PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Feleipe Franks will face another big test in a rivalry game. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Franks has shown improvement this season, completing 103-of-182 passes for 1,406 yards with 15 TDs and five interceptions. Franks will be looking to avenge his performance from last season against Georgia, when he completed just 7-of-19 passes for 30 yards and an interception and was benched in the fourth quarter in favor of backup Malik Zaire.
–RB Lamical Perine has been Florida’s most complete back this season, rushing for a team-high 421 yards on 4.6 yards per carry with one TD while adding nine catches for 161 yards and one TD receiving. Look for the Gators to continue to take advantage of Perine’s ability to carry the football and catch passes out of the backfield against Georgia.
–CB C.J. Henderson has filled the void as Florida’s top cover corner this season with 19 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles. The 6-foot-1, 191 Henderson will face a big challenge this week with his matchups against top Georgia WRs Mecole Hardman and Riley Ridley.
–DL Jachai Polite was held in check in UF’s last game against Vanderbilt but remains the team’s top pass rusher, with 8.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks. The Gators will be counting on the 6-foot-2, 242-pound Polite to come off the edge and disrupt the timing of Georgia QB Jake Fromm
–DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson has emerged as a valuable nickel back this season capable of getting to the opposing QB on corner blitzes. Gardner-Johnson is second on the Gators in tackles this season with 43, while adding two sacks and an interception.
SERIES HISTORY: Georgia leads Florida 44-40-1. The Gators have won 21 of the last 28 meetings dating back to 1990.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It’s really exciting, especially after last year, turning this thing around and getting back to what Florida’s known for. So, we’re really excited and we’ve worked really hard for it.” — Florida sophomore safety Donovan Stiner, on No. 9 UF’s matchup with No. 7 Georgia.
