GAINESVILLE — Florida’s go to from USF has out of the blue gone from a last tune-up to a straight-up take a look at.
The No. 15 Gators purpose to keep away from it turning into a lure sport.
UF’s demanding schedule begins in earnest Saturday, or every week sooner than it as soon as appeared. If coach Billy Napier’s crew questioned USF’s shot at an upset, the Bulls’ 34-7 stunner final Thursday evening in opposition to No. 25 Boise State ended any prospect for complacency.
“The movie itself of Sport 1 will get the eye of the gamers,” Napier instructed reporters Monday. “It doesn’t harm that Boise, clearly, was a playoff crew and ranked within the Prime 25.”
Whereas working head coach Alex Golesh’s up-tempo assault, USF dual-threat quarterback Byrum Brown, a 6-foot-3, 232-pound bruiser, threw for 210 yards and had scoring runs of 23 and 15 yards.
“Large, bodily participant, will drop his pads,” Napier mentioned. “He does break tackles. He has the power to outrun angles. And he has arm expertise.”
The Bulls compelled three fumbles and registered turnovers on downs 4 occasions whereas executing the scheme of veteran Todd Orlando, who has earlier cease at Houston, Texas and USC.
“This man’s been across the block,” Napier mentioned of the 54-year-old. “He’s all the time been a tricky prep.”
The massive victory by Brown, Orlando and the Bulls is bound to have the Gators ready.
“We’re foaming on the mouth,” mentioned UF redshirt sophomore Tre Wilson, a Tampa native recruited by USF.
Wilson was champing on the bit getting into Saturday evening’s season-opener in opposition to Lengthy Island College.
Coming off season-ending hip surgical procedure and restricted at occasions throughout fall camp, the 5-foot-10¼, 194-pound receiver burst out of the south end-zone tunnel. Sprinting onto the sector, Wilson even handed Napier main the Gators to the sideline.
“I didn’t even understand I ran previous coach Napier,” he mentioned. “I simply haven’t been capable of run out the tunnel like that in a minute. Most positively missed it.”
The following 55-0 cakewalk in opposition to an overmatched FCS foe in Week 1 was a primary beneath Napier. His crew wanted a late-game interception to edge Utah throughout his UF debut in 2022 however dropped their previous two openers to Utah and Miami by a mixed rating of 65-28.
LIU offered the 2025 Gators a gentle opening, however nothing shall be simple henceforth.
“We play one FCS crew, after which it’s Katy, bar the door,” he mentioned. “‘Let’s get able to go, beginning with this group. This can be a robust opponent that we play this week, enjoying with numerous confidence and obtained numerous veteran gamers and a quarterback that may be an issue for you.”
Edgar Thompson might be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
Up subsequent …
USF (1-0) at No. 15 Florida (1-0)
When: 4:15 p.m., Saturday
The place: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
TV: SEC Community
Favourite: Florida by 18.5 factors