For third-year sophomore Trent Whittemore (14) and the rest of the Gators, it's time to bring the "Swamp" to life, with Saturday's start to the 2022 season and Coach Billy Napier reign.
Game Day: Florida vs. No. 7 Utah ( 7 pm on ESPN)
Saturday, September 3, 2022 | Football, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Some folks who crunch college football data circulated a chart earlier in the week that listed the nation's programs with the most underclassmen. Defining underclassmen as true freshmen, redshirt freshmen and sophomores, the University of Utah in eighth among power-five conferences with a whopping 86 such players (out of roster of 115, including walk-ons). That's 74.8 percent.
It's a big portion of the other 25.2 percent that makes Florida's opponent Saturday night at Spurrier/Florida Field so dangerous; arguably, the toughest season-opening foe the Gators have faced in well over a half-century.
Such will be one of the much-ballyhooed storylines when the Gators usher in the 2022 season and Billy Napier era against the seventh-ranked Utes and their 17 returning starters at the sold-out "Swamp," a showdown the suits at ESPN picked as their Saturday night season lid-lifter.
[Read senior writer Scott Carter's comprehensive "Opening Kickoff" setup here]
The Utes, with so much coming back from a squad that went 10-4 last season, are preseason picks to repeat as Pac-12 Conference champions. Of their four losses, three were to teams that finished in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll in Brigham Young (19th), San Diego State (25th) and Ohio State (6th) in the Rose Bowl, with the fourth coming against Oregon State (which finished 7-6).
Worth noting: All those losses were on the road.
Also worth noting: Utah will be playing its first game against a Southeastern Conference opponent since defeating Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl (at New Orleans and indoors) while also making its first game in the Eastern Time zone since a 25-23 win at Michigan to open that 2008 season.
This time, the Utes figure to find the warm weather and humidity of Florida in early September slightly different than the dry heat (it hit 97 there Friday) they left back home in Salt Lake City.
Billy Napier went 40-12, with one Sun Belt Conference title and three bowl appearances in his four seasons at the University of Louisiana.
At least that's the hope of the Gators, who will unleash sophomore quarterback Anthony Richardson for just his second career start (the first at home) and a Napier offense that, like his teams the last four years at University of Louisiana, figures to rely heavily on a running game, keyed by three-back rotation and seasoned offensive line. Look for heavy doses Nay'Quan Wright, Montrell Johnson Jr. and Lorenzo Lingard, plus splashes of of Richardson, who netted nearly as much productivity on the ground (401 rushing yards, 3 touchdowns) in his spot duty last season as he did through the air (529 yards, 6 TD, 5 interceptions).
Richardson and company will be looking at a defense with six starters back from a unit that finished 27th in the country last season (341.6 yards per game), including 19th against the run (121.6 per, best in the Pac-12). UF very well could be forced into some difficult passing situations, which is where Richardson is the most untested. He had some impressive throws last season, but not against any defenses as good as Utah.
That said, the Utes surrendered 683 yards, including 573 through the air, in their 48-45 loss to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.
Utes tailback Tavion Thomas (9), picked by Pac-12 media as the league's preseason player of the year, averaged 5.43 yards per carry last season on his way to 1,108 yards and 21 touchdowns.
As for the Florida defense — the one that was 51st nationally (367.8) in 2021 and oftentimes got gashed by opposing ground games (163.9 yards per game, which was 10th in the SEC and 85th overall) — it will face a significant challenge in dual-threat Utah quarterback Cameron Rising (2,493 yards passing, 20 TD, 5 INT and 499 yards rushing, 6 TD) and tailback Tavion Thomas (1,108 yards, 21 TD), who goes 6-foot-2 and 232 pounds.
And, for what it's worth (maybe nothing at all), the Gators have far fewer underclassmen (57 out of 122 for 46.7 percent) than the Utes.
CHARTING THE GATORS
The 10 power conference teams with the most underclassmen (third-years or less, by definition)
Percent
School
Roster Size
Underclassmen
Fresh & Sophs
79.4
Georgia Tech
117
93
60 & 33
78.3
Colorado
115
90
60 & 30
76.2
Oregon
126
96
53 & 43
74.8
Utah
115
86
54 & 32
72.8
Nebraska
151
110
71 & 39
72.0
Florida State
118
85
45 & 40
70.7
Penn State
116
82
56 & 26
69.8
Iowa State
129
90
60 & 30
69.5
Washington
118
82
55 & 27
69.2
Illinois
117
81
59 & 22
* Source: University of Colorado
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on SEC Network, with Bob Wischusen on play-by-play, Dan Orlovsky providing analysis and Kris Budden working the sidelines. For radio and television broadcast info, click here. The game will be replayed Thursday on SEC Network at 7 p.m. and Friday at 3 a.m. The Gator IMG Sports Network coverage, with Sean Kelly and Shane Matthews in the booth, and Tate Casey on the sidelines, will begin at 4 p.m. on these affiliates. You may also happen upon a national broadcast, with Sloan Martin and Mike Golic Jr.
Also, check out the "1st & 10 Pre-Game Show," hosted by Kyle Crooks via the Florida Gators Football YouTube site, starting at 6 p.m. This week's lineup includes a mic'd-up segment with Richardson, a feature on the new $85 million Heavener Football Training Center and a chat with Napier.
Finally, follow senior staff writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will have complete coverage content from the game late Saturday night and fresh follow-up content Sunday, also.
