As Florida football winds down its 2024 season, players and coaches are taking a day-to-day mindset into its matchup on Saturday at The Swamp against No. 22 LSU (3:30 p.m., ABC)
“One of the terms I’ve been using all week from the very beginning of the week is work as if you’re on a one-day contract, and maybe you get to call it a night to come back, maybe you don’t,” Florida football coach Billy Napier said. “So, if we prepare and train and practice and have the self-discipline as if we were always being observed and we were on a one-day contract, and if we do our job well enough, and at a high level, you get the call to come back.”
The Florida Gators (4-5, 2-4 SEC) are back home, where they are 3-2 on the season and won back-to-back games against UCF and Kentucky in October.
Florida offensive lineman Bryce Lovett, who made his first career start at right guard in UF’s 49-17 loss at No. 3 Texas last Saturday, offered a message for fans who will watch UF play its first home game since Oct. 19
“Just stick with us,” Lovett said. “We’re putting in the work. We’re working hard. We’re going to do our best to finish out the season strong.”
Here are five players to watch for Florida for its game against the Tigers:
The 6-0, 195-pound Dike, a transfer from Wisconsin, has emerged as one of UF’s top receivers this season with 28 catches for 523 yards and two TDs. He was one of the few bright spots for the Gators last week at Texas with five catches for 95 yards, including 54 yards after the catch.
“I have great coaches around me, teammates that believe in me, and I just try to go out there and play as hard as I can,” Dike said. “It’s an honor to play for the University of Florida. It’s a dream come true for me. So, just every day I try go out there and work as hard as I can.”
The 5-11, 209-pound Jackson has led Florida in rushing in each of its last two games, including the first 100-yard game of his career, rushing for 116 yards and a touchdown on 6.1 yards per carry against Texas. For the season, Jackson has rushed for 343 yards on 5.8 yards per carry and five TDs.
The 6-6, 314-pound Barber has started all nine games at left tackle for Florida, anchoring a unit that has given up the second-fewest sacks in the SEC (13 in nine games). A redshirt junior, Barber has made all nine starts despite dealing with leg issues that could have sidelined him against Tennessee and Kentucky in October.
“I love football but these guys, these fans, these teammates, these brothers I have, keep me going,” Barber said.
The 6-foot-5, 262-pound Searcy recorded his second sack of the season last Saturday against Texas. Searcy will look to try to pressure LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, though it won’t be easy, as LSU has surrendered the fewest sacks in the SEC this season (6 in nine games).
“What’s been helping me with my pass rush this year has been the extra work I put in, getting comfortable with the moves,” Searcy said.
The 6-2, 200-pound Bridges, a transfer from Oregon, has emerged as one of UF’s most versatile and productive defensive players this season. Bridges has posted a team-high 46 tackles on the season, with one tackle for loss, one interception and two pass breakups.
Bridges has played both safety and cornerback for UF this season and will likely see more time at cornerback with starters Jason Marshall Jr. and Devin Moore still out. He considers his versatility as a strength and something that could help him reach the NFL level when his college career ends this season.
“It’s a really great tool to have just be able to like be flexible and play more than one position because there’s only 53 players that can get on that roster,” Bridges said. “So you wanna be able to play more than one position, be flexible, and move around as an athlete so I think it is a good tool, good ability to have.”
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1
