Florida football depth chart, Week 1: Montrell Johnson cleared as Gators open 2024 season vs. Miami

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Image Credit: UAA

With just 60 hours until kickoff of the 2024 season, the Florida Gators on Wednesday released their first official depth chart for Year 3 under head coach Billy Napier. When the No. 19 Miami Hurricanes will be welcomed to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday afternoon, there will not be many surprises awaiting them based on the way the roster is falling in line ahead of the season opener.

Redshirt senior quarterback Graham Mertz returns as the starter with freshman DJ Lagway officially penciled in as the backup. The expectation is that Lagway will run a package of plays this season — similar to how Tim Tebow spelled Chris Leak in 2006 — but until that is put in practice on the field, everything about Lagway’s role is speculation.

Perhaps most notable, senior running back Montrell Johnson Jr. was listed without an injury designation; he had minor surgery to clean up a knee issue a few weeks ago and was considered questionable for Week 1 based on his recovery.

There are 24 first-year players — transfers and freshmen — on the depth chart overall with 18 “OR” designations across the team. When it comes to starting roles, there are seven “OR” designations with six coming on the defensive side of the ball alone.

Let’s take a look at the depth chart ahead of the Gators’ first game of the season.

* On injury report | ^ First-year player (transfer or freshman)

Offense

QB: Graham Mertz, DJ Lagway^, Clay Millen^
RB: Montrell Johnson Jr., Treyaun Webb, Jadan Baugh^ OR KD Daniels^ OR Ja’Kobi Jackson
TE: Arlis Boardingham, Amir Jackson^ OR Tony Livingston
TE: Hayden Hansen, Scott Isacks OR Tony Livingston
WR: Eugene Wilson III, Aidan Mizell
WR: Chimere Dike^, Marcus Burke
WR: Elijhah Badger^ OR Kahleil Jackson

LT: Austin Barber, Devon Manuel^, Fletcher Westphal^
LG: Knijeah Harris, Christian Williams OR Roderick Kearney
C: Jake Slaughter, Roderick Kearney, Jason Zandamela^
RG: Damieon George Jr., Bryce Lovett, Kamryn Waites
RT: Kamryn Waites, Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson^, Caden Jones

The running back competition behind Johnson has been significant, but Webb has been the best of the bunch throughout camp. There has been consternation about the right side of the offensive line for months, and Crenshaw-Dickson (San Diego State) opening the season as a second stringer is certainly a surprise compared to expectations upon his acquisition. George moving inside — back to his more natural position — after starting at tackle in 2023 is welcome. Dike (Wisconsin) and Badger (Arizona State) serve as immediate starters out of the transfer portal. Badger is hoping to have a similar glow up moving to the Gators as Ricky Pearsall did after departing the Sun Devils.

Defense

F: Justus Boone OR Kamran James OR Tyreak Sapp, LJ McCray^
NT: Desmond Watson OR Cam Jackson, Michai Boireau^
DE: Caleb Banks OR Joey Slackman^, Kelby Collins
JACK: T.J. Searcy OR George Gumbs Jr.^, Jack Pyburn
LB: Shemar James, Myles Graham^ OR R.J. Moten
LB: Grayson Howard^ OR Derek Wingo, Jaden Robinson
SAM: George Gumbs Jr.^, Aaron Chiles^, Ja’Markis Weston

CB: Jason Marshall Jr., Ja’Keem Jackson, Teddy Foster
CB: Devin Moore, Dijon Johnson, Jameer Grimsley^
STAR: Sharif Denson OR Aaron Gates
S: Jordan Castell, Trikweze Bridges^, Gregory Smith III
S: Asa Turner^, DJ Douglas^, Bryce Thornton

Howard (South Carolina), Gumbs Jr. (Northern Illinois) and Turner (Washington) serve as immediate starters out of the transfer portal with Slackman (Pennsylvania) undoubtedly set to see significant action right out of the gate. True freshmen Graham and Chiles should both see increased playing time as the season progresses and they gain experience.

Special teams

KO: Trey Smack, Brandon Rabasco^
PK: Trey Smack, Brandon Rabasco^
P: Jeremy Crawshaw, Nicholas Inglis^
H: Jeremy Crawshaw, Nicholas Inglis^
LS: Rocco Underwood, Gannon Burt
KR: Montrell Johnson Jr. OR Elijhah Badger^ OR Jadan Baugh^ OR Ja’Kobi Jackson
PR: Eugene Wilson III, Chimere Dike^

Florida has new second-stringers at kicker and punter.