackle Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson and former Penn Quakers defensive lineman Joey Slackman as the newly minted Gators.

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Former Oregon CB Trikweze Bridges announces transfer commitment

Former Oregon Ducks cornerback Trikweze Bridges announced his transfer to the Florida Gators on Monday morning.

One of the veteran-most players on the Oregon Ducks’ roster in 2023 has now found a new home, with cornerback Trikweze Bridges announcing on Monday morning that he would be committing to the Florida Gators for the final year of his eligibility.

In four seasons with the Ducks, Bridges played in 42 games and recorded 90 tackles, 4 INTs, and forced 2 fumbles. As I alluded to above, Bridges’ role on this year’s Ducks team is much smaller than in 2022. Last season, Bridges played 704 snaps, but only played 205 in 2023.

Oregon’s strong recruitment at the CB position in recent years is another factor that may have contributed to Bridges’ transfer. This year, the CB2 spot was taken by sophomore Jahlil Florence, and there are a lot of other young CBs on the Ducks roster that could’ve made it hard for Bridges to crack the starting lineup in his final year.

Committed to The University of Florida @GatorsFB 🐊 #GoGator #SEC pic.twitter.com/rqn4h14G2L

— On1y1Kweze (@Trikweze) December 18, 2023

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Defensive back transfer target from Oregon details Florida official visit

The Gators made a great impression this weekend on graduate transfer Trikweze Bridges.

Florida football has many needs to fill this offseason following a third-straight losing season that saw a significant departure of talent after the conclusion of the schedule.

Currently, the best quick-fix for a depleted college football roster is the NCAA transfer portal, which Billy Napier and Co. will be searching through with a fine-toothed comb to restock the cupboard. The Gators hosted a quartet of de facto free agents in the Swamp this weekend, including one player who spent his recent years with a major Power Five team.

Safety [autotag]Trikweze Bridges[/autotag] — a three-star prospect in the 2019 class who is also considered a three-star transfer portal prospect — spent five seasons and appeared in 48 games with double-digit starts for the Oregon Ducks before seeking greener pastures. With one year of eligibility left as a graduate student, he finally got a chance to get a full view of the University of Florida as a whole during his recent three-day official visit.

“This was actually my first time being able to tour the whole campus, like, academic-wise and sports-wise,” Bridges told a group of reporters on Sunday afternoon. “They have some new things around here, too.”

Since announcing his entrance into the portal on Dec. 5 the 6-foot-3-inch, 198-pound defensive back, who is capable of playing both safety and corner positions, the Kentucky Wildcats, Temple Owls, Houston Cougars, Washington Huskies, Pitt Panthers, Vanderbilt Commodores and Baylor Bears — among others — have extended offers.

That versatility could play very well in the Swamp.

“I liked talking to [Florida head coach Billy] Napier and coach Armstrong,” Bridges said. “I see what they are trying to do with this defense and how they are trying to change it around. They have some pieces here, but they are young.”

One of the other factors that play in the Gators’ favor is the defensive scheme, which should allow the graduate transfer to hit the ground running.

“They have the same defense from the school I’m coming from. That’s something I’m looking forward to looking at and something that could be beneficial to me.”

Playing at Florida would also open up opportunities to play a leadership role as well.

“I know it would be a good thing having someone in the room with them to educate them and lead them,” Bridges said. “They just need a big brother. That’s a good note to have to take and look at.”

Overall, Gainesville seems like a fit for someone who has spent the last four years on the complete opposite end of the country.

“I just like the atmosphere and just being around,” he said. “The fans are all die-hard fans and take it seriously. That’s something I’m used to coming from Oregon because of the fans there. They are more engaged with the football team and stuff like that. I enjoyed it here.”

Bridges is ranked No. 76 overall and No. 7 at his position nationally in the 2024 cycle by the 247Sports transfer rankings. On3’s transfer portal prediction gives the Gators an 86.7% chance of signing him.

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8 transfer portal entrants that Alabama could pursue

Alabama has struck gold multiple times by landing stars from the transfer portal. Here are eight names currently in the portal to keep an eye on!

The window for undergraduates to enter the transfer portal opened up on Monday, Dec. 4. Since then, there has been a multitude of players that have entered the transfer portal.

Alabama has shown interest in Texas A&M defensive line transfer Lebbeus “LT” Overton. Other than that, there has not been confirmed interest that Alabama is pursuing any other transfers.

It will be interesting to see if Alabama decides to target any transfers that are currently available or wait until other players become available in the transfer portal.

Roll Tide Wire takes a look at eight transfer portal entrants that Alabama could look to pursue in the near future.

Oregon CB Trikweze Bridges enters the transfer portal

Oregon Ducks cornerback Trikweze Bridges has announced that he plans to transfer from Eugene after the 2023 season.

Trikweze Bridges, a 4th-year cornerback for the Oregon Ducks, announced that he has entered the transfer portal. His diminished role on defense from 2022 to 2023 is likely what led to his transfer.

At 6’3″ and 198 lbs., Bridges was recruited in the class of 2019 as a 3-star CB. During his high school recruitment, Bridges showed a lot of interest in the Florida State Seminoles and the Alabama Crimson Tide (Bridges is originally from Lanett, Alabama), so look out of for those schools as potential stopping points for the fifth-year CB.

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10 biggest position battles to watch ahead of Week 1 for Oregon Ducks

Week 1 is fast approaching. These are some position battles that we’re keeping a close eye on over the next week in Eugene.

Fall camp officially ended for the Oregon Ducks on Wednesday afternoon, wrapped up with a media availability for both head coach Dan Lanning and quarterback Bo Nix.

While the past several weeks have been filled with schematic install and getting the players into football shape, the next few days will mainly consist of figuring out the final spots on the depth chart, and working towards the Week 1 clash with Portland State.

For the most part, the Ducks should feel pretty good about where they stand when it comes to the depth chart. Some of their top positions — quarterback, running back, tight end, defensive line — have established starters returning for another year, so there isn’t a lot of skepticism about who is starting where. At other spots on the roster, though, we can’t say the say.

Earlier this week, we gave our final depth chart projection going into the last week of fall camp. Over the next several days, though, these position groups need to be figured out.

Here are some of the biggest position battles to watch play out over the next week for the Ducks: