Florida Gators Name Captains vs. No. 11 Tennessee
The Florida Gators named a new quartet of captains to lead the unit against No. 11 Tennessee in Week 3 on Friday: quarterback Graham Mertz, center Kingsley Eguakun, linebacker Shemar James and cornerback Jaydon Hill.
The bonafide leader of the Gators' offense during the 2023 campaign, quarterback Graham Mertz, will occupy a captain role for the first time since his arrival in Gainesville.
Teammates have raved about his leadership since he was brought in as a transfer from Wisconsin this offseason. This season, Mertz has accounted for 526 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 73.8% completion to serve as the game-managing signal caller Billy Napier and Co. beckoned for in their portal search.
Center Kingsley Eguakun returns to the gridiron after dealing with an ankle injury through the first two weeks, embarking on his third season as the Gators' starter in the middle.
His return can be a considerable boost for the offensive line as it looks to establish the run against an FBS opponent, but more so as a veteran leader for the squad in its entirety.
"He's kind of the field general when it comes to the offensive line," running back Trevor Etienne said on Wednesday. "He's communicating every play. Just having him back, you know, we have somebody on the field that I can say going to make things more comfortable for them.
"So, they communicate more and he kind of can have their backs when they mess up somewhat and vice versa. Just having him back on the field is great."
Starting weakside linebacker Shemar James, who's assumed a critical role as the Gators' on-field defensive leader to begin the 2023 season, leads Florida in tackles through two games with 19 total. The sophomore accounted for a career-high 13 tackles in the Week 1 loss to Utah on the road.
He maintained that success against McNeese State despite operating with a more limited workload.
Pro Football Focus grades James as the SEC's top linebacker through two weeks of the 2023 campaign.
Fellow defender and Alabama native Jaydon Hill joins him. Undergoing a position change from boundary cornerback to STAR this offseason, Hill shined as a productive asset for the unit in Week 2, proving to be transitioning well to the difficult spot. He notably showcased his closing speed in coverage to break up a pass on an out route toward the UF sideline.
Florida and Tennessee will kick off inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday.
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