UM ready for showdown against No. 1 Alabama
GAINESVILLE — Florida kicks off Year 4 under Dan Mullen against FAU aiming to defend their SEC East title and erase the memories of the Gators’ three-game skid to end the 2020 season.
Florida will turn to quarterback Emory Jones, who replaces record-setter Kyle Trask, and a retooled supporting cast after the departure of All-Americans Kyle Pitts and Kadarius Toney. Following a historic collapse, the team’s defense pushes to bounce back behind veterans Zach Carter, Ventrell Miller and Kaiir Elam.
Mullen inherited a 4-7 team and has gone 29-9 and reached three consecutive New Year’s Six bowls. The Gators’ push to make the next step — perhaps to the College Football Playoffs — begins Saturday night in the Swamp.
FAU at UF
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
When: 7:30 p.m.
TV: SEC Network
Radio: ESPN FM 98.1/AM 850 WRUF, Sirius/XM Ch. 81
Weather: 81 degrees, 12% rain chance Favorite: Gators by 23.5
Online: orlandosentinel.com/gators; @osgators on Twitter.
Quick slant: The Gators have won the three previous meetings by a combined score of 120-37, but needed they overtime during their last date with the Owls — a 20-14 decision in 2015 at the Swamp.
About FAU (0-0, 0-0 CUSA): The Owls enter their second season under Willie Taggart, who looks to revive his career in Boca Raton after two humiliating seasons at Florida State in 2018-19. Taggart’s time in Tallahassee included two losses to Mullen’s Gators by a combined score of 81-31. The offensive-minded Taggart, who was 5-4 during his first season at FAU, turns to several intriguing transfers in 2021, beginning with quar
terback N’Kosi Perry. A native of Ocala, Perry left Miami after totaling 24 touchdown throws and 10 interceptions during 24 appearances, nine of them starts. Perry is joined by graduate transfer receivers TJ Chase (Clemson) and Aaron Young (Duke), along with USF transfer tailback Johnny Ford.
About UF (0-0, 0-0 SEC): Jones won’t match Trask’s passing production. But Jones’ dual-threat abilities will bring a new element to a retooled attack featuring more RPOs and QB runs. The fleet-footed Jones, a redshirt junior, will have a stable of tailbacks behind him, led by seniors Dameon Pierce and Malik Davis. Justin Shorter, Jacob Copeland and Xzaiver Henderson are top candidates to replace the production of Pitts, Toney and Trevon Grimes, who combined for 31 touchdown catches in 2020. A season after yielding an average of 30.8 points, Florida’s defense has much to prove. The once-vaunted secondary allowed 28 TD passes,four more than any SEC school.
Three things to watch
1. Jones vs. FAU’s defense: In two seasons as a backup, Jones averaged 6.4 rushing yards and threw five touchdowns and one interception, often serving as a change of pace to Trask. The 2020 Owls held opponents to nine touchdown throws in 11 games and a completion percentage of 54.9.
2. Gators’front seven vs. FAU offensive line: Carter, Miller, Brenton Cox Jr. and transfer tackles Antonio Shelton and Daquan Newkirk spearhead a potentially formidable defensive front for UF. The Owls’ O-line is no pushover and featured a combined 123 starts — 35 for center Nick Weber and 33 for right tackle BJ Etienne.
3. Gators safety Trey Dean: His second year at the position, this is the 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior’s final opportunity to fulfill his potential. Dean posted a career-best 34 tackles in 2020 but had just one pass defensed during 11 games.