Thoughts of the Day: Eguakun will be back for Kentucky

A few thoughts to jump start your Thursday morning:

Photo Credit FloridaGators.com

The best news coming out of Billy Napier’s Wednesday evening press conference was that center Kingsley Eguakun is healthy enough to play against the Kentucky Wildcats (4-0, 1-0 SEC) Saturday (12 noon, ESPN). Eguakun who started 26 consecutive Florida games in 2021-22, has only played once all year and that’s when the 22nd-ranked Gators (3-1, 1-0 SEC) beat then 9th-ranked Tennessee a couple of weeks ago.

“I think Kingsley’s presence affects our offensive unit,” Napier said. “I don’t think there’s any doubt. Experience, there’s no value, no price tag you can put on it, the guy’s ability. He’s comfortable, he’s been there, he’s a really good communicator. He’s got an edge about him that rubs off on the other guys. It will be a big deal. He showed some toughness this week relative to what he’s been about to do. So tomorrow’s going to be important to him all the way up until we kick it off he continues to work hard at it.”

In the two games played against Division I opponents in which Eguakun did not play, the Gators allowed eight sacks. In Eguakun’s one start against Tennessee, which is tied for first nationally in sacks, the Vols only got to quarterback Graham Mertz one time.

Eguakun is an efficient blocker, but his real value is in his ability to get the entire offensive line on the same page. He might be the best center in the entire Southeastern Conference when it comes to making the correct line calls. A year ago, the Gators were among the nation’s leaders in fewest sacks allowed and highest average gain per carry.

The return of Eguakun to the lineup isn’t the only good news ahead of the Kentucky game. Freshman wide receiver Eugene Wilson III, injured in the first half of the Tennessee game and absent last week against Charlotte, is listed as a starter. Wilson is a make you miss type who can turn a 2-yard pass or a jet sweep into a big gainer. Prior to his injury, Wilson had 12 catches for 104 yards and two carries for 27 yards.

“Our players, our DBs know, the guy’s a unique player,” Napier said. “He has unique acceleration. He has unique instincts, vision, ball skills, hand selection, run after catch. It’s not too big for him. It’s always good. When he’s in here.”

Napier on the emerging linebacker duo of Shemar James and Scooby Williams: “They’re some of the better practice players. Shemar James, you know, his output in practice is second-to-none every day. I mean, he’s playing fast, practicing fast. And Scooby, to compliment Scooby, Scooby has been banged up but he’s going. He’s practicing. He’s shown some toughness and grit to be able I’m proud of the way that both have improved as communicators.”

Napier on the Gators’ focus in practice this week: “I think the players have responded the right way this week. We were a little sharper today than yesterday and that’s what you would expect because you go back and fix some things from Tuesday. And you know, as we continue to prepare all the way to kickoff, we’ll need to be detailing out the plan.”

UF volleyball: Gators go down in five sets to Texas A&M

The Gators (10-2, 2-1 SEC) were handed their first loss of the season in five sets Wednesday night at the O-Dome. The Gators held a 2-1 lead but the Aggies rallied to take a 26-24 win in the fourth set and then finished off the Gators 15-13 in the fifth.

The Gators hit only .217 for the entire match. Florida committed 24 attack errors and 12 service errors. Kennedy Martin led the Gators with 16 kills to go with nine digs and three blocks. Kennedy Muff had 42 assists and 13 digs. Ellie McKissick had 19 digs and seven assists.

The Gators will be on the road at South Carolina Sunday.

SEC football

No. 12 Alabama (3-1, 1-0 SEC): Linebacker Deontae Lawson and offensive lineman Terrence Ferguson both missed practice Wednesday so they’re doubtful for Saturday’s game with Mississippi State.

Arkansas (2-2, 0-1 SEC): HBC Sam Pittman is optimistic stud running back Rocket Sanders will be able to play against Texas A&M Saturday.

Auburn (3-1, 0-1 SEC): Hugh Freeze says he told QB Payton Thorne that the Auburn coaching would do a “better job coaching this week and preparing him.”

No. 1 Georgia (4-0, 1-0 SEC): Wide receiver Ladd McConkey, last season’s to pass catcher, has returned to practice.

Kentucky (4-0, 1-0 SEC): The Wildcats are expected to keep Eli Cox at center and Jager Burton at right guard against the Gators. They swapped positions last week after Burton had problems with his shot gun snaps.

No. 13 LSU (3-1, 2-0 SEC): The Tigers are only 2.5-point favorites on the road against Ole Miss in Oxford this weekend.

Mississippi State (2-2, 0-2 SEC): HBC Zach Arnett says Alabama is “as talented a program, roster, as any team in the country. Defensively, they’re playing as good as anyone in the country, lights out.”

Missouri (4-0, 0-0 SEC): Sophomore wide receiver Luther Burden II already has more receiving yards (504) in four games than he had last year in 13 (457).

No. 20 Ole Miss (3-1, 0-1 SEC): On the SEC Coaches Teleconference, Lane Kiffin said the Rebels are “locked in, focused on a huge game” this week as they prepare for No. 13 LSU.

South Carolina (2-2, 1-1 SEC): Wide receiver Juice Wells will be out for a second straight week. Offensive tackle Jaylen Nichols is questionable to return to action this season.

No. 19 Tennessee (3-1, 0-1 SEC): To handle South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler, HBC Josh Heupel says, “We’ve got to do a good job up front and on the second and third levels in our coverage.” A year ago, Rattler hit 30-37 passes for 438 yards and six TDPs against the Vols.

Texas A&M (3-1, 1-0 SEC): Conner Weigman is done for the year with a broken foot so Max Johnson is the starting QB for the Aggies.

Vanderbilt (2-3, 0-1 SEC): The Commodores, who have yet to beat the spread this year, are 14-point underdogs against Missouri.

Countdown to Firing Day: September 20, 2023

Extinct Species List

Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern: K-State’s Chris Klieman has let the Michigan State people know he’s not the least bit interested.

Mel Tucker, Michigan State: It’s official. Tucker has been fired with cause. That will probably be challenged in court, but MSU most likely wins because there was a moral turpitude clause in his contract. Tucker says he got a raw deal, but he did admit that he had phone sex with the woman. That admission alone invokes the moral turpitude clause. You just lost $75 million, Mel.

On Life Support

Butch Jones, Arkansas State: He’s got a two-game winning streak and one of the wins was against a Division I team. It’s almost certain he gets three in a row this week against UMass. If he can somehow break even, they won’t find the $1 million to buy him out.

Tom Allen, Indiana: The Whose Yours almost lost to Akron last week. Maryland and Michigan are the next two games followed by a Rutgers team that’s surprisingly good. They probably won’t fire him during the season but he’s got a foot out the door already.

Mike Bloomgren, Rice: There are at least four very winnable games left on the schedule for the Owls who are already a very surprising 2-2. Six wins means a bowl game and a bowl game moves Bloomgren back to the Endangered Species List. The Wandering QB, JT Daniels, has already thrown 11 TDPs.

Danny Gonzales, New Mexico: The Lobos beat UMass, but that might be the last game they win all season. It’s simply a matter of when he gets the pink slip not if. Buyout is a mere $400,000.

Dana Holgerson, Houston: The Cougars are 2-2, but the wins are against Texas-San Antonio and Sam Houston State, teams you would expect them to beat. The next four games all look like losses. Not a lot of bang for $4 million bucks a year.

Tony Elliott, Virginia: The Wahoos get Boston College this week. Whoever loses might get pink slipped first since Jeff Hafley is also on the chopping block. A loss and Elliott is 1-15 since being hired. He came from Clemson and Virginia boosters thought they were getting so much more.

Endangered Species List

Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M: The next three games are Arkansas, Alabama and at Tennessee. The Aggies really need to go 3-0 if they’re going to lower the heat on Jimbo. Circle that Alabama game. He’ll get a lot of traction if he can win that one, but realistically, Jimbo needs a 9-win season. Or more. Even that might not be enough because only God and the Longhorns have more money than the Aggies. $75 million is a drop in their proverbial financial ocean.

Neal Brown, West Virginia: The Mounties are 3-1, and there’s every good chance they’ll get to the six-win threshold. That will save him only because WVU can’t hold enough bake sales or car washes to raise the $13 million it would take to buy him out.

Jeff Hafley, Boston College: They really don’t have the cash to buy him out, but the natives are getting very, very restless. BC is 1-3 and the last loss was a 56-28 pasting by Louisville. Virginia is on the schedule this week and it’s a must win. Strange that an 0-4 team that sucks is must win, but that’s just how hot Hafley’s seat is.

Dino Babers, Syracuse: The Orange are 4-0 but the next three are Clemson, North Carolina and Florida State. If the Orange go 0-3 the heat will be back on. If there is a saving grace for Dino, it’s the $10.5 million buyout.

Ken Wilson, Nevada: Nevada is 0-4 with Fresno on the schedule this week. It’s going to be a blowout. There won’t be a mid-season firing because Nevada is hurting for money. That $1.8 million buyout looks big.

Dave Aranda, Baylor: Baylor is 1-3 after the blowout loss to Texas last week. Aranda needs to win at least five of the remaining eight games, six if he wants to be comfortable.

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Apparently, the 6+6 format will stand for the first year of the expanded College Football Playoff in 2024. Under the 6+6, the six highest ranked conference champions will make the playoff field along with six at-large teams. With the Pac-12 reduced to two teams after the 2023 athletic year, there was a push among most of the power conferences to go to a 5+7 format which would guarantee one Group of Five champ in the field to go with seven at-large berths. To change from 6+6 to 5+7 would have required a unanimous vote, but 6+6 means at least two Group of Five champs will be in the field. They weren’t about to give up one guaranteed spot in the field.

There will be continued debate about what happens after 2024. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey is in favor of the best 12 teams making the field regardless of champions. Sankey is the most powerful man in all of college sports, but it only takes one look at the current Associated Press rankings to understands why he won’t get his way. Fresno State, ranked 25th, is the only Group of Five team to crack the AP poll.

At some point, the networks need to push for a pair of playoffs, one for the top teams from the power conferences, the other for the Group of Five. The only way the Group of Five would agree to split things up would be for a network to come up with a deal that would make it financially feasible to split from the CFP to have its own championship tournament. Two tournaments with teams playing for championships would beat the hell out of the current bowl system.