Detailing Trikweze Bridges’ impact on the 2024 season

Oregon defensive back transfer Trikweze Bridges was one of Florida’s most valuable players in 2024.

The Gators’ defense struggled to start the year, giving up 28+ points in each of their first three power conference games. Things started to change after Florida’s first bye week. In week eight vs Kentucky, Bridges emerged as a starting safety for a defense that was seemingly improving.

Bridges would go on to start the final seven games of the season, serving as a swiss army knife in Florida’s defense backfield as he played both safety and cornerback down the stretch. Bridges was the glue that kept Florida’s defense together despite a laundry list of injuries in the secondary.

With Jason Marshall, Devin Moore, and Ja’Keem Jackson sidelined, and other guys banged up, Bridges moved from safety to cornerback ahead of Florida’s week 12 matchup vs LSU. Bridges mostly played cornerback at Oregon, so the experience helped him with the midseason switch.

In the final four games of the season with Bridges starting at cornerback, the Gators’ defense allowed 13 points on average and didn’t allow more than 17 in any of the four contests.

On the season, Bridges allowed just 14 catches for 154 yards on 34 targets. He didn’t allow a single touchdown in coverage while logging two interceptions and five pass break ups. The 6’2.5, 200-pound defensive back posted an NFL passer rating against of 30.8, the lowest on the Gators’ defense. Bridges defensive grade 72.3 ranked 4th on Florida, according to Pro Football Focus. His coverage grade of 72.0 ranked 2nd among Gator defensive backs, trailing only Jason Marshall.

“Don’t underestimate Trikweze Bridges, the position flexibility,” Billy Napier said on Bridges. “What an incredible finish to his career. Scouts are very high on him here in the last couple weeks.”

Despite logging under 20 snaps against Miami, Texas A&M, and UCF early in the season, Bridges finished second on the team in snaps with 649 and led the Gators in tackles with 69.

Bridges was far and away the most versatile player on Florida’s defense, logging 138 snaps at safety, 353 at corner, 122 in the box, and 40 at nickel/star. Not only is it difficult to perform the way Bridges did in coverage this season, but to do it primarily at a position he hadn’t practiced at in over a year says a lot about him as a player.

“Just like hearing from my coaches like Coach Harris and stuff like that. He said it’s a really great tool to have just be able to like be flexible and play more than one position because there’s only 53 players can get on that roster. So you wanna be able to play more than one position, be flexible, and move around as an athlete so I think it is a good tool, good ability to have,” Bridges said on his flexibility.

Bridges play down the stretch caught the attention of recruits in attendance.

“Number seven played really good, Bridges played really good. That’s what really stood out to me,” 2026 DB commit Jaelen Waters said.

Bridges is set to play in the Hula Bowl in Orlando, Florida on January 11th.