This weekend’s game in Jacksonville isn’t just another chapter in the storied Florida – Georgia rivalry for Austin Barber. The redshirt senior offensive lineman will take the field in his hometown one last time at the collegiate level, representing the school he’s dreamed of playing at since he was in diapers.

“It means a lot,” Barber said. “Being from Jacksonville, you know, growing up watching these games and being my last one in the Florida uniform, I think it’s going to be special.”

Barber enrolled at UF prior to the 2021 season and stuck with the program despite the firing of Dan Mullen and his position coach John Hevesy. In the transfer portal and NIL era of college football, loyalty is becoming increasingly rare. Barber stayed the course and earned a prominent role in 2022 under head coach Billy Napier.

After logging 26 career starts at tackle, Barber returned for his fifth and final season at UF in 2025. It hasn’t gone as planned, however. Florida holds a 3-4 (2-2 SEC) record and just fired Napier after a week eight victory over Mississippi State.

It’s the second midseason coaching change Barber has gone through in his five seasons at Florida, and he plans on using his past experiences to guide his teammates through a difficult time.

“I’ve been through it one time and I think I can be a guy that helps some younger guys get through it,” Barber said. “I just love the University of Florida. This was my dream since I was in diapers. So, my family is really proud of me.”

Keeping a roster together is a difficult task after a coaching change. Although Barber won’t be on the roster next year, he’s preaching an important message to his teammates: the program is bigger than any one name.

“I have a good relationship with all the guys in the locker room. Just telling them that I’ve been through it before and I stayed. I stayed for the program,” Barber said. “It’s something special to me, and I’m trying to pour that into the other guys and show them the program is important.”

Barber is searching for his first win over Georgia this Saturday. In fact, the only Gator currently on the roster that’s beat the Bulldogs is sixth year senior wide receiver Kahleil Jackson.

“I think just playing for the patch and playing for the name on our back,” Barber said on the key to the next month of the season. “That’s the big thing for us. We got a lot of seniors out there and we want to go put out a good product for them. And it’s just about playing for the University and playing for the fans.”