Florida football is searching for a bounce back effort when it hosts South Carolina in its homecoming game on October 10 at The Swamp (12:45 p.m. SEC Network).
The No. 15 Florida Gators (4-1, 2-1 SEC) are coming off a humbling 45-17 loss to Missouri that brought some early-season flaws to the surface, including pass defense and an inconsistent offensive line play.
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“We didn’t execute like we wanted to,” Florida junior center Harrison Moore said. “But the biggest thing is it’s a new week. It’s a new opportunity. That wasn’t our last game of the season. We still have a lot of season left to go, so we get another opportunity on Saturday, and our objective is just to go out there and play the best ball that we can.”
South Carolina (2-3, 0-3 SEC) is coming off a 35-34 overtime loss to Kentucky and is still seeking its first conference win of the season.
Here are five players to watch for UF’s matchup with the Gamecocks, and a projected depth chart:
Philo is coming off his first loss as Florida’s starting quarterback, throwing for 197 yards and 1 TD during UF’s 45-17 loss at Missouri. Florida failed to get the ground game going, rushing for just 42 yards in the loss, but Philo didn’t use that as an excuse for his performance.
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“At the end of the day, running or passing, we’ve gotta be able to move the ball down the field, and that’s on me,” Philo said.
For the season, the 6-foot-1, 207-pound Philo ranks seventh in the SEC in passing with 1,114 yards, 8 TDs, 2 interceptions and 3 TDs rushing.
Baugh was held to 13 yards on 12 carries against Missouri, ending his streak of five straight 100-yard rushing games. Overall, it was Baugh’s lowest rushing output since running for just 5 yards on one carry against Texas A&M on Sept. 14, 2024. The 6-1, 225-pound Baugh, who still leads the SEC in rushing with 613 yards and 11 rushing TDs, will look to bounce back when UF faces the Gamecocks.
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The 6-foot-3, 212-pound Wilson leads the Gators in receiving yards (302) and receiving TDs (3). He will be counted on for more targets when UF faces a shaky South Carolina secondary.
Graham is coming off a game in which he posted just five tackles at Missouri. For the season, the 6-1, 228-pound Graham still leads the Gators in tackles (33) but the junior hasn’t made many impact plays so far this season, with just half a sack and one fumble recovery,
“I take full accountability.” Graham said following the Missouri game. “I didn’t play my best game at all, nobody did. We got to respond and get it fixed.”
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Florida needs it corners to step up to fix a pass defense that ranks last in the SEC (266,6 ypg allowed). That begins with the 6-2, 181-pound McClain, who will be tasked to take on 6-5, 239-pound South Carolina receiver Nyck Harbor in man coverage. A former five-star recruit from Lakeland, McClain has 13 tackles, 1 pass breakup and 1 interception on the season.
Offense
QB − Aaron Philo, RSo., Tramel Jones RFr.
RB − Jadan Baugh Jr., Duke Clark RFr., Evan Pryor RSr., London Montgomery, Sr,, Byron Louis RFr.
WR – Eric Singleton RSr., Kahleil Jackson GSr.
WR − Bailey Stockton RJr., TJ Abrams RSo.
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WR − Dallas Wilson RFr., Micah Mays RJr.,
TE1 − Lacota Dippre Sr, Heze Kent Fr.
TE2 − Amir Jackson Jr., Luke Hapring Jr.
LT − Bryce Lovett RJr., Eagan Boyer Jr.
LG− Knijeah Harris Sr., Rod Kearney RJr.
C− Harrison Moore Jr., Jason Zandamela RSo.
RG − T.J. Shanahan RJr., T.J. Dice RFr.
RT − Emeka Ugorji So., Caden Jones RJr.
Defense
DE − Kamran James Sr., Emmanuel Oyebadejo RSr., LJ McCray RSo.
NG− Brendan Bett RJr., Joseph Mbatchou So.
DT − Jamari Lyons RSr., Jeramiah McCloud So., DK Kalu RJr.,
EDGE − Jayden Woods So., Kofi Asare RSr., KJ Ford, Fr.
LB − Myles Graham Jr., Myles Johnson So.
LB − Aaron Chiles RSo., Ty Jackson So.
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LB − Jaden Robinson Sr., TJ Bullard RSr.
STAR − Lagonza Hayward, So.; Kanye Clark RSr.,
CB − Ben Hanks III So., Dijon Johnson RJr.
CB − Cormani McClain RJr., J’Vari Flowers So.
S − Bryce Thornton Sr., Alfonzo Allen Jr. RSr.
S − DJ Coleman RSr., Cam Doley Jr.
Special teams
P − Alec Clark Sr., Nicholas Inglis Jr.
K − Patrick Durkin Jr., Liam Padron Jr.
LS − Carter Milliron RSr., Lincoln Anderson Fr.
PR − Vernell Brown III So., Bailey Stockton RJr.
KR − London Montgomery Sr., J’Vari Flowers So.
Injuries
WR −Venrell Brown III., So. (knee questionable)
RB/KR −London Montgomery, Sr. (questionable)
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Players to watch, Week 6 depth chart for Florida football vs South Carolina
