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Standing in the tunnel and waiting to run into the raucous Swamp for the first time, Florida coach Billy Napier turned to an assistant and summed up the moment. "Can you believe they pay us to do this?" he said. It seemed like money well spent after the Gators delivered their biggest season-opening victory in more than 50 years. Anthony Richardson ran for three scores in his second career start, including a 2-yard scamper with 1:25 remaining, and Florida upset seventh-ranked Utah 29-26 on Saturday night to get the Napier era off to a rousing start.

Richardson was the best player on the field most of the night. He really showed up down the stretch, although fifth-year linebacker Amari Burney was the one who sealed the victory for the rebuilding Gators. Burney intercepted Cam Rising's second-down pass into the end zone with 17 seconds remaining. "Someone had to make a play, It happened to be me," Burney said. That set off a wild celebration for many of the 90,799 in attendance - the 10th most at home in school history. Richardson took a knee from there, and the Gators rushed the field to revel in their 33rd consecutive victory in home season openers. That's the longest current streak in the nation. "This group's got a lot of fight in them," said Napier, who replaced fired coach Dan Mullen in November. "They've got a little bit different edge to them." Richardson ran 11 times for 106 yards and was never stopped for a loss. He completed 17 of 24 passes for 168 yards and played turnover-free football. "He's going to get his (NFL payday)," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "He's 6-4, 230 and runs like a 4.3. He's a terrific player." - Florida/AP College Football

(DS#3 QB) rSo/2023

QB *Anthony Richardson, Florida
News Source: Florida/AP College Football
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09/01/22 - Trey Dean III, Sr/2023, Florida, 6-2, 200 (DS#10 SS) + More +

2022 COACHES PRESEASON ALL-SEC THIRD TEAM: DB - Trey Dean III, Florida,...Dean III led the team in tackles (91) and pass breakups (9). A four-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member, he had 12 multi-tackle games, including three outings with 11. In his four seasons with Florida he has accounted for 178 career tackles, 20 pass breakups, nine TFLs, 4.5 sacks and four interceptions. - Florida Football

(DS#10 SS) Sr/2023

SS Trey Dean III, Florida
News Source: Florida Football
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09/01/22 - Ventrell Miller, rSr/2023, Florida, 6-0, 232 (DS#10 ILB) + More +

2022 COACHES PRESEASON ALL-SEC THIRD TEAM: LB - Ventrell Miller, Florida,...Named to the Butkus Award Watch List, Miller returns after missing the majority last year due to injury. He has played in 38 career games for the Orange and Blue posting 166 tackles, 15 TFLs, 7.5 sacks and six pass breakups. The Lakeland, Fla. native also is a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient and SEC Defensive Player of the Week. In his freshman season, he recorded an 82-yard interception return for a touchdown against Idaho for the ninth-longest in school history. - Florida Football

(DS#10 ILB) rSr/2023

ILB Ventrell Miller, Florida
News Source: Florida Football
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09/01/22 - Brenton Cox Jr., rSr/2023, Florida, 6-4, 259 (DS#30 DE) + More +

2022 COACHES PRESEASON ALL-SEC SECOND TEAM: LB - Brenton Cox Jr., Florida,...Leading the defense, Cox Jr. owned team-best in TFLs (14.5), sacks (8.5) and quarterback hurries (12). Starting all 13 games last year, he posted back-to-back games against Florida State and UCF with 4.0 TFLs totaling a loss of 48 yards. In the final five games of the 2021 season, Cox Jr. had 20 tackles, 11 TFLs, seven sacks and six QBHs. - Florida Football

(DS#30 DE) rSr/2023

DE Brenton Cox Jr., Florida
News Source: Florida Football
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09/01/22 - *Gervon Dexter, Jr/2023, Florida, 6-6, 318 (DS#6 DT) + More +

2022 COACHES PRESEASON ALL-SEC SECOND TEAM: DL - Gervon Dexter Sr., Florida,...Dexter Sr. was named a Preseason All-American by Sporting News and Walter Camp. He started nine games and appeared in all 13 while ranking fifth in tackles with 51. The junior had 12 multi-tackle performances, including two games with nine vs. Alabama and UCF. He finished ranking second on the team with seven quarterback hurries. - Florida Football

(DS#6 DT) Jr/2023

DT *Gervon Dexter, Florida
News Source: Florida Football
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08/31/22 - Brenton Cox Jr., rSr/2023, Florida, 6-4, 259 (DS#30 DE) + More +

ESPN TOP 100 PRESEASON 2022 CFB PLAYERS (Selected Aug. 17): No. 80. Brenton Cox Jr., OLB, Florida, Junior. Notable 2021 stats: 41 tackles (26 solo), 8.5 sacks. Last year's ranking: 59. Change is everywhere you look in Gainesville, but Cox is a constant. He combined 8.5 sacks with 10 run stops at or behind the line in 2021, and he broke up four passes in coverage, too. With Ventrell Miller returning from injury, Cox could helm a dynamite LB corps. - ESPN.com

(DS#30 DE) rSr/2023

DE Brenton Cox Jr., Florida
News Source: ESPN.com
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08/30/22 - OCyrus Torrence, Sr/2023, Florida, 6-5, 330 (DS#2 OG) + More +

ESPN TOP 100 PRESEASON 2022 CFB PLAYERS (Selected Aug. 17): No. 97. O'Cyrus Torrence, OL, Florida, Junior. Notable 2021 stat: 3 pressures allowed in 378 pass-block snaps. Last year's ranking: 100. An under-the-radar recruit, Torrence (listed at 6-5 and 347 pounds) was an immediate star for head coach Billy Napier at Louisiana. Now the former Freshman All-American and All-Sun Belt star will play his trade with Napier in Gainesville. He immediately becomes Florida's most proven and high-upside lineman. - ESPN.com

(DS#2 OG) Sr/2023

OG OCyrus Torrence, Florida
News Source: ESPN.com
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08/30/22 - *Anthony Richardson, rSo/2023, Florida, 6-4, 244 (DS#3 QB) + More +

ESPN TOP 100 PRESEASON 2022 CFB PLAYERS (Selected Aug. 17): No. 93. Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida, Sophomore. Notable 2021 stats: 529 yards, 6 TDs in 7 games. Last year's ranking: NR. He's huge (6-4, 252 pounds). He's got a big arm (among his 38 completions last year were six over 30 yards), and he's ridiculously fast (rushes of 80 and 73 yards). He's got all the tools. Now we get to see if he can put them all together. - ESPN.com

(DS#3 QB) rSo/2023

QB *Anthony Richardson, Florida
News Source: ESPN.com
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08/29/22 - OCyrus Torrence, Sr/2023, Florida, 6-5, 330 (DS#2 OG) + More +

2022 COACHES PRESEASON ALL-SEC FIRST TEAM: OL - O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida,...Torrence collects another preseason honor as he was named a Preseason All-American by the AP, Phil Steele, Sporting News and Walter Camp. A transfer from Louisiana, he was a Shaun Alexander Freshman All-American and a two-time Joe Moore Award Semifinalist. The 2021 First Team All-Sun Belt selection, Torrence helped the Ragin' Cajuns offense ranked tied 10th nationally and first in the Sun Belt in rushing touchdowns (34), tied 18th in the country in total touchdowns (58), conference leaders and tied 23rd nationally in first downs (313). - Florida Football

(DS#2 OG) Sr/2023

OG OCyrus Torrence, Florida
News Source: Florida Football
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08/25/22 - Ricky Pearsall, rSr/2024, Florida, 6-1, 189 (DS#11 WR) + More +

Ten days after being sidelined with a reported foot injury, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall took part in an individual drill with receivers for the first time since the injury. But Pearsall, still in a non-contact jersey, did not do live routes with quarterbacks. Instead he went back to the sidelines to ride the exercise bike and later did some resistance training in the end zone, towing teammate Justin Shorter with an exercise band tied around his waist. Pearsall, an Arizona State transfer who had 48 catches for 580 yards and 4 TDs last weekend, flashed the first week in camp for the Gators. - Gainesville Sun

(DS#11 WR) rSr/2024

WR Ricky Pearsall, Florida
News Source: Gainesville Sun
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08/22/22 - Jack Miller III, rJr/2026, Florida, 6-3, 210 (DS#999 QB) + More +

Florida quarterback Jack Miller has undergone thumb surgery on his throwing hand, a source confirmed on Friday. It's unclear how long the injury will sideline Miller, an Ohio State transfer who was projected to back up Anthony Richardson going into the 2022 season. A third-year sophomore, Miller backed up Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud in two seasons with the Buckeyes, posting 101 yards passing, 29 yards rushing and one rushing TD. He had recently drawn praise from head coach Billy Napier in fall camp for his ability to run the offense. "Jack's very capable, you know, and I would say this going all the way back to spring, he's moved our team," Napier said. The injury is a blow to Florida's depth at quarterback. Redshirt freshman Jalen Kitna, true freshman Max Brown and redshirt sophomore Kyle Engel remain as options to back up Richardson. Kitna, the son of former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, was rated as the 56th best quarterback in the country in the Class of 2021 per 247Sports composite rankings. - Gainesville Sun

(DS#999 QB) rJr/2026

QB Jack Miller III, Florida
News Source: Gainesville Sun
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08/21/22 - Trey Dean III, Sr/2023, Florida, 6-2, 200 (DS#10 SS) + More +

2022 PRESEASON ALLSTATE AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM NOMINEE: Trey Dean III, University of Florida,...Dean III is one of 114 student-athletes who earn the nomination due to their exemplary community service, academic dedication and impact on and off the field. Recently, the native of Hampton Ga. attended a service trip along with nine of teammates and six UF women's student-athletes on a service trip to Greece. - Florida Football

(DS#10 SS) Sr/2023

SS Trey Dean III, Florida
News Source: Florida Football
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08/18/22 - OCyrus Torrence, Sr/2023, Florida, 6-5, 330 (DS#2 OG) + More +

2022 PRESEASON ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD WATCHLIST: O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida, Jr OL,...A transfer from Louisiana, he was Shaun Alexander Freshman All-American and a two-time Joe Moore Award Semifinalist. The 2021 First Team All-Sun Belt selection, Torrence helped the Ragin' Cajuns offense ranked tied 10th nationally and first in the Sun Belt in rushing touchdowns (34), tied 18th in the country in total touchdowns (58), conference leaders and tied 23rd nationally in first downs (313). - Florida Football

(DS#2 OG) Sr/2023

OG OCyrus Torrence, Florida
News Source: Florida Football
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08/12/22 - OCyrus Torrence, Sr/2023, Florida, 6-5, 330 (DS#2 OG) + More +

It's rare that a player moving up from the Group of 5 ranks becomes part of the preseason all-conference and All-America discussion, but that's exactly what has happened with Torrence now that he is at Florida. A three-year starter at guard and an All-Sun Belt Conference selection at Louisiana in 2021, Torrence (6-5, 347) followed new Gators coach Billy Napier to Gainesville. He all but won a starting job at right guard in the spring, and is expected to be among the top linemen on the team and in the SEC. Though he has two years of eligibility remaining, Torrence is also a legitimate early-round NFL draft prospect for next spring. - Birmingham News

(DS#2 OG) Sr/2023

OG OCyrus Torrence, Florida
News Source: Birmingham News
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08/11/22 - Dante Zanders, rSr/2024, Florida, 6-4, 245 (DS#999 TE) + More +

When Dante Zanders removed his name from the transfer portal in early January and returned to Florida football, it came with a vote of confidence from new head coach Billy Napier. "He told me, if I put my faith in him, he'd put his faith in me," Zanders said. "So that's what I did." An offseason position switch from defensive line back to tight end has rejuvenated Zanders, who is looking to carve out a role in the offense. At first, Zanders said he was nervous about the change, because at 6-foot-5 and 291 pounds, he felt he lost the agility needed to run routes.

But he slimmed down to 255 pounds through the spring and summer and now feels ready to take on the new job. "Napier asked me like, 'Hey, these guys are banged up and we need more tight ends in the room, is there any way you can help us?'" Zanders said last week. "I just stepped up. Same thing happened sophomore year when I went from tight end to defensive end. They asked me to move and I'm a team player so I'm just like ... Whatever is best for the team." In two seasons on defense, Zanders was a rotational player on the defensive front, finishing with a combined 11 tackles, half a tackle for loss and half a sack. He's taken his knowledge from playing defense back to his role on offense in camp. - Gainesville Sun

(DS#999 TE) rSr/2024

TE Dante Zanders, Florida
News Source: Gainesville Sun
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