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#25 Florida Gators (2-1, 1-0 SEC) vs. Charlotte 49ers (1-2, 0-0 AAC) 9/23/2023 7:00 pm SEC+

Discussion in 'RayGator's Swamp Gas' started by GatorGrowl, Sep 21, 2023.

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  1. GatorGrowl

    GatorGrowl Forum Admin Moderator VIP Member

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    #25 Florida Gators (2-1, 1-0 SEC) vs. Charlotte 49ers (1-2, 0-0 AAC)
    Sept. 23 // 7 p.m. ET // Gainesville, Fla.
    Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field
    Game 4

    SEC Network+

    Play-by-Play: Clay Matvick
    Analyst: Aaron Murray
    Channel (Cox): stream only
    Channel (DirecTV): stream only

    Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD
    Play-by-Play: Sean Kelley
    Analyst: Shane Matthews
    Reporter: Tate Casey
    Channel: Local Affiliates
    SiriusXM Channel: 104 or 202

    023 SCHEDULE
    Aug. 31 at No. 14 Utah L, 24-11
    SEPT. 9 McNEESE W, 49-7
    SEPT. 16 TENNESSEE W, 29-16
    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

    Overall: 2-1 // Home: 2-0 // Away: 0-1 // Neutral: 0-0

    TEAM INFORMATION

    FLORIDA
    Head Coach: Billy Napier
    Career Record: 48-20 (27-5 Sun Belt) [5th season]
    Record at UF: 8-8 (4-5 SEC) [2nd season]
    Bowl Record: 0-1
    Rankings: 25 (AP) / RV (Coaches)
    2022 Record: 6-7, 3-5 SEC (T-4th East)

    CHARLOTTE
    Head Coach: Biff Poggi
    Career Record: 1-2 (0-0 AAC) [1st season]
    Record at UC: 1-2 (0-0 AAC) [1st season]
    Rankings: NR (AP) / NR (Coaches)
    2022 Record: 3-9, 2-6 AAC

    SERIES HISTORY

    Overall: Tied, 0-0
    Last Meeting: First Meeting
    Against the AAC: 49-19-3
    Recent History: Florida 31, USF 28
    September 17, 2022
     
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  2. GatorGrowl

    GatorGrowl Forum Admin Moderator VIP Member

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    NUMBERS OF NOTE
    256.3 / 15.7
    Through three games, the Florida defense has limited opponents (featuring two top-15 teams)
    to an average of 256.3 yards and 15.7 points. Last season, the Gators allowed 411 yards per game and 28.9 points per contest across 13 games, marking noticeable improvements in both categories (-154.7, -13.2). Through three games one year ago, Florida
    was allowing an average of 373.3 yards and 26.7
    points per contest
     
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  3. GatorGrowl

    GatorGrowl Forum Admin Moderator VIP Member

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    THE STORYLINE
    • Week 4 marks the first-ever meeting between Florida and Charlotte on the gridiron.

    • The Gators recently defeated the 49ers on the pitch, posting a 1-0 victory in soccer on Sept. 7, 2023.

    • Charlotte will be the 63rd opponent that UF has faced just once. Among games with unique opponents (one meeting), Florida has a record of 52-9-1.

    • Florida is a combined 17-3 against Charlotte across five sports: baseball (2-0), men’s basketball (4-2), soccer (1-0), women’s basketball (8-1) and softball (17-3).

    • Florida enters the Week 4 matchup ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll for the first time since the week of Sept. 18, 2022.

    • The Gators were ranked inside the AP Top 20 in three consecutive polls last season from Weeks 2-4.

    • A win over Charlotte would give Florida 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).

    • Florida’s last game against an AAC opponent came in the form of a 31-28 win over USF on Sept. 17, 2022.

    • The Gators have won 16 of their last 18 regular-season non-conference games since the start of the 2018 season.

    • In those 18 games, UF has outscored its opponents, 733-331, equating to an average score of 40.7 to 18.4 (22.3 points).

    • Florida has totaled 300-plus yards in 19 consecutive regular-season non-conference tilts.

    • The Gators are coming off their second-ranked victory of the Billy Napier era, defeating No. 11 Tennessee, 29-16.

    • Florida QB Graham Mertz has completed 70% of his passes or better in all three starts this season.

    • In year one under DC Austin Armstrong, Florida ranks first in the SEC, sixth in the Power Five and 10th in the FBS in total defense with 256.3 yards allowed per game. Through three games last year, UF had allowed 373.3 yards per game.

    • The Gators have also limited opponents to 15.7 points per game, a 13.2-point improvement from last season (28.9).

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

    • Florida ranks 16th in the P5 and second in the SEC in passing defense with 172.7 passing yards allowed per game.

    • Florida boasts a 357-113-13 (.753) all-time record at The Swamp, holding the second-highest home winning percentage in the nation since 1990 with a 176-34 (.838) record.
    » The Gators have outscored opponents, 7,906 to 3,392 in 210 games inside The Swamp since 1990, putting the average outcome at 37.6 to 16.2 (21.4 points).

    • Florida has scored in 439 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
     
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  4. GatorGrowl

    GatorGrowl Forum Admin Moderator VIP Member

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    THE OPENING DRIVE (WEEK 3 VS. TENNESSEE)
    • Florida kept No. 11 Tennessee winless in The Swamp dating back to 2003, as Florida has won 17 of the last 19 matchups vs. the Volunteers including 10-straight victories in Gainesville.

    • The Gators totaled 300-plus yards vs. Tennessee for the ninth-straight game (14 of last 15 meetings).

    • UF has surpassed 100 rushing yards in 17 of their last 18 matchups against UT.

    • Across Florida’s last three home games in the rivalry (2023, 2021, 2019), the Gators have outscored the Volunteers, 101-33, putting the average outcome at 33.7 to 11 – a 22.7-point spread.

    • The Gators delivered their second-ranked victory of the Billy Napier era and the first since Napier’s Gators coaching debut vs. No. 7 Utah in 2022.

    • Florida achieved these feats in front of the 12th-largest crowd in program history (90,751) including the second-biggest attendance in The Swamp in the history of the UF-UT rivalry.

    • The Gators held the Volunteers to their third-fewest points (16) in the Josh Heupel era
     
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  5. GatorGrowl

    GatorGrowl Forum Admin Moderator VIP Member

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    THE UBER-EFFICIENT GRAHAM MERTZ
    • Florida kept No. 11 Tennessee winless in The Swamp dating back to 2003, as Florida has won 17 of the last 19 matchups vs. the Volunteers including 10-straight victories in Gainesville.

    • The Gators totaled 300-plus yards vs. Tennessee for the ninth-straight game (14 of last 15 meetings).

    • UF has surpassed 100 rushing yards in 17 of their last 18 matchups against UT.

    • Across Florida’s last three home games in the rivalry (2023, 2021, 2019), the Gators have outscored the Volunteers, 101-33, putting the average outcome at 33.7 to 11 – a 22.7-point spread.

    • The Gators delivered their second-ranked victory of the Billy Napier era and the first since Napier’s Gators coaching debut vs. No. 7 Utah in 2022.

    • Florida achieved these feats in front of the 12th-largest crowd in program history (90,751) including the second-biggest attendance in The Swamp in the history of the UF-UT rivalry.

    • The Gators held the Volunteers to their third-fewest points (16) in the Josh Heupel era
     
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  6. GatorGrowl

    GatorGrowl Forum Admin Moderator VIP Member

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    MONTREVOR TAKEOVER

    • RB Trevor 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 (first of 2023).

    • 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 13th in the FBS.

    • Etienne accounted for six of Florida’s eight explosive plays against Tennessee.

    • 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 16 games together, scoring 23 total TDs (rushing TDs in 14 of 16 games). The duo has combined for 21 total rushing touchdowns in 16 games at Florida.

    • Following tonight’s performance, the Gators have rushed for 100-plus yards in 13 of their last 16 games dating back to last season including each of the last two games this season.
     
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  7. GatorGrowl

    GatorGrowl Forum Admin Moderator VIP Member

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    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 enrollees (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
     
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  8. GatorGrowl

    GatorGrowl Forum Admin Moderator VIP Member

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    BACKFIELD+
    • RB Treyaun 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 school
     
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  9. GatorGrowl

    GatorGrowl Forum Admin Moderator VIP Member

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    RECEIVERS ROOM
    • WR Eugene 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, 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..

    • Although Wilson III paced UF receivers in receiving in Week 3, WR Ricky Pearsall led the way in Weeks 1 and 2, finishing 6-123-1 against McNeese after posting 92 yards and a Gator-career-high eight catches 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 and t-sixth in the SEC in in receptions (20), and seventh in the SEC with 86.0 receive yards/game.

    • 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.

    • Of Pearsall’s 47 receptions at UF, 39 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)
     
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  10. GatorGrowl

    GatorGrowl Forum Admin Moderator VIP Member

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    THE STATE OF THE O-LINE
    • Florida has three sacks while allowing just one across the team’s last two games vs. McNeese and Tennessee.

    • 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 Mazzc-cua (Baylor), Lyndell Hudson II (FIU), and Damieon George Jr. (Alabama)
     
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  11. GatorGrowl

    GatorGrowl Forum Admin Moderator VIP Member

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    OFFENSIVE GRAB BAG
    • Over the last four seasons (2020-23), Florida ranks 11th in the Power Five and third in the SEC with 461.0 scrimmage yards per game and fifth in the SEC with 32.9 points per game.

    • Since 2018, UF ranks 11th in the P5 in passing efficiency (152.4) and 14th in TD-INT ratio (2.87).

    • Florida has out-gained its opponents in 20 of 29 games across the past three campaigns (2021-23).

    • The Gators totaled 500-plus yards in four of the last 13 games and in 16 of their last 40 contests.

    • Florida has amassed 400-plus total yards in nine of 16 games across the last two seasons, as well as 25 times in its last 39 games, and 38 of the last 58.

    • 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 43 games (62.8%). UF has scored 40 points seven times in 28 games from 2021-23.
     
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  12. GatorGrowl

    GatorGrowl Forum Admin Moderator VIP Member

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    EARLY IMPROVEMENTS FOR FLORIDA DEFENSE
    • Through the first three games of the 2023 season, the Gators have only allowed 47 points (15.7 per game) compared to 2022, when Florida allowed 80 total points - a 33-point improvement.
    » Additionally Florida is limiting opponents to 256.3 total yards per game this season, a 117-yard
    improvement from last year’s 373.3 per game through the first three games.
    » The Gators rank 10th in the FBS and first in the SEC in total defense with 256.3 YPG.
    » In the last three games in The Swamp, opponents have totatled 29 points (9.6 points per game)

    • Florida has only allowed 36 total first downs, which ranks third in the FBS and first in the SEC, compared to 65 given up in the first three games last year.

    • In the last ten quarters, Florida has limited opposing offense’s to a total of 537 yards (53.7 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 fewst 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. (.250), ranking 15th in the FBS
     
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  13. GatorGrowl

    GatorGrowl Forum Admin Moderator VIP Member

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    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.
     
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  14. GatorGrowl

    GatorGrowl Forum Admin Moderator VIP Member

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    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
     
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  15. GatorGrowl

    GatorGrowl Forum Admin Moderator VIP Member

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    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 receiving 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.
     
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  16. GatorGrowl

    GatorGrowl Forum Admin Moderator VIP Member

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    THE YOUTH MOVEMENT
    • The 2023 Florida defense features a majority of underclassmen players (two seasons or fewer) that lead the team in multiple categories.
    » Sophomore LB Shemar James is first in total tackles with 22 and freshman S Jordan Castell is second with 20.
    » 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.

    • 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 (136 snaps), Mitchell (134 snaps) and James (126 snaps) rank one-two-four in defensive snaps played, with three-year stared DB Jason Marshall Jr. 3rd overall at 133 snaps.

    • Through the first three games, a combined 20 starts have come from players in their third season or less, including second-years James and Mitchell starting each game.

    • 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 all three games to start the season and have totaled 364 defensive snaps.
     
  17. GatorGrowl

    GatorGrowl Forum Admin Moderator VIP Member

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    Paris, TN
    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 97 career punts for an average of 45.4 per attempt with 37 going 50-plus yards.

    • K Trey Smack is handling kickoff duties this season and has recorded 15 touchbacks in 17 attempts for an average of 64.9 yards per kick, which ranks tied for the lead in the SEC and t-fifh in the country.
    » He was a perfect 6-for-6 in touchbacks vs. No. 11 Tennessee and has hit 13 in last 14 kicks.
    » Smack made his first career field goal on a 27-yarder vs. teh Volunteers in the 4th quarter.
    » Florida’s coverage teams have only allowed 32 total return yards: nine yards on punts and 23
    yards on kickoff. Against No. 11 Tennessee, the units allowed 0 return yards on kickoff and pun
     
  18. ETGator

    ETGator Long-Time Gator Stuck In East Tennessee Moderator VIP Member

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  19. Gatorrick22

    Gatorrick22 GC Hall of Fame

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    GatorGrowl, nice job with all that great information... Where do you find this valuable information? Do you compile it by yourself?
     
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  20. Bazza

    Bazza Moderator

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