Week 3 Roster Comparison: Florida vs Texas A&M

[Escambia94]

The Florida Gators will face off against a slightly more talented team in week 3 against the Texas A&M Aggies. The Aggies will have a new head coach, Mike Elko, who has an overall record of 16-9 as head coach in two years at Duke.

GRADE​

YR​

EXP​

QB​

WR​

RB​

TE​

OL​

DL​

LB​

DB​

HS​

TR​

Transfers​

89.59​

2,021.12​

2.88​

95.00​

87.00​

88.50​

87.75​

88.82​

91.25​

94.00​

91.33​

89.55​

89.69​

16​

91.31​

2,021.56​

2.44​

92.50​

90.67​

92.50​

90.00​

90.40​

95.63​

88.40​

90.40​

92.68​

89.06​

17​

The average player rating for the Gators is 89.59, compared to 91.31 for the Aggies. The Gators have slightly more experience despite having one less transfer. Position by position, the Gators and Aggies alternate between having higher ratings. Basically these teams are equivalent in talent and experience.

Florida Gator Player	Pos	Grade	Orig Class
Jason Marshall​	DB​	98​	2021​
Shemar James​	LB​	95​	2022​
Eugene Wilson III ​	WR​	95​	2023​
Grayson “Pup” Howard​	LB​	94​	2020​
Tyreak Sapp​	DL​	92​	2021​
Justus Boone​	DL​	92​	2021​
Caleb Banks​	DL​	91​	2021​
Damieon George​	OL​	90​	2020​
CamRon Jackson​	DL​	90​	2020​
Austin Barber​	OL​	90​	2021​
Arlis Boardingham​	TE​	90​	2022​
Graham Mertz​	QB​	90​	2019​
Montrell Johnson​	RB​	90​	2021​
Elijah Badger​	WR​	90​	2020​
Devin Moore​	DB​	90​	2022​
Sharif Denson​	DB/ ST​	90​	2023​
Asa Turner​	DB​	89​	2019​
Knijeah Harris​	OL​	88​	2023​
Jordan Castell​	DB​	88​	2023​
Chimere Dike​	WR​	88​	2020​
Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson​	OL​	87​	2019​
Jake Slaughter​	OL​	87​	2021​
Rocco Underwood​	LS​	85​	2021​
Hayden Hansen​	TE​	80​	2022​
Trey Smack​	PK​	79​	2022​
Jeremy Crawshaw​	PT​	76​	2020​

Texas A&M Player	Pos	Grade	Orig Class
Weigman, Conner​	QB​	98​	2022​
Turner, Shemar​	DL​	97​	2021​
Anderson, Bryce​	DB​	96​	2022​
Moss, Le'Veon​	RB​	95​	2022​
Bisontis, Chase​	OL​	94​	2023​
Fatheree II, Reuben​	OL​	94​	2021​
Green, Donovan​	TE​	94​	2022​
Scourton, Nic​	DL​	94​	2022​
Brooks, Dalton​	DB​	94​	2023​
Muhammad III, Moose​	WR​	93​	2020​
Howell, Cashius​	DL​	92​	2021​
Thomas, Noah​	WR​	91​	2022​
Zuhn III, Trey​	OL​	91​	2021​
Regis, Albert​	DL​	90​	2021​
Walker, Jahdae​	WR​	89​	2021​
Reed-Adams, Ar'maj​	OL​	88​	2020​
Nabou Jr., Mark​	OL​	88​	2022​
DeShields, Solomon​	LB​	88​	2020​
Chappell, Tyreek​	DB​	88​	2021​
Mayes, BJ​	DB​	88​	2021​
York, Taurean​	LB​	86​	2023​
Jones III, Trey​	DB​	86​	2019​

x

 

[DRU2012]

...AND, We just lost MONTRELL for at least a month-PLUS--meaning (according to first post-injury reports, still admittedly somewhat unclear/imprecise) likely AT LEAST his missing the Miami and Sanford games--and (current "worst case scenario") possibly A&M as well...
Now, fan sites have been touting the reassuring line that our RB room comes into 2024 particularly deep in talent even WITH the transfer of Etienne to Georgia--but with Montrell's loss, whatever its duration, we lose its steadiest and most experienced member. In addition to being a strong, known quantity in the backfield, he doesn't fumble. There appears to be depth and talent galore coming up at that position now, with a strong O-line on the definite upswing we were to be counting on a reliable running game to anchor a more aggressive downfield offense, one where Mertz could go either way, take more shots at stretching the field.
The young backs were expected to "work their ways in and UP"--with Montrell there (especially early on) to shoulder more of the load while that developed over the first few games.
NOT so much anymore, I'd have to figure.
Sigh. I guess it's nothing new: We just always end up having to do things THE HARD WAY.

 

[Escambia94]

On paper, Jadan Baugh is as talented as Montrell Johnson, but Trell does have three years of experience. The running back room is deep with talent, but not in experience. Baugh looked great in the Orange and Blue Game, so there is that.

Player	Depth	High School	Ht	Wt	Grade	Class	Stats
Kahnen Daniels​	RB 4​	West Point, West Point, MS​	6'0''​	190​	93​	2024​	N/A
Montrell Johnson​	RB 1A​	De La Salle, New Orleans, LA​	5'10''​	195​	90​	2022​	25 games; 207 att; 1658 yd; 15 TD
Treyaun Webb​	RB 1B​	Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, FL​	6'0''​	190​	90​	2023​	11 games; 26 att; 163 yd; 2 TD
Jadan Baugh​	RB 3​	Columbia, Decatur, GA​	6'1''​	210​	89​	2024​	N/A
Cameron Carroll​	RB 2​	NW Rankin, Flowood, MS​	6'0''​	225​	87​	2023​	41 games; 312 att; 1638 yd; 19 TD
Ja'Kobi Jackson ​	RB TBD​	Pensacola Catholic, Pensacola, FL​	5’11”​	220​	83​	2023​	N/A
Anthony Rubio​	RB TBD​	Belen Jesuit Prep, Miami, FL​	5’9”​	180​	70​	2023​	N/A
Gabriel Ortiz​	RB TBD​	Pembroke Pines, FL​	5’9”​	191​	70​	2022​	N/A
Jaden Edgecombe​	RB TBD​	Cocoa, Cocoa, FL​	5’8”​	178​	70​	2023​	N/A

 

[DRU2012]

On paper, Jadan Baugh is as talented as Montrell Johnson, but Trell does have three years of experience. The running back room is deep with talent, but not in experience. Baugh looked great in the Orange and Blue Game, so there is that.

Player	Depth	High School	Ht	Wt	Grade	Class	Stats
Kahnen Daniels​	RB 4​	West Point, West Point, MS​	6'0''​	190​	93​	2024​	N/A
Montrell Johnson​	RB 1A​	De La Salle, New Orleans, LA​	5'10''​	195​	90​	2022​	25 games; 207 att; 1658 yd; 15 TD
Treyaun Webb​	RB 1B​	Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, FL​	6'0''​	190​	90​	2023​	11 games; 26 att; 163 yd; 2 TD
Jadan Baugh​	RB 3​	Columbia, Decatur, GA​	6'1''​	210​	89​	2024​	N/A
Cameron Carroll​	RB 2​	NW Rankin, Flowood, MS​	6'0''​	225​	87​	2023​	41 games; 312 att; 1638 yd; 19 TD
Ja'Kobi Jackson ​	RB TBD​	Pensacola Catholic, Pensacola, FL​	5’11”​	220​	83​	2023​	N/A
Anthony Rubio​	RB TBD​	Belen Jesuit Prep, Miami, FL​	5’9”​	180​	70​	2023​	N/A
Gabriel Ortiz​	RB TBD​	Pembroke Pines, FL​	5’9”​	191​	70​	2022​	N/A
Jaden Edgecombe​	RB TBD​	Cocoa, Cocoa, FL​	5’8”​	178​	70​	2023​	N/A

Again: Montrell doesn't fumble.
In addition to his steady output, THAT is perhaps his biggest asset to Billy AND his "QB-1" as we begin the 2024 season--and possibly losing him for that pivotal Game 1 against our ranked in-state rival was a definite "suckerpunch to the gut".
At the very least, he's not on the field for the crucial August "Summer Camp" lead-up TO "Game 1"...
But THAT might not, in itself, be so bad:
As E-- points out, the RB room is relatively "strong and deep" coming into the year (certainly more so than it's been in some TIME)--and now there will be no choice (above all no inherent controversy) in the necessary spotlight, discussion and WORK focused solely on the various "TALENTED BACKUPS" over the next few weeks. That MUST happen now.
NOW.
We'll be HOPING to get Montrell back, fully "cleared to play", as soon as POSSIBLE. By the Miami game, matter HOW everything else, with his recovery/rehab/return AND/OR progress in depth and experience in that "Running Backs Room" is concerned. That was, and to a great extent still hopes to DEVELOP INTO the "hoped-for scenario" in the course of the whole season.
I have no idea what "reality" will in fact BRING us: This IS UF Football--THE Florida Gators in the 21st Century, after all. Who can even begin to GUESS???
As to our future, in terms of record and how we get there I can envision any NUMBER of a wide RANGE of crazy alternate extreme scenarios.
I have gotten used to not allowing myself to e en TRY.
HOPE.
That's the best we've GOT right now.
But we DO have that..
Solid reasons for LOTS of it (and many more to just "wait and SEE", at this point...The biggest being "All we've seen--and HAVEN'T seen--up until NOW from this regime...").
There is much talk, and now even the beginning of important SIGNS of fundamental "CHANGE".
Believe it when you SEE it--ON THE FIELD.