Florida’s injury report brought a mixed bag this week, with Vernell Brown III and London Montgomery both listed as questionable while Bryce Thornton and Dijon Johnson are probable.
Brown stands out most on that list after missing the loss to Missouri with a knee injury. Jon Sumrall said this week he was “optimistic” about Brown’s chances to play Saturday. Thornton was a late scratch against Missouri, while Johnson and Montgomery each logged a handful of snaps.
South Carolina also enters the matchup with nine players on its report. The biggest name there is leading receiver Mazeo Bennett Jr., who is questionable.
Elsewhere in Gainesville, Florida gymnastics confirmed it has removed three members from its roster ahead of the 2027 season: Skylar Draser, Ly Bui, and Lily Bruce. Head coach Jenny Rowland addressed the move in a statement: “We wish them well moving forward. Our focus remains on supporting our athletes and maintaining a team culture built on accountability, respect and commitment.”
No reason has been confirmed for the dismissals, despite speculation circulating around the program. Draser is the most prominent of the three and was in the starting rotation last season.
On the basketball side, the SEC has released Florida’s men’s television schedule for the 2027 season. The slate includes a 9 p.m. home game against Ole Miss on a Wednesday, but the most notable wrinkle is Florida playing Kentucky only once. The league shifted that series to a home-and-home with Texas instead, while Georgia and South Carolina remain twice-on-the-schedule opponents for the Gators.
Florida’s SEC TV schedule: Saturday, January 2: Florida at Texas, 6:00 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN2
Wednesday, January 6: Oklahoma at Florida, 9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Saturday, January 9: Vanderbilt at Florida, 11:00 a.m. ET, ESPN
Saturday, January 16: Florida at Alabama, 2:00 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN2
Wednesday, January 20: Texas A&M at Florida, 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2/ESPNU
Saturday, January 23: Florida at Georgia, 4:00 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
Saturday, January 30: Florida at Tennessee, 8:00 or 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN2
Tuesday, February 2: South Carolina at Florida, 7:00 p.m. ET, SEC Network
Saturday, February 6: Texas at Florida, Noon ET, ESPN
Tuesday, February 9: Florida at Auburn, 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Saturday, February 13: Missouri at Florida, Noon ET, ESPN/ESPN2
Wednesday, February 17: Florida at LSU, 8:00 p.m. ET, SEC Network
Saturday, February 20: Georgia at Florida, 8:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network
In Other News...
Todd Golden Just Added To A Florida Strength Fans Should Notice
Floridas frontcourt pipeline got another boost with the commitment of four-star center Kamsi Awaka in the 2027 recruiting class. He joins four-star forward Ian Condon in a group that already points to Todd Golden keeping the Gators stocked with size, and it fits the broader direction of a program that has leaned into developing big men who can affect the game in multiple ways.
That matters because the Gators have also seen real growth from current pieces like Rueben Chinyelu and Alex Condon, giving the roster a stronger interior foundation than it has had in recent seasons. With recent NCAA Tournament runs helping raise the standard, another high-level frontcourt addition only sharpens the long-term outlook, even if the full payoff is still a couple of years away. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Recruiting Target DJ Jones Faces Far More Serious Health Battle
What started as routine freshman intake testing turned into something far more alarming for Missouri offensive tackle Johnnie DJ Jones, a player Florida had been recruiting before his college career took a much more serious turn. The university said Jones recently underwent a successful heart transplant and is now recovering, a stark reminder that sometimes the biggest stories in recruiting have nothing to do with depth charts or signing day.
Jones was later diagnosed at the Mayo Clinic after the issue was first flagged during that initial testing, and Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz has already spoken publicly about the situation as the program continues to share updates on his recovery. For Florida fans keeping tabs on a familiar name, the news shifts the focus completely away from football and toward a much more important question about Jones' health and next steps. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Just Added A Frontcourt Piece Fans Will Notice
Florida has added another piece to its future frontcourt with the commitment of Kamsi Awaka, a four-star center from Blair Academy in New Jersey. Awaka is one of the more highly regarded big men in the 2027 class, ranked as the No. 5 center nationally, and his pledge gives the Gators a second commitment in that recruiting group.
Awaka made his decision after an official visit and came away with a strong impression of Florida and its coaching staff, choosing the Gators over several other schools. For Florida, it is another sign that the program can get in early on nationally recognized talent, and for fans it is the kind of addition that hints at how the next wave of size in Gainesville could start to take shape. [Read more 🡒]