Preview: Florida Gators (5-5, 3-4) v. Ole Miss Rebels (8-2, 4-2)

Florida looks for a second consecutive win against a ranked opponent for the first time under Billy Napier.

By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com, Football Analyst

The Florida defense will face its toughest test on Saturday (Chris Spears photo)

Ole Miss Offense

Key Players-#2 QB Jaxson Dart (6-2, 225, Sr.), #0 RB Matt Jones (5-7, 200, Jr.) #24 RB Ulysses Bentley IV (5-10, 200, Sr.) #9 WR Tre Harris (6-3, 210, Sr.), #3 WR Juice Wells (6-0, 205, Sr./South Carolina), #19 WR Kayden Lee (5-11, 175 So.), #11 WR Jordan Watkins (5-11, 200, Sr.) #86 TE Caden Prieskorn (6-6, 255, Sr.), #8 TE Dae’Quan Wright (6-4, 255, Jr./Virginia Tech)

Matchups To Watch: Ole Miss Receivers v. Florida Secondary, Florida Defensive Line v. Ole Miss Offensive Line

Ole Miss is a juggernaut on offense led by quarterback Jaxson Dart and his collection of talented receivers. Ole Miss can attack offenses with a dynamic versatile attack that can stress defenses in both directions and with a multitude of formations that offer dangerous “eye candy” to a defense. From RPO’s, to screens, to read options, and vertical shots this offense has very little holes. Dart leads the nation in passer rating, third in yards per game, and seventh in completion percentage. He is also Ole Miss second leading rusher averaging 30 yards rushing per game.  The SEC’s most complete quarterback, Dart will be a mix between Cam Ward and Quinn Ewers with an edge to it.

Dart's success this season has been aided by the fact that he may have the best group of receivers in the SEC if not the country. Ole Miss has six players with at least 19 catches and all are viable targets when on the field. When healthy, Tre Harris is arguably the best receiver in the country and if not for injuries would be the favorite for the Biletnikoff Award. Despite missing three games Harris still leads Ole Miss in catches and yards and is second in touchdowns. Antwan “Juice” Wells is a talented receiver who has fit in nicely after transferring from South Carolina in the offseason. Wells who began his career at James Madison has prospered in the move up to the SEC grabbing 97 receptions and 12 touchdowns in almost three seasons. Sophomore Kayden Lee has taken on a more prominent role in the absence of Harris. Lee is second on the team in catches and has been key on third downs for Dart. Jordan Watkins has emerged as another big play threat that keeps teams form focusing all their attention on Harris when he is available. Watkins leads the team with seven receiving touchdowns and yards per catch (21.28). Rounding out the weapons at Dart’s disposal are Peach Bowl MVP Caden Prieskorn and Virginia Tech transfer Dae’Quan Wright. Prieskorn had the second most receiving yards by a tight end in school history in the Peach Bowl and averages close to 16 yards per catch this season. Wright was a solid contributor at Virginia tech and has been solid in his first season at Ole Miss with 19 catches for 247 yards and three touchdowns.

The Ole Miss offense will be slightly shorthanded as leading rusher Henry Parrish Jr. is listed as out for Saturday’s game. In his absence Ole Miss will lean on a duo of backs that are talented in their own right. Matt Jones and Ulysses Bentley IV have combined for 455 yards and five touchdowns this season. Jones has been limited this season due to injury while Bentley has been solid sharing time with Parrish this season. Bentley was a focal part of the return game last season but has yet to return a kick in 2024. 

The Florida defense is riding high after a game where they were able to ground LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier seven times. This will be another animal altogether as the Gators will face the nation’s second best offense averaging over 500 yards per game and scoring close to 41 points per contest. Florida did a nice job of keeping the LSU receivers in front of them and despite forcing no turnovers the pass rush did its job late. Ole Miss has surrendered 20 sacks in 10 games more than an LSU offensive line that had only given up six prior to playing Florida. Florida will need to be elaborate but disciplined in their pressure and allow for a banged up but improving Florida secondary to keep the explosive plays to a minimum. Containing Dart will be key. If the Gators are able to flush him from the pocket he is a more than capable runner and passer from outside the pocket. Look for Florida to use Shemar James and Myles Graham to possibly spy him on certain passing situations. If Florida is able to create consistent pressure there could be opportunities to stifle the Ole Miss offensive attack. Florida struggled last week to cover LSU’s Mason Taylor at tight end. Look for Preiskorn and Wright to be a major part of the passing game Saturday. If Dart has time, with those receivers it could be a long day for the Gator secondary. 

Ole Miss Defense

Key Players-# LB Chris Paul Jr. (6-1, 235, Jr/Arkansas.), #6 LB TJ Dottery (6-1, 25, So.),

#4 LB Suntarine Perkins (6-1, 210, So.), #1 DE Princley Umanmielen, (6-4, 255, Sr./Florida), #15 DE Jared Ivey (6-6, 285, Sr.) #38 DL JJ Pegues (6-2, 325, Sr.) #2 DL Walter Nolan (6-3, 305, Jr./Texas A&M), #25 S Trey Washington (5-10, 205, Sr.), #9 CB Trey Amos (6-1, 190, Sr./Alabama), #5 S John Saunders Jr. (5-11, 201, Sr.)

Matchups To Watch:  DJ Lagway v. Pete Golding, Florida Offensive Line v. Ole Miss Defensive Front

Ole Miss could be playing as well as any defense in the country at this point in the season. Coming off a bye week Ole Miss is rested and playing with a ton of confidence after stelar performances against Arkansas and Georgia. The linebacker core is stout and the defensive line is talented and deep. Linebacker Chris Paul Jr. leads the team in tackles after transferring from Arkansas. Paul is seventh in the SEC in tackles and has the ability to play downhill as well as in space. TJ Dottery complements Paul with athleticism and his own level of physicality. Linebacker Suntarine Perkins may be the best of the bunch as his 10 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss leads Ole Miss and are in the top five of the SEC. Perkins plays much bigger than his 210 pound frame would suggest and will need to be accounted for on every snap.

Ends Princley Umanmielen and Jared Ivey have provided constant pressure for a unit that leads the nation in sacks. Umanmielen transferred from Florida in the offseason and has enjoyed success in Oxford. He is currently second on the team in sacks with 9.5 and tackles for loss with 12. Ivey is not far behind with seven sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. He also has two forced fumbles and fumble recovery. In the win over Georgia the duo had two sacks each and 12 combined tackles. Inside Ole Miss has two of the more athletic tackles in the SEC. Walter Nolan and JJ Pegues were both highly recruited prep players and have been exceptional this season. Nolan arrived in Oxford after two seasons at Texas A&M, while Pegues returned to Oxford in 2022 after two seasons at Auburn. Nolan has four sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups this season while Pegues has 11.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and four quarterback hurries. Where Pegues has been most notable is as a ball carrier on short yardage and goal line situations where he has carried the ball 12 times scoring six touchdowns for Ole Miss, second on the team. 

The Secondary is a confident group that is aided by the Ole Miss pass rush. The numbers can be skewed just a bit as opposing teams have had a tough time running the ball and also find themselves forced to pass due to early deficits. Ole Miss gives up just under 80 yards rushing per game forcing teams to look to the air for success. Safeties Trey Washington and John Saunders Jr. are in sync on the back end of the defense and tackle well in space. Washington has six pass breakups and can be found near the line of scrimmage making plays in the run game. Saunders, who began his career at Miami (OH) has adjusted well to the SEC and in his second season at Ole Miss has 37 tackles, four pass breakups, and three forced fumbles. Alabama transfer Trey Amos leads the team with 11 pass breakups. He leads the team in interceptions (3) and is fifth on the team in tackles (41).  

Defensive coordinator Pete Golding has a unit that is solid if not great at all three levels. The unit is connected and their ability to affect opposing quarterbacks is their most valuable asset. In facing DJ Lagway look for Golding to show Lagway a number of different looks while playing 3-deep and man zone coverages that were a staple of Golding defenses during his time at Alabama. These defenses can be very tough for quarterbacks in the passing game and the ability of Ole Miss to apply pressure without blitzing allows for increased flexibility for Golding. The X factor could be the legs of DJ Lagway. While Lagway continues to nurse a sore hamstring, he will need to be a threat as a runner after no rushing attempts last week. His ability to affect the game with his legs may be able to put the Ole Miss defense on notice enough that coverage breakdowns and missed assignments could occur. If Lagway is as limited as last week the Ole Miss pass rush will be able to pin their ears back on passing downs and get after the quarterback. There are a few Florida lineman eying the NFL one day and this a great opportunity for them to show what they have against some of the nation’s best.

The Skinny: Florida possibly had the most important win of the Napier era last Saturday when the Gators vanquished LSU. The buzz after the game could be felt up and down University Avenue and three high level recruit commitments were certainly a bye product of the win. With that unfortunately comes the reality that this team while playing better is not ready to go blow for blow with what some feel is the SEC’s if not the nation’s best team.  While some may point to the fact that the Gators handily beat the two teams that blemished Ole Miss, I again caution against comparative analysis as no two games are the same. Ole Miss will be playing for an opportunity to solidify a spot in the playoff and stumbling is not an option. Add to that, word is that Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin was not happy about the Gators lack of interest when Napier was hired, so there is that as well. Florida continues to play like a team that is grounded in the philosophy of the head coach and his “organization” and they continue to be a different team at home. Can the belief in what Napier is preaching continue to propel this team to a second consecutive ranked win for the first time under Napier, or does the lack of depth catch up to the home team against the most complete team they have faced all year. Lagway seems to give the Gators a lift and they have yet to lose a game that he has started and finished. Unfortunately Ole Miss is better, and while Florida will play well and force Ole Miss to press.  The return of Tre Harris and the versatility of Dart are too much for the Gators without all their moving parts.

Prediction: Ole Miss 34 Florida 17