Take Five Breakdown: Rivalry Weekend

Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators

• Impact Analysis: A November to Remember
• 35-Game Report Card: Napier’s numbers are still lacking
• Former Florida Player Feedback: 10 Observations
• Parental Perspective: Florida Football Commits Parental RoundTable

Having already secured a bowl game, the Florida Gators are heading to the state capital to face the Florida State Seminoles. It’s been a rocky four months, but what better way to finish the regular season than a win over your rival. To get a better feel for the Seminoles, Inside the Gators caught up with Andrew Cheyne of FSView for a full preview.

Five Florida State Seminoles to Know

Luke Kromenhoek, Quarterback, Freshman

• In just his second career start, Luke Kromenhoek will play the Florida Gators in a rivalry game. This season, the true freshman has made appearances, but his first start was on Saturday against Charleston Southern. Kromenhoek went 13-of-20 for 209 yards and three touchdowns. “He’s mobile, that’s his big skill,” Cheyne said. “His goal is to show off his strong arm.”

Ja’Khi Douglas, Wide Receiver, Senior

• Florida State’s most consistent receiver this year is Ja’Khi Douglas. This season, the senior has 28 receptions for 486 yards and four touchdowns. “He’s the only real target on this team,” Cheyne said. “Everyone else plays volleyball when the ball is thrown their way.” Cheyne says that Douglas isn’t the fastest receiver, but he runs good routes and can make plays.

Landen Thomas, Tight End, Freshman

• One of the highest-rated high school recruits Mike Norvell has signed since being at FSU is true freshman Landen Thomas. He has built a solid relationship with Kromenhoek and is one of his quarterback’s preferred targets. “When they throw him the ball, he makes plays,” Cheyne said. This season, Thomas has 12 receptions for 155 yards and a touchdown.

Ryan Fitzgerald, Kicker, Senior

• Entering his last game in a college uniform is kicker Ryan Fitzgerald. The senior has been perfect this season, going 12-12 on field goals and 15-15 on extra points. “He’s one of the only bright spots on this team,” Cheyne said. Your football program isn’t great when your kicker is having the best season on the team.

Alex Mastromanno, Punter, Senior

• Another player being honored on Senior Night is punter Alex Mastromanno. Not only does he have a booming leg, but Mastromanno has great location. The senior is averaging almost 50 yards a punt, landing 34% of his punts inside the 20-yard line. This could be a low scoring game, and if that is the case Mastromanno will be important,” Cheyne said.

Five Fast Facts

• The Gators lead the all-time series 37-28-2.
• Florida State leads 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
• DJ Lagway is 4-1 in games he has started; 4-0 in games he has started and finished.
• Elijah Badger is fourth in the NCAA in yards per catch with 22.23.
• Ryan Fitzgerald leads the NCAA in field goal percentage (100%) while Alex Mastromanno leads the NCAA in yards per punt (49.06).

Five Game Day Storylines

True Freshman QBs

• Both Florida State and Florida have true freshman quarterbacks starting under center on Saturday. This season, DJ Lagway has completed 58.5% of his passes for 1,477 yards and nine touchdowns. Kromenhoek hasn’t had as much time as UF’s signal caller, but he did have a solid first start for the Seminoles. Let’s see what he can do in a rivalry game against the Gators.

Billy Napier’s Road to .500

• With the Gators being bowl-eligible, Florida will play two more games this season. Currently, Napier’s record as Florida Football’s head coach is 17-19. With a win against FSU and a victory in the bowl game, Napier will be .500 heading into the 2025 season.

Poaching Recruits

• After back-to-back wins over ranked opponents, Billy Napier and the Florida Gators have shown that the program is on the rise. Three FSU recruits have taken notice and have flipped their commitment from Florida State to the Orange and Blue. First was four-star quarterback Tramell Jones Jr., three-star offensive lineman Daniel Pierre Louis then four-star running back Byron Louis. The future seems great for Florida, but awful for the Seminoles.

Winning the Rivalry Game

• Coach Norvell needs this win over Florida more than anyone. This program was at the highest of highs at 13-0 last season to getting everything wrong this year. “Winning this game would leave a good taste in people’s mouths heading into the offseason,” Cheyne said. “Nothing good has been said about this program in what feels like quite a long time, but it has only been four months.”

Stacked Running Back Room

• Florida’s running back room is one of the best in the SEC. Montrell Johnson Jr., Jadan Baugh, and Ja’Kobi Jackson all have over five touchdowns this season. True freshman Baugh leads the team in rushing yards (522), but Johnson Jr. and Jackson lead the team in yards per carry (5.5). It will be interesting to see who Lagway hands the rock to the most on Saturday. Will it be Johnson Jr. as he is leaving for the NFL? Only time will tell, but no matter who it is, they have shown they can produce.

Prediction

• Joseph Torviso: Florida 27-13
• Andrew Cheyne: Florida 27-10

Go to discussion...