The last few weeks have proven the Florida Gators running back rotation has come to the end of its road of success. Two players have stood out and separated themselves from the pack, and they continued to separate themselves further against Missouri. Florida totaled 287 yards rushing on the night. Two guys combined for 207 of those yards.
Sophomore Jordan Scarlett and true-freshman Lamical Perine each rushed for 100-plus yards in the game. Florida has not had two running backs rush for 100-plus yards in the same game since Kelvin Taylor and Matt Jones did it against Georgia in 2014.
For Scarlett (101 yards), it was the first 100-yard performance of his career as he averaged 8.4 yards per carry. It was Perine’s (106 yards) second of his first season in the orange and blue. He averaged 9.6 yards per carry in the game. Perine also ran for 106 yards against Kentucky earlier this season. He is now among five other true freshmen with multiple 100-yard rushing games in 2016.
Scarlett was the only Florida running back to score a touchdown on the night. His 33-yard rush for a Gators touchdown was his longest run of the game. He put together an impressive performance, but he really should have had two scores. Scarlett fumbled the ball on the Missouri one-yard line to end what would have been a Florida scoring drive.
“I should’ve reached it out with two hands or not reached at all and just tried to run through the guy, but I tried to reach it out with one hand and my arm hit the ground and the ball kind of came out,” said Scarlett. “That’s definitely on me one-hundred percent.”
Jim McElwain made it clear that the ball security would be taken care of this week in practice. “He just wants to see if you’re going to take the extra mile to make yourself better with ball security, so I know I’m gonna do it,” Scarlett said. “I’m gonna get one of my running backs and we’re gonna work a little ball security drill where they hit the ball out while I’m running. We’ll get after it this week.”
While Scarlett knows he should’ve capitalized to for another touchdown run, he thought Perine should have had one on that same drive. Perine’s 59-yard run to Missouri’s 33-yard line in the fourth quarter was Florida’s longest rush of the season and he would have taken it to the house had he just been a step quicker.
“I like to call him a fat boy, because he kind of got caught at the end and I know him better than that,” said Scarlett. “He should’ve scored that one. He’s gonna get it next time.”
It’s easy to nitpick players, but there really was not much to complain about in Scarlett’s or Perine’s performances. Once again the two of them proved they are leading Florida’s running back stable and should be getting a majority of the carries. Scarlett just refuses to go down when he has the ball and Perine is a star in the making for the Gators.
Scarlett said this night was a long time coming for him, but it was hard for him to take all of the credit. The offensive line made improvements in opening up holes for the run game against Missouri, and Scarlett expressed his gratitude for that. “I’ve just gotta give props to my offensive line, they helped me spring up to a 100-yard game and I’m blessed,” he said.
He might’ve been even more proud of his fellow 100-yard rusher than anyone else. “He did an awesome job, awesome,” said Scarlett on Perine’s performance. “I just love the way he runs. I love his passion.”
While Florida continues working over the hump in the passing game, the rushing game will continue to be a make-or-break thing for the Gators’ offense. Scarlett and Perine are more than capable of carrying the load.