For only the second time in the Tennessee-Florida series, both teams have a new head coach.

So it is Saturday, as Tennessee's Jeremy Pruitt and Florida's Dan Mullen square off as head coaches after battles as Alabama’s defensive coordinator and Mississippi State’s head coach, respectively.

Here's a closer look at key players for the Gators (2-1, 0-1 SEC) heading into Saturday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN):

Van Jefferson

Jefferson transferred from Ole Miss amid the fallout of NCAA infractions and subsequent sanctions. The NCAA granted him immediate eligibility and it has been great news for the Gators.

The junior wide receiver leads Florida in receptions (8), receiving yards (127) and receiving touchdowns (three). He’s a well-rounded wide receiver who had two decent seasons with the Rebels. He could be headed for his best year yet in his first season in Gainesville, Fla.

Chauncey Gardner

Gardner changed his last name from Gardner-Johnson this spring. The preseason All-SEC selection has been the same, solid player though.

The junior safety ranks second in tackles with 20, second in tackles for loss with 2.5 and has two sacks. He’s still chasing his first interception this season — he has five in his career.

Jabari Zuniga

Tennessee’s offensive tackles are about to be tested in a new way with UF’s defensive ends Zuniga and Jachai Polite. The duo has combined for 3.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss.

Zuniga had made 35 percent of his tackles behind the line of scrimmage so far. The 6-foot-4, 257-pound edge rusher can put a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Trey Smith and Drew Richmond need to be up to the task after a rocky start for the UT offensive line.

Stock up

Tennessee’s running back room

Ty Chandler had a rough start to the season in every possible way. He lost four yards on his four carries against West Virginia in Week 1, then left the game with an injury.

He returned against UTEP in a major way, rushing for 158 yards on 12 attempts with an 81-yard touchdown run. But Tennessee’s other backs had a big day, too, as the Vols rushed for 345 yards.

Madre London ran nine times for 74 yards. Tim Jordan rushed for 49 yards on a team-high 13 attempts, while freshman Jeremy Banks rushed nine times for 45 yards.

The by-committee approach has been a smashing success, but the tests get bigger and the defenses tougher now.

Florida’s Jordan Scarlett and Lamichal Perine

The Gators have rolled out a handful of running backs with four having at least 13 carries.

But Malik Davis dropped from the ranks this week with a broken foot. In his absence, Scarlett and Perine should shoulder most of the load. Scarlett has rushed 19 times for 105 yards and a touchdown, while Perine has rushed 13 times for 99 yards.

Freshman Dameon Pierce also could see an increased role. He has rushed 14 times for 162 yards and a touchdown.

Stock down

Tennessee’s success against Florida

UT started its history with Florida with ten straight wins and led the series 19-15 after the 2004 season.

Since then, it has been all Florida. The Vols have dropped 12 of the past 13 meetings with the Gators, including last year’s Hail Mary lost at Florida.

Florida leads the series 27-20 and has a .500 mark at Neyland Stadium, as the rivalry has titled dramatically.

Florida’s run defense

Technically, Florida’s run defense is trending up after holding a team to less than 100 yards rushing for the first time this season. But it has been bad statistically.

UF ranks No. 101 nationally in run defense after allowing 222 rushing yards to Charleston Southern in Week 1 and a whopping 303 against Kentucky in Week 2. The Gators are giving up almost 200 yards per game on the ground after allowing little more than 150 a year ago.

The anticipated return of linebacker David Reese could help the Gators.

ADAMS:How UT Vols football could win eight games against 2019 schedule

NO REVIEW:Why Jeremy Pruitt and Dan Mullen never watched last year's UT Vols vs. Florida game