Florida Gators defensive back Devin Moore #28 celebrating during the second half as the Florida Gators defeat the Kentucky Wildcats 48-20 at Ben Hill Griffiin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. October 19th, 2024. Gator Country Photo by David Bowie.
After allowing only four third-down conversions and 312 total yards in Florida’s devastating loss to the Tennessee Volunteers two weeks ago, Florida’s defense made it a priority to prove that a major turning point could be a reality halfway through the 2024 season. The Gators proved just that against the Kentucky Wildcats last weekend, making one of their biggest statements of the season through eight weeks.
In the win over the Wildcats, Florida’s defense flew around the field recording 69 total tackles, six passes defended, three tackles for loss, three interceptions and one sack. The Gators missed just six tackles in the contest, their lowest on the 2024 season.
“It’s translating to the game because we work it every day in practice,” Moore said on the tackling improvements on defense. “It’s one thing to work it every day in practice, but when everybody is holding you accountable for it, you don’t want to let your brothers down, even in practice. That’s the type of atmosphere we create in practice. So just going out there and playing for your brothers and making sure, okay, I got this job to do. I got to get them down by any means.”
The last time Florida recorded a trio of interceptions was during the 2020 season against the same team, the Kentucky Wildcats. Florida’s third interception of the night came from transfer cornerback and walk-on Cormani McClain, who became the first Gator to record a pick-6 since Jaydon Hill returned an interception for a touchdown against Texas A&M during the 2022 season.
“100% credit to the coaching staff,” Moore said on Florida’s three interceptions. “You know, after last season we were kind of lacking in that area, so every day we turnover circuit, takeaway circuit; that stuff translates to the field.”
The Gators hit a major turning point during their first bye week of the season, stringing together three straight impressive performances against UCF, Tennessee, and Kentucky, holding each opponent to less than 313 yards and 21 points in regulation.
“I think it started during the bye week. There was a whole different approach to practice. As we say, we’re not trying to let nobody catch a ball each practice. Straight like that,” Moore said on when the defense hit a turning point. “You going to get coached up, even if you do let somebody catch a ball, by everybody, not just the coaches. We got guys out there, freshmen holding seniors accountable, so when you have something like that, chemistry like that, everybody want to see everybody eat, it just makes it all so much better.”
After recording multiple takeaways for the second-straight game, surpassing their interception total last season (three) in just seven games (six), the Gators are rolling with confidence heading into the toughest stretch of the season.
Florida’s interception total also ranks sixth nationally while leading the entire SEC.
“200% confidence. You look out there, whoever is out there, guys are having fun. When you go out there, everybody eating, having fun, just makes it so much better,” Moore said on the confidence of Florida’s defense. “And especially we get to go to another bye week with the same mindset we had in the first one. It’s going to be very scary.”
Devin Moore recorded the second interception of the night and fell one yard short of taking Cormani McClain’s place of becoming the first player to record a pick-6 in 25 games. Moore allowed 0 receptions on three targets while recording two forced incompletions, two pass break ups, and one interception.
Due to a new by-law created by the NCAA, every FBS team will have a total of two byes this year. Florida’s second bye week (yearly bye before Georgia) will give the Gators an additional opportunity to double down on their improvements on both sides of the football before their toughest test this season.
If the Gators can keep trending in the right direction, Florida’s defense has a chance at keeping this game close in two weeks. Georgia currently ranks 44th in total offense, 62nd in first down offense and 87th in third down conversions, according to the NCAA.
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