Jalen Tabor knew the play.
He read Kentucky quarterback Drew Barker’s eyes, analyzed the formation, watched for the minute shifts in protection.
Film study paid off.
With the Wildcats facing second and 10 in Florida territory, Tabor jumped on a screen pass and came down with the interception.
It was one of four turnovers the Gators forced in their 45-7 drubbing of Kentucky on Saturday and helped Florida make a statement that the defense is still one to be feared.
“We tell these guys over and over, through your film study and learning tendencies you can actually play faster,” UF coach Jim McElwain said after the game. “And in that case, boy that was a big time play by him.”
With Tabor back from a one-game suspension and Duke Dawson back after suffering a shoulder injury in the season-opener against UMass, the Gators (2-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) wreaked havoc on Kentucky’s offense.
The Gators intercepted three passes and recovered a Kentucky fumble, a quartet of turnovers that led to 28 points.
UF rattled Barker the entire game, sacking the Kentucky sophomore four times before coaches yanked him out of the game in the third quarter. Barker ended the game with more interceptions (three) than completions (two).
His replacement, Stephen Johnson, didn’t fare much better. He fumbled on his second play from scrimmage on a Jachai Polite strip-sack for UF’s fifth sack of the night.
“We forced turnovers so that the offense could score points,” said cornerback Quincy Wilson, who had the first turnover of the game on a one-handed interception on the left sideline.”We worked on executing and getting the first turnover and then the first turns into two and two turns into three, turns into four. We did a good job of that today."
And overall, Florida limited Kentucky (0-2, 0-1 SEC) to just 149 yards of offense, with most of it coming on a 45-yard completion from Johnson to Jeff Badet late in the fourth quarter. Remove Badet’s catch-and-run, and the Gators limited Kentucky to 2.2 yards per play on Saturday.
The Wildcats also converted just four of their 12 third-down attempts.
"This machine was well-oiled today,” defensive lineman Caleb Brantley said.
The Wildcats eventually scored on a 2-yard Jojo Kemp rush on that drive to avoid the shutout.
Regardless, Wilson said the Gators aren’t planning on coasting now that they have a big performance behind them.
There’s still 10 games to play.
“We've just got to keep going out there and pressing on (the opposing offense) so we can keep scoring and putting up points,” Wilson said. “We just did a good job of not relaxing when we got up on them."
Contact Jordan McPherson at jmcpherson@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @J_McPherson1126.
Jalen tabor (31) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass during Florida's 45-7 win over Kentucky on Sept. 10, 2016, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
