Florida senior defensive tackle Caleb Banks made his season debut this past Saturday night in a 20-10 loss at LSU. He had missed UF’s first two games while dealing with a foot injury.
Unfortunately for Banks and the Gators, he re-injured the same foot late in the third quarter. Banks went to the locker room before returning to the sidelines on crutches and in a walking boot.
Billy Napier didn’t offer a definitive timeline for Banks’s return, but he’s definitely ‘out’ of Saturday’s showdown at Miami. When asked by a reporter this morning if it was safe to assume that it’s a longer-term injury, Napier replied, “yes sir.”
Banks logged 29 defensive snaps at LSU, but he didn’t record any stats. In 10 starts for UF last season, he produced 21 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six QB Hurries, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass broken up. Per Pro Football Focus, Banks had a team-high 29 QB pressures.
In 2023, Banks started 11 games for the Gators and recorded 19 tackles, two TFL’s and one sack. He spent his first two seasons at Louisville before transferring to UF ahead of the 2023 campaign.
Banks was a preseason first-team All-SEC selection and third-team All-American in Phil Steele’s magazine.
Without Banks, look for increased playing time for DT Brendan Bett, the sophomore transfer from Baylor who had four tackles in only 18 snaps at LSU. Bett was flagged for a costly penalty in UF’s 18-16 loss vs. USF when he spit on an opponent. He was held out of most of the first half against the Tigers as part of internal discipline for the spitting incident.
In three games this year, Bett has 11 tackles and one TFL.
It doesn’t sound like Florida freshman WR Dallas Wilson is going to be back this week either. Wilson suffered a lower-body injury in early August and has missed the Gators’ first three games.
As of late Monday afternoon, Florida was a 7.5-point road underdog Saturday at Miami. UF is 6-4 against the spread in 10 games as a road underdog during Napier’s abysmal four-year tenure.
The Hurricanes are 8-10 ATS in 18 games as a home favorite on Mario Cristobal’s watch.
UF actually had a 23-10 advantage in first downs at LSU, had a 366-322 edge in total yards and had more than 15 minutes of time of possession compared to the Tigers.
However, Florida QB DJ Lagway threw five interceptions, including one pick-six, and that’s never a recipe for success in SEC road assignments.
Kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC.