The No. 17 Florida Gators are getting a major piece back at just the right time.
Wide receiver Vernell Brown III is expected to be available Saturday against the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs after dealing with a knee injury, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.
Brown had been listed as probable on the SEC availability report this week. His last appearance came in Florida’s 52-28 win over Ole Miss on Sept.
That’s a welcome lift for quarterback Aaron Philo, who is set to start after missing Florida’s 27-24 upset of Texas on Oct. 17 because of a shoulder injury he picked up against South Carolina on Oct. 10. The Gators are coming out of the bye week with some real momentum, and Brown’s return only adds to it.
Florida has been unbeaten with Brown on the field, going 4-0 in those games. He has totaled 17 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns this season.
His biggest outing came against FAU, when he put up six receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown. Against Ole Miss, he finished with three catches for 25 yards.
The timing matters because Florida’s rushing game has clearly looked different without him. In the Gators’ first four games with Brown available, running back Jadan Baugh went for at least 136 yards each time.
Over the last three contests, that production dipped - 13 rushing yards against Mizzou, 59 against South Carolina and 91 against Texas. Baugh did score a touchdown against both South Carolina and Texas.
The bye week gave Florida a chance to reset after the Texas win and get Brown healthy for one of the sport’s biggest matchups. Georgia, meanwhile, also had last week off after a 27-24 home loss to Auburn.
In that game, the Bulldogs’ defense held Auburn to 174 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Georgia allowed 192 yards and a score. Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown threw for 150 yards and a touchdown and added 115 rushing yards and another score.
Florida enters the matchup at 5-2 and still has a live shot in the College Football Playoff race, fueled by its wins over Ole Miss and Texas.
In Other News...
Florida Suddenly Has A Bigger Vernell Brown Problem Than Expected
Floridas offense took a hit before kickoff against Georgia when Vernell Brown III was ruled out after aggravating a knee injury in practice. Head coach Jon Sumrall had initially listed Brown as probable, but swelling in the knee changed the picture and kept him out of the game, leaving the Gators without one of their more important receiving options at a time when they needed every available weapon.
Browns absence was felt quickly as Florida struggled to get much going on offense. For a team already trying to find consistency, losing a receiver who had been trending toward playing only to have the injury flare up again only added to the frustration, and it now leaves the Gators waiting to see how quickly he can get back to full strength. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Blew Another Georgia Shot Before The Game Even Started
The quarterback decision was the first big storyline of Floridas matchup with Georgia, and it did not take long for it to become a problem. Jon Sumrall went with Aaron Philo to start the game, even though there were questions about whether he was ready for that stage, and the move quickly put the Gators in a hole as the offense struggled to find any rhythm.
After Philo threw his second interception, Sumrall turned to Tramell Jones in search of a spark, but by then Florida was already fighting uphill. Turnovers helped drive the 31-8 loss, and the early switch only underscored how much the Gators had left on the table before the game even settled in. [Read more 🡒]
Floridas No. 1 Start Gets An Immediate Test From Miami
Florida opens the season with the kind of spotlight game that can shape a November resume before the calendar even gets moving. The Gators, ranked No. 1 in the preseason, head to Tampa to face No. 14 Miami in a matchup that comes with plenty of early-season weight, especially for a Florida team bringing back most of its scoring from last years SEC championship squad.
Miami has its own agenda after rebuilding the roster and landing in a top-15 spot of its own. The teams already know each other well after meeting twice last season, with Florida winning both, but this one offers a fresh test for both sides and an immediate chance to see whether the Gators lofty ranking holds up under real pressure. [Read more 🡒]