Florida opens the Jon Sumrall era with a Week 1 matchup that should tell us plenty about the Gators’ defense, especially in the back end.
FAU is bringing a passing game that is built to test coverage from the first snap. Zach Kittley installed his Air Raid-style offense after coming over from Houston Christian last season, and the Owls threw it all over the field for 340 yards per game.
Caden Veltkamp is back at quarterback after a season that produced 3,641 passing yards and 24 touchdowns. He also turned the ball over a lot, with 17 interceptions, which is exactly why this looks like a useful early measuring stick for Florida’s defense.
The spotlight falls on a secondary loaded with talent and, just as importantly, players who need to prove they can do it week after week. Cormani McClain is the headliner.
The former five-star recruit started his career at Colorado before transferring to Florida, flashed real ability, and logged plenty of snaps last season before a knee injury against Tennessee ended his year. He’s a gambler in coverage, and that has not always worked out, but the live reps he got as a starter should matter now.
Ben Hanks III gives Florida another corner with serious upside. A highly rated prospect in the Class of 2025, he dealt with a sports hernia injury for most of the season, but the moments he did get on the field showed why there was so much buzz around him.
True Freshman Ben Hanks III in his first collegiate start with the #Gators against rival FSU:
🐊4 Targets | 1 catch allowed | 7 yards
🐊2 PBUs | 1 INT
🐊52.1 NFL passer rating when targeted
Breakout has continued in camp as he pushes for a starting role in year 2. pic.twitter.com/5qldG0s6UJ
- Dylan Olive (@DylanOlive_UF) August 17, 2026
Those two sophomore corners are supported by veteran help at safety. Bryce Thornton has 22 starts under his belt, and DJ Coleman arrives after logging nearly 600 snaps last season as a full-time starter with Baylor, after being a rotational player there since 2023. Add Kanye Clark at nickel, where he brings starts from UCLA, and Cam Dooley, who played at a high level under White last year at Kentucky, as a rotational safety, and the group starts to look dangerous.
That’s the shape of what could become one of the better defensive back units in the conference. The group has the talent to create negative plays and erase receivers, but it won’t be operating alone.
White still has to find ways to get pressure on Veltkamp and make him uncomfortable. If that happens, Florida has the personnel to punish mistakes.
And this opener matters because the Gators are going to see a string of quarterbacks who can stress a defense in different ways, including Byrum Brown, Trinidad Chambliss, Arch Manning and John Mateer. Veltkamp may not be at that level, but he’s willing to challenge coverage, and that makes him a useful first test for a Florida pass defense that should be eager to show what it can be.
In Other News...
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Elsewhere, the former Florida pipeline is producing a mixed bag as camp winds down. Jake Slaughter has moved into the Chargers starting center spot after Tyler Biadasz went down, a notable shift for a player originally drafted to play guard, while Anthony Richardson Sr. had a rough outing for Indianapolis with 3 completions on 9 attempts for 24 yards and two sacks. Jack Pyburn, meanwhile, had a quieter second preseason game for Tampa Bay and didnt record a sack or pressure. [Read more 🡒]
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Kent has responded by trimming weight and continuing to sharpen the details that matter most for a tight end, from movement to overall skill development. For Florida, the longer view is what matters here: a young player trying to carve out his place in the program while pushing back against the label others keep trying to put on him. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Fans May Finally Learn Where The QB Battle Stands
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Jon Sumrall is expected to bring some clarity soon, and the timing matters with roughly a week left before a starter has to be chosen. Jones and Aaron Philo have drawn different evaluations throughout camp, leaving the final call still cloudy even after another scrimmage has come and gone. [Read more 🡒]