Florida’s trip to Auburn could hinge, at least in part, on the health of one of its biggest offensive names.
On Monday morning, Jon Sumrall said wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. and defensive lineman Emmanuel Oyebadejo were both “limited in practice” and remain “questionable” for Saturday night’s game against Auburn. Sumrall said “there’s a shot” both players could suit up, but he stopped well short of calling either one available.
“Both are out of their boot. Both were very limited today during practice… this week I would say they are questionable.”
He was even more direct on the uncertainty surrounding their status: "Is there a shot? Yes.
Am I ready to say they're going to play? No.
Because I can't promise you that."
Singleton’s situation is the one Florida fans will watch most closely. He missed last Saturday’s game against Campbell with an ankle injury and has been dealing with it since Week 1. The Gators rolled to a 52-3 win in that one, moving to 2-0 in the Jon Sumrall era before turning their focus to what should be their first real test of the 2026 season.
That test comes Saturday under the lights in Jordan-Hare, where Florida will face Auburn in a road matchup with plenty of attention on Singleton’s status.
The wideout knows Auburn well. He played for the Tigers in 2025, then transferred to Gainesville in the offseason after finishing last year with 534 yards and 3 touchdowns. Before that, he spent two seasons at Georgia Tech and put together 1,468 yards and 9 scores across 2023 and 2024.
Florida expected Singleton to be a major piece of its passing game in 2026, but the ankle injury has kept him out for much of the first two games. How he responds during the week will determine whether he’s back on the field against his former team on Saturday night.
In Other News...
Floridas SEC Opener Just Got More Concerning For This Gators Playmaker
Eric Singletons status is giving Florida another issue to sort through as it heads into its SEC opener against Auburn. The Gators receiver has been limited in practice while working back from an ankle injury, and coach Jon Sumrall said he is not yet guaranteed to play. Singleton has already missed games because of the injury, leaving Florida without one of its pass-catching options as the league schedule begins to tighten.
A return for Auburn would obviously help, but the more realistic question is whether Singleton can be ready to contribute without being rushed. Florida is at least keeping alive the possibility that he could be back for the Ole Miss game on Sept. 26, which gives the Gators a little more time to manage the situation. For now, though, his availability is one of the more notable injury watch items hanging over the weekend. [Read more 🡒]
Vernell Brown III Is Giving Florida A Dangerous New Weapon
Vernell Brown III gave Florida a jolt in Week 2 against Campbell, and not just because the Gators were able to cash in on a lopsided win. The freshman showed up in every phase he touched, turning two punt returns into touchdowns while also adding three catches for 43 yards and another score, a reminder that his value goes well beyond the return game.
What makes the performance more intriguing for Florida is the process behind it. Special teams coach Jon Sumrall pointed to analyst Greg McMahons new punt return strategy as part of the setup that helped Brown break loose, and Browns arrival in Gainesville already carried a bigger meaning, tied to his family legacy and the staffs vision for how he could be used. If this was the first glimpse of what that plan can look like, the Gators may have found a dangerous new weapon. [Read more 🡒]
Floridas Young Stars Just Changed The Feel Of This Offense
Floridas offense looked different in the 52-3 rout of Campbell because some of its youngest playmakers took over the afternoon. Vernell Brown III made his presence felt in more ways than one, piling up 219 punt return yards and scoring twice on special teams while also adding a receiving touchdown, while Dallas Wilson led the receivers with 104 yards and a score. Jadan Baugh added another layer to the attack, rushing for 136 yards and two touchdowns, including a 75-yard burst that showed just how quickly this group can flip a game.
Aaron Philo also fit cleanly into the mix, completing 16 of 21 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score of his own. For Florida, the bigger takeaway may be less about the opponent and more about the sense that the offense has found a handful of young options who can change field position, stretch defenses and create explosive plays in different ways. [Read more 🡒]