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An update on Florida running back Trevor Etienne, two other injured Gators starters heading into matchup against Vanderbilt

Matt Zenitzby:Matt Zenitz•10/06/23•

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Florida Gators running back Trevor Etienne (7) rushes with the ball during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. (Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports)

Florida could be without three key offensive players when it faces Vanderbilt on Saturday.

Leading rusher Trevor Etienne and left tackle Austin Barber are both doubtful for the game, sources tell On3. Starting center Kingsley Eguakun, who has played in just two games this season due to ankle injury, is also expected to miss the game, per sources.

The Gators had listed all three players as questionable this week.

“We’ve got a number of players that have been modified throughout the week,” Florida head coach Billy Napier said Wednesday. “We’ll be evaluating those guys Thursday, Friday, all the way up until 4 o’clock (on Saturday).”

Etienne, who leads the Gators with 358 rushing yards, sustained an upper body injury during the team’s loss to Kentucky last week. Fortunately for Florida, the Gators still have Montrell Johnson even if Etienne does end up being unavailable. Johnson, who led Florida with 841 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns last year, has run for 253 yards and accounted for four total touchdowns through the Gators’ first five games.

Johnson rushed for 42 yards on 10 carries during the loss to Kentucky. He also had six catches for 22 yards.

Florida enters the matchup against Vanderbilt as an 18.5-point favorite. The Gators will be looking to bounce back from the 33-14 loss to Kentucky, which dropped Florida to 3-2.

“I think that when we watched the film, a lot of areas where we need to do better,” Napier said. “I think ultimately we spent Sunday and parts of Monday looking at that and we have turned the page. Much like every week, maybe you play well, you have to put it behind you and move on to the next opportunity. That’s the approach we’ve taken this week. 4 o’clock Saturday, we play Vanderbilt. New set of variables, new personnel, new schemes and certainly the next opportunity.”

Vanderbilt, meanwhile, has lost four straight games since opening the season with wins over Hawaii and Alabama A&M. It comes after Vandy finished last season 5-7. One of the wins, though, was a 31-24 November victory over Florida.