Bear Alexander (DT #99)

Big Bear Alexander has earned playing time along the interior defensive line despite being a true freshman. Alexander had shoulder surgery after arriving at UGA and was not able to fully participate in offseason strength and conditioning. Nevertheless, Alexander is plenty stout and possesses a quick burst that should enable him to contribute quality snaps, even after the return of Jalen Carter.

Malaki Starks (S #24) 

Starks, another true freshman, is now fully entrenched as the starting safety beside Chris Smith. In fact, Starks played more defensive snaps than any other defensive player against Vanderbilt. Given Anthony Richardson’s struggles throwing the ball, Florida has become a run-heavy offense. Against the Gators, Starks will be asked to come into the box and make plays against a potent and talented run game.

AD Mitchell (WR #5)

Mitchell has missed significant time after a seemingly innocuous ankle injury in the first series against Samford in the second game of the season. The hope is that Mitchell is being held out in an effort to get him fully healthy for a tough stretch run against Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi State and Kentucky. If Mitchell can return to the form we witnessed against Oregon, which included 4 receptions for 65 yards and a TD, the Dawgs should be even more dynamic in their passing attack against the Gators.

Darnell Washington (TE #0)

Washington is often the undervalued “other tight end” that gets overshadowed by the hyper-athletic Brock Bowers. Despite his mammoth size, Washington is plenty athletic himself, as evidenced by his superb one-handed catch and run against Vanderbilt. Washington also added a circus, sideline catch that contributed to his 78 yards receiving on 6 total catches. Washington is a dominant blocker and, along with Bowers, will be a focus of the Gators defensive game plan.

Stetson Bennett (QB #13)

Bennett started the Vanderbilt game completing 18 for his first 20 pass attempts, before finishing 24/30 for 289 yards and 2 TDs. Prior to the Vanderbilt game, Bennett had a 3-game passing-TD drought. Florida’s defense is formidable, and the Dawgs will need a healthy Bennett distributing the ball to a multitude of weapons to be at their best against the Gators. Hitting a few deep balls would be a refreshing sight and would really open up the potential of this offense.

Keele Ringo (DB #5)

The usually terrific Ringo is coming off a game with a few missteps, including a pass interference penalty and a mistimed jump that could have led to a long reception if not for a dropped pass. The pre-season All-American is a physical specimen with size that is not typically seen in a cornerback. The Gators, as they normally do, will take some deep shots off play action, and Ringo will need to prevent any big plays over the top. This will be an excellent test for Ringo and the secondary heading into a difficult stretch of games.