OGT-Florida Gators vs. #11 Tennessee Volunteers 9/16 7 p.m. ESPN

Florida Gators (1-1, 0-0 SEC) vs #11 Tennessee Volunteers (2-0, 0-0 SEC)
Sept. 16 // 7 p.m. ET // Gainesville, Fla.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field

ESPN
Play-by-Play: Chris Fowler
Analyst: Kirk Herbstreit
Reporter: Holly Rowe
Channel (Cox): 7 / 1007 [HD]
Channel (DirecTV): 8 [HD]

Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD
Play-by-Play: Sean Kelley
Analyst: Shane Matthews
Reporter: Tate Casey

Channel: Local Affiliates
Sirius Channel: 82

ESPN National Radio
Play-by-Play: Marc Kestecher
Analyst: Kelly Stouffer
Reporter: Ian Fitzsimmons
Sirius Channel: 80

 

2023 SCHEDULE
Aug. 31 at No. 14 Utah L, 24-11
SEPT. 9 McNEESE W, 49-7
SEPT. 16 TENNESSEE 7 PM
SEPT. 23 CHARLOTTE 7 PM
Sept. 30 at Kentucky TBA
OCT. 7 VANDERBILT (Homecoming) TBA
Oct. 14 at South Carolina TBA
Oct. 21 Bye
Oct. 28 vs. Georgia (Jacksonville) 3:30 P.M.
NOV. 4 ARKANSAS TBA
Nov. 11 at LSU TBA
Nov. 18 at Missouri TBA
NOV. 25 FLORIDA STATE TBA

 

TEAM INFORMATION
​

FLORIDA Head Coach: Billy Napier
Career Record: 47-20 (27-5 Sun Belt) [5th season]
Record at UF: 7-8 (3-5 SEC) [2nd season]
Bowl Record: 0-1
Rankings: NR (AP) / NR (Coaches)
2022 Record: 6-7, 3-5 SEC (T-4th East)

TENNESSEE Head Coach: Josh Heupel
Career Record: 48-16 (19-5 AAC) [6th season]
Record at UT: 20-8 (10-6 SEC) [3rd season]
Bowl record: 2-3
Rankings: 11 (AP) / 9 (Coaches)
2022 Record: 11-2, 6-2 SEC

SERIES HISTORY​

Overall: Florida leads, 31-21
Last Meeting: No. 11 Tennessee 38, Florida 33
(September 24, 2022)
Recent History: Tennessee, W1
UF has won 16 of last 18 meetings
In Gainesville: Florida leads, 16-5
In Knoxville: Florida leads, 14-13
Neutral: Tennessee leads, 3-1

 

NUMBERS OF NOTE
38 + 112 = 150​

In Week 2 against McNeese, Florida delivered its best defensive performance in terms of fewest yards
allowed in 88 games - since Sept. 17, 2016 vs. North Texas (53). After holding No. 14 Utah to just 38 total yards in the second half in Week 1, the Gators have surrendered just 150 total yards across their last six quarters of play.

 

THE STORYLINE​

• Florida hosts Tennessee for the 22nd time in the 53rd all-time meeting between the two programs.

• The Orange & Blue boasts a 31-21 record in the series featuring victories in 16 of the last 18 matchups.

• The Gators have not lost a home game to the Volunteers since 2003, owning nine-straight home wins in the series.

• In last year’s meeting, Florida totaled 594 yards including a season-high 453 passing yards from QB Anthony Richardson, which ranked ninth all-time in program history.

• Florida out-gained Tennessee, 594-576, and also out-passed the Vols, 453-349, in that matchup.

• UF drubbed UT in the Vols’ last visit to the Swamp in 2021, 38-14, totaling 505 yards including 283 on the ground.

• Only 11 UF players including two starters (C Kingsley Eguakun and DB Jason Marshall Jr.) remain from the 2021 game.

• The Gators have totaled 300-plus yards of offense against Tennessee in eight-straight games and in 13 of the last 14 meetings. The Gators also have rushed for 100-plus yards in 16 of the last 17 matchups.

• Florida has scored 31-plus points in each of the last five meetings vs. UT and 26-plus points in eight in a row.

• This is the second meeting between UF’s Billy Napier and UT’s Josh Heupel as head coaches. However, the two previously coached against one another as assistants in the 2013 Sugar Bowl when Napier was the WR Coach at Alabama and Heupel the Co-OC / QB Coach at Oklahoma. The Sooners prevailed in that contest, 45-31, but Napier’s WR corps racked up 387 yards on 19 catches, led by 121 yards from Amari Cooper and 139 yards from DeAndrew White.

• UF is coming off its best defensive performance (112 yards allowed) in 86 games - since Sept. 17, 2016 vs. North Texas (53).

• In year one under DC Austin Armstrong, Florida ranks first in the Power Five and third in the FBS in total defense with 191.0 yards allowed per game. The Gators have surrendered just 150 total yards across their last six quarters.

• Florida also ranks eighth in the FBS and fifth in the P5 in passing defense with 115.5 passing yards allowed per game.

• Meanwhile, the Tennessee offense ranks 22nd in the P5 with 477.5 scrimmage yards per game.

• The Gators’ 5.5 yards per carry in 2022 ranked fourth in program history (behind the 2008, 1976 and 2009 seasons).
» Florida ended the season ranking sixth in the FBS and fifth in the P5 in YPC.

• UF finished the 2022 campaign with 200.2 rushing yards per game - the program’s second-straight season over 200.
» That output ranked 25th in the FBS, 15th in the Power Five and fifth in the SEC.

• Florida boasts a 356-113-13 (.752) all-time record at The Swamp, holding the second-highest home winning percentage in the nation since 1990 with a 175-34 (.837) record.
» The Gators have outscored opponents, 7,877 to 3,376 in 209 games inside The Swamp since 1990, putting the average outcome at 37.7 to 16.2 (21.5 points).

• Florida has scored in 438-consecutive games dating back to 1988 - an NCAA record and 54 games longer than any other college football team in the history of the sport.

 

THE OPENING DRIVE​

• Vs. McNeese, UF scored on its first seven possessions for the first time in 183 games - since Nov. 22, 2008 vs. The Citadel.

• With a 49-7 win over McNeese, the Gators are fresh off their largest margin of victory in 21 games (+42), since defeating Vanderbilt, 42-0, on Oct. 9, 2021.

• In the opening half vs. McNeese, Florida scored four rushing touchdowns in a single half for the first time since Sept. 5, 2009 vs. Charleston Southern.

• Florida saw four different players (Montrell Johnson Jr., Graham Mertz, Treyaun Webb, Trevor Etienne) score a touchdown in a half for the first time since Sept. 5, 2015 vs. New Mexico State.

• As a result, Florida extended its nation-leading home opener winning streak to 34-straight wins. The Gators’ last loss in a home opener came in 1989 (Ole Miss 24, Florida 19).

• Florida made it 13-0 in the first quarter vs. McNeese with its first 99-yard touchdown drive since Sept. 18, 2021, vs. No. 1 Alabama (Emory Jones five-yard touchdown rush, 4:04 in third quarter)

GRAHAM MERTZ FILES​

• QB Graham Mertz opened his UF career with back-to-back games with a completion percentage above 70% after completing 14 of 17 passes for 82.4% vs. McNeese. Mertz has completed 73.8% of his passes (45-of-61) after two games.

• Mertz finished with 193 yards passing and one touchdown vs. McNeese for a 197.1 passing effieciency - the best by a Florida quarterback in the Billy Napier era and the third-highest by a UF QB across the past three seasons (behind Emory Jones vs. Samford and Vanderbilt in 2021).

• Mertz’s 526 pass yards in his first two games at UF ranks third in team history behind Shane Matthews’ 599 (1990) and Luke Del Rio’s 576 (2016). Matthews and Mertz are the only two to eclipse 300 yards in their UF debuts.

• Among players with at least 60 attempts, Mertz’s 153.7 passing efficiency ranks 13th among P5 quarterbacks.

• Mertz has now thrown a touchdown pass in 17 of his last 20 games.

• In his Gators debut at No. 14 Utah, Mertz became the fourth Florida quarterback in program history with 300 yards passing, 30 completions and a 70% completion percentage in a game, joining Rex Grossman (2002 vs. Georgia), Tim Tebow (2010 vs. Cincinnati) and Kyle Trask (three times).

• Mertz finished 31-for-44 (70.0%) with a career-high 333 yards, one touchdown and one interception for a 139.8 passing efficiency in his first start in Orange & Blue.

• Mertz produced Florida’s first 300-yard passing game since Anthony Richardson’s 400 against Vanderbilt on Nov. 19, 2022, and the first in a season opener since Kyle Trask went for 416 yards against Ole Miss in 2020.

• The feat marked the fourth 300-yard passing game of the Napier Era (since 2022).

• Ole Miss’ Spencer Sanders (42) and LSU’s Jaydon Daniels (44) are the only active SEC quarterbacks with more career starts than Mertz, who is tied for the third-most alongside Mississippi State’s Will Rogers (34).

• Mertz entered 2023 with more career games, starts, completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns than six other SEC quarterback rooms: Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Missouri, and Vanderbilt

HANGING OF THE GUARD​

• In Week 2, WR Eugene Wilson III became the first Gators true freshman wide receiver to start a home opener since Antonio Callaway in 2015 vs. New Mexico State, and the first UF WR to start since Caleb Douglas vs. SC in 2022.

• Wilson III finished with a career-high four receptions, 36 yards and his first-career touchdown (first UF true freshman receiver with a TD since Douglas vs. Texas A&M in 2022).

• RB Treyaun Webb scored his first-career touchdown with a two-yard dash in the second quarter – the first Gators true freshman running back to do so since Trevor Etienne vs. Kentucky in 2022.

• Webb set a career-high with 33 rushing yards on a career-high seven carries.

• WR Aidan Mizell made his collegiate debut and hauled in his first-career reception – a 16-yard grab.

• QB Max Brown, WR Zak Sedaros, WR Andy Jean, EDGE Scott Isacks and OL Hayden Clem made their collegiate debuts, while QB Micah Leon and OL Lyndell Hudson Jr. made their Gators debuts against McNeese.

• True freshmen Wilson III, Webb, TE Tony Livingston and OL Knijeah Harris made their collegiate debuts in the first half vs. No. 14 Utah, while redshirt freshman TE Hayden Hansen debuted in Week 1 as well.

• Hansen, Livingston and Wilson III caught their first-career passes, with Wilson III finishing with two for 24 yards.

• Additionally, WR Kahleil Jackson, OL Jake Slaughter, and TE Jonathan Odom each made their first-career starts in Week 1, while offseason transfers OL Micah Mazzccua and OL Damieon George both started in their UF debuts.

BUILDING THE FOUNDATION​

• Florida brought in a plethora of experience this past offseason, adding 13 players via the transfer portal.

• UF’s group of 2023 transfers wields more than 10,000 combined snaps and 123 career starts, helping to fill vital voids at quarterback, offensive line, defensive end and inside linebacker.

• Over 70% of UF’s scholarship players are in their first or second year at Florida.

• 93% of the 2023 roster was on campus for the offseason, featuring 27 midyear enrolees (17 HS, 10 transfer).

• Staff attrition was minimal during the 2022-23 offseason, as seven of Florida’s 10 full-time assistants returned.

• Despite last year’s 6-7 record, Florida outscored its opponents, 384 to 375, including 70-42 off turnovers.

• Florida lost six regular-season games in 2022 by a combined 61 points

 

ANOTHER THREE-HEADED MONSTER?​

• Running backs Montrell Johnson Jr., Trevor Etienne and Treyaun Webb each rushed for 70-plus yards on double-digit carries while scoring a rushing touchdown and averaging over 5.0 yards per carry in Week 2.

• Johnson Jr. (7.9 YPC) and Etienne (7.6 YPC) shined after being limited to 34 yards on 10 combined carries in Week 1.

• Johnson Jr. rushed for 100-plus yards for the sixth time in his career and for the fourth time as a Gator – his first 100-yard performance since Nov. 12, 2022 vs. South Carolina.

• With Johnson Jr.’s rushing touchdown on Florida’s opening drive, Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne have combined for at least one touchdown in 13 of 15 games together, scoring 20 total TDs (19 rushing touchdowns).

• Florida scored its most rushing touchdowns in a season in 12 years in 2022, as the Gators’ 29 were the program’s fifth-most all-time (2008 - 42, 2007 - 39, 2010 - 31, 2009 - 30).

• In their first seasons as Gators, Johnson Jr. (155 carries, 841 yards, 5.4 YPC, 10 TD) and Etienne (118 carries, 718 yards, 6.1 YPC, 6 TD) teamed up to form one of the top backfield duos in the country.

• Florida averaged 5.5 YPC and 200.2 rushing YPG, posted eight 200-yard games and eclipsed 100 yards 12 times.

• As a duo, Johnson Jr. and Etienne averaged 5.7 YPC and 120.0 rushing YPG.

• They were one of 15 RB duos in the FBS to rush for over 700 yards apiece last season, including one of three duos to do so while each averaging over 5.4 YPC.

• Johnson Jr. is one of nine FBS players with 10-plus rushing TDs and 800 yards rushing each of the last two seasons.

• In 2022, Johnson Jr. became the first UF running back to rush for over 800 yards since La’Mical Perine in 2018.

• Etienne’s ‘22 FBS ranks among true freshmen RBs: YPC (fourth - 6.1), TD (T10th - six), rush yards (eighth - 719).

• Etienne ranked fourth in the FBS among true freshman running backs with 6.1 yards per carry and was one of nine true freshman RBs in the FBS with over 700 rushing yards.

• The running back duo of Johnson Jr. and Etienne became the fifth pair of Florida running backs to eclipse 700 yards apiece in a season in 2022.

• Over the last two seasons, 24 FBS RBs surpassed 800-plus yards and 12 RBs eclipsed 10-plus rushing TDs in consecutive years. Johnson Jr. is the only player on either list to accomplish the feats at two different schools.

MORE GATORS RECEIVING NOTES​

• WR Ricky Pearsall has paced UF receivers in Weeks 1 and 2, finishing 6-123-1 against McNeese after posting 92 yards and a Gator-career-high eight catches on a team-best 14 targets at No. 14 Utah.

• Pearsall totaled 100-plus receiving yards for the fourth time in his career in Week 2 including his third time as a Gator – his first since Nov. 25, 2022 at Florida State.

• Pearsall ranks t-10th in the P5 in receiving yards/game (107.5) and t-12th in receptions (14).

• Florida saw 18 receivers catch a pass last year, the team’s most since having 21 players do so in 2018. Mertz connected with 11 different receivers in Week 1 alone and 15 total already in 2023.

• Pearsall has recorded a reception in 30 consecutive games, the ninth-longest streak in the FBS.

• Pearsall ranked fourth in the FBS with 20.0 yards per catch in 2022 - which ranked third in program history.

THE STATE OF THE O-LINE​

• The Gators’ 17 sacks allowed in 2022 tied for the 27th-fewest in the Power Five and fourth in the SEC.

• Across the last three seasons (2021-23), Florida has out-sacked its opponents by a plus-26 margin while the Gators’ 36 sacks allowed are the 18th-fewest in the FBS, 13th in the P5 and second in the SEC behind Georgia.

• Austin Barber ranked as the No. 22 tackle in the FBS in 2022.

• Florida added three experienced offensive lineman out of the transfer portal this offseason in Micah Mazzccua (Baylor), Lyndell Hudson II (FIU) and Damieon George Jr. (Alabama)

• Of Pearsall’s 47 receptions at UF, 36 have gone for first downs or touchdowns and 36 for double-digit yards.

• Pearsall was one of six FBS players with 110-plus rushing yards and 650-plus receiving yards last year.

• WR Caleb Douglas caught his third-career touchdown at Utah, receiving Mertz’s first TD pass as a Gator.

• Douglas made his first-career start vs. South Carolina in 2022 as the first true freshman to start at WR since Kadarius Toney (10/7/17 vs. LSU). Douglas led UF with three receptions and 53 yards.

• Douglas’ 53 yards were the most by a UF WR in his first start since Josh Hammond’s 72 vs. North Texas (9/17/16).

OFFENSIVE GRAB BAG​

Over the last four seasons (2020-23), Florida ranks 10th in the Power Five and third in the SEC with 463.9 scrimmage yards per game and fifth in the SEC with 33.0 points per game.

• Since 2018, UF ranks 10th in the P5 in passing efficiency (152.4) and 16th in TD-INT ratio (2.85).

• Florida has out-gained its opponents in 20 of 28 games across the past three campaigns (2021-23).

• The Gators totaled 500-plus yards in four of the last 12 games and in 16 of their last 39 contests.

• Florida has amassed 400-plus total yards in nine of 15 games across the last two seasons, as well as 25 times in its last 38 games, and 38 of the last 57.

• UF has rushed for over 200 yards 15 times since 2021 including nine occasions in the Billy Napier era.

• UF scored 30-plus points in 27 of the last 42 games (64.3%). UF has scored 40 points seven times in 28 games from 2021-23

 

GATORS DEBUTS​

• Six Gators returners - CB Jalen Kimber, WR Kahleil Jackson, TE Jonathan Odom, DL Tyreak Sapp, OL Jake Slaughter and ILB Scooby Williams each made their first-career starts at No. 14 Utah, while six offseason transfers DL Caleb Banks (first-career start), DL Cam Jackson, OL Damieon George Jr., OL Micah Mazzccua, QB Graham Mertz and S R.J. Moten all started in their UF debuts.

• A total of 14 true freshmen made their collegiate debuts in the season opener: S Jordan Castell, EDGE Kelby Collins, TE Hayden Hansen OL Knijeah Harris, CB Ja’Keem Jackson, EDGE Kamran James, CB Dijon Johnson, TE Tony Livingston, DL Will Norman, ILB Jaden Robinson, EDGE T.J. Searcy, S Bryce Thornton, RB Treyaun Webb and WR Eugene Wilson III.
» Wilson III earned his first-career start in the home opener and caught four passes for 36 yards with a rush of 18 yards. He is tied for second on team with 6 catches and third in yards at 60.
» Castell tied for the team high with six tackles (four solo) in the first half at Utah, finishing with seven total on the night and playing on 43 defensive snaps, the most by a true freshman and fifth on the team.
» Searcy logged three tackles (one solo) in the first half at Utah, including a stop (zero yards gained).

• Linebackers Terajda Mitchell (three tackles) and LB Mannie Nunnery (two) also made their UF debuts.

• Out of the 58 players that played in the season opener at No. 14 Utah, 22 Gators played for the first time.

THE YOUTH MOVEMENT​

• The 2023 Florida defense features a majority of underlcassmen players (two seasons or fewer) that lead the team in multiple categories.
» Sophomore LB Shemar James is first in total tackles with 19 and freshman S Jordan Castell is second with 10. They both are in the same order for solo tackles - James (6), Castell (5).
» James and redshirt-freshman DL Jamari Lyons are tied for first with 2.0 TFLs - Lyon’s tackle-for-loss resulted in a three-yard loss and safety in the home opener against McNeese.
» Freshman CB Ja’Keem Jackson leads in pass breakups with two, which he recorded on the same
drive vs. McNeese - tied for most by a first-year player in the SEC with Auburn’s Kayin Lee.

• The six-highest Florida graded defensive players by PFF are - No. 1 Shemar James (Soph.), No. 2 Ja’Keem Jackson (Fr.), No. 3 Miguel Mitchell (Soph.), No. 4 T.J. Searcy (Fr.), No. 5 Devin Moore (Soph.) and No. 6 Jamari Lyons (R-Fr.).

• The trio of Castell (70 snaps), Mitchell (68 snaps) and James (67 snaps) rank two-through-four in total defensive snaps, trailing only DB Jason Marshall Jr. at 74 total.

• Through the first two games, a combined 13 starts have come from players in their third season or less, including second-years James and Mitchell starting both games.

• Castell started at safety in the home opener and was the first Gators true freshman to start at the position since Kamari Wilson in 2022 vs. Eastern Washington.

• Ten of the 12 Class of 2023 defensive signees have played in both games to start the season and have totaled 268 snaps (defense + special teams).

SPECIAL TEAMS FLIPPING THE GAME​

K Adam Mihalek’s three 50-yard field goals tied for the most in a season by a UF kicker (sixth to do so) last season (52 yards vs. No. 1 Georgia, 50 yards vs. No. 20 Kentucky, 50 yards at Texas A&M).
» His field goal vs. the Bulldogs was Florida’s longest since Evan McPherson’s 53-yarder on Oct.
10, 2020 vs. Texas A&M. The 52-yarder was tied for fifth-longest in the SEC in 2022.
» Mihalek was one of nine FBS kickers with three-or-more 50-yarders last year.

• P Jeremy Crawshaw averaged 47.94 yards per punt in 35 attempts last season featuring 13 kicks of 50-plus and a season-long of 67 yards vs. South Carolina.
» In the 2023 season opener at No. 14 Utah, he recorded his 10th career-game of multpile 50-yard
punts in a single game.
» Against LSU in 2022, he totaled 112 yards with a long of 62 as both were placed inside the oppos
ing-20 and 50-plus yards, including one that was muffed and recovered by LS Rocco Underwood to
set up a TD.
» In the Las Vegas Bowl, he hit a career-high of four 50-plus-yard punts for an average of 56.5.
» Crawshaw has 94 career punts for an average of 45.7 per attempt with 37 going 50-plus yards.

• K Trey Smack is handling kickoff duties this season and has recorded nine touchbacks in 11 attempts for an average of 64.9 yards per kick, which ranks second in the SEC and ninth in the country.
» Florida’s coverage teams have only allowed 32 total return yards: nine yards on punts and 23
yards on kickoff

 

More UF Notes
UF NOTES WEEK 3 TENNESSEE (PDF) - Florida Gators