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Florida vs. Kentucky: Gators' depth chart features the return of Teez Tabor

Hello, old friend.

By Andy Hutchins
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Florida Gators' depth chart didn't survive one week of the 2016 season without shakeups due to injuries and the ends of suspensions. Two starters return to Florida's depth chart for its game against Kentucky this week, led by All-American candidate cornerback Teez Tabor, and one more, Dre Massey, exits the depth chart after a season-ending injury.

As ever, it's better read as a table.

Offensive Depth Chart

Position First Team Second Team Third Team
Quarterback Luke Del Rio Austin Appleby Feleipe Franks OR Kyle Trask
Running back Jordan Scarlett OR Mark Thompson OR Jordan Cronkrite Mark Herndon Lamical Perine
Outside receiver (left) Antonio Callaway Josh Hammond C.J. Worton
Outside receiver (right) Brandon Powell Ahmad Fulwood
Slot receiver Brandon Powell Freddie Swain
Tight end DeAndre Goolsby OR C'yontai Lewis Moral Stephens OR Camrin Knight
Left tackle David Sharpe Kavaris Harkless
Left guard Martez Ivey Nick Buchanan OR Brandon Sandifer
Center Cam Dillard T.J. McCoy
Right guard Tyler Jordan Richerd Desir-Jones
Right tackle Fred Johnson Jawaan Taylor

The only addition to the offensive depth chart this week is Lewis, who was suspended along with Tabor, reportedly for participating in the same practice-adjacent fight in early August. It's little surprise that he's listed as a co-starter with Goolsby: Both players have similar enough skill sets to be deployed interchangeably.

The interesting thing about the offensive depth chart might be the absence of Tyrie Cleveland and Rick Wells, whom Jim McElwain confirmed were reinstated and are eligible to play against Kentucky. Both players could play often this fall, and Cleveland, especially, figures to eventually work his way into the outside receiver group, and it would be a bit surprising if he doesn't see the field against the Wildcats, but listing Powell at two positions and Cleveland at none feels like a sign that the once-suspended freshmen have some work to do.

Defensive Depth Chart

Position First Team Second Team Third Team
End Bryan Cox, Jr. Keivonnis Davis OR Justus Reed
Nose Joey Ivie Khairi Clark
Tackle Caleb Brantley Cece Jefferson OR Taven Bryan
End Jordan Sherit Jabari Zuniga Jachai Polite
SLB Daniel McMillian OR Jeremiah Moon
MLB Jarrad Davis David Reese
WLB Alex Anzalone Kylan Johnson Vosean Joseph
CB Quincy Wilson Chauncey Gardner
CB Teez Tabor Joseph Putu
Safety Nick Washington OR Marcell Harris
Safety Marcus Maye Jeawon Taylor
Nickel Duke Dawson Chris Williamson

The obvious change is Tabor showing up and replacing Dawson as a starting outside corner. The less obvious one is the shift of Moon to co-starter with McMillian, which seems like both a sign of confidence in Moon and potentially a hint that the "badly sprained ankle" that McElwain said McMillian played with for much of the UMass game might limit him going forward.

There are no other changes on defense, which generally played well against the Minutemen. The continued presence of Chris Williamson on the depth chart after he was notably torched in coverage, however, is probably testament to just how thin Florida is behind its starting corners.

Special Teams Depth Chart

Position First Team Second Team
Kicker Eddy Pineiro Jorge Powell
Punter Johnny Townsend
Kick returner Brandon Powell Antonio Callaway
Punt returner Antonio Callaway Brandon Powell
Long snapper Ryan Farr
Holder Johnny Townsend

No more Massey means Callaway returns to the kickoff return team, which he played on in Massey's stead on Saturday.

Powell being listed ahead of him is, at this point, bizarre. Powell averaged 21.25 yards on 24 kick returns in 2015, and Callaway has averaged 27.75 yards on his four career kick returns, and had a 32-yard return that set Florida up in great field position against UMass. The only justification for using Powell over Callaway on kick returns that I would understand is an interest in saving some wear and tear on Callaway ... but Powell has actually suffered injuries in his career, and probably needs to be preserved just as much, and Callaway returning punts opens him up to much bigger hits, I think.