Gator Country continues answering subscribers’ questions regarding Florida football ahead of fall camp. Here is part two.
Tmanjax: Do you expect the offense or defense to look better after the first week of camp? Do you expect the offense or defense to look better at the end of camp? Which unknown/underrated Florida player is going to shock the SEC this season?
NM: In most years the defense is ahead of the offense throughout the first few weeks of camp. I feel like that will be the case this year as Florida still has a young quarterback and skill position players. Offensive production requires timing and pre snap knowledge, things that will grow stronger as the team progresses through camp. I think Florida’s offense will look better at the end of camp and throughout the 2025 season. My breakout player of the year for Florida’s defense is George Gumbs Jr, an edge rusher that should be able to capitalize on his athletic traits with another full offseason under his belt.
robertgator: How’s the dline looking? Do we look better than year’s past under this regime? Can you tell anything?
NM: I will have a more detailed answer for you when fall camp starts, but I’ll provide my early thoughts on the defensive line. One of Florida’s strengths is their edge unit. Two veterans in Tyreak Sapp and George Gumbs Jr. are back for their final season after combining for 12 sacks in 2024. Kamran James and LJ McCray are next in line, two athletic defenders looking for a larger role. The interior defensive line might have Florida’s best NFL prospect in Caleb Banks but there’s concern with depth. Jamari Lyons looks to have recovered nicely from his season ending injury last year, but I’d like to see him take a live rep before I count on him for significant contributions. If Florida stays healthy the defensive line will likely be better than they were in 2024, but an injury or two along the interior defensive line could show a lack of depth at the position.
Gatorjch: Nick what offensive player, defensive player and special teams player do you think will make the biggest jump (I.e. improvement) from the end of last season to the start of the first game?
NM: For offense I’ll go with offensive lineman Rod Kearney. While I don’t project him as a starter, I do believe he’ll be one of the top reserves in 2025. In all three years under Billy Napier, Florida has used at least seven offensive linemen for 200+ snaps on the season. Kearney can provide depth on all three interior positions and is said to be one of the hardest workers on the team. Defensively, I’ll go with linebacker Myles Graham. The 6’1, 227-pound linebacker flashed as a freshman last season and is set to take on a much larger role in 2025. Graham had a great spring camp and will be in the mix to start at ‘Will’ linebacker. Graham has also worked at ‘Mike’. It’s unclear how the special teams’ roles will work out, so I’ll go with kicker Trey Smack. After making 17-21 (81%) field goals in 2023, Smack made 18-21 (86%) in 2024 with a long of 55 yards.
Polkgator: Nick, are you going to do an article ranking our opponents?
NM: I will do detailed article on this later, but I’ll rank them here for you.
From hardest to easiest:
Home vs Texas
Neutral vs Georgia
Road vs LSU
Road vs Miami
Road vs Texas A&M
Road vs Ole Miss
Home vs Tennessee
Home vs Florida State
Home vs Mississippi State
Home vs South Florida
Road vs Kentucky
Home vs Long Island
Gatorbred: Do you think we will risk injury to Baugh returning kickoffs or wear him down during the games with that? Who else do you think will be deep on KOR? What about punt return? I think Trey Wilson and Vernell Brown would both be excellent at that, but not sure we want to risk another injury to Trey. Thoughts?
NM: Billy Napier hasn’t shied away from using who he thinks is the best option at kick return or punt return. The Gators used Baugh last year on kick return, so if he’s willing to do it again and the staff thinks he is the best option I don’t see why that wouldn’t be the case. I don’t believe we’ve seen a significant injury from a returner under Billy Napier, so I wouldn’t worry about putting the best guy out there.
Here was everyone working in the return game during spring camp:
WR Tre Wilson
WR Tank Hawkins
RB Jadan Baugh
RB Ja’Kobi Jackson
WR J. Michael Sturdivant
WR Aidan Mizell
WR Vernell Brown III
RB Duke Clark
WR Dallas Wilson
WR Naeshaun Montgomery
WR DeBraun Hampton
It’s important to note that Florida looks for a guy with good hands and ball security first. The last thing you want is someone who’s going to turn it over on special teams. I think Ja’Kobi Jackson and Aidan Mizell would be an excellent duo to return kicks while Tank Hawkins, Vernell Brown III, Tre Wilson, or J’Vari Flowers would be prime candidates for punt return.
Stay tuned for part three.