Florida Gators CB Devin Moore leaves Georgia game with injury
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators, already done two cornerbacks against Georgia, lost another starter in Saturday’s game. Junior Devin Moore is the latest CB to suffer an injury.
Moore made one of the top plays in the first half, picking off UGA quarterback Carson Beck and returning it 32 yards. UF scored on the ensuing play to take a 7-3 lead with a 43-yard touchdown pass from DJ Lagway to Aidan Mizell.
Unfortunately for Moore, he appeared to take a shot on his interception return and was hurt on the play. The training staff assessed him on the sideline and put a brace on his right knee, but he was limping as he walked around.
Moore is sitting on the bench and has not returned to the game. He was replaced in the lineup by Cormani McClain. The Gators now have a pair of sophomores as their starting cornerbacks in McClain and Dijon Johnson, who made his first career start against Georgia.
Florida was counting on Johnson and McClain to fill the void at cornerback following the season-ending injury to senior Jason Marshall Jr. The four-year starter hurt his labrum and will require surgery.
Marshall was the second starting cornerback that UF has lost this season. Sophomore Ja’Keem Jackson started the first two weeks but has been out since getting hurt in the Samford game.
Johnson has been Florida’s best cornerback in coverage this season according to PFF (77.9 grade). He has allowed just three catches for 15 years on five targets in 91 coverage snaps.
“Very proud of Dee Dee. Got a ton of confidence in him, especially over the last month I would say, he’s really taken a step forward,” Florida coach Billy Napier said of Johnson. “He’s a competitor. He’s got a good skill set, height, length, good polished skills.
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“He’s learning the game. I think that’s what I’m most proud of. I think his football intelligence has improved because he’s really worked at it. I think Dee Dee, we got a ton of confidence in him and his role. We’ll put him out there with no concern.”
More playing time was also expected for McClain following his stellar play against Kentucky. He made his UF debut after Marshall’s injury and stepped up with a pick-six, which caused UF’s sideline to rush the field in celebration.
McClain also had an impressive pass breakup in the end zone. He graded out as Florida’s best defender against UK with an 84.6 PFF grade and an 89.5 grade in coverage. He built on that performance in practice this week.
“I think just some confidence,” Napier said when asked what he’s seeing from McClain. “Skill players always are a little insecure, and then when they get game experience, they have some production, and it’s like, ‘OK, this is now I know what it’s like out there’, and now I can prepare and then test anticipation of that. So I think he’s still learning the defense.
“I think, obviously there’s a lot of concepts, but overall, I think he’s got a smile on his face. I see him connecting with teammates. He’s obviously more self-disciplined. He’s doing a good job, we don’t have any issues with him. He’s growing up. He’s still very much a work in progress, and he’s definitely getting better.”
