The Gators are set to kick off the 2021 season this weekend when the Florida Atlantic Owls travel to Gainesville to face the 13th ranked team in the country. Though it shouldn’t be much of a test in the Swamp there are a few players to watch out for if the Owls are to try and make it a closer game than many expect. Gators Territory breaks those players down for you.
QB N’Kosi Perry
The first year Owl is a transfer from the University of Miami where he passed for2,484 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while completing 52.4 percent in his 3 years with the Hurricanes. He is someone that has a lot of experience playing at the Power 5 level so he won’t be intimidated by the stage or the opponent and being from Ocala will likely be looking to have a big game just 30 minutes away from his hometown. Perry is someone that has a live arm and can make just about every throw in the book, but his biggest knock was throwing the ball into some questionable situations/coverages. If he has improved his decision making, he should be able to test a Florida secondary that has some new faces.
WR TJ Chase
Another transfer, this time from Clemson, Chase was a highly recruited kid that finally started to hit his stride last season by leading FAU in receiving yards racking up 334 yards and two touchdowns on 23 catches. He’s a player with good size and strength at 6-foot-1 192 pounds and the ability to outmuscle defensive backs. He also provides big-play capability that can really help Perry out while he tries to figure out who he can rely on in their first game when the lights turn on.
DE Jaylen Joyner
Joyner is the returning leading sack getter for the Owls, recording 5.5 a season ago to go along with 39 tackles (7 for loss). He shows solid first step quickness and is strong at the point of attack along the defensive front. He will be going against a Florida offensive line that has a few question marks and players in new positions. He will definitely look to make Emory Jones’ life hard in his first career start and test the new look Gators offensive line’s ability to keep him clean.