Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators
- Recruit Reaction: It was a great atmosphere
- Parental Perspective: Florida Football Parental RoundTable
- Parental Perspective: Four-star’s father talks about the process and the UF staff
- September Superlatives
- OTM: Five-Game Stretch Should Determine Napier’s Future
Here are five Florida Gators football players who are in the spotlight, and on the spot, to perform this week against No. 5 Texas A&M.
Eugene Wilson III
EW3 hasn’t had the hottest start to the season so far. With all the options in the receiver room for Florida, fans probably knew there would be a drop in production for someone, and so far, that has been Tre Wilson. It isn’t even really a “drop” in production because he barely played at all last season due to injury. The problem with Wilson is that every time he gets healthy, people assume he is going to be amazing instantly and don’t allow him to get back into a groove. With how well Dallas Wilson played against Texas, no way the A&M defense won’t be shifting their attention to him, which should allow EW3 to have a big game this week.
Cormani McClain
The secondary for Florida is going to have its hands full all game with the offense of A&M. Even though the Aggies like to run the ball a lot, they pull you in to develop the passing game. Texas A&M is 16th in the country in passing yards per attempt at 8.9 yards. They are going to air out the football; it’s how the Aggies have played so far this year. With the depth of the secondary almost nonexistent for the banged-up Gators, Cormani McClain will need to be what the Florida defense leans on during this game.
Jayden Woods
Jayden Woods has had a great start to his true freshman season with Florida. Even though Woods entered a room featuring Tyreak Sapp and George Gumbs Jr., he has cemented his minutes and is a constant rotational piece for the Gators. Through five games, Woods has 9 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Playing off the edge, Woods will be a big factor for Florida this week in containing Marcel Reed, who has punished teams so far this season with his legs; not to mention Florida already historically struggles playing defense against mobile QBs.
DJ Lagway
For what feels like the first time so far this season for the Gators, DJ Lagway looked like DJ Lagway against Texas. He was taking his time, not forcing as much, and looked so much more comfortable in the pocket than he had so far this year. Now that was a home game, and Lagway is now immediately heading into hostile territory in College Station. But Lagway is going to be playing in front of all of his friends and family from his home state of Texas on Saturday, and I think he is going to show out for them. A&M is Top 35 in rushing yards allowed and passing yards allowed on defense, so Lagway is going to need his A-game.
Billy Napier
There may not be a better hot-seat performer in recent memory than Billy Napier. Every time people have completely written him off, he somehow manages to pull off a win that pulls some of the fanbase back in. Unfortunately for Billy, if he wants to keep his job, he is going to have to carry the momentum off that win and beat Texas A&M. If Florida doesn’t keep this game close, I think that’s all she wrote for Billy Napier.
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