Three Gators Tabbed to Preseason Coaches All-SEC Team
On Tuesday, the Southeastern Conference released its Preseason Coaches All-SEC Team. Three Gators were selected to the third team.
Running back Trevor Etienne, edge rusher Princely Umanmielen and cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. earned the nod during the preseason selection made by coaches.
Offensively, the Gators are expected to be largely dependent on their rushing attack in 2023, making it essential to replicate some of the success it saw a year ago as it churned out just over 200 yards per game.
Etienne, embarking on his sophomore season, returns to ensure that threshold is met.
Coming off a season in which he rushed for 719 yards, 6.1 yards per carry and six touchdowns on 119 attempts, the uber-creative and elusive ball carrier is expected to shoulder a heavy workload as a sophomore as the face of the Florida offense.
He'll appear consistently in rotation with backfield mate Montrell Johnson for the second season, presenting one of the most talented, prosperous tandems via the ground in college football. Anticipation for an expanded role as receivers out of the backfield also looms.
On the defensive side of the ball, Umanmielen is coming off a season in which he led the Gators in tackles for loss (9.5) and sacks (4.5) while ranking second in quarterback hurries (five).
He's transitioning into the JACK role after serving as a strong-side defensive end before the edge position was reconstructed this offseason.
Early returns from the move have been positive. He recently made a splash in UF's fall camp scrimmage on Friday, as he proved a beneficiary of the Gators' creeper pressure system with a pick-six while dropping back in coverage, All Gators learned.
The waves he's created throughout the offseason have him poised for a breakout season, according to his teammates.
"Princely is a freak of nature," defensive lineman Cam Jackson said about the Manor, Texas product on Thursday. "Princely can do it all like I ain't never seen no edge rusher like it.
"I like Princely, he's a leader for sure and I'm ready to see him have an amazing year this year."
Umanmielen's counterpart in leadership, Marshall, also graced the All-SEC list after producing at a high level for the Gators in the back half of the 2022 season in coverage.
Having played in all 26 games available to him during his two-year stint with the Gators, Marshall has accounted for 52 tackles, 11 pass breakups, three tackles for loss and two interceptions. As a freshman, Marshall allowed the lowest completion percentage in coverage in the SEC at 36.8%, according to Pro Football Focus.
In 2022, he built on the strong rookie showing. The Miami native led the team with pass breakups (eight) and didn't allow a touchdown despite over 300 coverage snaps, per PFF.
He's garnered first-round draft grades throughout the offseason as a result. Marshall is expected to benefit greatly from the added dose of press man coverage implemented by defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong in Florida's new "deny the ball defense."
You can find the entire Preseason Coaches All-SEC Team here.
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