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Several notable changes on Gators' depth chart for USF

Untitled designby:Nick de la Torre•09/14/22•

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The No. 18 Florida Gators are set to host the USF Bulls this Saturday. Unfortunately for the Gators, they’ll have to do so without starting middle linebacker Ventrell Miller and starting right tackle Michael Tarquin. Both Taquin and Miller were listed as out with lower body injuries. Billy Napier would not divulge how long the pair would be out.

“They won’t play this week,” is all Napier offered when asked for more specifics on the injuries. With those injuries come opportunities for two young players.

Austin Barber will start in place of Tarquin and Scooby Williams will start for Miller.

“That’s what it is. It’s a great opportunity. Those guys have been working. In that room, you’ve got some veteran players — Ventrell (Miller) and Amari (Burney),” Napier said of Williams. “Then you’ve got some guys that haven’t played a ton of football. That doesn’t mean they haven’t been working and preparing for this opportunity. The benefit of how we practice is those guys get the same amount of reps. They’ve been able to learn and process and improve fundamentally.”

Barber played 51 snaps against Kentucky and graded well as a run blocker. He did allow two quarterback pressures but played well in his first extensive role.

Promising note on Jaydon Hill

While the status of Tarquin and Miller will draw headlines, there was a new status update from Jaydon Hill. The redshirt sophomore cornerback missed the 2021 season after ACL surgery and wasn’t able to participate at all during fall camp. Hill’s status went from “out” to “questionable” for the game this week. It’s unlikely that Hill will be able to play this week against USF but he is getting closer to being able to return.

“I admire Jaydon. To go through what he’s gone through from an injury perspective, I think it’s important when you’re trying to overcome an injury to keep perspective,” Napier said in July. “I think it can benefit you if you have the right approach. It can create toughness. It can create resiliency. I think we see that. It shaped his character, and he’s better for it. Anytime you get injured, it’s a challenge.”

Hill has had a long road to get back to the field and will be a valuable addition to the defense when he’s able to return.

Gators depth chart

Here is the complete depth chart for the Florida Gators’ game against USF.

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