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Trevor Etienne, Austin Barber shed injury status ahead of South Carolina game

Untitled designby:Nick de la Torre•10/11/23•

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Florida Gators running back Trevor Etienne (7) smiles after the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 7, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators will get two key offensive players back this weekend when they travel to South Carolina. Sophomore running back Trevor Etienne and redshirt sophomore left tackle Austin Barber were both taken off the injury report on Wednesday.

Both Etienne and Barber missed Florida’s game last week. The Gators didn’t miss either player, beating the Vanderbilt Commodores 38-14. Montrell Johnson shoulderd the load for the running game. The junior carried the ball 18 times for 135 yards and a tocuhdown. Johnson went over, 2,000 career rushing yards on the night.

“He played big today. He’s a 217-, 18-pound back, but I thought he played with an edge today. He was tough to tackle,” Billy Napier said after the game. “We blocked them pretty good today. We got the ball to the second level. I thought we had good man answers today, and we managed the pressure with the perimeter throws. It was well executed. Montrell was at the center of that for sure.”

The Gators’ offensive line held up without Barber and starting center Kingsley Eguakun. Redshirt sophomore Damieon George replaced Barber at left tackle and graduate senior Lyndell Hudson earned his first start for the Gators at right tackle.

The Gators also got redshirt sophomore Kamryn Waites, who returned to game action after having Achillies surgery in Janurary.

“I’m proud of the players that had to play, in particular the two tackles, Lyndell, Kam Waites, both of which had an opportunity to play,” Napier said.

Etienne’s return gives the Gators a full backfield to go against a South Carolina defense that ranks 12th in the SEC allowing 141.60 yards per game on the ground.

Etienne’s career day

Etienne had the game of his career against the Tennessee Volunteers. He ran 23 times for 172 yards and a touchdown, averaging 7.5 yards per carry.

“Yeah. I mean, Trevor was on fire out there tonight,” Napier said postgame. “I mean, just the instincts, the vision. Him and Montrell both were in situations where they made guys miss tackles. And then after contact created big plays. You think about the screen, Montrell gets a little piece of the guy. Both of those guys have got great contact balance. 

“And what’s good for our team is they’re some of the hardest working kids that we have. They have character. They’re extremely bright. They set a great example. So I think that helps your team when your best players are the best examples.”

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