ESPN insider reveals Florida linebacker Ventrell Miller is game-time decision vs Tennessee

After missing last week’s close call against South Florida, super-senior Florida linebacker Ventrell Miller may return to the field tonight against Tennessee. According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, the Gators are hoping to see some snaps from the veteran LB vs. the Vols, though he may not be totally 100%.

Here was that full report from Rittenberg via Twitter:

“#Florida linebacker Ventrell Miller (lower leg) will be a game-time decision today against #Tennessee, per sources. There’s optimism he will play at least some against the Vols, but will be evaluated during warmups. Miller missed last week’s game against South Florida.”

So his status is still technically up in the air. Though this report seems to suggest he’s at least going to give it a go today, but he and the team will play it by ear.

Billy Napier raves about Miller after fourth-down stop vs. Utah

Florida beat Utah with situational football in the red zone. When the Gators got inside the 20, they capitalized. Meanwhile, Utah saw two possessions inside the 10-yard-line yield zero points. Including the final drive of the game, when Florida picked the Utes off to effectively end the game.

Punch either of those possessions in for a touchdown and the Pac-12 power likely comes away with the victory. Alas, it was the Gator playmakers who stepped up and, well, made plays. The earlier red zone stop cam on a fourth-and-goal inside Florida’s own one-yard-line. But linebacker Ventrell Miller plugged the hole that Utah’s Tavion Thomas hoped to run though. Huge play by Miller. One that got him lofty praise from head coach Billy Napier after the fact.

“Man, Ventrell Miller. You talk about a guy you want to goto battle with, that’s the guy you want to go to war with there. He’s…let me say this: that’s the difference in the game right.”

“It’s red zone touchdowns, right. We scored touchdowns in the red zone, they did too, you know. But we forced them, I think, into two field goals. They had two times that he got no points from a red area trip, we got touchdowns, I think, every single time, right.

“And that’s the difference in the game: the interception and the fumble early. They scratch each other and here we go. So, you know, turnovers, explosive plays, red area touchdowns. Ultimately, tonight was all about four-point plays in the red zone. And hats off to Patrick Toney for getting stops, getting our players in position, the players executing.”