OGT-#22 Florida Gators at Kentucky Wildcats 9/30/2023 12:00 pm

#22 Florida Gators (3-1, 1-0 SEC) at Kentucky Wildcats (4-0, 1-0 SEC)
September 30 // 12 p.m. ET // Lexington, Ky.
Kroger Field (61,000

ESPN
Play-by-Play: Joe Tessitore
Analyst: Jesse Palmer
Reporter: Katie George
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
SiriusXM Channel: 81

2023 SCHEDULE
Aug. 31 at No. 14 Utah L, 24-11
SEPT. 9 McNEESE W, 49-7
SEPT. 16 NO. 11 TENNESSEE W, 29-16
SEPT. 23 CHARLOTTE W, 22-7
Sept. 30 at Kentucky 12 P.M.
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: 49-20 (27-5 Sun Belt) [5th season]
Record at UF: 9-8 (4-5 SEC) [2nd season]
Record vs. UK: 0-1
Rankings: 22 (AP) / 23 (Coaches)
2022 Record: 6-7, 3-5 SEC (T-4th East)

KENTUCKY
Head Coach: Mark Stoops
Career Record: 70-59 (33-50 SEC) [11th season]
Record at UK: same
Record vs. UF: 3-7
Rankings: RV (AP) / RV (Coaches)
2022 Record: 7-6, 3-5 SEC (T-4th East)

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Florida leads, 53-20
Last Meeting: #20 Kentucky 26, #12 Florida 16
Sept. 10, 2022
Recent History: Kentucky, W2
UF has won 33 of last 36
In Gainesville: Florida leads, 29-6
In Lexington: Florida leads, 22-11
Neutral: Kentucky leads, 3-2
3 Natonal Championships // 8 SEC Championships // 756 All-Time Wins // 3 Heisman Trophy Winners
57 First-Round NFL Draft Picks // 72 First-Team All-Americans // 258 First-Team All-SEC Selections
@GatorsFB // #GoGators

 

NUMBERS OF NOTE
15 / 250​

Florida is one of five defenses in the country allowing fewer than 15 points and 250 yards per game entering Week 5 (Michigan, Penn State, Ohio, Air Force). The Gators are allowing just 13.5 points and 244.8 yards per contest, which are in line to be the team’s best marks since the 2001 (231.8) and 2009 seasons (12.4), respectively.

 

THE STORYLINE​

• Florida visits Kentucky in Lexington for the 34th time in the 74th all-time meeting between the two programs.

• The Gators wield a 53-20 record against the Wildcats including a 22-11 mark on the road.

• Florida has won 33 of the last 36 meetings in the series including wins in 16 of the last 17 games in Lexington.

• Prior to Florida’s 20-13 loss in 2021, the Gators had not lost to Kentucky in Lexington in 35 years (1986), owning 16 straight road wins in the series.

• From 1978-2017, the Gators claimed 31 consecutive games in the series against the Wildcats.

• Since 2018, Florida is just 2-3 against Kentucky. The wins came in 2019 in Lexington and in 2020 in Gainesville.

• HC Billy Napier is going for his 50th career victory including his 10th at the helm of the Gators on Saturday.

• Florida enters the Week 5 matchup ranked its highest (No. 22) since sitting at No. 20 in the Sept. 18, 2022 AP Poll.

• The Gators have been ranked inside the AP top-25 in each of the last two weeks in the team’s first return to the rankings since holding status inside the AP Top 20 in three consecutive polls last season from Weeks 2-4.

• Florida is in the midst of its first winning streak of three games or more since rattling off six-straight SEC victories from Oct. 31 - Dec. 5, 2020 (def. Missouri, Georgia, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Tennessee).

• The Gators posted their second-ranked victory of the Napier era in Week 3, defeating No. 11 Tennessee, 29-16.

• 11 teams have faced two AP Top 25 opponents. Florida is one of two (Alabama) with a win - the others are all 0-2.

• QB Graham Mertz has completed 70% of his passes or better in each of his first four starts as a Gator - the first UF quarterback with four-straight games above 70% since Kyle Trask in 2020 (Arkansas, at Vanderbilt, Kentucky, at Tennessee).

• Mertz has completed 77.8% of his passes (84-for-108), which leads the SEC and ranks fourth nationally behind Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, Oregon’s Bo Nix and Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel.

• In year one under DC Austin Armstrong, Florida ranks first in the SEC, fourth in the P5 and fifth in the FBS in total defense with 244.8 yards allowed per game. Through four games last year, UF had allowed 424.0 yards per game.

• The Gators have limited teams to 13.5 points per game (t-18th in FBS), a 15.4-point improvement from last season (28.9).

• Florida ranks 15th in the FBS, eighth in the P5 and first in the SEC in passing defense (162.8 passing yards per game).

• Conversely, Kentucky ranks 25th in the FBS in scoring offense with 38.0 points per game while averaging nearly 400 yards per contest (396.5).

• In Week 2, UF posted its best defensive performance (112 yards allowed) in 86 games - Sept. 17, 2016 vs. North Texas (53).

• Florida boasts a 358-113-13 (.753) all-time record at The Swamp, holding the second-highest home winning percentage in the nation since 1990 with a 177-34 (.839) record.
» The Gators have outscored opponents, 7,928 to 3,399 in 211 games inside The Swamp since 1990, putting the average outcome at 37.6 to 16.1 (21.5 points).

• Florida has scored in 440 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 (WEEK 4 VS. CHARLOTTE)​

• Florida posted its fifth opening drive touchdown under HC Billy Napier (Charlotte, McNeese, South Carolina, LSU, Eastern Washington), going 95 yards on nine plays in four minutes and 27 seconds.

• K Trey Smack made a 54-yard field goal, tying for the seventh-longest field goal in Gators history and setting a new career high. Smack’s kick is tied for the ninth-longest in the FBS this season.

• Smack finished 5-for-5 in field goal attempts vs. Charlotte, tied for the most made by a kicker in a single game this season alongside Fresno State’s Dylan Lynch.

• Smack is one of four kickers in team history to make five field goals in a game and one of two to do so across the last 39 seasons (Bobby Raymond - 1983, 1984; Brian Clark - 1980; Eddy Pineiro - 2017).

• Smack is one of six FBS kickers in the last four seasons to make five fields goals including a 50-yarder in a single game. • QB Graham Mertz’s 87.0% completion percentage (20-for-23) was the highest from a Gators QB since Kyle Trask’s mark of 90.0% (18-20) against Towson on Sept. 28, 2019 (minimum 20 attempts).

• Florida held its opponent to seven points or fewer for the second time in their last three games

 

THE UBER-EFFICIENT GRAHAM MERTZ​

• QB Graham Mertz leads the SEC with a 77.8% completion percentage entering Week 5, ranking fourth in the FBS.

• Mertz has opened his Florida career showing incredible efficiency, delivering four-straight games completing more than 70% of his passes (70.5%, 82.4%, 79.2%, 87.0%).

• Mertz’s 87.0% completion percentage in Week 4 is the ninth-best of any FBS quarterback this season.

• Among FBS players with 100-plus pass attempts, Mertz ranks third nationally in completion percentage.

• Mertz has thrown a touchdown pass in 19 of his last 22 games.

• In Week 3 vs. Tennessee, Mertz completed 17-of-20 passes (85.0%) for 146 yards and one touchdown in the first half, equating to a passing efficiency of 162.8. He finished 19-of-24 for 166 yards and one touchdown.

• Mertz finished with 193 yards passing and one touchdown vs. McNeese for a 197.1 passing efficiency - the best by a Florida quarterback in the Billy Napier era and the third-highest by a UF QB across the past three seasons.

• 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.

• Mertz is tied for the third-most career starts (35) in the SEC.

• 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.

 

MONTREVOR TAKEOVER​

• RB Trevor Etienne ranks third in the SEC with 6.7 yards per carry and is one of 10 running backs in the country with over 300 yards rushing, 6.5 yards per carry, and multiple rushing scores (min. 40 attempts).

• Etienne rushed for a career-high 172 yards on a career-high 23 attempts while posting the third 100-yard rushing game of his career in Week 3 vs. Tennessee, earning numerous national weekly honors.

• Etienne’s 172 rushing yards were the most by a Gator in a single game across the past nine seasons (2015-2023). His performance ranks eighth in UF history across the last 25 seasons (1999-2023).

• Etienne’s 172 rushing yards is the top single-game total of any SEC player this season, ranking seventh in the P5.

• Etienne tied the game at 7-7 with a 62-yard touchdown scamper in the first quarter, the second-longest rush of his career and his longest since breaking off an 85-yard touchdown run against South Carolina on Nov. 12, 2022.

• Etienne posted four explosive rushes of 10-plus yards in the first half, rushing for 119 yards on 11 carries (10.8 YPC).

• RB Montrell Johnson Jr. scored two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) in Week 3, marking his second-straight game with multiple scores and the sixth of his three-year career.

• Johnson Jr. and Etienne have combined for at least one touchdown in 14 of 17 games together, scoring 23 total TDs (rushing TDs in 14 of 16 games). The duo has combined for 21 total rushing touchdowns in 17 games at Florida.

• The Gators have rushed for 100-plus yards in 13 of their last 17 games dating back to last season including each of the last three games this season.

 

UFormula​

• 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

 

BACKFIELD+​

• Florida has three RBs with over 4.0 yards per carry and two-plus rushings TDs (Treyaun Webb, Johnson Jr., Etienne).

• Webb scored his first-career touchdown with a two-yard dash in the second quarter vs. McNeese in Week 2–the first Gators true freshman running back to do so since Trevor Etienne vs. Kentucky in 2022.

• Also in Week 2, 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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

 

RECEIVERS ROOM​

• WR Ricky Pearsall totaled 100-plus receiving yards for the fifth time in his career in Week 4 including his fourth time as a Gator and his second time of the 2023 campaign (Week 2 vs. McNeese).

• Pearsall ranks 10th in the P5 and fifth in the SEC in in receptions (26), and seventh in the SEC with 90.5 receiving yards per game.

• TE Arlis Boardingham recorded his first-career touchdown off a six-yard pass from Graham Mertz in Week 4.

• WR Andy Jean had his first career catch off a 32-yard pass in Week 4 while also ripping off a 25-yard rush.

• Boardingham and Jean were the 16th and 17th UF receivers to catch a pass already in 2023. Florida saw 18 receivers catch a pass all of last year, the team’s most since having 21 players do so in 2018.

• Although Eugene Wilson III paced UF receivers in receiving in Week 3, Pearsall led the way in each of Weeks 1, 2 and 4, finishing 6-123-1 against McNeese after posting 92 yards and a Gator-career-high eight catches at No. 14 Utah. He then added 104 yards on six grabs vs. Charlotte in Week 4.

• Pearsall has recorded a reception in 32-consecutive games, tied for the eighth-longest streak in the FBS.

• Wilson III caught each of the first-six passes of Florida’s opening drive in its Week 3 win over Tennessee, setting career highs in receptions (six) and yards (44) before the Vols even touched the ball.

• In Week 2, Wilson III became the first Gators true freshman wide receiver to start a home opener since Antonio Callaway in 2015 vs. New Mexico State.

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

• Of Pearsall’s 53 receptions at UF, 43 have gone for first downs or touchdowns and 40 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 and 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).

 

THE STATE OF THE O-LINE​

• Florida has seven sacks while allowing just four across the team’s last three games.

• 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 linemen out of the transfer portal this offseason in Micah Mazzccua (Baylor), Lyndell Hudson II (FIU), and Damieon George Jr. (Alabama).

 

OFFENSIVE GRAB BAG​

• Over the last four seasons (2020-23), Florida ranks 12th in the Power Five and third in the SEC with 459.5 scrimmage yards per game and fifth in the SEC with 32.7 points per game.

• Since 2018, UF ranks eighth in the P5 in passing efficiency (152.8) and 15th in TD-INT ratio (2.89).

• Florida has out-gained its opponents in 21 of 30 games across the past three campaigns (2021-23).

• The Gators totaled 500-plus yards in four of the last 14 games and in 16 of their last 41 contests.

• Florida has amassed 400-plus total yards in nine of 17 games across the last two seasons, as well as 25 times in its last 40 games, and 38 of the last 59.

• 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 44 games. UF has scored 40 points seven times in 28 games from 2021-23

 

EARLY IMPROVEMENTS FOR FLORIDA DEFENSE​

• Through the first four games of the 2023 season, the Gators have only allowed 54 points (13.5 per game) compared to 2022, when Florida allowed 118 total points - a 64 point improvement.
» Additionally, Florida is limiting opponents to 244.8 total yards per game this season, a 179-yard
improvement from last year’s 424.0 yards per game through the first four games.
» The Gators rank fifth in the FBS and first in the SEC in total defense with 244.8 YPG.
» In the last four games in The Swamp, opponents have totatled 36 points (9.0 points per game)

• Florida has only allowed 45 total first downs, which ranks first in the FBS, compared to 99 given up in the first four games last year.

• In the last 14 quarters, Florida has limited opposing offense to a total of 747 yards (53.3 yards per quarter).
» At Utah, the Gators held the No. 14 Utes to just 38 total yards in the second half - the team’s lowest total in a half since 18 vs. Vanderbilt on Nov. 9, 2019.
» In the home opener vs. McNeese, UF held the Cowboys to 46 total rushing yards, the fewest since 44 vs. South Carolina last season. Florida also limited McNeese to 66 passing yards, the fewest since Charleston Southern in 2018.
» Florida held No. 11 Tennessee to its third-fewest points (16) in the Josh Heupel era, the Gators also hold the mark for second-fewest in the head coach’s tenure with 14 points allowed in 2021.

• The Gators also lead the SEC in 4th Down Conversion Pct. (.200), ranking 8th in the FBS

 

DEFENSIVE YOUTH GAINING EXPERIENCE​

• Outside of the veteran starters last year for the Gators - Amari Burney, Trey Dean III, Ventrell Miller and Rashad Torrence II - six underclassmen returners (second season or fewer) earned starts including five who notched their first-career start.
» Those six underclassmen combined for a total of 32 starts last year.

• A total of 10 players made their collegiate debuts in 2022 including Georgia transfer CB Jalen Kimber, who made his Gators debut and played in all 13 games.
» Kimber’s 39-yard interception return TD vs. USF in the second quarter represented Florida’s first
pick-six since CJ Gardner-Johnson’s 30-yard interception return TD against Michigan in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl on Dec. 29, 2018. The pick-six marked Florida’s 51st since 1996.
» Five players - LB Shemar James, DL Chris McClellan, S Miguel Mitchell, DL Tyreak Sapp and S
Kamari Wilson - made their collegiate debuts in Week 1 vs. No. 7 Utah and appeared in every game.
» James started at LB in the season opener, becoming the first Gator true freshman to start a
season opener since Marco Wilson vs. Michigan in 2017 and the first true freshman LB since David
Reese II vs. South Carolina in 2016.
» James finished sixth on the team in tackles (47), t-fourth in sacks (2.0), and sixth in QB hurries
(four) while starting four games and appearing in all 13.
» James became the 14th UF linebacker to be named to the Freshman All-SEC Team and the first
since Antonio Morrison in 2012. It marked UF’s eighth straight year with a Freshman All-SEC player.
» Wilson earned his first career start vs. Eastern Washington. The last true freshman to start for
the Gators at safety was Trey Dean III in 2018 vs. Colorado State. Wilson started the final two games of the season at No. 16 FSU and vs. No. 14 Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl.

• Six of the 22 turnovers forced by the Gators came from underclassmen - Jalen Kimber (1), Shemar James (1), Jason Marshall Jr. (1), Miguel Mitchell (1), Desmond Watson (1) and Kamari Wilson (1).

• The duo of CB Jason Marshall Jr. and DL Desmond Watson combined for 23 starts last season.
» Marshall Jr. has played in all 28 games over the last three seasons with 21 starts all-time, which is the most starts by a defensive player on the roster.
» Marshall Jr. led the Gators in pass breakups with a career-high eight - tied for 10th in the SEC.
» Watson concluded 2022 with 10-straight starts beginning at No. 11 Tennessee.

​

 

FRESH FACES PROVIDE LIFT TO GATORS D​

• Joining new defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong are seven defensive transfers this year: DL Caleb Banks (Louisville), EDGE Quincy Ivory (East LA CC), DL Cam Jackson (Memphis), LB Teradja Mitchell (Ohio State), S R.J. Moten (Michigan), LB Mannie Nunnery (Houston) and LB Deuce Spurlock II (Michigan).

• The new Gators bring in a combined 44 starts and over 4,170 snaps played compared to 30 defensive returners with 69 total starts and 8,792 snaps.

• Moten, whose dad played LB for UF from 1982-86, made 10 starts in 2022 including the Big 10 Championship.
» He has 15 career starts and 1,033 snaps played, which is 10th-highest on the roster and third-most by a defensive player behind Jason Marshall Jr. (1,417) and Mannie Nunnery (1,259).

• Jackson also comes with double-digit career starts (13) on top of 34 games in three seasons at Memphis.
» He finished with 41 tackles last season, which would have ranked second among Gators defensive
linemen last year behind only Gervon Dexter Sr., a second-round pick by the Chicago Bears.

• Twelve rookie defenders also joined the program this season including four cornerbacks, three EDGEs, two defensive linemen, two safeties, and one linebacker.
» Half of the first-year players were consensus four-star recruits and are all HC Billy Napier’s recruits.
» Five played in the 2023 Under Armour All-American Bowl Game with EDGE Kelby Collins named MVP.

 

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 has started the last two consecutive games and is second on the team in catches (12) and receving yards (104).
» Castell has also started the last two straight games at safety and led the team in tackles (10) vs. No. 11 Tennessee. He paced the defense with six tackles (team-leader) in the first-half at Utah.
» 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 27 and freshman S Jordan Castell is second with 24.
» James (3.0) and redshirt- DL Jamari Lyons (2.0) rank first and third in 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.

• The trio of Castell (177 snaps), James (174 snaps) and Mitchell (167 snaps) rank one-two-four in defensive snaps played, with three-year starter DB Jason Marshall Jr. third overall at 173 snaps.

• Through the first four games, a combined 18 starts have come from players in their second season or less, including second-years James and Mitchell starting each game.
» Seven starts have been by true freshmen to start a game this season.

• Castell started at safety in the home opener and was 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 all three games to start the season and have totaled 483 defensive snaps.

• Last week vs. Charlotte a trio of players recorded career firsts:
» EDGE Kellby Collins and S Bryce Thornton: first career sacks
» S Jordan Castell: first-career tackle-for-loss (total loss of 10 yards)

 

SPECIAL TEAMS FLIPPING THE GAME​

• K Trey Smack finished 5-for-5 on fields goals vs. Charlotte with a career-long of 54 yards.
» The 54-yarder is tied for the ninth longest in the country andthird in the SEC.
» He became the first Gator to make five field goals in a single-game for the Gators since Eddy
Pineiro in 2017.
» He was also a perfect in kickoffs for the second straight week with a career-best seven touch-
backs. Smack was 6-for-6 in touchbacks vs. No. 11 Tennessee and has hit 20 in last 21 kicks.

• Smack has recorded 22 touchbacks in 24 attempts for an average of 65.0 yards per kick, which is tied for the lead in the SEC and t-fourth in the country.
» Smack made his first-career field goal on a 27-yarder vs. the Volunteers in the fourth quarter.
» He has successfully made field goals from: 23 (2x), 27 (2x), 36 and 54.

• 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.
» In the Las Vegas Bowl, he hit a career-high of four 50-plus-yard punts for an average of 56.5.
» Crawshaw has 99 career punts for an average of 45.5 per attempt with 38 going 50-plus yards
and 39 inside the opponents-20 yard line.

• 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