Trey Dean's injury opens the door for Wilson, McMillon

Untitled designby:Nick de la Torre•09/28/22•

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators will be without its most experienced player in the secondary this weekend against Eastern Washington. Fifth-year senior safety Trey Dean will not be available for UF.

“Trey is injured and won’t be available for the game this week,” Napier offered up Wednesday afternoon. Dean is officially out with a “lower body” injury. He did not leave the game last weekend against Tennessee with an injury and it isn’t clear what the extent of the injury is.

Dean has played more snaps than any player on the Gators this season. Florida has played 286 snaps and Dean has been on the field for 270 (94.4%) of those, according to Pro Football Focus. PFF has Dean graded as the 14th best player on the UF defense (68.4). He is a veteran player, who Napier credits as being a vocal leader on the field for the defense. Without Dean, the Gators will be without one of their vocal, veteran leaders in the secondary.

“I think we’ve got some young players at some critical positions. That’s part of — one of our issues is that we have Ventrell and Burney are veteran players. Rashad Torrence obviously is a veteran player. In practice right now, Shemar James and Scooby, Kamari, Don (Donovan McMillon), Miguel Mitchell, a lot of these guys that are at the high communication are young players,” Napier said. “I think they continue to learn every day a little something different and new. I don’t know that we’re ever going to be not learning something relative to communication. I think that that always can improve.” 

Dean’s injury opens the door for two freshmen

With Dean unavailable this week, that opens the door for Kamari Wilson and Donovan McMillon. The two freshmen were listed as starters with an “or” between them. However, Wilson (a true freshman from IMG Academy) has played 46 snaps this year to McMillon’s one. Wilson has also seen his snaps increase each week, including a career-high 12 against Tennessee.

Wilson is the eighth highest-rated player on the Gators’ defense but fans should expect to see both players this week.

“Yeah I think we have those guys bracketed at that position,” Napier said Wednesday. “You can anticipate to see both players.” 

Injuries are never good for a team but as the Gators continue to rebuild and shape a program in Napier’s likeness, getting young players in is good for the future. Linebacker Shemar James has received more playing time with Ventrell Miller’s injury. This week Florida fans will get a glimpse into the future of the secondary with Wilson and McMillon.

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