Redshirt senior defensive lineman Caleb Banks and freshman receiver Vernell Brown III are expected to return Saturday against No. 20 Tennessee.
While Banks and Brown arrived in Oxford, Mississippi, with questions surrounding their health and availability, both star players sat on the bench.
Following a deflating 34-24 loss to the Rebels — one that squandered Florida’s bowl eligibility — the pair is likely to return to action against Tennessee. Banks did not appear on UF’s Wednesday availability report, and Brown was listed as questionable.
Banks, the Gators' top interior defensive lineman with a big body that can stop the run, has been evaluated during practices throughout the week to ensure he will be available on Saturday. Banks wasn’t on Wednesday’s injury report, meaning he’s set to return against an explosive Volunteers offense in The Swamp.
“The return-to-play aspect of it is going to be based on his body and how he comes through and performs this week at practice,” Interim Head Coach Billy Gonzales said. “I know as far as his attitude and willingness and eagerness to come back, he wants to come back immediately.”
Banks didn’t play in UF’s first two games of the 2025 season and suffered a foot injury against the Louisiana State Tigers on Sept. 13. He logged just 34 snaps and reportedly underwent foot surgery at Andrews Sports Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama, the following week.
A timeline for his return was never provided. But before the setback, Banks had been one of UF’s most disruptive defenders, tallying seven tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 2024. He also finished his first season at Florida with 19 total tackles and a sack in 2023.
With Banks returning in Week 13, Florida’s relatively healthy defensive front should be prepared to stand up to a Tennessee team that ranks second in the nation in both scoring and total offense, and third nationally in both first-down and passing offense.
“He’s just got to feel comfortable getting ready to go,” Gonzales said Wednesday. “Again, he’s been cleared. Obviously the return to play, we want to make sure he’s physically in good shape and he’s done a good job.”
Banks’ injury marked a big loss for the Gators, but their defensive line stood strong nonetheless. The only other defensive lineman who missed last week’s game against Ole Miss was sophomore LJ McCray, who has been out since Week 3.
Conversely, Florida’s receiving room has been banged up the entirety of the season.
Both freshman Dallas Wilson and redshirt sophomore Eugene Wilson III were injured against Georgia after promising showings earlier in the season. Redshirt sophomore Aidan Mizell has also missed four games thus far, and Brown has been sidelined for two of the Gators’ last three.
This has left room for Jadan Baugh, J. Michael Sturdivant and TJ Abrams to emerge as primary pass-catchers in Florida’s offense. With the absence of UF’s top receivers, Baugh has 12 receptions and Sturdivant has seven catches for 112 yards through Florida’s last three games.
Moreover, Abrams got his first two career starts at receiver in consecutive weeks, against Kentucky and Ole Miss. The redshirt freshman posted 104 yards on seven catches through the two games.
Brown’s possible return to the offense Saturday could add vertical route running and dynamic play-making to Florida’s starting roster. Brown set the program record for most receiving yards by a true freshman in a first career start, with 79 yards in UF’s season opener against Long Island University — confirming him as a cornerstone of the Gators’ offense.
“He’s a tough young man ... Every individual player knows their body, and when he’s healthy, he’ll come back,” Gonzales said. “If a receiver can’t lift his hands up consistently, go get the ball, then you just got to make sure that you’re taking care of him, trying to get healthy for the next game.”
The true freshman has impressed with a number of miraculous catches since, and despite missing two games, leads UF’s offense in both yards (473) and receptions (33). Additionally, the 18-year-old solidified his role as Florida’s first-string punt and kick returner this season amassing 261 yards across 17 returns.
After missing UF’s contest against Georgia Nov. 1, Brown fought through injury at Kentucky, where he logged 22 yards. Despite playing 65 snaps for the Gators, Brown was limited to just one catch in Lexington as he continued to deal with the injury that kept him sidelined against Georgia.
Following the poor showing against the Wildcats, he was benched against Ole Miss as his health issues persisted.
With his questionable status on Wednesday’s availability report, Brown will pose a major threat to a Tennessee team that ranks last in the SEC in pass defense if he plays. The Volunteers have allowed 28.9 points and over 260 passing yards per game on average this season.
“He’s done a great job of rehabbing,” Gonzales said. “He was out there running around today, so we’ll kind of play it by ear and see how he comes along the rest of the week.”
Contact Curan Ahern at cahern@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @CuranAhern.
Curan is a third-year journalism-sports & media major who currently serves as the football beat reporter for The Alligator, now in his third semester with the paper. When not at his computer screen writing, Curan enjoys spending time outdoors, hanging with friends, family and pets, and watching the Patriots lose (no, he doesn't miss Brady).
