Game Day: No. 13 Florida vs Florida Atlantic (SEC Network), 7:30 pm - Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The only other time Avery Helm was a part of a packed crowd at Spurrier/Florida Field was back in 2019. Helm was a hotshot cornerback from Missouri City, Texas. 

He was in the stands with a handful of recruits. 

So imagine Helm's level of excitement come Saturday night when the 13th-ranked Gators open the 2021 season against Florida Atlantic inside the "Swamp" free of any COVID-19 restrictions, unlike his true freshman season a year ago. It'll mark UF's first game minus pandemic policies since the team defeated Virginia in the Orange Bowl at Miami Gardens on Dec. 30, 2019.

"I'm just going to go in, just ready to soak it all in," Helm said. 

Actually, he's going to need to do more than that. Much more. Helm, in fact, showed up atop the depth chart that was released earlier in the week, meaning the 6-foot-1, 174-pounder will be among a handful of new faces in the starting lineup when the Gators square up against the Owls. 

After nearly a month of training camp, which followed several months of actual offseason conditioning (as opposed to 2020), the UF coaches, players and fans will start getting answers to the multitude of questions surrounding a program that must replace a Heisman Trophy-finalist quarterback — take a bow, Emory Jones — and a couple first-round draft playmakers on offense and is looking to flip the narrative of a defense that ranked near the bottom of the Southeastern Conference (and nation) in some pivotal categories, all the while using the opener as a spring board to defend the team's first SEC East Division title since 2016. 

And, of course, also chased the program's first College Football Playoff berth. 

[Read senior writer Scott Carter's comprehensive "Opening Kickoff" items here]

First things first, however. 

"We got to handle FAU," backup sophomore running back Nay'Quan Wright said. "They're the first on the schedule." 

Fourth-year junior Emory Jones, with more than 600 yards and 13 touchdowns either running or passing on his resume, will get his first career start at quarterback for the Gators.

The Owls, out of Conference USA and led by former Florida State coach Willie Taggart, went 5-4 last season. And thought they did not face any Power 5 conference opponents, they did take on the likes of No. 22 Marshall, Southern Miss and Memphis in the Montgomery Bowl, and lost all three. UF has has been tabbed as 23.5-point favorites. 

Should the game play out in that manner, lots of Gators will get on the field, lots will post numbers, but whether that goes anywhere in further establishing a pecking order at the crowded tailback spot or in a receivers room clamoring for the next Kadarius Toney is hardly an automatic. But it's a baseline from which to operate. 

The offense, with two QBs who are threats to run in Jones and Anthony Richardson, is going to look much, much different than the Kyle Trask-led version that led the nation in passing yards. That doesn't mean it can't be any less productive than the unit that cranked out 509.8 yards per game and rated fourth in the country last fall. 

"Usually, when you have a good combination of run and pass it definitely helps a lot," said junior wideout Justin Shorter, the transfer from Penn State who flashed some nice moments last season but is looking to elevate to a Trevon Grimes-type role in '21. "Running the ball, especially with the running backs that we have and our quarterbacks, it's going to help the wideouts a lot, too. They're going to be crowding the box more, so that's going to leave a lot more one-one-one matchups on the outside for us and for me. I love one-on-one matchups so we can do something with it."

With tailgating to set the mood and fans in the stands, no less. It's been a while, but it's here again.  

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network, with Tom Hart on play-by-play, Jordan Rodgers providing analysis and Cole Cubelic working the sidelines. For radio and television broadcast info, click here. The game will be replayed Monday on SEC Network at 1 a.m. and 11 a.m., as well as on ESPNU Tuesday 9 p.m. and Wednesday at 9 a.m.  

Also, check out the "1st & 10 Pre-Game Show," hosted by Jeff Cardozo via the Florida Gators Facebook page, starting at 6:30 p.m. This week's lineup includes chats with Mullen, as well as Jones and junior linebacker Mohamoud Diabate, FAU play-by-play man Ken Lavicka, and look at the new stadium mural that pays homage to Leonard George and Willie Jackson, who in 1970 became the first African-American players to take the field for the Gators. 

Finally, follow senior staff writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will have complete coverage content from the game late Saturday night and fresh content Sunday, also.

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Game Day: No. 13 Florida vs Florida Atlantic (SEC Network), 7:30 pm - Florida Gators
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