The Florida Gators (3-2, 1-1 SEC) return home to host the Vanderbilt Commodores (2-4, 0-2 SEC) after arguably their worst performance of the season a week ago.
The game is set for a 4 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Everything went wrong against the Kentucky Wildcats last Saturday. Florida’s defense, which entered the matchup ranked fifth in the nation in yards per game, allowed Kentucky senior running back Ray Davis to rush for nearly 300 yards and three touchdowns.
The Gators secondary held Kentucky transfer quarterback Devin Leary to just 69 yards, but the offense failed to move the ball down the field, and several miscues allowed Kentucky to maintain momentum and make quick work of the Gators.
“Fundamentally, very disappointed in our team,” said Florida head coach Billy Napier after the game Saturday. “As a leader, I have to do a better job for our team in all ways.”
Florida’s away record worsened to 1-5 under Napier, but the Gators have an opportunity to get back on track at home against one of the weakest teams in the Southeastern Conference.
Vanderbilt is a pass-heavy offense led by senior AJ Swann and Ken Seals, who’s filled in for Swann while the senior has dealt with injuries. Swann has thrown 11 touchdowns in six games but has struggled to protect the football and thrown seven interceptions.
His favorite receiving target is wideout Will Sheppard, who has caught seven touchdowns and averages 74 receiving yards per game.
In the ground game, the Commodores feature a tandem of running backs. Patrick Smith and Sedrick Alexander have almost evenly split carries six games into the season, and each has rushed for over 4-yards per carry and two touchdowns.
However, touches have been slim for the duo. Smith and Alexander average just 70 yards per game combined. The Commodores offense has nearly identical splits when it comes to rushing and passing attempts but has seen much more success throwing the ball.
The Gators will focus on forcing the Commodores into favorable down and distances and place as much pressure as possible on the quarterback Saturday, Napier said.
“You're trying to create favorable down and distances where you have an opportunity to affect the quarterback,” he said. “That's ultimately why we've had success.”
The Vanderbilt defense enters Saturday’s matchup ranked as the No. 105 defense in college football. The Commodores have allowed 409 yards per game and surrendered 20 touchdowns through six games.
Vanderbilt’s defensive line has struggled against the rushing attack and allowed 148 yards per game, which should open the field for UF running backs junior Montrell Johnson Jr. and sophomore Trevor Etienne. Etienne is listed as questionable due to an upper body injury.
There are nine players listed on the Gators’ injury list. Two offensive linemen — redshirt junior Kingsley Eguakun and redshirt freshman Austin Barber — are both listed as questionable due to lower body injuries.
Despite not having much consistency health-wise among the offensive line, Napier said he feels confident in his backup linemen.
“I think that we’ve got some guys that are working their butt off,” he said.
Protecting redshirt junior quarterback Graham Mertz will be pivotal for the Gators Saturday. Mertz was sacked three times against the Wildcats and has faced heavy pressure in the two most recent contests.
Saturday will mark the second time the Gators will face the Commodores in Florida’s Homecoming game in the last three seasons. Two seasons ago, the Gators cruised in a dominant 42-0 Homecoming victory.
Last season, Vanderbilt upset UF 31-24 for its first win against Florida at Vanderbilt in more than 30 years.
Despite former Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson passing for 400 yards, the Gators lost due to a miserable defensive performance. Commodores long snapper Wesley Schelling even scored a touchdown due to a muffed punt on special teams.
“Last year’s Vandy game, I almost cried,” Johnson said. “We know we were supposed to win that game and we kind of went out there not with the right mentality.”
Florida will look to correct its woes at 4 p.m. Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+.
Contact Luke Adragna at ladragna@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @lukeadrag.
Luke Adragna is a third-year journalism student and the Florida Gators football reporter at The Alligator. He is a cat ethusiast and completes the NYT Daily Mini in less than a minute each day.
