5. Florida Gators (5-7, 3-5)
After an impressive debut win over Utah to begin the 2022 season, Bill Napier’s team fizzled quickly and ended the season on a three-game skid that included a loss to Vanderbilt. The excitement that accompanied his hiring in Gainesville has been replaced wholesale by concern over whether the job is too big for him – and Florida doesn’t have the raw talent to cover up a lot of mistakes.
Rankings (Ex, Vg, Av, Fr, Pr)
| Quarterbacks: Av Running Backs: Av Wide Receivers: Fr Offensive Line: Fr | Defensive Line: Fr Linebackers: Fr Defensive Backs: Ex Special Teams: Vg |
Offense: What could go right
The Gators are optimistic that they have actually improved the offensive line via subtraction (and, of course, the transfer portal). While pass blocking figures to be an area of concern, the rebuilt line at least looks competent at run blocking, and there’s enough talent at running back that Florida could leverage that combination to its advantage. A lot depends on Wisconsin transfer QB Graham Mertz, who held off erstwhile Ohio State phenom Jack Miller for the job. Mertz looks more like a game manager than a difference-maker, but Napier is optimistic.
Offense: What could go wrong
Honestly, just about everything. The offensive line might very well be an improvement over the 2022 version, but it could just as easily go the other way. The wide receivers are young and relatively unknown, and Florida is breaking in a new tight end group as well. Mertz’s accuracy at Wisconsin left something to be desired, but Florida is hoping for better results with better skill position talent. But do the Gators really have better players than Wisconsin? It’s not a guarantee that the Gators do.
Defense: What could go right
The secondary will be among the best in the conference, or at least it should. This is a fast, deep unit with a lot of playmaking ability and is particularly solid up the middle. Florida also should have a fairly stout edge pass rush. The special teams figure to be solid, especially punting and returns. Most importantly, the offense has the ability to utilize ground control and keep the defense fresh.
Defense: What could go wrong
The front was below-average in 2022 by typical Florida standards, and certainly didn’t get better over the offseason. Outside of Princely Umanmielen, there isn’t really anything at linebacker for Florida to be excited about. This may be the least talented front seven that Florida has fielded in recent years. Austin Armstrong was set to be Alabama’s inside linebacker coach until Napier offered him a chance to step into the defensive coordinator’s role; Armstrong is considered a rising star, but is he ready for a challenge like this?
One-sentence summary: A second straight losing season might be too much for Napier to overcome.
It’s unlikely that Florida would move on from Napier quickly unless there’s a total meltdown, but it’s also more likely that Florida melts down than it is to see the Gators become contenders. This is a middle-tier team at best with some significant talent deficiencies, and Napier hasn’t proven he can lead a team at this level just yet.
Next: 6. Missouri Tigers