A former Gator is starting to carve out a bigger role for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Week 1 gave a pretty clear glimpse of why.
Ventrell Miller was pressed into heavier action and responded with the kind of all-over-the-field performance that gets coaches’ attention fast. In just 33 snaps, he posted one sack, nine tackles and a forced fumble in Jacksonville’s 34-10 victory. It was his most snaps since November of last year, and he made them count.
The numbers backed up the eye test, too. Pro Football Focus gave Miller a 92.4 overall defensive grade, the highest among all linebackers. His work in coverage stood out as well, earning a 92.1 coverage grade, which ranked third.
That kind of production matters even more after the departure of second-team All-Pro Devin Lloyd.
Miller’s path to this moment has been steady. At Florida, he played 13 games as a freshman and then kept building: 55 tackles as a sophomore, 88 as a junior. A bigger senior season looked inevitable before a torn bicep in Week 2 shut him down and forced him to redshirt.
He came back in 2022 after extensive rehab and delivered another strong year for the Gators, finishing with 74 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss.
His value showed up clearly that season, and we noted back in 2023 that:
"But the real value of Miller could be seen when he was hurt during the Kentucky game. The following week the Gators played USF and Miller had to sit out. Florida looked completely lost and was gashed up the middle by a Bulls offense that couldn’t gash anyone all season long."
The Jaguars saw that same ball-hawking presence and took him with the 121st pick in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
In Other News...
Florida Just Gave Auburn Fans A Painful Reminder Before SEC Opener
Floridas social team leaned into the kind of memory Auburn fans would rather not revisit ahead of the SEC opener, using LaMical Perine to narrate a hype video for the primetime matchup. The clip centers on Perines long touchdown run from the 2019 Florida-Auburn game, a moment that still stands out for Gators fans because it helped deliver the win and added another layer to a rivalry that rarely needs much extra fuel.
Now the two programs meet again with both entering unranked, both 2-0, and both guided by new head coaches, which gives this one a different feel even before kickoff. Floridas reminder was sharp and simple, but it also underlined how much history can still shape an SEC opener, especially when the past includes one play Auburn supporters would just as soon forget. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Just Found The Formula That Could Change This Season
Florida left Jordan-Hare Stadium with more than a hard-earned win over Auburn, because the Gators finally put together the kind of complete effort they have been searching for. The 44-39 victory delivered Florida its first 3-0 start since 2019 and its first SEC road win since 2024, a welcome sign that the program may be finding its footing early in the season.
Jadan Baugh gave the offense a clear identity, piling up 162 yards and three touchdowns while also ripping off a crucial 53-yard run on fourth-and-one. Floridas defense did its part with seven sacks, the kind of disruptive night that can travel, and the bigger question now is whether this performance was a one-off surge or the start of something the Gators can lean on moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Faces A Doubt Gators Fans Wont Want To Hear
Auburns trip to Jordan-Hare Stadium is shaping up as one of the more uneasy spots on Floridas early schedule, and The Athletics Manny Navarro has already put a number on the concern. He is calling for the Tigers to edge the Gators 28-27 in Week 3, with the matchup around Floridas ground game drawing particular attention. Jadan Baugh is expected to be a focal point, but Auburns run defense has looked strong so far this season, which adds another layer of difficulty for a Florida offense trying to find answers on the road.
The quarterback battle also looms over the matchup, with Floridas Aaron Philo and Auburns Byrum Brown both central to how this game could swing late. Navarros prediction leans toward Brown guiding a late game-winning drive, a scenario that would leave Florida with a frustrating close loss and plenty to sort through afterward. For Gators fans, the sting is not just the upset call itself, but the sense that this one could hinge on the kind of late-game execution that has no margin for error. [Read more 🡒]