If it’s the play I’m thinking of, it was a good play by Johnson, but a great play by Mertz. Johnson is a good back, but hardly the playmaker ETN is.
And yet ... the stats say there's not much difference. ETN made more flashy plays that stick in the mind, Johnson leans more towards consistently effective. Both playing with same OL. ENT a distinct liability on passing plays .. that's 50% of the plays, more or less. With a stronger OL, that would be less of a problem. But for the Gators in 2023, that could not be ignored.
I have mixed emotions about the possibility of ETN coming back. Even without him, IMO RB is the strongest position group we have, and the young guys need carries too.
But not my decision, or ours. ETN returning would require that both the ETN family and Napier agreeing that's what they want to do .., and that both sides can get over any b*tthurt they've suffered. Anything is possible, but I personally am not expecting a reunification.