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Out with the old and in with the new is how the idiom goes and such is the life in college football as the page is turned from the 2020 season and we begin to peek at what lies ahead. With a national champion finally crowned — UF’s Southeastern Conference foe the Alabama Crimson Tide, no less — writers all across the sports media have begun their hot takes on what they expect when football rises from its summer slumber.
Most of the projections so far have the Florida Gators sitting on or near the edge of the top 10 at very best, but ESPN senior writer Mark Schlabach is not nearly as confident in Dan Mullen’s returning squad as others might be. Here are his ranking and breakdown for Florida.
16. Florida Gators
2020 record: 8-4 (8-2 SEC)
Projected returning starters: five offense, seven defense, one special teamsProjected losses: QB Kyle Trask*, TE Kyle Pitts*, WR Kadarius Toney*, WR Trevon Grimes*, C Brett Heggie*, OT Stone Forsythe*, LB Ventrell Miller, S Brad Stewart Jr., DL Kyree Campbell*, CB Marco Wilson*, K Evan McPherson*
Key additions: RB Demarkcus Bowman, DB Ethan Pouncey, OL Jaelin Humphries, CB Jason Marshall, QB Carlos Del Rio, S Corey Collier, DE Jeremiah Williams, DE Tyreak Sapp
Outlook: Florida’s breakthrough season under coach Dan Mullen ended with a big flop, as the Gators lost their last three games, including a 55-20 rout against Oklahoma in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. Most of Florida’s offensive firepower is departing, including Heisman Trophy finalist Trask. Sophomore Emory Jones looks like the quarterback of the future, and the Gators will have to identify reliable pass-catchers with Pitts, Grimes and Toney departing.
The defense also will need a major face-lift after it was gutted for 144 points and more than 1,700 yards of offense in those three late losses. The Gators allowed 28 touchdown passes this season, which ranked next to last among FBS teams. They gave up 30.8 points per game, their most since surrendering 41.2 per contest in six games in 1917. Todd Grantham, one of the highest-paid defensive coordinators in the FBS, seems to be on thin ice. Secondary coaches Ron English and Torrian Gray have already been fired.
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