For the first time since 2019, Florida and Miami will renew their rivalry. The two teams will square off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET in one of the big games on the Week 1 slate, and the offensive player projections have been set, according to PrizePicks.
Both programs are in their third seasons under their respective coaches. Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes were picked third in the ACC preseason poll, while Billy Napier and the Gators are dealing with plenty of pressure after an up-and-down first two seasons. It adds to the intrigue of Saturday’s matchup.
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Graham Mertz is back at quarterback for Florida after transferring in last season. He was efficient, completing 72.9% of his passes for 2,903 yards, 20 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He has playmakers such as Eugene “Tre” Wilson III and Arlis Boardingham back, along with Montrell Johnson in the backfield.
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On the other side, Miami went to work in the transfer portal. The most notable addition came at quarterback as Cam Ward came in from Washington State, and the ‘Canes made a splash by landing former Oregon State star running back Damien Martinez. They both came in as Top-20 players in the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings.
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It’s shaping up to be an interesting showdown at The Swamp Saturday afternoon. Here’s what the offensive player projections look like for Florida vs. Miami, according to PrizePicks.
Graham Mertz succeeded Anthony Richardson as Florida’s starting quarterback a season ago, and he’ll look to build on a solid first season in Gainesville. His projection is set at 243.5 pass yards in the season opener against Miami on Saturday, according to PrizePicks.
Cam Ward arrives at Miami after reversing course on the NFL Draft. He’s coming off two impressive years at Washington State, including a career-high 3,736 yards and 25 touchdowns last season as a senior.
Eugene “Tre” Wilson III put together an impressive freshman season and cemented himself as one of Graham Mertz’s top targets at Florida with 538 yards and six touchdowns. With Ricky Pearsall off to the NFL, he could get even more work, and PrizePicks lists his projection at 66.5 receiving yards in Saturday’s opener.
Last year’s leading receiver at Miami, Xavier Restrepo proved to be a strong weapon in the passing game. He led the Hurricanes with 1,092 receiving yards, which sets him up to be a top target for Cam Ward in 2024.
Elijhah Badger, WR, Florida
Alex Gallardo-USA TODAY Sports
Receiving Yards: 47.5 Receptions: 4.0
One of Florida’s most notable transfer additions, Elijhah Badger arrives in Gainesville after back-to-back impressive seasons at Arizona State. In 2023, he totaled 713 receiving yards and three touchdowns after an 866-yard, 7-touchdown showing in 2022.
Damien Martinez, RB, Miami
Zachary BonDurant | USA TODAY Sports
Rush Yards: 73.5
Last season, Damien Martinez cemented himself as one of the best running backs in the Pac-12, and that meant he brought plenty of hype with him to Miami. He’s sure to take on a prominent role, and his projection for the first game is set at 73.5 rush yards, according to PrizePicks.
Although Billy Napier announced Montrell Johnson will be able to play in the opener, Treyaun Webb is sure to get some looks as RB2 after Trevor Etienne’s departure. He ranked third on the Florida roster with 163 yards as a freshman, and PrizePicks lists his projection at 33.5 rush yards for Saturday’s game.
Last year’s second-leading rusher, Jacolby George is back at Miami and is sure to once again have a prominent role in the offense. He put together a breakout 2023 season with 864 yards, and his projection is set at 60.5 against Florida, according to PrizePicks.
Arlis Boardingham was a solid safety blanket for Graham Mertz at tight end last year. He had 26 receptions for 289 yards and four touchdowns as he saw his first full season of action.
Florida vs. Miami is sure to be one of the more intriguing games of Week 1 with so many storylines. The game will also be part of the first day of the SEC on ABC, kicking off in the coveted 3:30 p.m. ET window.
A teenage boy remains in the hospital after a shooting in southwest Miami-Dade, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
The shooting happened along SW 152nd Avenue near SW 80th Street, where deputies say a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old boy were walking when someone opened fire from a vehicle. The 15-year-old was struck multiple times as the vehicle fled the scene.
Rescue crews took the injured 15-year-old to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, where the Sheriff’s Office said he is in stable condition.
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According to authorities, the 16-year-old was able to help his friend reach a safe area and call 911 for help.
Deputies said they are actively searching for leads but currently have no information about the suspect vehicle or the people inside it.
“We do not have any information regarding the subject vehicle or the subjects within that vehicle,” said MDSO spokesperson Samantha Choon.
When asked whether the teens were targeted, the Sheriff’s Office said it is not ruling out that possibility.
“This is a heinous crime against children,” Choon said.
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The 16-year-old who called 911 was not taken to the hospital, but authorities said he is shaken by the incident.
“He’s a child. He’s shaken up by this,” Choon said. “So if anyone has any information, no matter how small you might think it is, please reach out to us and assist in this investigation.”
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305‑471‑TIPS.
Palantir announced Tuesday it has moved its headquarters from Denver to Miami – joining a slew of tech firms fleeing to South Florida as a growing number of industry leaders deem it the new Silicon Valley.
Tech giants have been increasingly flocking to Florida from business hubs like New York and California in pursuit of lower taxes, warm weather and safer neighborhoods.
“We have moved our headquarters to Miami, Florida,” Palantir wrote in a brief post on X Tuesday morning.
Tech giants have been increasingly flocking to Florida from business hubs like New York and California. be free – stock.adobe.com
The company did not immediately respond to inquiries about its reason for the move.
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Palantir was founded in Palo Alto, Calif., in 2003 and moved to Denver in 2020 as its CEO Alex Karp emerged as a vocal critic of Silicon Valley’s culture.
Former Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who has long pushed for tech talent to move to Florida, cheered Tuesday’s “watershed moment for Miami.”
“This is the tipping point!” he wrote on X, using numerous exclamation points.
The Post has sought comment from Palantir.
Citadel’s Ken Griffin and real estate magnate Stephen Ross – some of the highest-profile billionaires to move to South Florida during the pandemic – recently launched a $10 million campaign to encourage business leaders to move to the Sunshine State, The Post reported.
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“The only place a CEO or founder can scale from 10 employees to 10,000 will be in South Florida,” Ross previously told The Post. “While other cities are still special, they no longer support building business and supporting ambition like you can find here.”
The campaign targets CEOs and investors with national ads and direct outreach, as well as a dedicated concierge program that can help executives relocate operations and navigate state regulations.
Apple has already expanded its presence in South Florida with a new Miami campus, while software company ServiceNow has committed to opening an office in West Palm Beach.
Amazon earlier this year signed a massive office lease in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood.
Palantir announced Tuesday it has moved its headquarters to Miami. Getty Images
Billionaire Peter Thiel – Palantir’s chairman and co-founder – has ramped up his investments in South Florida, opening a new Miami office for his investment firm Thiel Capital late last year.
His venture capital firm Founders Fund opened a Florida office in 2021, near his Miami Beach mansion, and the businessman has even switched his voter registration to Florida.
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Citadel’s Griffin – who lived in Chicago for nearly three decades – was one of the most outspoken business leaders to vouch for Miami after his 2022 move.
“I’ve lived in a failed city-state. I lived in Chicago for 30-some years. I had two colleagues who had bullets fly through their cars,” Griffin previously told Fox News.
“I had 25 bullet holes in the front of my building where I lived. You can’t live in a city awash [with] violent crime.”
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