Florida Football: News, Notes and Updates Before the Season Opener

Finally!

It is less than a week until the Florida Gators face off against the Florida Atlantic Owls in the Gators' season opener.

As we approach Sept. 3, here are just a few things Gator fans need to take notice of before the season gets under way.

John Brantley Injury Update

For a little over a week now, John Brantley has been fighting through a sore back, as he has been limited throughout several team practices.

“It’s just been a bunch of a little soreness, tightness. Nothing major at all,” said Brantley. “No one thing made it hurt. It just started getting sore one day.”

Despite missing the last two team scrimmages, head coach Will Muschamp has no doubt that Brantley will be ready for their season opener against Florida Atlantic.

But if for some reason Brantley is unable to play at any time on Saturday, backup quarterback Jeff Driskel, a true freshman, will take the snaps behind center.

Two Freshmen Start in Secondary

The depth chart was released earlier this week, and perhaps the most intriguing thing was Muschamp tabbing two true freshmen to start in the secondary in Saturday's season opener.

Cornerback Marcus Roberson and safety Pop Saunders got the starting nod against the Owls this weekend.

In a media session after the depth chart was released, Muschamp explained what it takes to earn one of the starting positions.

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“The bottom line with me is that you have to earn the right to start, so if a guy doesn’t practice [well], he’s not going to start,” he said. “A guy has got to get out there and practice and compete and play the right way when we start our football game."

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It will be interesting to see how both Roberson and Saunders perform, but clearly, they have something special. If they can string some quality performances together, the Gators' secondary could quickly become a strength of the defense this season.

Kirk Herbstreit Tabs the Gators As His Sleeper Team in the SEC

In this year's "Herbie Awards," ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit named the Florida Gators as his sleeper team in the SEC.

Certainly the Gators have the athletes and the talent to make some noise in only Muschamp's first season in Gainesville, but the Gators face an awfully tough schedule.

If the Gators are to fulfill Herbstreit's prediction, players like Ronald Powell, Sharrif Floyd and Jelani Jenkins will have to step on defense. And John Brantley, who had a disastrous 2010 season, will have to finally play up to his potential.

I think if the Gators can gain confidence early before starting SEC play, they could string a solid winning streak together.

The real test will come in October, when the Gators face Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Georgia.