Florida’s offense got a scare Saturday when Vernell Brown III left in the second half of the Gators’ 52-28 win over Ole Miss at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Brown exited after tweaking his knee on a 6-yard jet sweep late in the second quarter, then sat out the rest of the game. Florida coach Jon Sumrall said the injury does not appear serious.
“Nothing's substantial, nothing's torn, but he just wasn't quite confident in cutting it loose there after he tweaked it there late in the second quarter,” Florida coach Jon Sumrall said. “Feel pretty good about him being available, but it's too early to know moving forward.”
Before leaving, the sophomore had three catches for 25 yards. Brown, who led UF in receiving last season, remains the Gators’ top target this year with 17 receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
Brown wasn’t the only Florida receiver who got banged up. Bailey Stockton took a hard targeting hit in the second quarter and was sidelined for a stretch, though he did return. Even then, Sumrall said he wasn’t fully himself down the stretch.
“He took a pretty significant shot to his back,” Sumrall said. “Doesn't look like anything that should keep him out long term; he came back in and obviously had the punt return. But he just wasn't quite himself, and so didn't play a whole lot there in the second half.”
There was one encouraging note for the Gators’ receiving room: Eric Singleton Jr. returned after missing the previous two weeks and hauled in a 38-yard catch late in the fourth quarter.
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The problem does not stop with Stockton. Eric Singleton Jr. and Vernell Brown III are also dealing with injuries that have affected their playtime, leaving Florida thinner at a position where depth matters quickly in a matchup like this. Stockton appears set to return in the third quarter, but the Gators are still trying to sort out who can stay on the field and keep the passing game from becoming even more stretched. [Read more 🡒]
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Jadan Baugh turned in the kind of performance that can change how a season feels, scoring three touchdowns, while Duke Clark added two more as Florida kept answering every Ole Miss push. Trinidad Chambliss still moved the Rebels some through the air with 298 yards and two touchdowns, but the turnover problems never let Ole Miss fully settle in, and Florida made sure the margin reflected how complete the win really was. [Read more 🡒]