Tracking Florida Gators 2023 Redshirt Eligibility Through Week 7

Through seven games, 12 Florida Gators freshmen have forfeited their ability to redshirt this season.

Photo: Florida wide receiver Eugene Wilson III; Credit: Alex Shepherd 

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Nine Florida freshmen have appeared in every game to begin their rookie seasons, and 12 have bypassed their redshirt eligibility through Week 7 of the 2023 campaign. 

Gators head coach Billy Napier wasn't joking when he said Florida was "going to be dependent on young players this year," before the season began in August. 

All Gators is keeping track of Florida's 2023 redshirt statuses and freshmen contributions below. 

Redshirt statuses are tracked by player appearances acknowledged on Florida's roster page and cross-checked with snap counts provided by Pro Football Focus. 

iOL Knijeah Harris 

Seven appearances

Harris has taken on a significant role as Florida's swing guard, having logged 88 snaps on the right side and 49 on the left. He's even snapped the ball on 20 plays. Florida is preparing Harris for a starting role in the future and trusts him to spot-start now, as seen in Week 4 when he stood in for the suspended Micah Mazzccua at right guard.

EDGE Kelby Collins

Seven appearances

Collins has emerged as a significant contributor on the edge of Florida's defense with double-digit defensive snaps in every game since Week 2. He's recorded 10 tackles, half a sack, seven run stops (tackles that constitute a "failure" for the offense), 14 quarterback pressures and a batted pass so far, making him one of Florida's most productive edge rushers against both the run and pass through seven games. Collins is also a regular contributor to UF's field goal kick unit. 

EDGE TJ Searcy

Seven appearances

Searcy immediately claimed a spot in Florida's defensive front with 15 snaps in Week 1 and no fewer than 16 in a game since. UF primarily deploys Searcy as a run-stopping edge rusher, and PFF credits him for making nine rushing stops across his 17 total tackles, 2.5 of which have been for a loss. He also boasts seven quarterback pressures and a forced fumble.  

EDGE Kamran James

Seven appearances

Similar to Searcy although less frequently, James has contributed to Florida's rush defense in every game thus far. He's tallied 43 defensive snaps in total and has been credited with tackles against Tennessee and Kentucky. James is also a member of Florida's kick block and punt return teams, having logged 27 snaps in the third phase. 

LB Jaden Robinson

Seven appearances

Robinson earned playing time defensively against McNeese State and Charlotte, producing a solo tackle in Week 2. He has been on the field for 52 total plays this year, including 35 combined special teams reps as a member of the punt return, kick coverage and field goal block units. 

CB Dijon Johnson

Seven appearances

Johnson combined for 20 defensive snaps in Weeks 2 and 4 and allowed just one catch for 10 yards over three targets in that stretch, but has otherwise solely contributed to Florida's special teams with 88 combined snaps in the third phase through seven games. The cornerback primarily participates in Florida's kick and punt coverage units. He made a special teams tackle against Utah in Week 1.

DB Sharif Denson

Seven appearances

Similar to Johnson, Denson saw the majority of his defensive playing time to date come in Weeks 2 and 4, although he also played sparingly against Vanderbilt in Week 6. Denson has become a regular on Florida's kick coverage and punt return teams, though, with a combined 53 snaps logged with those units. He has two tackles and a quarterback pressure to his name this year.

DB Jordan Castell

Seven appearances

Not only is Castell Florida's most-deployed freshman, but he's taken the field for the third-most snaps (323) of any Gators defender in 2023. Castell ascended to a starting role at safety in Week 2 and hasn't looked back, having accumulated 32 total tackles including 1.5 for loss, a key pass breakup against Tennessee and multiple weekly awards since. UF has kept Castell's special teams usage to a minimum — 17 snaps in total — given his importance to the defense.

DB Bryce Thornton

Seven appearances

Thornton saw his defensive role increase drastically in Weeks 6 and 7 as he was on the field for a combined 77 snaps, between the free safety, box safety and slot corner positions, in those games. He made his first career start against Vanderbilt as sophomore Miguel Mitchell dealt with an injury, and has accumulated five tackles and a pass breakup since the first play of that matchup. Thornton has 78 special teams reps this year, too, mainly with the kick coverage and punt return units. 

RB Treyaun Webb

Six appearances

Although his utilization has most regularly been on special teams, specifically with the punt return unit, Webb has received snaps in Florida's backfield in all but one game this season. He's rushed 22 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns, reaching 70+ yards in a game twice, against McNeese State in Week 2 and versus Vanderbilt in Week 6. Florida was without running back Trevor Etienne in Webb's second big game on the ground, vaulting the freshman into the playing rotation. 

CB Ja'Keem Jackson

Six appearances

Jackson is tied with starting UF corners, Jason Marshall Jr. and Jalen Kimber, with a team-leading three pass breakups this season, two of which were recorded against McNeese State and the other versus Kentucky. The third was a product of Jackson rushing the passer. Following one full season as a corner in high school, Jackson has become a regular member of Florida's secondary rotation with nearly 12 defensive snaps per game on average. Week 7 marks the only game Jackson has not appeared in this season.

WR Eugene Wilson III

Five appearances

Wilson finally burned his redshirt in Week 7, although he was on pace to do so by Week 5 if not for a collarbone injury suffered against Tennessee in Week 3, which sidelined him for two games. One of quarterback Graham Mertz's most-targeted pass-catchers, Wilson has produced 26 receptions for 251 yards and a touchdown thus far, setting single-game career highs in yards accumulated in back-to-back weeks with 64 versus Vanderbilt and 83 against South Carolina. He's also rushed four times for 48 yards. Given his significance offensively, Wilson has been limited to just eight special teams snaps in two games this year. 

Gators freshmen who remain eligible to redshirt in 2023 through Week 7

• DL WIll Norman: Four appearances (Utah, McNeese State, Tennessee, Charlotte)
• WR Andy Jean: Four appearances (McNeese State, Charlotte, Kentucky, Vanderbilt) 
• TE Tony Livingston: Three appearances (Utah, Vanderbilt, South Carolina) 
• WR Aidan Mizell: Two appearances (McNeese State, South Carolina)
• CB Aaron Gates: One appearance (South Carolina)
• OT Bryce Lovett: Zero appearances 
• OT Caden Jones: Zero appearances 
• iOL Roderick Kearney: Zero appearances
• DL Gavin Hill: Zero appearances 

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