The Gators are set to take on No.8 Tennessee in Knoxville at 7:00 PM on Saturday. Gator Country provides five Volunteers to watch out for in week seven’s matchup.
QB Nico Iamaleava #8
Redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava is one of better 2026 NFL Draft prospects. In his first year as Tennessee’s starting quarterback, Iamaleava has completed 78 of 117 passes (66.7%) for 1,050 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions. The 6’6, 215-pound dual threat quarterback has added 134 rushing yards and a score on the ground. Iamaleava is a ‘unicorn’, as described by Florida head coach Billy Napier. His arm strength allows for Tennessee’s offense to stretch the field. Iamaleava is a relatively good decision maker highlighted by a 3.2% turnover worthy play rate, which ranks 7th in the SEC. Like most college football quarterbacks, Iamaleava struggles under pressure, completing just 6 of 17 passes (35.3%) for 85 yards and an interception when facing pressure. He’s also been sacked nine times through five games. Iamaleava looks to scramble roughly 33% of the time when pressured and has had success in doing so, picking up seven first downs with his legs.
Tennessee will lean on play action and RPO’s against Florida.
RB Dylan Sampson #6
Tennessee enters week seven with the No.5 rushing offense in all of college football. Leading the backfield is junior Dylan Sampson, who has ran the ball 91 times for 587 yards and 12 touchdowns, which ranks second in the country behind Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty (16). Sampson’s offensive grade of 87.0 ranks 2nd on Tennessee’s offense and 8th among running backs in the FBS.
Sampson is an effective north-south runner with elite vision. While the 5’11, 201 pound running back doesn’t have a ton of horizontal movement in his game, he’s going to take what the defense is giving him between the tackles. Sampson isn’t an easy back to bring down given his impressive contact balance, averaging 3.44 yards after contact, the 6th most in the SEC. Sampson isn’t a huge home run threat, but his ability to find the proper rushing lane makes him one of the best running backs in the country.
Edge James Pearce Jr. #27
Junior edge rusher James Pearce Jr. entered the 2024 season as one of the more highly regarded defensive lineman in college football, projecting as a first-round pick across most outlets and even listed as the No.1 overall pick on some sites. In 2023, Pearce Jr earned first-team All-SEC recognition from two major publications, logging 14.5 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks in 13 games played including just three starts. The 6,5, 243-pound pass rusher is continuing to assert dominance in 2024, leading Tennesse’s defense in pressures (19), sacks (two), and QB hurries (16). Pearce Jr. also holds an impressive win rate of 25.7% in true pass sets, the highest among Tennessee defenders with more than 50 pressure snaps. The only problem with Pearce Jr. is his five missed tackles on the 2024 season and 38.5% missed tackle rate.
Dont’e Thornton Jr. #1
Senior receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. is in the middle of the best season of his career, hauling in eight catches for 284 yards and three touchdowns across four games. While Thornton Jr. ranks 4th in the WR room in snaps, he’s made the most of his opportunities, averaging 35.5 yards per catch, which would lead the country by a landslide if he had the minimum 10 catch requirement. The 6’5, 214-pound receiver grades as Tennessee’s top offensive performer, according to Pro Football Focus.
Thornton Jr. has caught a 42+ yard catch in all four games he’s played in this season. The combination of height, length, and speed make Thornton Jr. a deep threat. He’s only been targeted once below 10 yards this season. Thornton Jr. is questionable for the matchup against Florida in week seven, so keep an eye out for news surrounding the senior receiver pregame. If he can’t go, the Volunteers will rely heavily on Bru McCoy, Squirrel White, and Chris Brazzell.
CB Jermod McCoy #3
After a promising freshman campaign with Oregon State in 2023, sophomore cornerback Jermod McCoy grades as Tennessee’s best defender in coverage through five games. Before week six, McCoy ranked second in the country among cornerbacks who have played at least 100 defensive snaps. The 6’0, 193-pound cornerback has allowed 13 receptions for 112 yards on 23 targets. While 112 yards allowed is the most on Tennessee’s defense, McCoy has been targeted 10 times more than the second highest defender on the Volunteers, and 73 of those yards came in one game vs Arkansas. McCoy has tackled exceptionally well and holds a 51.4 NFL passer rating against, the lowest in the Vols’ secondary.
McCoy earned National DB of the Week honors from the Jim Thorpe Award after a dominant performance at #15 Oklahoma, where he registered three tackles, one PBU, and one interception in the victory.