3 Florida players to watch against Kentucky

Kentucky’s SEC home opener has arrived in Week 5, and the upcoming matchup is a big one. Billy Napier is bringing his Florida team to Lexington with some momentum after a three-game winning streak highlighted by a victory over Tennessee. The Gators are now looking to knock off Kentucky to make their case as Georgia’s top competition in the SEC East.

The Wildcats will look to end the good times in Florida to set up a top-25 clash next Saturday night in Athens. There is an SEC game with stakes coming to Kroger Field.

Kentucky is currently a slim favorite out in Las Vegas proving that this matchup is truly a toss-up contest. What challenges will the Wildcats face on Saturday? Let’s take a look at three Gators who will play a big role in the upcoming SEC East contest.

Stopping a clear No. 1 wide receiver

Ricky Pearsall was a huge pickup for Florida last summer. The Gators desperately needed some help at wide receiver. The Arizona State transfer recorded 33 receptions for 661 yards and five touchdowns. Pearsall was a big playmaker Anthony Richardson.

That has remained the same in 2023.

The true redshirt senior has been a target on 32.4 percent of Graham Mertz’s passes and has been efficient with his opportunities. Pearsall has 27 receptions on 35 targets for 357 yards and one touchdown. The Gators force-feed the veteran in the passing game.

When Florida looks to pass, Mertz will be looking for Pearsall. Stopping the run is Kentucky’s top priority, but the Wildcats must cover and tackle Pearsall. He is this offense’s top playmaker.

Blocking Florida’s NFL EDGE

Kentucky’s pass protection looks improved through four games. Devin Leary has been pressured on 30.2 percent of his dropbacks, according to PFF data. However, the Wildcats have only allowed four sacks. One of the top goals on Saturday will be to keep Leary clean.

Kentucky’s tackles will be challenged by one of the best edge rushers in the SEC.

Leaders in pass rush win rate this season🔥 pic.twitter.com/Gdxhi0YRHJ

— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 27, 2023

Florida EDGE Princely Umanmielen is winning quickly as a pass rusher this season and ranks third in the SEC in pressures (17). Florida defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong will use both pre and post-snap movement to try and confuse Devin Leary and Kentucky’s offensive line. Kentucky must identify and get rushers blocked. Most notably, there must be a good plan for Umanmielen.

Umanmielen could wreck the game if Kentucky does not get him blocked.

Make Graham Mertz win the game

Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz is playing good football for Florida. The redshirt senior is distributing the football with accuracy and keeping the Gators ahead of schedule. However, he has been a dink-and-dunk master through the first four weeks.

Mertz has only thrown the football 30-plus times once this season, and that occurred in a double-digit loss to Utah in Week 1. When asked to throw the ball 30-plus times at Wisconsin, Mertz’s teams were 0-9 on the field. The veteran quarterback has struggled throughout his career in traditional dropback passing situations. Kentucky must force the Gators to pass on Saturday.

That includes stopping the run and getting out to an early lead. When Mertz does throw the football, Kentucky’s pass rush must clutter the pocket and force the pocket quarterback to make throws off schedule and into small windows.

If Kentucky forces Florida to get pass-heavy, it should be a good day for the home team.