Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators
- Florida-No. 8 Tennessee Breakdown & Prediction
- Parental Perspective: Florida Football Commits Parental RoundTable
- Recruit Reaction: Five-star wants to return
- September Superlatives
- Grading the two-deep defensive depth chart
- Grading the two-deep offensive depth chart
- OTM: Is there a path to a fourth year
- Ranking UF’s commits from least to most likely to jump ship
- What names are on your Coaching Hot Board
It’s a highly anticipated week with Florida carrying more momentum than we originally would have guessed going into the most lopsided matchup between these two rivals in almost two decades. For the Gators to cover the two-touchdown spread, or perhaps even win outright, against No. 8 Tennessee, these five UF players are On the Spot.
The Entire Offensive Line (Specifically the right side): The Volunteers front seven is legit. They’re fast, confusing to counter, and aggressive. This will be Florida’s toughest test in the trenches so far this season. Lately, the offensive has done a superb job protecting both quarterbacks, but it comes down to how much time this unit can give both Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway in order to create explosive plays. Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson and Damieon George Jr. will be keys to either the success or failure of how this plays out in Knoxville.
Eugene Wilson III: He was back to full speed at practice this week, slowly ramping up his practice intensity. Though used sparingly so far this year, he’s had some big moments, and he will be a HUGE factor if he does get the green light to play. It’s just a factor of how much he’ll be allowed to participate or if he is snap-limited. Nonetheless, his presence is felt when he steps on the field.
Jadan Baugh and/or Ja’Kobi Jackson: With the second leading back, Treyaun Webb, listed as out this week, it’s up to Jackson and Baugh to step up and compete against Tennessee, the SEC’s second-leading rush defense. If Florida can open up that element spearheaded by Montrell Johnson Jr., then the confidence level in a Gators’ victory soars.
Defensive Line: Tennessee struggled internally in their loss to Arkansas on the road, looking discombobulated many times with changing calls and making decisions on offense. Coming back to the comfort of Neyland Stadium, they’re going to rely on their conference-leading running game in a mismatch with Florida’s deadbeat defensive line in the trenches. If Florida REALLY wants to shake things up and have an impact on the game, it’s going to be the defensive line group that builds off their best game of the season against UCF. If they play aggressively, backed by Austin Armstrong‘s seemingly vamped-up playbook, this could contain the Volunteers’ offense.
Billy Napier: Simply put, no one needs this win more than Coach Napier. Going from fans staying in the stadium to boo him, to quickly staying just a few weeks later to cheer him on as he walked out. Napier has reeled the fans back somewhat and has the most momentum Florida has carried since the preseason before the loss to Miami. He’s showing fire and passion that we haven’t seen lately, and the players are feeding off of it. Now the Gators are 17-3 in the last 20 meetings and face the highest-ranked Volunteers team they’ve played since 2005 (#5). But no one’s seat in the country is as hot as Napier’s right now, and this could be the tipping point in the season for him in the Orange. Regardless of it on the road, with 4 top-10 matchups left on the season this could be Florida’s best chance to upset someone’s season right here and right now.
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