Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators
- OTM: Is there a path to a fourth year
- Ranking UF’s commits from least to most likely to jump ship
- Recruit Reaction: The most important thing for me is seeing DJ Lagway get better
- What names are on your Coaching Hot Board
Here are five Florida Gators who are in the spotlight, and on the spot, to perform this week against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Billy Napier – There’s not much to be said here as it’s win and buy yourself time, or lose and probably still keep your job and let all the doubters and naysayers continue to be right about your tenure as coach in the Orange and Blue.
Rob Sale – While Napier is deservedly taking his share of the heat, not enough is said about Coach Sale and the sub-par job, at best, the offensive line has done through the first three games of the season. There seems to be no discipline and the line has looked like Jell-O creating virtually no pocket for either quarterback in order to allow plays to develop, or lanes for running backs. It’s time to figure it out or move on.
Montrell Johnson Jr. – After a stunning -7 yards on seven touches for Johnson Jr. in week three, he needs to step and show that there’s a reason why you wear the #1 jersey. Johnson was dead last in total yards amongst Florida’s backs last week, and though it’s ugly, that’s a byproduct of the frustrating performance the offensive line has shown thus far. An extremely physical athlete and talented runner that Johnson Jr. is should never render those numbers against a defensive front that was dead last in the SEC against the run coming into the game.
Elijhah Badger – with Tre Wilson III and Kahleil Jackson out once again, the receiving core is shorthanded. A route runner who stands out as the next man up with Jaylen Waddle-like comparisons is Elijah Badger. Badger is twitchy and always tends to find the gap in coverage, especially in mid-range targets over the middle, something Graham Mertz seems to only throw anyway, so it’s going to be up to the both of them if the offense can keep it moving.
Justus Boone – The other #1 jersey, but on the defensive side of the ball is Boone. His vocal leadership and work ethic show up daily in practice but needs to translate to the actual games. He has much more capability than he’s been playing like and it shows. It’s time to step up and set the tone for the rest of his defense, which tends to follow his direction and listen to his words. Another opportunity lies ahead.
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