Florida football coach Billy Napier received a vote of confidence on Thursday from athletic director Scott Stricklin, a sign that more than likely Napier will return for a fourth season.
Players will look to reward that faith from administration in Napier when the Florida Gators play Saturday afternoon at No. 5 Texas (noon, ABC).
“We’re playing for him, and that’s one thing that I have kind of seen misconceptions of,” Florida tight end Hayden Hansen said. “This locker room is playing for him and playing hard. There’s belief still. There’s belief. We’re going to go out and try to win out, get bowl eligible, win the bowl game, and carry over this big momentum into next season.”
Florida is playing for the first time against Texas since 1940 and the first time in Austin, Texas, since 1939. The Longhorns (7-1, 3-1 SEC) are coming off an open week after a 30-15 loss to No. 2 Georgia. Florida lost to Georgia 34-20 last week in Jacksonville.
Here are five players to watch for Florida in its matchup against the Longhorns:
Florida football WR Aidan Mizell
The 6-foot-2, 186-pound Mizell had 4 catches for 66 yards in UF’s last game against Georgia, including a 43-yard TD catch that put the Gators up 7-3 on the Bulldogs in the second quarter. A redshirt freshman, Mizell is continuing to gain confidence this season with 10 catches for 143 yards and 2 TDs.
“t’s really just for me just staying consistent in every aspect, whether that be in the weight room, in the lunchroom, meeting room, on the field,” Mizell said. “Just staying consistent and just taking the knowledge that my coaches and the staff is giving me. It’s helped me.”
Florida football RB Ja’Kobi Jackson
The 5-11, 209-pound Jackson rushed for a season 74 yards on 12 carries and scored 1 TD last week against Georgia. He’s helped UF overcome mounting injuries at running back, as starter Montrell Johnson Jr. missed his second straight game against UGA with a leg injury.
A JUCO transfer who played high school football at Pensacola Catholic, Jackson has rushed for 227 yards and 4 TDs this season on 5.7 yards per carry.
“This season has been pretty good for me,” Jackson said. “Just learning the system and just trying to do whatever. When my number’s called, I just try to show up and do what I do.”
Florida football DB Aaron Gates
The 6-0, 196-pound Gates, a sophomore from Moreland, Ga., is emerging as one of the most consistent players in the secondary for UF this season. Against Georgia, Gates had four tackles, including a tackle for loss, and had an interception that he returned 30 yards. For the season, Gates had posted 14 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 pass breakups and an interception.
“Gates is one of our best football players,” Napier said. “Obviously I had a high opinion of him coming out, and he’s big, long. He’s dense. He’s extremely quick and fast. He’s very instinctive.”
Given the mounting injuries to UF’s secondary, Napier said there’s a chance Gates could shift from the star position to play some safety or cornerback.
“That’s up to the coaches, wherever they want to use me, wherever they see fit,” Gates said. “I feel like I’m up to the task to play everywhere in the back end.”
Florida football DB Trikweze Bridges
Bridges had a team-high eight tackles against Georgia, and like Gates, could be forced to play multiple positions due to mounting injuries in the secondary. Against Georgia, the 6-2, 200-pound Bridges started the game at safety and finished at cornerback.
For the season, Bridges has posted 42 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups and an interception.
Florida football LB Myles Graham
A true freshman, the 6-1, 228-pound Graham posted his first career sack against Georgia and had three tackles. For the season, Graham has 10 tackles and a sack.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1
