#10 Florida Gators (9-3) vs #7 Michigan Wolverines (10-2)
***
Coach: Dan Mullen
Florida Players to watch:
*Junior DE Jachai Polite (6-2/260)
Polite has put up some of the best DL numbers in Gator history. Polite led the SEC in fumbles forced with five and totaled 11 sacks and 16.0 tackles-for-loss. The junior entered 2018 with nine tackles-for-loss in 19 career games. In 2018, Polite also added 43 tackles, four pass breakups and three quarterback hurries.
***Freshman CB Trey Dean (6-2/181)
Dean played in all 12 games and started eight, including the last five. He is second on the team with six pass breakups and has added 22 tackles.
**Sophomore CB C.J. Henderson (6-1/182)
Henderson recorded two interceptions, two forced fumbles and 30 tackles. He also added seven pass breakups. He has excellent closing speed.
Senior LT Martez Ivy (6-5/315)
Ivey garnered second-team AP and Coaches honors after helping the Gators average 426.7 yards of offense per game. With his help, Florida logged eight 200-plus rushing attack games, matching its combined total from 2015-2017. The senior also helped Florida attain the program’s fourth-highest rushing yardage total since the start of 1990 with 2,514.
***
Coach: Jim Harbaugh
Michigan Players to watch:
*Junior LB Devin Bush (5-11/233)
An elite athlete who can make a tackle in space and beat ball carriers to the sideline, Bush was named the Big 10’s defensive player of the year. He totaled 79 tackles; 9 tfl; and five sacks, along with six pass breakups. He is a two-time Walter Camp All-American (first team, 2018; second team, 2017).
Senior DE Chase Winovich (6-3/253)
Winovich has the potential to not only burst through the any O-line, but stop whomever has the ball before he even gets a chance to get back to the line of scrimmage. Tackles-for-loss are his specialty. Winovich had 62 tackles, including a team-high 14 1/2 for a loss, and four sacks.
*Junior CB Lavert Hill (5-11/180)
Hill was named to the third-team All-America for the first time at Michigan. He was a consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection and a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. This season, he had one interception and five pass breakups.
*Junior CB David Long (5-11/187)
Long is one the best cover corners in the country, leading the nation in passer rating when targeted and yards allowed per coverage snap, according to PFF.
*Junior DE Rashan Gary (6-5/281)
Gary has signed with an agent and will not be playing.
***
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
No. 10 Florida 41, No. 7 Michigan 15
One comment