Biggest question marks for Florida Gators football in 2017: Quarterback

As summer drags on, college football season slowly inches closer and closer. In mid-late June, there are a lot more questions than answers about how any team’s season will shake out. In this series, Gator Country will highlight the biggest questions for every Florida Gators position group and the affects the answers will have on this season.

The first segments of this series will take a look at Florida’s offense, starting with a few of the many questions at the quarterback position.

The Gators have been searching for answers on offense since the departure of Tim Tebow in 2009, turning what once was a prolific offensive program into a fading memory. With three recruiting classes under his belt, Jim McElwain has left most of the remains of the Will Muschamp offense behind and built his own, so there are no more free passes on his inheritance. On paper, this team should be the best chance for offensive success since the glory days, but paper doesn’t always produce in the real world. Either way, the anticipation will be over shortly.

Quarterback

The only way to start this off right is with the most important position on the field. Obviously, for Florida, this is the position that brings the most questions. There has been little to no stability at the position over the last seven seasons, and it’s time for a change.

  1. First things first, the big one: Who will win the starting job?

Technically, there are several options to choose from between former starting quarterback, redshirt junior Luke Del Rio, incoming graduate transfer Malik Zaire, redshirt freshmen Kyle Trask and Feleipe Franks and freshmen Kadarius Toney and Jake Allen. That’s a lot of depth, but in reality the battle is between Zaire and Franks.

With those two leading the way, the question becomes, is it better to accept the losses that starting a young, inexperienced quarterback may bring for the sake of his development or to roll with proven playmaking ability? That is the question fans, reporters and almost every other non-coach in the college football world have thrown in their two-cents on over the last few months. There is an argument either way, but there is only one opinion that matters, and whether it is right or wrong, it will have an effect on this season and seasons to come.

If McElwain wants Franks to be the guy of the future, starting Zaire could severely hinder his progress, but in the end a coach must go with the player who gives the team the best chance to win right now. Who that guy will be is yet to be determined. It is certainly leaning towards Zaire, but this is sure the be the most promising quarterback battle Florida has seen in years.

  1. If Zaire is not the starter, how much will he be used?

Some may say Zaire wouldn’t have come to Florida if he didn’t have a good indication he would be the starter. Yes, he had to have been confident in his ability to win the starting job, but based on McElwain’s past, it is unlikely any promises were made.

If Franks or anyone else is named the starter, there is no way a player with Zaire’s skillset is left to ride the bench the entire season. While he has limited film in 15 career college games and just three starts, his talent is undeniable. He did not lose in any of his three starts, throwing for 313 yards and completing 86 percent of his passes against Texas and showing out on the ground against LSU and Virginia, rushing for 96 and 87 yards before going down with an injury.

With a strong and accurate arm to compliment his rushing ability, the dual-threat QB would open up Florida’s offensive game. Simply having Zaire on the roster makes Florida a better team, and he should find a way on the field in some way, shape or form.

  1. Will Kadarius Toney play a role as a freshman?

While he has less ability in the passing game at this point, Toney is a player much like Zaire. The Gators just need to get the ball in his hands and let him make plays. There have even been arguments for him to be the starter in 2017 after his performance in the spring game, but he will likely see his time in the wildcat.

Toney led the Gators with 74 rushing yards, averaging 16.2 yards per carry in the Orange and Blue Debut and completed 3-of-5 pass attempts for 24 yards.

With players like Toney and Zaire to work with, there is no reason Florida’s offense should be boring or stagnant as it’s had the reputation of being in recent years. Neither of these players are the answer to all of Florida’s offensive issues on their own, but they add a whole lot more plays to the playbook. If they aren’t used correctly, that is on the coaches.

Based on Florida’s addition of Zaire and Toney along with its intense recruitment of Justin Fields, McElwain and staff are proving they want to take the steps to adjust to a more dynamic offensive game. It starts with adding the right players to the roster, but adjusting to a new coaching style is a different story.

That will not only tell how this offense progresses in 2017, but it will also make a huge impact on the perception of McElwain, Doug Nussmeier and the rest of the offensive coaching staff.

Up Next: Running Back/Offensive Line

 

 

Bailiegh Carlton
A lifelong sports fan, Bailiegh Carlton knew from a young age that she wanted to work in sports in some capacity. Before transferring to the University of Florida to study journalism, she played softball at Gulf Coast State College. She then interned for Gator Country for three years as she worked toward her degree. After graduation, Bailiegh decided to explore other opportunities in the world of sports, but all roads led her right back here. In her time away, she and her husband welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. When she isn't working, she can almost always be found snuggled up with sweet baby Ridley, Cody and her four fur babies.