Gators To Watch: Georgia vs. Florida 2024

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Gators To Watch: Georgia vs. Florida 2024

Gators To Watch: Georgia vs. Florida 2024
DJ Lagway during the Gators’ game against the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, October 12, 2024 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. / UAA Communications photo by Maddie Washburn

Billy Napier (HC) – Napier is in his third season as the head coach of the Gators. When the season got off to a 1-2 start with blowout home losses to Miami (FL) and Texas A&M, many fans were calling for his job. However, Florida has won three of their last four, with the loss being a near upset of Tennessee in Knoxville. While many Gator fans are still wishing for a new head coach, an upset win against their most hated rival might keep Napier in Gainesville for a while. He has nothing to lose at this point, so look for an aggressive style of play from Florida with players on both sides of the ball ready to dethrone the Dawgs as kings of Jacksonville.

DJ Lagway (QB #2) – After starting quarterback Graham Mertz went down with a season-ending injury against Tennessee, the freshman quarterback will get his third start of the year. While he has over 1,000 yards passing with five touchdowns, he is also known as a solid runner. Against Kentucky, Lagway rushed 10 times for 46 yards along with 259 yards passing. If he can move in the pocket and allow his receivers to find holes in the Bulldogs’ secondary, the Gators could keep things interesting.

 

 

 

 

Elijah Badger (WR #6) – The senior from Sacramento, California is the Gators’ most dynamic playmaker in the passing game. Despite only having two touchdowns this season, he’s averaging nearly 24 yards per reception and has two games with over 125 yards receiving. Badger will need to help his freshman quarterback create explosive plays to keep Georgia’s defense off balance.

Chimere Dike (WR #17) – Dike is another wide receiver who’s had success on the Gators’ offense. The senior has over 60 yards in four of their last five games. If the Gators are going to pull off the upset, Dike and his fellow wideouts have to play their best game of the season.

Tyreak Sapp (DE #94) – Sapp is arguably Florida’s most impactful player on the defensive side of the ball. The junior has 24 tackles on the year, including 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble. If Sapp can force Beck to make mistakes due to his pressure, the Gators’ defense could get off the field quickly and often.

 

 

 

 

Jack Pyburn (DE #44) – Pyburn leads the Gators’ defense in total tackles with 35 on the season so far. His season high came in their victory against Kentucky with eight tackles. The Jacksonville native will be looking to make his hometown proud in this rivalry matchup, and what better way to do it than lead his defense in keeping Bobo and the Bulldogs off the EverBank Stadium scoreboard?

Jaden Robinson (LB #29) – Another Florida native born not too far from Jacksonville, the sophomore has tallied 32 total tackles this season, with his best game coming against Tennessee. He had seven tackles and 1.5 sacks. Robinson will need to have similar success in order to slow down Georgia’s offensive attack, including adding a few sacks to his season total.


Billy Donovan led the Florida Men’s Basketball team to back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007, defeating UCLA and Ohio State, respectively, in the title games.

Danny Wuerffel is one of the greatest quarterbacks in college football history. The 1996 Heisman winner and Hall-of-Famer threw 114 career touchdown passes for the Gators.

New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso, the 2019 NL Rookie Rookie of the Year and four-time All-Star, had a stellar career in Gainesville, an All-SEC player for two College World Series teams.

 

 

 

 

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