The Florida Gators are set to clash with the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Swamp on Saturday afternoon.
Gator Country gives you five focal points from this week 11 SEC East matchup.
BOWL ELIGIBILITY
As many of you know by now, Florida needs one more win to secure a bowl game bid for the 2022 season. While bowl games aren’t as meaningful as they used to be, the extra set of practices can go a long way regarding the growth of the younger players. Bowl games often allow younger players to get game reps that they may not have received in the regular season. If Florida can win the final three games on their schedule, they will finish 8-4 and will likely be ranked in the final polls. This would put Florida in a middle tier bowl game with a chance to play a competitive team.
REVENGE GAME ON SPENCER RATTLER
Spencer Rattler got the best of Florida’s defense in 2020, totaling 287 yards and four touchdowns in a beatdown of the Gators in the Cotton Bowl. Two years and a jersey swap later, the Gators’ defense gets their chance to takedown Rattler in the Swamp. Several players on this year’s Gators team played against Rattler in 2020, including senior linebacker Amari Burney. “We owe him one,” Burney said during Wednesday’s press conference.
Rattler hasn’t been the QB he was in 2020 as he’s thrown more interceptions than touchdown passes through nine games this season.
RECRUITING WEEKEND
Billy Napier and the Florida Gators staff are welcoming 25+ high school recruits and commits for their last home game of the 2022 season. The staff has had to work around high school games being moved to Saturday due to weather, but it’s still a very exciting list of players being welcomed to Gainesville.
The list includes QB Jaden Rashada, who flipped his commitment from Miami to Florida yesterday. Rashada is an enticing prospect and not just because of his athletic ability and high rating. He was successful in recruiting other players to Miami in his four months committed to the Hurricanes. With several highly rated recruits visiting campus in week 11, Florida’s staff will look to continue their momentum.
SENIOR DAY
18 players will participate in senior day this Saturday inside the Swamp. It’s hard to predict what the list means in terms of who’s returning and who’s leaving because so much can change between now and their decision day. Last year Amari Burney walked on senior day and returned for another year. We’ve seen players decide not to walk and declare for the NFL.
However, I think it’s a positive takeaway that Ricky Pearsall, Ethan White, Michael Tarquin, and Kingsley Eguakun chose not to walk with the seniors this week as it could mean Florida returns four starters for next season.
Nonetheless, show up early and support your Gator seniors!
BILLY NAPIER VS SHANE BEAMER
This is the first meeting between these head coaches. Week 11 marks the 43rd meeting between Florida and South Carolina including the 19th matchup in Gainesville. Florida owns a 29-10-3 series lead and commands a 16-2 advantage over the Gamecocks at home.
Florida has the chance to create some momentum with a victory in week 11.