Heading into the 2023 season, the Florida Gators will need to rely on a mix of returning and incoming players to be successful. Below are the players who can make the biggest impact for the Gators in the 2023 season.
Impact Player: WR Ricky Pearsall
Florida WR Ricky Pearsall (1) – Phelan M. Ebanhack/AP
Florida Gators WR Ricky Pearsall, the leader in receiving yards and touchdowns from a season ago, is the most important player on offense and will be a major factor in how successful the passing offense will be.
Pearsall plays almost exclusively in the slot, but his ability to be utilized in jet sweeps, screen passes, and even in the backfield as an RB on occasion makes him the most multi-faceted player the Gators have in their arsenal.
Pearsall being a consistent, reliable option for the QB who wins the starting job between Graham Mertz and Jack Miller is imperative for Florida’s passing game.
Impact Players: RBs Montrell Johnson and Trevor Etienne
Florida RB Trevor Etienne (7) – David Rosenblum/Getty Images
Last season, Louisiana transfer Montrell Johnson and then true freshman Trevor Etienne burst onto the scene for the Gators, with both appearing in every game for the Gators.
Johnson rushed 155 times for 841 yards and ten touchdowns, according to Sports Reference. Etienne rushed 118 times for 719 yards and six touchdowns, according to Sports Reference.
Johnson and Etienne complement each other well with their different rushing styles, with Johnson being more of the power back and Etienne being the more finesse speed back.
Given the uncertainty at the QB position, the Gators will need the same, if not more, production from the dynamic duo in 2023.
Impact Player: DE Princely Umanmielen
Florida DE Princely Umanmielen (33) – Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun
On defense, the most important player for Florida is 6’5″, 254-pound junior DE Princely Umanmielen. Umanmielen’s importance to the defense was proven by his jersey number change from 33 to 1 going into 2023.
If you don’t know, The Gators have a storied tradition of giving the players who are the best on the field (and off it, of course) the No. 1 jersey. Those players include the likes of Umanmielen’s teammate Ricky Pearsall, Percy Harvin, Kadarius Toney, Janoris Jenkins, Reggie Nelson, Vernon Hargreaves, and Keiwan Ratliff, amongst many more.
Umanmielen played in all 13 games for the Gators last season and started in 11 of them, recording 39 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles, according to Sports Reference.
Umanmielen has bided his time for a starting spot for the Gators, and now he will get the chance to prove why he’s earned it.
Impact Players: DTs Cam Jackson and Caleb Banks
Former Memphis DT Cam’Ron Jackson (10) – George Walker/Getty Images
The Florida Gators were pushed around up the middle of their defensive line last season, and it was because they lacked depth at defensive tackle. That being said, the Gators coaching staff went and changed that by securing the commitment of transfers Cam’Ron Jackson and Caleb Banks from Memphis and Louisville, respectively.
Jackson stands at a massive 6-6, 371, and Banks stands at 6-6, 323. The Gators have a type when it comes to defensive tackles, and that shouldn’t be said without mentioning junior DT Desmond Watson, who stands 6-5, 439.
Watson played alongside now Chicago Bears rookie Gervon Dexter and Chris McClellan last year, but in the SEC, having just three reliable defensive tackles is not viable. With the additions of Jackson and Banks, the Gators now have at least four players they can rely on on the inside of their defensive line.
Impact Player: CB Jason Marshall Jr.
Florida CB Jason Marshall Jr. (3) – Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
CB Jason Marshall Jr. will be the leader of a young but talented secondary room. Marshall Jr. is coming off his best season as a Gator, starting in 13 games and finishing with 29 total tackles, eight pass deflections, and an interception, according to Sports Reference.
Marshall Jr. will be playing for his third different defensive coordinator since arriving in Gainesville as a five-star prospect. The former two coordinators made Marshall more of a zone-coverage cornerback, which he can do, but Marshall Jr. is at his best when he plays man-to-man press coverage.
With the Gators hiring blitz-happy defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong in February, Marshall Jr. will get a chance to do a lot of what he does best when Armstrong calls blitz after blitz against opposing offenses this season, leaving him ample opportunities for one-on-one matchups with opposing receivers.
Impact Players: LBs Teradja Mitchell and Shemar James
Florida LB Shemar James (6) – Isabella Marley/Florida Gators
Florida lost both of their starting inside linebackers from last season to the NFL Draft, Ventrell Miller and Amari Burney. Returning sophomore LB Shemar James will take over Burney’s spot, as he did when either Burney or Miller went out last season.
James is primed to have a big sophomore season after playing in all 13 games (starting in four) for the Gators last season, recording 47 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery, according to Sports Reference.
Ohio State Buckeyes transfer LB Teradja Mitchell will be taking over Miller’s spot, who was both the captain of the defense and the leader of the team last season.
Mitchell has been dealing with an injury since arriving in Gainesville, so he has been participating sparingly due to the coaching staff saving him for Fall camp. Mitchell will have to work quickly to get familiar with the defense, but he will also need to make his voice heard in the locker room, much like Miller did last season.
Impact Player: OT Austin Barber
Florida OL Austin Barber (58) – David Rosenblum/Getty Images
Florida’s offensive line was one of the strengths of the team last season, but the Gators will need to replace four starters that departed via the NFL Draft and the transfer portal.
The Gators lost All-American guard O’Cyrus Torrence and starting left tackle Richard Gouraige to the NFL Draft and lost both starting guard Ethan White and starting right tackle Michael Tarquin to the transfer portal.
The Gators also lost OT Kamryn Waites for the season due to an Achilles injury, and last week projected starting right tackle Kiyaunta Goodwin, who transferred in from Kentucky ahead of Spring camp, left the program due to his mother being diagnosed with cancer.
All those departures and injuries aside, the Gators will heavily rely on redshirt sophomore OT Austin Barber. Barber played in all 13 games (starting in five) at right tackle, but in 2023, the Gators will need him to stay healthy and adapt to a new position.
Going into the 2023 season, Barber will face the biggest challenge of his young college career thus far: making the transition from right tackle to left tackle.
Barber has played multiple positions along the offensive line in his time at Florida, but he has not played left tackle. His transition to the position will be vital to the success of Florida’s offense both through the run and passing game, considering he will be the blindside protector for whichever QB wins the starting job between Graham Mertz and Jack Miller.
