#8 Florida (10-3) vs Miami (7-6); Orlando; 7 PM ET; ESPN
The college schedule doesn't get underway in earnest until next weekend, but their is a pretty good teaser on Saturday when Florida and Miami hook up in an in-state dual in Orlando at 7 PM ET on ESPN. And while both programs have had their ups and downs this decade, both have high expectations for the upcoming campaign. The Gators, for example, are coming off a 10-win season last year which included an impressive win over Michigan in the Peach Bowl and feel they can challenge Georgia in the SEC East. On the other hand, Miami is coming off a disappointing 7-6 season, but the 'Canes feel they have the young talent to begin to close the gap on national champion Clemson in the ACC.
While much of the focus in this game will be on the offenses and their respective QBs, the best pro prospects are actually on defense. In fact, both Florida junior CB CJ Henderson (#1, 6-0, 205), who has the length and athleticism NFL teams are always looking for in a potential shut-down corner, and Miami junior DE Jon Garvin (#97, 6-3, 260), a disruptive edge-rusher who had 5.5 sacks and 17 total tackles for loss last fall, have some late first-round potential. Miami also has one of the best LBing corps in the country in veteran MLB Shaq Quarterman (#55, 6-1, 240), along with OLBs Michael Pinckney (#56, 6-1, 220) and Zach McCloud (#53, 6-2, 235). Along with Henderson, Florida's best prospects are also primarily on the D-side of the ball including DEs Jabari Zuniga (#92, 6-4, 245) and Jon Greenard (#58, 6-3, 265) and veteran MLB David Reese (#33, 6-0, 240). The Gators also feature one of the top punters in the country in veteran Tommy Townsend (#88, 6-2, 175), who averaged over 45 yards a pop last year, while putting close to half his punts inside the opposing 20-yard-line.
In the end, though, this game could be decided by whether one of the two offenses can really get going. Certainly, they have very different stories at QB. Florida is led by QB Felipe Franks (#13, 6-5, 230), a rising junior who really came on at the end of the 2018 season. On the other hand, Miami has handed the keys to redshirt freshman Jarren Williams (#15, 6-2, 210), who surprisingly beat out Ohio State transfer Tate Martell (#18, 5-11, 225); indeed, the latter, a former 5-star recruit, may ultimately play WR for the Canes. The good news for both QBs, though, is that they'll be working with solid skill position weapons. The Gators, for example, have a steady hand at RB in veteran Lamical Perine (#2, 5-10, 220), who ran for over 800 yards while averaging 6.2 yards per carry last fall. The Gators also have a solid veteran receiving corps including Van Jefferson (#12, 6-1, 200), Tyrie Cleveland (#89, 6-1, 205) and Josh Hammond (#10, 6-0, 195). Meanwhile, the 'Canes' Williams will be looking to Buffalo grad transfer KJ Osborn (#2, 6-0, 205) and junior Jeff Thomas (#4, 5-10, 180) as his go-to targets, while pro scouts will be watching rising junior OG Navaughn Donaldson (#55, 6-5, 345).
The college schedule doesn't get underway in earnest until next weekend, but their is a pretty good teaser on Saturday when Florida and Miami hook up in an in-state dual in Orlando at 7 PM ET on ESPN. And while both programs have had their ups and downs this decade, both have high expectations for the upcoming campaign. The Gators, for example, are coming off a 10-win season last year which included an impressive win over Michigan in the Peach Bowl and feel they can challenge Georgia in the SEC East. On the other hand, Miami is coming off a disappointing 7-6 season, but the 'Canes feel they have the young talent to begin to close the gap on national champion Clemson in the ACC.
While much of the focus in this game will be on the offenses and their respective QBs, the best pro prospects are actually on defense. In fact, both Florida junior CB CJ Henderson (#1, 6-0, 205), who has the length and athleticism NFL teams are always looking for in a potential shut-down corner, and Miami junior DE Jon Garvin (#97, 6-3, 260), a disruptive edge-rusher who had 5.5 sacks and 17 total tackles for loss last fall, have some late first-round potential. Miami also has one of the best LBing corps in the country in veteran MLB Shaq Quarterman (#55, 6-1, 240), along with OLBs Michael Pinckney (#56, 6-1, 220) and Zach McCloud (#53, 6-2, 235). Along with Henderson, Florida's best prospects are also primarily on the D-side of the ball including DEs Jabari Zuniga (#92, 6-4, 245) and Jon Greenard (#58, 6-3, 265) and veteran MLB David Reese (#33, 6-0, 240). The Gators also feature one of the top punters in the country in veteran Tommy Townsend (#88, 6-2, 175), who averaged over 45 yards a pop last year, while putting close to half his punts inside the opposing 20-yard-line.
In the end, though, this game could be decided by whether one of the two offenses can really get going. Certainly, they have very different stories at QB. Florida is led by QB Felipe Franks (#13, 6-5, 230), a rising junior who really came on at the end of the 2018 season. On the other hand, Miami has handed the keys to redshirt freshman Jarren Williams (#15, 6-2, 210), who surprisingly beat out Ohio State transfer Tate Martell (#18, 5-11, 225); indeed, the latter, a former 5-star recruit, may ultimately play WR for the Canes. The good news for both QBs, though, is that they'll be working with solid skill position weapons. The Gators, for example, have a steady hand at RB in veteran Lamical Perine (#2, 5-10, 220), who ran for over 800 yards while averaging 6.2 yards per carry last fall. The Gators also have a solid veteran receiving corps including Van Jefferson (#12, 6-1, 200), Tyrie Cleveland (#89, 6-1, 205) and Josh Hammond (#10, 6-0, 195). Meanwhile, the 'Canes' Williams will be looking to Buffalo grad transfer KJ Osborn (#2, 6-0, 205) and junior Jeff Thomas (#4, 5-10, 180) as his go-to targets, while pro scouts will be watching rising junior OG Navaughn Donaldson (#55, 6-5, 345).
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