Florida reveals big news via depth chart for Saturday’s game vs. Miami

It’s a huge state of Florida matchup to start the season, and both the Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes are hoping that their Week 1’s go a lot better than Florida State’s.

The Gators, specifically, have a tough task ahead of them with the No. 19 Hurricanes coming to town.

“Our opponent this week is highly regarded. They’re ranked in both polls. They’ve got several All-American, all-conference players. They’re picked to make the Playoff. They’re picked to win their conference, right? So, I don’t think we’re lacking in regards to respect for the opponent,” Florida head coach Billy Napier said earlier this week regarding the Hurricanes (h/t On3).

It’s important for the Gators to at the very least compete with Miami and if Napier wants to see a fourth season he very well may have to beat Miami (he’s 11-14 in his first two season in Gainesville), and Florida did reveal some good news in that regard with the reveal of the two-deep depth chart ahead of the game.

Checking in at RB1 is a player who was questionable heading into the game, senior running back Montrell Johnson Jr.

Johnson had arthroscopic knee surgery just a few weeks ago at the start of the camp and was considered week-to-week, but he’s not on the depth chart just as a distraction. The Gators are expecting him to play against Miami, per Napier.

“We anticipate Montrell being available,” Napier said via the team website. “If he’s on the depth chart at the top of the list, he’s ready to go.”

This is, simply put, huge news for Florida.

Johnson has been the Gators’ leading rusher over the past two seasons, having rushed for 817 yards and five touchdowns in 2023 and 827 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022.