Florida edge rusher Jayden Woods turned a strong SEC opener into national recognition.
After helping Florida pound Auburn in the league opener, the sophomore was named the Chuck Bednarik national defensive player of the week by the Maxwell Foundation. Woods, listed at 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, posted 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss against the Tigers in the Gators’ win.
Florida’s pass rush came alive in a big way at Auburn. The No. 22 Gators finished with a season-high seven sacks, a sharp jump from the four sacks they had totaled over their first two games combined.
"It was just staying committed to the process," Woods said. "Sacks are hard to come by in general.
So, we knew we had to rush and stay in our lanes. We played the defense the right way."
Woods has started all three games for Florida this season and has quickly become a central figure up front. He leads the team with four tackles for loss for 13 yards and three sacks for 12 yards. He also has 15 total tackles, including 10 solo stops, along with one QB hurry.
Florida defensive coordinator Brad White said the performance fit the growth he has been seeing from Woods.
"We knew it was coming," White said. "He was tightening up his race lines.
I thought his race lines were way better. They weren't nearly as loose.
He got on the tackle edges and got on those tackles earlier to force the action. Did a nice job condensing the pocket."
The Gators are now 3-0 overall and 1-0 in SEC play, and they return home Saturday, September 16, to face No. 6 Ole Miss at The Swamp. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on ABC.
In Other News...
Jon Sumrall Just Turned Up The Pressure On The Swamp
Jon Sumralls latest comments have added a little extra edge to Floridas next home date, and not just because of what he said about the Gators crowd against FAU. Sumrall drew a sharp comparison between that atmosphere and the one he recently saw at Auburns Jordan-Hare Stadium, and he made it clear he is expecting even more from The Swamp when Florida hosts Ole Miss. For a program that treats home-field energy as part of its identity, that kind of outside praise can land as both a compliment and a challenge.
The timing also gives the remarks more bite, since Sumrall has already been a familiar name in Auburn conversation and his coaching choices have been tracked closely. Even without a direct Florida-Auburn angle on the field, comments like these tend to travel quickly around the SEC, especially when they touch on stadium environment and fan impact. The next Ole Miss game now carries an added layer: not just a conference matchup, but a chance for Floridas crowd to answer a pointed comparison. [Read more 🡒]
Floridas Breakout RB Gives Ole Miss A Much Bigger Problem
Jadan Baugh has become the kind of early-season force that changes how an offense is defended, and Florida has been leaning on it from the start. The breakout back leads the nation in rushing touchdowns and sits second in rushing yards, a surge built on three straight 100-yard games and a steady role in an offense that has topped 42 points in each of its first three outings.
For Jon Sumrall, the bigger development has been the way Baugh is finishing runs and making faster decisions once he gets the ball. The coach has even backed the running backs Heisman pose celebration, a sign of how central Baugh has become to Floridas identity, and why Ole Miss is staring at a much tougher problem than it might have expected when it starts planning for the Gators. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Spurrier Just Weighed In On A Texas Game Gators Fans Know Well
Steve Spurrier doesnt often need much convincing to share a football opinion, and his latest one will perk up Florida fans who still remember how often he had Tennessees number. The former Gators star and coach weighed in on the upcoming Texas-Tennessee matchup by backing the Volunteers, pointing to Tennessees past win over Texas and the edge of playing at home.
For Florida supporters, the timing and the source make it especially notable. Spurriers long history with Tennessee gives his endorsement of the Volunteers a familiar edge, and his personal ties to the state only add to the intrigue, even if the bigger question is whether Texas can shake off the kind of matchup that has tripped up plenty of teams before. [Read more 🡒]