by Christopher Paschal

2^nd – SEC East

Gainesville, FL | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (88, 548) | 2017 Record:4-7 (3-5)

If they were honest with themselves, the Florida faithful knew SEC Championship appearances in 2015 and 2016 were more indicative of a weak SEC East instead of a strong Gator program under Jim McElwain. Last season was more indicative of the type of program Jim McElwain had built. Still talented, but something was off. Whatever it was, McElwain was fired and Dan Mullen replaced him. Mullen was the offensive coordinator for the Gators from 2005-2008. During that period, he coached one of the best offenses in the country, with the Gators winning two SEC titles, two national titles, and a Heisman Trophy. Then after overseeing one of the most successful periods in Mississippi State football, Mullen returns to Gainesville, this time as the head coach. Contrary to what the 2017 record showed, Florida is actually one of the more talented teams in the SEC this season. But how quickly will the Gators be able to bounce back? And is Dan Mullen capable of recruiting elite talent, or were Mississippi State’s recruiting classes indicative of things to come at Florida?

Offense

Quarterbacks: Florida has not been “LSU bad” at quarterback, but since the departure of Tim Tebow, the Gators have not been able to find an elite one, either.  Enters Dan Mullen, Tebow’s offensive coordinator, and the head coach that took under-recruited Dak Prescott and Nick Fitzgerald and made them into top-end SEC quarterbacks. Gator fans are hoping that sophomore Feleipe Franks (6-5, 225) will blossom this season under Mullen’s tutelage, and while I think he will play better this season than he did last season, I also don’t think Franks is the kind of quarterback Dan Mullen is looking for. Yes, Franks does have a cannon for an arm, and he showed off some wheels in the Texas A&M game, but Franks is not built like a Tim Tebow or Dak Prescott. Mullen needs a quarterback that has a strong arm, but even more so, he needs a quarterback that can run the football and run the offense.

Felipe Franks will have some competition soon. Image from Alligator Army

In 2018, that quarterback might have to be Feleipe Franks, but in 2019, that quarterback will be Emory Jones (6-2, 195). Mullen was able to secure Jones’s commitment over Ohio State in last year’s recruiting cycle. Jones has a strong arm, great mobility, and some straight-up speed. It’s still a long shot that he’ll start as a true freshman, but Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina have all shown that starting a highly-recruited true freshman at quarterback isn’t as taboo and crazy as it used to be. Jones was considered one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the 2018 recruiting cycle, and he might be the answer to Dan Mullen’s prayer on the offensive side of the ball. It remains to be seen whether it will be in 2018 or 2019.

Running Back: This running back corps might be one of the scariest in the SEC, and nobody is talking about it. Three backs will be featured in this offense. The first will be Jordan Scarlett (5-11, 205) who was suspended all of last season for participating in a credit card scheme that still blows my mind ever happened. No matter how it happened, Scarlett missed all of 2017, and 2018 is poised to be his coming-out party. In 2016, Scarlett was one of the most under-appreciated running backs in the SEC. He ran for just shy of 900 yards, even though he split carries with Lamical Perine and Mark Thompson. Scarlett runs like an SEC tailback. He is quick, elusive, and he runs behind his shoulder pads.

Jordan Scarlett returns after suspension in 2017. Image from Saturday Down South

Spelling Scarlett will be the aforementioned Lamical Perine (5-11, 220), who has deceptive, but not elite, speed. What makes Perines special is that he has the patience to see blocks develop in front of him, and then the acceleration and strength to hit the hole hard. Perine finished last season with eight rushing touchdowns. And then there is Malik Davis (5-11, 195). Davis, like Perine is a tough runner, but Davis has a better “stop and go,” than Perine. What I mean by that is Davis can change directions better than most backs.  He isn’t the fastest, he isn’t the most powerful, but he is quicker than a hiccup and showed great vision as a freshman last year. He will only be better in 2018.

Wide Receiver: Like the stable of running backs Florida has, the receivers are very talented and under-appreciated. Tyrie Cleveland (6-2, 205) returns as one of the best deep threats in all of college football. Cleveland is going into his junior season, and he already has recorded some huge touchdown catches, including a 63-yard, game-winning Hail Mary to beat Tennessee in 2017 (video below) and a go-ahead score against LSU in 2016 that went for 98 yards. Another returning junior is Florida-native Josh Hammond (6-1, 185) who was highly recruited out of high school. Possibly the most intriguing wide receiver at Dan Mullen’s disposal is Ole Miss transfer Van Jefferson (6-2, 190). Jefferson, an All-American selection, was one of the hottest prospects in the spring of 2017 recruiting class. He was also considering Georgia, Oklahoma, and Michigan before settling on Ole Miss. With NCAA sanctions coming down on the Rebels, Ole Miss players are allowed to transfer out of Oxford and immediately play at the school they transferred to. While the NCAA has not given an individual ruling on Jefferson yet, six other Rebel transfers have been ruled eligible, so the question isn’t if, but when. Jefferson adds a lot to this Gator receiving corps. He has great body control and speed. That jumps out at you when watching him play for Ole Miss.

But the player I am most excited to watch in this Dan Mullen offense is Kadarius Toney (5-11, 195). Watching Toney play football is like watching a video game. The dude has amazing quickness and instincts, and he has enough speed to burn by defenders in the open field. For whatever reason, McElwain used him sparingly last season, but when he was on the field, he was making plays. He can be used in a whole host of role, including in the slot and in the backfield. He also might have the strongest arm on the entire team. Dan Mullen had a lot of fun with Percy Harvin, and while Toney may not be as fast as Harvin, he is definitely as versatile and explosive. Also keep an eye out for true freshmen Justin Watkins (5-11, 175) and Jacob Copeland (5-11, 185). Both were big-time recruits.

Offensive Line: All Dan Mullen needs his quarterback to be able to do is run the offense effectively, pose a threat in the rushing attack, and bump the passing yards per game numbers from 180 (what it was last year) to about 200. If that happens, Florida had a successful year at quarterback. I say that because contrary to popular belief, I do not think it is the quarterback that controls this offense’s destiny, but the offensive line.

TJ McCoy returns at center. Image from SEC Country

I say that because this offensive line has been a sorry group for years now, and it doesn’t have to be that way. Every starter from last year returns. Sometimes a new voice is what turns around a player or a group of players. Hopefully that is the case here. T.J. McCoy returns at center after playing in a significant portion of both his freshman and sophomore seasons. Both guards return, and both tackles return. But it all starts and ends on Martez Ivey (6-5, 315). Ivey is the only blue chipper out of this group. In fact, coming out of high school, Ivey was considered the best offensive lineman in the country, and the best player in the state of Florida. He has the talent, and now the experience, needed to be a first round draft pick next April, but he has to show it on the field. If he puts it all together this season, it will lift the spirits and efforts of the rest of the offensive linemen.

Martez Ivey has a chance to become a first round draft pick. Image from Gridiron Now

Defense

Defensive Line: This defensive line will be considered one of the best the SEC has to offer by the finish of 2018. The integrity of this unit was damaged by the end of the 2017 season. In fact, the entire defense’s integrity was hurt last season. Florida finished 50^th in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game. With the new defensive coordinator, Todd Grantham, implementing his trademark 3-4 defense, it will all come down to the big boys inside: Khairi Clark (6-1, 315), Elijah Conliffe (6-4, 320) and Tedarrell Slaton (6-4, 360). Clark is a prototypical nose tackle. He plays with a great motor, is quick off the snap, and gobbles up blockers. Conliffe is probably the best athlete of the three, according to new defensive line coach Sal Sunseri. He could play nose or the 3 technique. And then there is Slaton. The dude is massive and should demand double teams just by stepping onto the field. Watch his high school tape. This isn’t some blob that just stands there. This dude has a motor and a mean streak. Both Slaton and Conliffe are sophomores with little in-game experience, but should be ready come Kentucky in Week 2.

Tedarrell Slaton is a serious threat inside. Image from Florida Athletics

At defensive end, Florida will have an undersized veteran starter in Jabari Zuniga (6-3, 245). The junior from Marietta, Georgia was lightly recruited coming out of high school, but he has performed admirably while in Gainesville. Last season, Zuniga recorded four sacks and 34 tackles. All Florida needs him to do is hold his own at the strong-side defensive end spot. Four sacks, 34 tackles, and tying up offensive tackles would be a job well done for Zuniga in 2018.

But what makes me really excited about this unit is not what I already listed, which would already make this one of the five best defensive lines in the SEC, but it’s what I haven’t listed, which will makes this one of the five best defensive lines in the country. In the Todd Grantham 3-4 defense, one of the most productive positions is the edge-rushing end/outside linebacker hybrid. And Florida has plenty of athletes that can fill that spot. One of those athletes could be junior Jachai Polite (6-2, 260). Through the first six games last season (before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury against Georgia), Polite had recorded 22 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, two sacks, and a forced fumble. Polite is a dynamic athlete who will come into his own in 2018. Another option could be true freshman Andrew Chatfield (6-2, 230), who was one of the top-rated pass rushers coming out of the 2018 recruiting cycle. But the biggest wild card is senior Cece Jefferson (6-1, 240).  Jefferson led the Gators in sacks last season (4.5), but he suffered a tough shoulder injury that required surgery in this year’s spring game. Jefferson will be rehabbing all throughout summer and will only be available halfway through fall camp in August. With all due respect, I am not worried one bit that Jefferson is handicapped to the point of not contributing to this football team, because to be honest, the Gators don’t need him through the first three weeks of September (Charleston Southern, Kentucky, Colorado State).

Biggest wildcard is Cece Jefferson. Image from SEC Country.

By Tennessee on September 22^nd, Jefferson will be up to full speed, which is a scary thought in this defense. I look for Jefferson to have a monster back half of the season, resembling that of one of the NFL’s all-time greatest pass rushers, James Harrison. He is the same size, and he has the same burst and power that Harrison had. Offensive tackles are going to have nightmares of Jefferson by the end of this season. Overall, this group will be elite in 2018.

Linebacker: Having already examined the pass rushing hybrid position that Polite and Jefferson will play this season, let’s look at the traditional linebackers. David Reese (6-1, 240) is the heart and soul of this defense. He is a thumper who hits hard and tackles anything he touches. Opposite of him will probably be Vosean Joseph (6-1, 225). Joseph is a prototypical SEC linebacker. He’s fast, he strings out slow developing zone plays and swing passes, and he hits hard (Danny Etling is still sore). He is the definition of a heat-seeking missile. But I can also attest to the fact that he is not the most disciplined linebacker. He missed numerous tackles in the South Carolina game I attended (including in the open field against Jake Bentley on South Carolina’s opening drive), and he had horrible eye discipline, falling for misdirection and allowing himself to get blocked. Grantham will fix that.

David Reese is the heart & soul of the defense this season. Image from USA Today.

Defensive Backs: Florida claims to be DBU, and this year they very well might be. The Gators are loaded at cornerback with sophomores CJ Henderson (6-1, 185) and Marco Wilson (6-0, 180). Henderson led the team in interceptions last season while Wilson led the team in passes broken up. Spelling both Henderson and Wilson will be one of the top defensive back recruits (Trey Dean) in the nation in the 2018 recruiting cycle. Everyone wanted Dean, but Mullen was able to sign him over the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Junior Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (6-0, 205) might also play some corner this season, but he has the size and speed needed to excel at nickel back. He finished 2017 with 58 tackles, 7 PBUs, and two interceptions. At safety, look for the aforementioned Dean and Gardner-Johnson to get some snaps there, but also look for a break out year from Jeawon Taylor (6-0, 205). Taylor was the best defensive player on the field for the Gators in their late-season showdown with the Gamecocks in 2017. He tackled anything within five yards of him. Brad Stewart was a big-time recruit when he signed with the Gators a couple of years ago, and looks to contribute at safety in 2018.

Florida could claim the title of “DBU” once again this year. Image from Gator Sports.

Special Teams

Both the kicker and punter are gone from last season’s team, which means a whole lot when your punter, Johnny Townsend, was good enough to be DRAFTED in the NFL Draft last season, and your kicker made 17 of the 18 field goals he attempted. Townsend’s brother, Tommy Townsend, will man the punting duties this season, and true freshman Evan McPherson (top-rated kicker in 2018 recruiting cycle, according to 247 Sports) will be the kicker. Kadarius Toney will return two kicks for touchdowns this season. Heard it here first.

Coaching Staff

All we have been hearing this off-season is “Dan Mullen killed it at Mississippi State, can you imagine what he can do with Florida’s talent?” I think he nails it, and not just because of the roster he is inheriting, but because of the head coach he has become. His teams at Mississippi State were resilient, tough, and disciplined. Todd Grantham is one of the best defensive coordinators in the country, and Sal Sunseri (Defensive Line Coach) is also one of the best in the business. I feel really good about this hire. The only question is recruiting. Yes, judging Mullen off his recruiting successes at Mississippi State isn’t totally relevant since it has to be easier recruiting at Florida, but we will see how well he does in his first full season recruiting in 2018-2019.

Dan Mullen ready to compete in the East. Image from SEC Country.

Biggest Strength: Defensive Backs – This will be one of the SEC’s best pass defenses in 2018. There are a lot of All-SEC caliber athletes in this secondary. Couple that with an improved pass rush, and these defensive backs will be considered some of the best in the country.

Biggest Weakness: Offensive Production – It won’t be as bad as it was last year. It can’t be with Dan Mullen as the head coach. But can this offense improve at quarterback and offensive line enough to compete for the SEC East? Only time will tell.

 Offensive, Defensive, and Freshman Players of the Year

Offensive: Jordan Scarlett. He is coming back with vengeance. Scarlett will not only be a thousand-yard rusher this season, but he will demand defenses load the box. If that’s the case, look out for Cleveland, Jefferson, and Toney in the passing game.

Defensive: Cece Jefferson. So what if he starts out slow…Florida doesn’t need him in those games. Jefferson will be a premier pass rusher come late September. I think he wreaks havoc in opposing teams’ backfields in 2018 and gets drafted in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Freshman: Trey Dean. Copeland and Watkins may be more valuable next season in the passing game, but Dean is going to flash his skills in a secondary that will put him in great positions. Think about this: Jamyest Williams for South Carolina was put in some tough spots last season and asked to do a lot as a freshman, and even he recorded two interceptions and was named to the Freshman All-SEC team. Think about what Dean could do in year one.

Schedule Breakdown and Projected Wins and Losses

Win – Charleston Southern

Win – Kentucky

Win – Colorado State

Win – at Tennessee

at Mississippi State – Loss

Win – LSU

Win – at Vanderbilt

Georgia – Loss

Win – Missouri

Win – South Carolina

Win – Idaho

at Florida State – Loss

Final Record: 9-3 (6-2)

Final Word

If you couldn’t tell by now, I am really excited about this 2018 Florida Gators team. This team lost its spirit, and frankly, gave up by mid-season last year. Whatever McElwain was preaching just wasn’t being heard. That happened at Auburn in 2012. What happened in 2013? Gus Malzhan changed the culture and attitude of the football team and took one of the worst teams in the SEC in 2012 to the national title game in 2013. So it isn’t unheard of for bad teams to quickly bounce back, and like that Auburn team, this Florida team is talented. If Dan Mullen can put a little shot into this offense, this defense is good enough to compete in the SEC. I would not be shocked if Florida won the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. I don’t buy the rhetoric coming out of most pundits that Florida is a few years behind Georgia. I just don’t. Maybe in maturation, but not in talent. If Florida can win two out of their next toughest three games (South Carolina, LSU, Mississippi State), and find a way to win in Tallahassee, then I think even with a loss to Georgia on their resume the Gators could find their way into a New Year’s Six Bowl Game. How about that for a year one in the Dan Mullen era?