Florida football depth chart, injury updates: Kinglsey Eguakun returns before Georgia game

Football

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Image Credit: Kelsi Bevington / UAA

Arguably the darlings of the bye week, momentum has continued trending upward for the Florida Gators coming off their win two weeks ago over South Carolina. No news — other than a five-star commitment — was good news for Florida, which not only comes out of the bye at 5-2 but enters Saturday’s rivalry game against the Georgia Bulldogs nearly as healthy as they have been all season.

The most notable absence this weekend is sophomore wide receiver Caleb Douglas, who remains out with a lower-body injury. The hope is that Douglas can return to the field before the season is out, but the severity of his injury has not been shared by head coach Billy Napier.

Also out for the game are sophomore WR Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman (lower body) and junior tight end Jonathan Odom (concussion protocol), neither of whom were starters but both of whom have contributed on the campaign.

The most notable return, of course, is redshirt junior center Kinglsey Eguakun, who has missed the majority of the season to this point while dealing with a nagging ankle injury. Eguakun makes a massive difference when he’s in the lineup with run and pass blocking both improving immensely as Florida’s first-string offensive line all gets to play at their best positions with him on the field.

The Gators stand as an underdog of 14.5 points entering Saturday’s game against the Dawgs. It’s just the 18th time in the last half-century that Florida has been more than a two-touchdown underdog in a game with UF losing all 17 of the prior such occurrences. You can utilize the Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code to learn more about the game line before kickoff.

Let’s take a look at the depth chart ahead of Florida’s big neutral-site rivalry game against Georgia.

Offense

QB: Graham Mertz, Max Brown, Jack Miller III, Micah Leon
RB: Montrell Johnson Jr., Trevor Etienne, Treyaun Webb
TE: Hayden Hansen, Dante Zanders
TE: Arlis Boardingham, Tony Livingston
WR: Eugene Wilson III, Aidan Mizell, Zak Sedaros
WR: Kahleil Jackson, Ja’Quavion Fraziars, Marcus Burke
WR: Ricky Pearsall, Taylor Spierto, Andy Jean

LT: Austin Barber, Kamryn Waites
LG: Richie Leonard IV, Knijeah Harris, Christian Williams
C: Kingsley Eguakun, Jake Slaughter
RG: Micah Mazzccua, Jalen Farmer
RT: Damieon George Jr., Lyndell Hudson II

Eguakun returning to the starting lineup is the only notable change other than a shift in backup wide receiver responsibilities. Eguakun has missed more games than he’s played this season, but the idea of him taking off against South Carolina was to rehabilitate for nearly three weeks ahead of the Georgia game and hopefully play through the remainder of the campaign.

Defense

F: Tyreak Sapp, Jack Pyburn OR Kamran James OR Kelby Collins
NT: Cam Jackson, Jamari Lyons OR Desmond Watson
DE: Caleb Banks OR Chris McClellan
JACK: Princely Umanmielen, T.J. Searcy OR Jack Pyburn
LB: Scooby Williams, Teradja Mitchell OR Derek Wingo
LB: Shemar James, Mannie Nunnery OR Jaden Robinson
SAM: Mannie Nunnery, Scooby Williams OR Jack Pyburn

CB: Jason Marshall Jr., Ja’Keem Jackson OR Aaron Gates
CB: Jalen Kimber OR Devin Moore, Dijon Johnson
STAR: Jaydon Hill, Sharif Denson
S: Miguel Mitchell OR Bryce Thornton
S: Jordan Castell OR R.J. Moten OR Bryce Thornton

No changes to the defensive depth chart this week other than Pyburn being listed at both Jack and Sam. Sophomore safety Kamari Wilson remains unlisted.

Special teams

KO: Trey Smack, Adam Mihalek
PK: Trey Smack, Adam Mihalek
P: Jeremy Crawshaw, Jacob Watkins
H: Jeremy Crawshaw, Jacob Watkins
LS: Rocco Underwood, Gannon Burt
KR: Trevor Etienne, Jason Marshall Jr., Montrell Johnson Jr., Ricky Pearsall
PR: Ricky Pearsall, Trevor Etienne

No changes to the special teams depth chart this week.