![Florida Gators assistant coach for wide receivers Billy Gonzales looks on before the game at the Orange and Blue spring football game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 13, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_5472,h_3078/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/213/01k8t88hg0habgtxthgb.jpg "Florida Gators assistant coach for wide receivers Billy Gonzales looks on before the game at the Orange and Blue spring football game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 13, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]")
There had been rumblings that Vernell Brown III might not be ready to go against Georgia this week, and those fears were confirmed on the Wednesday injury report. Brown III suffered an AC sprain against Mississippi State, and the injury has lingered through the bye week.
It's a big blow for the Gators as they lose one of their most dynamic receivers and their primary punt returner, and Florida is going to have to look elsewhere for production on Saturday.
Vernell Brown III to be out against Georgia
At his press conference on Monday, interim coach Billy Gonzales hinted that Brown III hadn't been cleared yet to play on Saturday and it's obvious that rather than put a questionable tag on Brown III, the injury is severe enough that Florida already ruled him out.
Joining Brown III as "Out" this week is:
- Aidan Mizell
- Ja'Kobi Jackson
- Caleb Banks
- Aaron Gates
- Dijon Johnson
- LJ McCray
- Treyaun Webb
Aidan Mizell is notable because he has been fighting the injury bug all season and had two catches against Mississippi State before he left early and did not return. Mizell had a TD last year in the game against Georgia.
As Gonzales looks to spread his offense out, this means that DJ Lagway is going to need to lean on the trio of Dallas Wilson, Eugene Wilson III, and J. Michael Sturdivant. On paper, the next man up would be TJ Abrams will get increased snaps, but it also opens the door for guys like Tank Hawkins and Naeshaun Montgomery to get into the mix this Saturday.
Given that Wilson III is now in line to regain a lion's share of the snaps, it's going to be fascinating to see how Gonzlaes utilizes him. One of the conundrums of the Billy Napier Era was that Wilson III was reduced to 49 orbit motions per game and was almost never allowed to go run an actual route.
Gonzales acknowledged at his Wednesday press conference that Wilson III is chomping at the bit and said that his confidence level had risen at practice this week.
Duke Clark and Javion Toombs are the only other two names to show up for Florida on the injury report, and they are listed as questionable.