Florida Notes |
Vanderbilt Notes |
Vanderbilt Game Day
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In their last three games, intriguing subplots surrounded the Gators.
Questions swirled about how they would respond from a two-week COVID layoff against Missouri. The following week they faced Georgia for SEC East supremacy. And then a week ago, it was the return of ex-teammate
Feleipe Franks to The Swamp.
The sixth-ranked Gators answered the bell each time. On Saturday at Vanderbilt, they will need to respond to the alarm clock with an 11 a.m. kickoff CT at Vanderbilt Stadium.
Florida is a heavy favorite over the winless Commodores and can take another step toward the SEC Championship Game with a victory. The Commodores could spoil everything, of course, and that should serve as ample motivation for the Gators.
For more on Saturday's game between the Gators and Commodores, here is
The Opening Kickoff:
FOUR QUESTIONS WITH ... GATORS RECEIVER XZAVIER HENDERSON
Henderson had three catches for 63 yards and his first career touchdown in win over Arkansas.
Receiver Xzavier Henderson and quarterback Kyle Trask during last week's win over Arkansas. (Photo: Courtney Culbreath/UAA Communications)
- What did you see on the flea-flicker?
I actually didn't see the ball hit the ground. I was just trying not to panic. It ook a long time for that ball to get there and I was putting myself in the right position to catch it.
- What pulled you to Florida since many expected you to end up at Clemson?
That was a hard decision to make. In the end, I guess it came down to where I felt most at home, like I was saying throughout my recruitment. If I take football and sports out of the picture, where would I be at home? Plus, I don't like the cold.
- What's it like watching your brother CJ as a rookie in the NFL?
It's been mind blowing. I mean, it's been a dream since he was little. And I hear him talk about it all the time. And just to see him on the field, it is still shocking to this day.
- What was it like for you to have the ball coming your watch against Arkansas?
It was real exciting, but not as big as I thought it would be actually, because I've been to my brother's games and I've seen how packed the stadium really gets. But it was still exciting.
THREE STORYLINES
- Florida has won three consecutive games since returning from its COVID shutdown and is heavily favored against winless Vanderbilt. The Gators seek to maintain their momentum and avoid any slippage against the overmatched Commodores -- even with an 11 a.m. kickoff in Nashville.
- Due to COVID-19 protocols, less than 1,000 fans will be on hand at Vanderbilt Stadium. That is smaller than most crowds UF players experienced in high school. The Gators must generate their own juice for this one.
- Kyle Trask elevated his place in the Heisman Trophy discussion with a six-touchdown outing against Arkansas and ex-teammate Feleipe Franks. If the Gators win big and Trask has another strong performance, he should remain near the top of the list of contenders. If they struggle, expect his odds to take a dip.
THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Florida quarterback Kyle Trask (see above): Trask is putting together one of the most impressive seasons by any quarterback in school history. He played so well against Arkansas (23 of 29, 356 yards, six touchdowns) that he had as many touchdown passes as incompletions. Gators fans and non-Gators fans can appreciate Trask's unique backstory.
- With starter Kyle Pitts out, tight end Keon Zipperer caught three passes for 47 yards against Arkansas, including two touchdowns. Zipperer should have more opportunities Saturday with Pitts out for the second consecutive game.
- Vanderbilt true freshman quarterback Ken Seals has passed for 1,291 yards, joining John Gromos (1985) and Jay Cutler (2002) as the only three freshmen in school history to pass for 1,000 or more yards. Seals was 21 of 32 for 225 yards in last week's 38-35 loss at Kentucky.
SIX DIGITS
840 – With COVID-19 protocols in place, announced attendance at Vanderbilt's last home game, a 54-21 loss to Ole Miss Oct. 31.
28 – Touchdown passes through six games for Gators quarterback
Kyle Trask.
25 – Touchdown passes through six games a season ago for LSU quarterback
Joe Burrow, who won the Heisman Trophy.
19 – SEC-leading sacks for the Gators this season, topped by
Zachary Carter's 2.5.
6 – Sacks allowed by the Gators, the second-fewest in the league.
14 -- Consecutive wins for Gators at Vanderbilt, a streak that started in 1992.
INJURY REPORT
QUESTIONABLE: LB
Jeremiah Moon (foot); LB James Houston (undisclosed), RB
Iverson Clement (undisclosed);
OUT: TE
Kyle Pitts (head/nose), WR
Trent Whittemore (ribs); DB
Ethan Pouncey (hip, out for season);
UNAVAILABLE: During the unprecedented 2020 season, Florida releases a list of players not available on game days prior to kickoff.
NOTES FILE
- The Gators have won 28 of the last 29 games against Vanderbilt, their only loss a 34-17 setback at The Swamp in 2013.
- Florida has scored 35-plus points in eight consecutive games, tying the school record set in 1996 and 2008.
- UF quarterback Kyle Trask threw six touchdown passes against Arkansas, making him the seventh quarterback in Southeastern Conference history to have multiple six-touchdown games. Two former Gators are among that group: Danny Wuerffel and Terry Dean.
- Trask's 28 touchdown passes through six games ties Texas Tech's Graham Harrell (2007) for the most touchdown passes through six games for any FBS quarterback over the past 20 years according to ESPN Stats & Info.
- In his seventh season at Vanderbilt, head coach Derek Mason is the longest-tenured Black coach in SEC history.
THE OTHER SIDE
The Commodores are winless and off to their worst start in 22 years. Former stars like
Jay Cutler and
Ralph Webb are long gone.
So is former head coach
James Franklin, who has his own problems at Penn State. Having set the stage, let's go back to 2011 when Franklin held open tryouts for walk-ons.
Fortunately, a camera crew was on hand to catch the action and some interviews. This could be more entertaining than Saturday's game if the Gators are on top of their game.
Memo to producer: I'd watch a "Where Are They Now?" special on the 10-year anniversary next season.
Check out the video below:
THEY SAID IT
- "He's obviously a great coach at his position. Extremely smart, extremely involved in game planning as far as an offensive guy goes. The ability to be a great play-caller and to design offenses. And even though he's young, a really mature guy for his age. He's going to be a great head coach one of these days as soon as someone gives him his opportunity." -- Gators head coach Dan Mullen on offensive coordinator Brian Johnson
- "They are one-on-one beaters and zone busters.'' -- Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason on Florida's bevy of playmakers
- "Any quarterback who has been in the system, understands the weapons around them and understands how to deploy those weapons, it can put you among the elite in the country, and that's where Kyle is right now." -- Mason on Gators quarterback Kyle Trask
- "I remember YouTube, they would always have these videos about all these highlights from these great players, and I see Trevon Grimes. It's this tall dude, lanky, kind of like me. So I just watched him and I was able to follow him. It's just crazy now to say that he's one of my closest friends. So it's just really, really cool." -- Gators receiver Justin Shorter on fellow wideout Trevon Grimes
- "The issue is, when you give up an explosive play, what it does is it shows you the value of everybody doing their job, meaning you need all 11 guys to be on the same page or in the right gap or doing their job, because if you have 10 guys going one way and another guy going another way, you can create a seam." -- Gators defensive coordinator Todd Grantham on common reason for allowing big plays
THEY WROTE IT
BOTTOM LINE
The Gators are rolling toward Atlanta. The Commodores could go oh-for-the-season. This one has blowout written all over it. For kicks, a final score prediction: Florida 58, Vanderbilt 7.
