Let’s not fool ourselves here. It was McNeese State, a D1AA team that Florida could have beaten far worse than the final 49-7 score. If Billy Napier had left his starters in the game beyond the third quarter it could have been dial-a-score, but what they did the first three quarters would have been impressive even against the all-stars from a homeless shelter. It was domination on both sides of the football. The final margin of victory isn’t the story, though. What was important was eliminating all the mental errors and silly blunders that turned a very winnable game into a loss against Utah in Salt Lake City a week ago. “I think last week against Utah, we just kind of beat ourselves,” wide receiver Ricky Pearsall said. “I didn't really think it had anything to do with the talent of the guys. I think it was more about executing and eliminating penalties, and obviously I think we did a better job of that tonight.” The Gators had better talent than Utah, but Utah made only a handful of glaring mistakes while the Gators specialized in shooting themselves so many times in the feet they were lucky some of them aren’t walking with a pronounced limp for the next month or so. A 28-7 Florida win was entirely possible, but a 24-11 loss is what they got because they specialized in monumental screw ups at the worst possible moment. From a strictly talent level, McNeese probably didn’t have a single player on its roster that could crack Florida’s two-deep, but everybody knew that coming into the game. The big question for McNeese was whether the errors of a week ago proved habit-forming or could the Gators focus on the task at hand to play very cleanly? Now the nitpickers on the coaching staff who grade the film are going to find numerous errors that are typically overlooked by the average, every day fan, but the overall grades for the two-deep in the first three quarters should prove exceptionally high. The only mistake that could be tabbed a colossal blunder was a high snap that sailed over the head of holder Jeremy Crawshaw on the extra point after Florida’s first touchdown of the night, a 2-yard run by Montrell Johnson Jr. with 10:59 left in the first quarter that capped off a 9-play, 62-yard drive on the Gators’ opening possession of the game. “Reality is as a coach and really as a competitor, and each individual player that plays in the game, you can live with some things,” Napier said. “Guy beats you, you run into a really good player, maybe he wins a match-up, but ultimately the things that have nothing to do with the opponent are the ones that keep you up at night. Certainly we had too many of those last week. To come back and play cleaner I think was a positive.” The Gators scored their first seven possessions, all of them on lengthy, time-consuming drives. The first unit offense went six-for-six, scoring touchdowns on drives that covered 62, 99, 75, 74, 71 and 84 yards. It took 54 plays to cover the 465 yards, an average of 8.6 yards per snap. Graham Mertz completed 14-17 passes for 193 yards and a TD, an impressive 197.1 quarterback efficiency rating. Mertz also ran three times for eight yards and scored his first touchdown as a Gator on a 1-yard quarterback sneak with 28 seconds left in the first quarter for Florida’s second TD of the game. McNeese spent the majority of the first half in a 3-2-6 cover three with the three safeties lined up anywhere from 20-30 yards off the line of scrimmage. That took away most of the downfield throws so Mertz just chipped away. With only five in the box, it was hat-on-hat for the O-line which spent the night beating up on the Cowboys. With the O-line grinding, the two-headed running back monster of Montrell Johnson Jr. (15-119, 2 TDs) and Trevor Etienne (11-84, 1 TD) spent most of the night running between the tackles to lead a 327-yard effort that saw the Gators average 6.4 yards per carry for the night. Freshman Treyaun Webb got snaps with the first and second team offenses, running for 71 yards on 14 carries, good for two touchdowns. The first unit offensive line had no holding calls and a single false start two-thirds of the way through the third quarter. There was a false start against freshman wide receiver Andy Jean in the fourth quarter and an ineligible receiver call against redshirt freshman tight end Hayden Hansen, also in the fourth quarter. There was an offsides call against Princely Umanmielen when he jumped the snap in the first quarter. That was it for penalties, which had such a key role in the loss to Utah. Eliminating penalties as well as all the other unforced errors that plagued the Gators was emphasized during practice leading up to McNeese. “Yeah, we definitely harped on that throughout the week,” said wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, whose night included six receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown on a 50-yard bomb from Mertz with 3:45 remaining in the third quarter that made it a 40-0 game. “I think that was probably the main key point that we were going through as a team is we can't shoot ourselves in the foot. You're not going to be able to beat these good teams if you just continue to shoot yourself in the foot, get penalties, have certain mistakes that are just going to set us back.” The defense, which played very well except for two chunk plays, a couple of blown coverages and a few missed tackles against Utah, dominated McNeese. The Cowboys managed only 112 total yards – 66 through the air and 56 on the ground on 40 snaps, an average of just 2.8 yards per play. The Cowboys’ only touchdown was a gimme with 1:38 left in the game, a fumble by Eddie Battle at the Florida eight. That was Florida’s third and fourth teamers going against McNeese’s weary but still first team defense. The recovery set off a celebration on the McNeese sideline. A second celebration ensued after Cowboys Coleby Hamm maneuvered his way eight yards into the end zone on the first play after the turnover. The way the Cowboys erupted on their sideline, it was like they had scored a game-winner. Awkward as it might have seemed, it was a victory for the Cowboys, maybe the only real victory they had the entire evening. Such was Florida’s domination. This was a real beatdown. McNeese had only six first downs the entire game and only 2-10 converting on third down. Through two games, the Gators have allowed only five third down conversions in 23 attempts. A year ago, the Gators finished 129th out of 131 teams in third down defense. The Gators got their first two sacks of the season, one for 12 yards by Scooby Williams in the first quarter and the other by Princely Umanmielen in the second. Florida’s pass rush was actually quite effective since the Cowboys only threw 14 passes the entire game. McNeese had only two completions for more than 10 yards – an 18-yarder from Nate Glantz to Jon McCall in the first quarter and a 15-yarder from Glantz to Cam Thomas in the third. The run defense allowed only one run in excess of 10 yards, a 28-yard burst off the left side by D’Angelo Durham in the first quarter. Late in the third quarter when McNeese was backed up to its own goal line, redshirt freshman Jamari Lyons ran down Durham in the end zone for a safety. “This week has been a big emphasis on just executing and dominating, and we did a pretty good job, but we can’t be satisfied with that,” said STAR Jaydon Hill, who had five tackles and a pass breakup to show for his night’s work. “We've got to bounce back next week and come even harder.” Next week the Gators (1-1) get 9th-ranked Tennessee (2-0), which seemed to sleepwalk its way to a 30-13 win over D1AA Austin Peay Saturday afternoon. For a half, Austin Peay played the Vols evenly, but eventually Tennessee’s size, speed, depth and better athletes wore them down. Critics will spend the week debating the possibility that the Vols spent the entire game with Austin Peay (a) looking ahead to the Gators in The Swamp next Saturday evening, and (b) making sure nobody of significance was injured. For the Gators to build on the McNeese win to score what will be considered a monumental upset over the Vols, it will take another practice week like the last one. Speaking to the players in the locker room after the game Saturday night, Napier made sure the players turn their focus to what they need to do to beat Tennessee next week. “It's Sunday, what do we do on Sunday?” Napier asked rhetorically. “What do you do on Sunday? Let's do the best we can do today. I think we try to map out Sunday to Saturday for the players. That was the point of emphasis inside the locker room there with the players. Look, when we wake up tomorrow, let's go execute your plan each day, and that's every part of the organization, it's not just players. Ultimately to get to a place where you can go play with confidence, I think you've got to prepare a certain way, and ultimately that's what I think we're learning how to do. Hopefully we'll have our best week this week.” Napier on the difference in last year’s defense and this year’s, which has allowed only 382 yards and 20 points in two games: “Well, I think we added good players in the portal. We added good players that are freshmen that are contributing at all levels of the defense. There's a lot of new players out there running around. I do think that we have veteran players that are doing a good job leading and setting an example, and I have to compliment the staff. Austin (Armstrong, defensive coordinator) is new, and obviously he's brought a lot of things to the table, but I can't say enough about the growth in year two from Mike Peterson, Jay Bateman, Sean Spencer and Corey Raymond. Not only the on-field guys but we have a lot of off-field guys that are in year two, too. It's year two in the system for players and also for that staff, and then obviously Austin has done a good job of connecting with players, connecting with the staff, putting his spin on things.” Napier on the performance of Graham Mertz: “The guy is really bright. The guy is a really good communicator. He's one of the hardest working players I've ever been around in my career. I think his experience brings a steadiness. He has an awareness. It's not too big for him because he's played in big games and on big stages. He's made mistakes in his past, and I think he's taken ownership of that, but he's just in a good place. He showed some toughness last week. I think he's earned the respect of the players with how much he's improved. This guy has grown a lot as a player since the first day he got here. “He's what you would want your quarterback to be. He is the standard bearer. He is the example about anything you want to talk about; if you said who sets the best example, he would be on the list.” Hill on the importance of a dominating defensive performance: “That's just been our challenge this whole week. With last week with the loss, just this week, just attacking it and being consistent. As a defense, we feel like we have a chance to be pretty good for the defensive side. As a team, as well, but defensively speaking, I feel like just executing and just practicing hard every day and just putting it on tape really.”

The NFL season kicked off Thursday night with the Chiefs and Lions and many Gators alumni took to the field. Overall, 43 former Florida Gators are on NFL rosters including 34 on active rosters. Twenty-five teams have at least one Gator on their roster. Here's a breakdown of who is on which roster and a glimpse at what some former Gators may produce this upcoming season. Atlanta Falcons - Kyle Pitts The expectation for Kyle Pitts this season is that he takes another step forward in his production. He missed time last season with injuries but is not fully healthy. The only limitation in Atlanta in regard to Pitts is the quarterback situation, with the starting job currently belonging to Desmond Ridder. Buffalo Bills - Kaiir Elam, Richard Gouraige (practice squad), Justin Shorter (injury reserve) and O'Cyrus Torrence The Bills are tied for having the most Gators on their roster, although only Elam and Torrence are currently on the active roster. Shorter made the initial 53-man roster but has since been placed in injury reserve as he deals with a hamstring issue. Elam and Torrence are both in positions to potentially be major factors in the Bills' success this upcoming season. Indianapolis Colts - Taven Bryan and Anthony Richardson It has not taken long for Richardson to make an impact in Indianapolis after being the fourth overall pick this offseason. He was named the starting quarterback before the end of the preseason and has already been named a team captain. It does not surprise those who knew his character and work ethic while he was in Gainesville. Kansas City Chiefs - La'Mical Perine (practice squad), Jawaan Taylor, Kadarius Toney and Tommy Townsend The Chiefs currently have more former Gators on their active roster than any other team in the league and each of those players should have a huge role this season. Both Taylor and Toney had some struggles on Thursday's season opener, with Taylor noticeably jumping the snap a few times although he was only penalized towards the end of the game. Meanwhile, Toney dropped some extremely important passes, including one that ended up in the arms of the Lions for a pick six. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Kyle Trask With the retirement of Tom Brady, the Bucs starting QB job was open and Trask gave it a good shot. Unfortunately, Baker Mayfield beat him out given his experience, but don't be surprised if Trask finds his way onto the field if Mayfield struggles early in the year. Other Former Gators on NFL Rosters: Arizona Cardinals - D.J. Humphries and Marco Wilson Baltimore Ravens - Jeremiah Moon (practice squad) Carolina Panthers - CJ Henderson, Eddy Pineiro and David Sharpe (practice squad) Chicago Bears - Gervon Dexter Sr. Cincinnati Bengals - Zach Carter and Evan McPherson Dallas Cowboys - Malik Davis (practice squad) and Dante Fowler Jr. Detroit Lions - Alex Anzalone and C.J. Gardner-Johnson Green Bay Packers - Brenton Cox Jr. and T.J. Slaton Houston Texans - Jonathan Greenard and Dameon Pierce Jacksonville Jaguars - Ventrell Miller (injury reserve) Los Angeles Rams - Van Jefferson and Demarcus Robinson Las Vegas Raiders - Amari Burney Minnesota Vikings - Jonathan Bullard and Brandon Powell New England Patriots - Trent Brown New Orleans Saints - Max Garcia and Marcus Maye New York Giants - Jarrad Davis (injury reserve) New York Jets - Trey Dean (practice squad) Philadelphia Eagles - Fred Johnson Pittsburgh Pirates - Keanu Neal Seattle Seahawks - Stone Forsythe

The Florida Gators took the field in Gainesville for the first time in 2023 and did not disappoint. The Gators did their job and handled the McNeese State Cowboys in dominant fashion with a score of 49-7. Florida's first punt didn't come until nine minutes left in the fourth quarter and had seven touchdowns on the first seven possessions. Gator fans showed out in the home opener, putting 88,163 people in The Swamp. This is the sixth-best attendance against an FCS opponent and the best since 2010. After a half, the Gators had already accumulated four touchdowns on the ground and had a lead of 26-0 going into the locker room. As mentioned, not perfect in the first half, the Gators had a botched snap on an extra point that additionally led to a missed two-point conversion. Montrell Johnson led the way for the Gators with yards on the ground along with a score. On top of Johnson's performance, both Trevor Etienne and true freshman Treyaun Webb also hit pay dirt for the orange and blue. A much-improved effort by the offensive line from a week ago allowed Florida to execute their game plan and dominate rushing for over 300 yards. That's more like it. Florida Gator running back Trevor Etienne scoring a touchdown against McNeese State. Photo via Chris Spears GatorBaitMedia.com While Graham Mertz's box score didn't jump off the page, he had some highlights along with doing what he had to do to move the offense efficiently. The Ricky Pearsall and Graham Mertz connection became stronger today, as Pearsall was the obvious focal point of the Gator's passing attack. The top play of the game came in the middle of the third quarter when Mertz hit Pearsall down the middle deep for a 50-yard touchdown to put the Gators up 40. That would be Mertz's final snap of the day, finishing with 193 yards on 14/17 attempts along with a touchdown in the air and on the ground. Along with the running backs, Ricky Pearsall and freshman Eugene Wilson were the main targets for Mertz throughout the day. Pearsall finished with 6 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown while Wilson, who made his first collegiate start, finished with four catches for 36 yards and 18 yards on the ground. Due to the score, Max Brown was able to make his collegiate debut towards the end of the third quarter. In his first drive, Brown went 2/2 for 24 yards along with a score. Treyaun Webb stood out on the drive and put the Gators up 49-0 with his second score of the day. The Gator's defense shined and held the Cowboys scoreless in the first half, constantly putting pressure on the quarterback. The pressure was relentless all night and continued into the second half. On the ensuing possession following the Pearsall-to-Mertz touchdown, the Gator's defense stepped up and was able to force a safety after a bobbled kickoff. This was Florida's first safety of the season and first since last season against Kentucky. Florida held the Cowboys to just 112 total yards, 46 rushing and 66 passing. Shemar James led the way in tackling for the second consecutive week with six total tackles. In addition to the Gators dominating the game from start to finish, they also finished with only four penalties of just 20 yards. In a get right game, the Gators now have one of their biggest test of the season on deck when Tennessee visits The Swamp next week.

The Gators opened a three-game home stretch with a bang against McNeese State, building a 26-0 lead at the half. Florida quickly marched down the field in the game's opening drive, going 62 yards in 9 plays to score in just over four minutes. The Gators were quickly humbled however as the snap on the PAT ended up past the holder, holding Florida to just six. Of note on the Gators opening drive was the use of Jonathan Odom, who caught two passes from the tight end spot which saw some changes made on the depth chart over the course of this past week. Odom caught two passes off of the play action, the only two pass plays on the drive. Billy Napier mentioned that he felt the running backs were not utilized enough week one, much in part to being behind, but he quickly flipped the script. Another note to add from the Gators opening drive was the use of offensive lineman Lyndell Hudson, who is being used as a rotational piece up front. On the first defensive possession for Florida, tackling appeared to be a bit of a problem. McNeese broke out a 28-yard gain on just their second play straight up the middle, with the Gators missing several opportunities to tackle the ball carrier. Jason Marshall Jr. missed another tackle in the second quarter on McNeese's first completed pass. It's been a reoccurring issue for the Gators. Penalties were a major issue week one, but Florida seems to have righted the ship, at least for now. They had just one penalty in the first half. As for the second drive, Florida moved methodically but a little bit slower than the first drive after being pinned at their own one-yard line. Mertz capped off the 99-yard drive with a QB sneak. The Gators have been extremely high on freshmen wideouts and Eugene Wilson has led that push. He was a huge factor on the second drive for Florida including a play as wildcat which saw him lead the offense all the way to the one yard line. He was also on the receiving end of several screen passes. Napier is clearly looking to push the ball to the explosive true freshman. Florida appeared to execute their offensive game plan very well, using the run to setup play action opportunities and move the ball down the field. Drive number three for Florida had the same result as the first two drives, although it could have happened earlier had Dante Zanders not dropped a touchdown in the back of the endzone. Instead, Treyaun Webb surged across the goal line to extend the lead. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 19-0. Jake Slaughter, starting at center, looks much, much better week two compared to his first career start at center against Utah. While the crowd noise made a big impact in Salt Lake City, he looks much more comfortable with his responsibilities as a whole. The Florida run game really opened up as the half progressed, especially as McNeese had to begin to play towards the screen game which the Gators heavily relied on early. Johnson and Etienne displayed the two-headed monster of a backfield that Florida was extremely high on entering the season. Mertz and company milked the clock as they moved down the field for the Gators' fourth drive of the half. Mertz's experience was clear as he calmly moved Florida into the redzone. Etienne became the fourth different Gator to rush for a touchdown, extending the lead to 26-0 with just 34 seconds to go. As for the Florida defense, they held McNeese to just 51 yards and three completions on the half. While a clear reduction in talent compared to last week's opponent, the Gators showed up with some grit on defense. McNeese St. ran just one play off of the ensuing kickoff and sent the game to halftime. Notable Halftime Team Stats: Passing Yards Florida: 83 McNeese St.: 28 Rushing Yards Florida: 212 McNeese St.: 23 Total Yards Florida: 295 McNeese St.: 51 First Downs Florida: 20 McNeese St.: 3 Notable Halftime Individual Stats: Graham Mertz: 9-12, 83 yards, Rushing TD Eugene Wilson: 3 rec., 27 yards Ricky Pearsall: 3 rec., 36 yards Montrell Johnson Jr.: 11 carries, 94 yards, TD Trevor Etienne: 8 carries, 59 yards, TD Treyaun Webb: 7 carries, 33 yards, TD

The Gators Can Scratch The Itch from Salt Salt Lake City By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com Football Analyst After a tough week of questions and concerns following the team’s less than fruitful trip out west, the Florida Gators return to The Swamp to take on a foe that should allow the Gators to scratch the itch of Salt Lake City. Where last week’s questions centered around the health of the opponents starters, this week is all about internal reflection. But we have questions: Will the Gators make good on what Graham Mertz described as “controllable” issues and show improvement this week? Can some semblance of a “hang your hat” scheme reveal itself on offense? Can the Napier’s “organization” play a clean football game for the first time in fourteen outings under the second-year head coach? Fortunately for the Gators in what many would view as a glorified scrimmage comes the fighting Joe Dumars of McNeese State. Yes, the NBA Hall of Famer whose name graces the NBA’s Sportsmanship Award is the most famous alum of this university based in Lake Charles, Louisiana. While their mascot is actually the Cowboys, McNeese State is coming off a subpar performance of their own giving up 35 second half points to fellow FCS opponent Tarleton State at home. McNeese State feels like it allowed the rails to come off late in the second half when a pick-six sealed the deal with McNeese fighting to get back in the game. Similar to the Gators, McNeese State had its own issues upfront, allowing seven sacks while only producing one defensively. McNeese State Offense Key Players: #19 QB Nate Glantz (6-0, 200, Jr.), #5 RB D’Angelo Durham (6-1, 208, Jr.), #9 RB Cam Thomas (5-8, 170, Jr.), #14 WR Jihad Marks (6-1, 210, So.), #15 WR Jalen Johnson (5-9, 176, Jr.) The Cowboys only ran for 89 yards against Tarleton State last week. While seven sacks netted a loss of 58 yards, the sum total left little impact. The Cowboys utilize a pistol set with the quarterback as an active participant in the run game. Transfer quarterback Nate Glantz (Iowa State) is a willing runner who will look to fight for extra yards. Running back D’Angelo Durham has three career 100-yard rushing games to his credit. When passing the Cowboys will look to spread teams out and take deeps shots when available. Of the Cowboys 18 completions 11 went to Jihad Marks (6) and Jalen Johnson (5). Florida will need to pay close attention to both particularly if Glantz looks to break the pocket. Florida failed to sack either Utah quarterback a week ago. Just as Tarleton State got home with basic pressure and the blitz, look for Florida to bring multiple pressures to rattle Glantz and get the defense going early. Florida Head Coach Billy Napier McNeese State Defense Key Players: #48 LB Micah Davey (6-2, 239, R-So), #7 DB Johnquai Lewis (6-2, 176, Jr.), #98 DL Trey Winters (6-7, 350, So.), #42 DE Earnest Grayson (6-3, 254, R-Jr.) McNeese State utilizes a 4-2-5 alignment under second-year defensive coordinator Tony Pecoraro. Linebacker Micah Davey, the son of former LSU quarterback Rohan Davey, was a freshman FCS All-American and a preseason all-conference pick this season. Davey played well last week with 12 tackles (5 solo). Defensive lineman Trey Winters will be one of the largest interior lineman the Gators face all season. A former offensive lineman from the University of Iowa, Winters moved to the defensive line in spring drills and was effective at time against Tarleton State. At cornerback. Johnquai Lewis is a Florida native who began his career at Kansas. A two-time state champion at Champagnat Catholic in Hialeah, Lewis is a downhill type player who looks to get involved. The pass rush was limited for the Cowboys last week and the lone sack was recorded by defensive end Earnest Grayson. Grayson returns as the team leader in sacks a year ago. With the Cowboys unable to pressure Tarleton State QB Victor Gabalis last week, Coach Pecoraro’s bunch could look to dial up the pressure early with Kingsley Eguakun out and Jake Slaughter listed to start in his place. Jake Slaughter (66) and company should get on track this week. The Skinny: Its Get Right time for the Gators. As a friend of mine stated, “where are the uncompromising fundamentals?” McNeese State should not pose much of a threat to upset the Gators in the Swamp this Saturday but they could help them look suspect. The Gators struggled with what could be deemed as unforced errors last week with nine penalties, many that killed promising drives. McNeese State dealt with its own penalties with 8 for 80 yards. Regardless of the penalties, the numbers that stand out are 13 and 210. That is the number of yards rushing the Gators found against Utah and the number of yards surrendered by McNeese State last week. Which means if Coach Billy Napier stays true to his beliefs, the Gators will look to push around an inferior opponent, play good defense, limit penalties and get to the house. On paper this is a no brainer, mismatch, paycheck type of a game. However, questions surround the Gators in all three phases of the game. Coach Napier says “the criticism is well deserved,” and everything matters when discussing the issues facing his team. A win at home helps with all of that no matter the opponent. Especially when you shut them out. The challenge is to make the “correctable” forgettable and the “fundamental” easy. Prediction: Florida Gators 32, McNeese State Cowboys 0

Ben Shelton made it to the semifinals of the US Open on Friday, Falling to Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(7-4). Ben struggled the first two sets. Mixing up his serve speed from the low 100’s to his eye popping 140’s MPH trying to find something that would work against who John McEnroe called “The best service returner to ever live”. Djokovic is 256-1 after being up two sets and was rolling. Plagued by unforced errors, it looked like a total blowout was happening. However, Shelton turned up the serve with nothing to lose and painted the lines in the third set, breaking Djokovic twice and taking him to a tiebreaker, bringing the New York crowd to a frenzy. Many “Quiet Pleases” from the umpire chair and “Let’s Go Ben!” chants from the crowd made for an electric moment. Overall not a huge surprise as Djokovic goes to his 36 major final in his career and Shelton goes home —but not without letting the world know he's for real and someone who will be a contender in majors for many years to come.

After a disappointing week one loss against Utah, Florida now has a "get right" game with McNeese State coming to Gainesville for the home opener. After a sloppy performance in Utah, Napier reportedly gave the guys a tough week of practice in hopes of cleaning up the sloppiness of the game a week ago. Looking forward to week two, plenty of freshmen will get a chance to play under the lights at The Swamp for the very first time. Here are a few young names you should look out for when watching the Gators on Saturday. Photo of Florida freshman wide receiver Eugene "Trey" Wilson. Photo via Chris Spears of GatorBaitMedia.com EUGENE "TREY" WILSON Florida's dynamic newcomer, Eugene Wilson III, joined the team later than most but swiftly caught up. Wilson is set to make his first start when McNeese comes to the Swamp for the Gators' first home game. Unlike many first-year players, Wilson didn't begin his journey in January. However, he made a significant impression during fall camp with his explosive plays, sharp instincts and itch for making the big play. Standing at 5'10" and 170 pounds, this Tampa native emerged as a standout performer in Coach Billy Napier's offense during the Gators' season opener, despite the team's 24-11 loss to Utah. Wilson steps in for the potentially sidelined redshirt sophomore Kahleil Jackson, who is dealing with a lower-body injury. Napier spoke highly of Wilson's capabilities, acknowledging his deserving status and foreseeing further growth in his performance. Wilson has a level of playmaking talent that sets him apart and earned him preseason accolades as one of the top freshmen in the country. According to Graham Mertz, Wilson's speed, agility, quick learning, and ability to create opportunities are exceptional. Mertz noted, "I haven’t seen any a young guy that fast, that twitchy that retains information that quickly and knows how to get open." During the game, Wilson managed 33 yards from scrimmage on three touches, although the fanbase made it abundantly clear they wanted the ball in his hand. His limited snaps hinted at the need for more playing time and opportunities. On top of the impact Wilson has when on the field, the two other talented freshmen wideouts are expected to play as well. Andy Jean is returning from injury and will be his first collegiate action while Aidan Mizell will look for his reception as a gator. The talented Gator trio will look to show a glimpse of what the future may hold for Florida skill players on the outside against McNeese this weekend. KELBY COLLINS Originally from Gardendale, Ala., Kelby is one of the top defensive freshmen in the 2023 class. He holds the distinction of being the second highest-rated commitment for the Gators in this class, standing as the 53rd-best player in the nation and the 7th-ranked defensive lineman according to 247 Sports. Collins is slated to serve as a backup for Princely Umanmielen for this season but could see extended playing time and great experience come Saturday. Collins saw limited playtime in week one and only had one tackle in his first collegiate game. The McNeese State game will allow the talented freshman to see more opportunities. His versatility allows him to shift inside and apply pressure from the interior, ensuring he'll always find a place on the field. Initially measuring in at 6-4 and 265 pounds during his recruitment, Collins has since put on approximately 15 pounds, bringing his weight close to 280. This added size equips him to take more snaps and be a more impactful player from the outset. There's a hopeful anticipation that Collins will play a substantial role in a defensive resurgence in Gainesville. With Austin Armstrong calling the shots now, the Gator defense hasn't yet lived up to expectations yet. However, having young players like Collins, with the potential to become stars and fully invested in the new coaching staff's vision, bodes well for a more promising future. KNIJEAH HARRIS Knijeah Harris, recruited by Billy Napier directly from high school, stands out as one of four promising offensive linemen brought in for the 2023 class. Hailing from the prestigious IMG Academy, Harris was highly regarded as one of the premier run-blocking linemen in his class. Having joined the University of Florida in early January, this true freshman quickly found himself sharing first-team reps at left guard due to Micah Mazzccua's injury. Harris earned substantial playing time over the offseason, showing a notable improvement in his understanding and execution of the game at the college level. Standing at 6-3, 322 pounds, Harris brings a wealth of high school football experience to the Gators. He started for all four years, including an impressive three-year stint at the IMG Academy. Teammate Richie Leonard expresses confidence in Harris's potential, commending his professional approach and advanced mental outlook compared to his own freshman year. This week, with Kingsley Eguakun out once again, Jake Slaughter will receive the start at center once again. Although, with the way the offensive line played last week don’t be surprised if you see a lot of Harris early all over the line. On the depth chart, he is listed as the backup center although he could plug in anywhere. Nonetheless, the freshman will have the ability to prove his worth on a depleted offensive line that is desperate for a redo in the eyes of Gator fans after week one.

Florida redshirt sophomore safety Dakota Mitchell announced that he has medically retired from football after being diagnosed with a back condition. "I have been fighting through severe back pain since Pop Warner Little League football and nothing has changed," Mitchell shared in a statement. "I always questioned why my back was always hurting. After extensive treatment, they found that I was born with a condition causing the pain." Mitchell alluded to knowing this day would come eventually, but admitted he did not expect it to be so soon. The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder signed with the Florida football program back in 2020 after briefly being committed to LSU. Nonetheless, the Gators landed the Winter Park (Fl.) native and he joined the team shortly after. During his freshman season, Mitchell saw no playing time which resulted in his reception of a redshirt. The following year, it became clear that something was going on as Mitchell was not seen practicing with the team. The same has held true entering this season and the answer is not obvious. "With that being said, I am medically retiring from the game and hanging up my cleats," Mitchell wrote. It was an emotional decision for Mitchell, who opened his statement by saying "I write this with tears in my eyes." It is unclear what Mitchell's plan is moving forward nor is it clear the extent to which he will stay with the program, if at all.

It’s Time To Cut Billy Napier Some Slack

The Gators are gearing up for their home opener against McNeese on Saturday at 7:30. Coach Napier emphasized the need for continuous improvement, stressing the importance of discipline, discomfort, sacrifice, and patience. Below is the depth chart for Saturday’s home opener against McNeese State. A few noteworthy things to take into consideration is freshman receiver Eugene Wilson securing a starting position after only one week of action. Napier said that it had a little to do with the injury to Khaleil Jackson and Marcus Burke but that Wilson is deserving of the role. Coach Napier has praised Wilson's performance in practice since he arrived on campus. Look for Wilson to be a major part of the offense along with the other two freshman wide outs, Andy Jean and Aidan Mizell, who did not see as much action in the Utah opener. There are a few concerns regarding player availability for the upcoming match. Notably, center Kingsley Eguakun's lower-body injury puts his participation in question for the second consecutive week. His absence would mean Jake Slaughter would step in at center once again. The injury list includes WR Thai Bowman, WR Marcus Burke, TE Tony Livingston, QB Jack Miller, WR Khalil Jackson, CB Devin Moore, and LB Ja'Markis Weston. Analyzing the Week 2 depth chart, several key takeaways emerge. Notably, Eugene Wilson's inclusion as a starting receiver signifies his potential to make a significant impact. Wilson's speed and agility have impressed both coaches and teammates, setting the stage for a promising career. Another significant development is Max Brown's opportunity to step up. With Jack Miller listed as questionable due to a shoulder injury, Brown is set up to take on a role as a backup quarterback in a game where that could be lopsided. This match may mark Brown's first official game action. While the Gators are expected to win this game, a lot will be read as to how they do it. With a young team, mistakes are bound to happen, but Napier hopefully applied some windex to the windows this week and cleaned up a lot of the fixable mistakes from a week ago.