Florida football: 5 players who (probably) won’t be back in 2024
By Josh Yourish
![Florida Gators wide receiver Eugene Wilson III (3) hauls in a reception against Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Kamari Lassiter (3) during the first quarter of an NCAA Football game Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fdc5f2c968cab48bfd8a1206cf81f58589cc07b632084a27d8acdef036218c6b7.jpg "Florida Gators wide receiver Eugene Wilson III (3) hauls in a reception against Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Kamari Lassiter (3) during the first quarter of an NCAA Football game Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
![Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) hands off to running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (2) during the first quarter of an NCAA football game Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. Georgia defeated Florida 43-20. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F58c92441fccf6d6b104baf8ee8e63b0c74df12075b6d926ee26ce0ceec3a571b.jpg "Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) hands off to running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (2) during the first quarter of an NCAA football game Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. Georgia defeated Florida 43-20. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
5. Montrell Johnson Jr., junior
The Gators have one of the better running back duos in the country with Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson Jr. Johnson is the No. 1 back as a junior with 16 more carries than Etienne, but three fewer yards.
He’s still efficient, though not as efficient as Etienne, averaging 5.1 yards per carry with four touchdowns. It feels like running backs are leaving for the draft as early as possible to preserve their body for the grind of the NFL, in hopes of making it to a second contract.
NFL teams will be interested in a back who has produced in the SEC and has been able to split carries instead of shouldering the entire workload. There is a lot of tread left on Johnson’s tires and now is the time for a jump to the league.
