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Florida football: Five things the Gators must do to beat Utah

By Benjamin Henderson

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 27: Anthony Richardson #15 of the Florida Gators takes the field before the start of a game against the Florida State Seminoles at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 27, 2021 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 27: Anthony Richardson #15 of the Florida Gators takes the field before the start of a game against the Florida State Seminoles at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 27, 2021 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 30: Xzavier Henderson #3 of the Florida Gators catches a punt during the first quarter of a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at TIAA Bank Field on October 30, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /

Florida football keys to victory: Xzavier Henderson breakout party

Utah’s pathway to victory on offense doesn’t necessarily have to incorporate their wide receivers. Between Thomas, QB Cameron Rising’s running ability, and their two tight ends, Utah can get away without having a vertical threat.

The same might not be true for Florida.

While the Gators have on paper a rock-solid offensive line and the ability to put Richardson in motion, the rest of Florida’s skill guys are mostly unproven.

Outside of Justin Shorter, all of the wide receivers and running backs listed on the two-deep depth chart for Florida have seen limited to no time in a Gators’ uniform. Shorter will be solid but doesn’t provide Florida with a real vertical threat. Likewise, newcomer Ricky Pearsall can cause problems in the slot but probably won’t beat guys over the top.

Xzavier Henderson is really the only guy for Florida that provides any real threat for getting in behind Utah’s secondary. And since one of Richardson’s strengths is his arm strength, Florida can open Utah if Henderson has early success.

If Henderson proves to be ineffective, it will invite Utah to creep closer to the line of scrimmage and make Richardson’s day harder.

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