Three items acquired from Gators’ rout of Eastern Washington

The Florida Gators imposed their will on 30-place underdog Japanese Washington through a 52-17 Sunday stroll in the Swamp.

The Eagles (1-3) did not again down from the Gators (3-2) and even took a fast 3- guide.

But this was a prospect for coach Billy Napier’s group to spread its wings and distribute the prosperity as 16 players touched the soccer and Florida racked up 666 yards in a recreation Hurricane Ian delayed a working day.

Right here are 3 factors we learned:

1. Backup quarterback Jalen Kitna is able in reduction.

Kitna changed star Anthony Richardson following he briefly remaining during the 1st 50 % for a right ankle taping subsequent a reduced strike. The redshirt freshman immediately done his very first higher education pass — a 22-yarder to Ricky Pearsall — and appeared comfy for a 19-calendar year-outdated with out encounter.

The son of NFL veteran Jon Kitna assumed QB responsibilities for a great deal of the second fifty percent and finished an productive 8 of 12 for 152 yards, highlighted by 62-lawn strike to Caleb Douglas.

“It felt great, staying there, becoming well prepared for my team,” Jalen Kitna stated. “I obtained a task to do.”

Kitna’s efficiency versus an FCS foe could be the fool’s gold typically arising from this kind of mismatches. Possibilities are Kitna’s initiatives deliver a sigh of aid for a crew without the need of a nutritious backup to Richardson.

Napier claimed Kitna has progressed in the major backup role considering the fact that Ohio Condition transfer Jack Miller III broke his thumb and demanded mid-August medical procedures. Even though Miller functions his way into video game shape, Kitna carries on to increase.

“The final in all probability two months, he’s seriously grown up a lot,” Napier reported. “Guy’s a very good participant. He’s figured out our process. For the most component the ball went in which it’s meant to go.”

The ball reached its vacation spot at an unparalleled clip during a Sept. 22 observe. Kitna finished every move he threw, in accordance to Napier.

“I really do not know that that is at any time been done,” mentioned Napier, who coaches his team’s quarterbacks.

The 6-foot-4, 208-pound Kitna was a 3-star recruit who played at four high universities in the course of his father’s nomadic coaching profession. Kitna landed on former mentor Dan Mullen’s radar when Jon Kitna worked with Dak Prescott, who played for Mullen at Mississippi State.

As a flippantly recruited player who wears Florida’s iconic No. 11, made renowned many years ago by Steve Spurrier, Jalen Kitna is in good firm.

File-setter Kyle Trask adopted a equivalent route from Texas to Gainesville.

“I‘m no way trying to stick to up in his shoes,” Kitna claimed. “I’m just enjoying my sport.”

On Sunday, it was far more than sufficient.

2. FCS online games provide a objective, probably much more so with playoff enlargement coming.

Acquiring quarterbacked Furman College (1999-2002), Napier supports chances for more compact educational facilities.

The game titles are much less competitive, a lot less engaging for enthusiasts and overlooked by television. Nevertheless an EWU participant could recall his journey to the Swamp as a profession-defining second.

“A big share of people guys, they are not going to the Countrywide Soccer League,” Napier explained. “They’re actively playing football simply because they love the video game. That’s the point I regard.”

The Gators are 22-1 from FCS foes, successful the previous 7 contests by an ordinary margin of about 42 points.

But improved competition isn’t constantly the ideal factor.

Enlargement of the SEC to 16 groups and the Faculty Football Playoff to 12 boosts the have to have for an FCS opponent to give a breather, together with taking part in time for backups.

“That’s nutritious for the locker space,” Napier explained.

A nine-game SEC routine, alongside with two Electric power 5 opponents and the possibility of multiple playoff video games, leaves a place well-suited to an FCS university.

3. Napier is prepared to shake up factors on defense.

This 7 days it was Justus Boone and Jaydon Hill and final 7 days Desmond Watson.

The starting up defense might have to undertake additional adjustments as coaches aim to take care of ongoing challenges. EWU concluded with 16 plays of at least 10 yards, far also numerous for an FCS foe acquiring a $750,000 payday to vacation three situations zones.

Towards Japanese Washington, Boone changed Princely Umanmielen at conclude even though Hill started his initially video game considering that 2020, in position of Avery Helm a 7 days soon after Tennessee torched Florida for 576 yards.

Boone responded with a career-superior 4 tackles while Umanmielen chipped in 3.

“I really don't necessarily know that it’s Princely,” Napier mentioned. “We’ve just received two definitely young players there that it’s aggressive. We performed them a person to one these days. Boone had played a tiny little bit superior … as of late.”

While downplaying the swap, Napier said gamers strive to be between the first 11 on the area.

“Competition is healthy for any one,” he explained.

Hill was in line to start off in 2021 until finally a preseason knee injuries. A considerably less major knee personal injury last spring derailed him once more.

Sunday, Hill recorded 4 stops in the course of his very first get started in practically two a long time but was crushed for an early third-down completion. Helm did not record a statistic.

Accurate freshman protection Kamari Wilson also built his 1st get started in area of injured veteran Trey Dean. Wilson managed 5 tackles and provided a physical presence.

A Gators protection hunting for answers also benefitted from freshman Trey Smack handling kickoff duties. He recorded 7 touchbacks for a group struggling to go over kicks.

This report to start with appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Edgar Thompson at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com or adhere to him on Twitter at @osgators.

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