With spring football finally in sight, Gator Country is here to get you through these final few weeks until the Gators are back on the gridiron.
Before Florida football returns, we will preview where each position group stands as the team transitions into 2021. Starting with quarterback, we will give an in-depth look at who returns, players to watch and pose three questions we need answered before the end of spring.
Once a position of dread from year to year, quarterback is quickly becoming Florida’s strength under Dan Mullen. Kyle Trask’s momentous 2020 season will be tough to follow up, but the Gators are in good position to continue what the Heisman Trophy finalist started.
The quarterback room is DEEP with arm talent to complement potentially elite running threats. There is a lot to be optimistic about at this position looking ahead to spring and likely for years to come.
Who’s Leaving: Kyle Trask
Trask is deservingly off to the NFL following his dream senior season. Though the Gators did not finish the year as they hoped or expected, Trask put the team on his back and gave Florida a chance to win in most every game.
Trask renewed the standard for quarterbacks at the University of Florida as he broke school records for single-season passing yards (4,283) and passing touchdowns (43) among countless other accolades. Even more impressively, he did all of this in a shortened season against an all SEC schedule.
Despite a tough ending to the season that crushed his Heisman hopes, Trask leaves a legacy as one of the all-time great Gators, and his origin story is unmatched.
Another loss to the room is not a player, but a coach. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson accepted a position with the Philadelphia Eagles following the season. His departure could hurt Florida as much as any player.
Who’s Back: Emory Jones, Anthony Richardson
Jones patiently waited behind Trask and Feleipe Franks in his first three seasons in Gainesville. Now, it is his turn to take the reins. And he’s already getting attention as a very early Heisman candidate in the eyes of some experts.
In nine appearances last season, he completed 18 of his 32 pass attempts for 221 yards and a pair of touchdowns while racking up 217 yards and two scores on the ground.
In limited time on the field, he showed off a rocket arm and devastating speed. The first true dual-threat Mullen has had to work with since he arrived at Florida, Jones is a much better fit for the offense this staff is accustomed to running.
As for Richardson, he saw very limited action in his true freshman season, but showed glimpses of a bright future when he saw the field.
Though it was against Oklahoma’s third and fourth-string defense, his touchdown drive in the Cotton Bowl might have been the single positive offensive takeaway from the game. He ran for 42 yards on three carries and threw a 27-yard touchdown pass.
Breakout Watch: This will depend on who ultimately wins the starting job. In this reporter’s opinion, though there has been debate amongst the brilliant minds of Twitter, the job is Jones’ to lose.
It will be interesting to see how Mullen splits snaps come spring, but Jones has earned the right to a considerable cushion. Should he take advantage of that, he is primed for a breakout season in 2021.
At the same time, if Richardson continues developing in the playbook, it would be criminal to leave a talent like his off the field. He should get some packages as Jones did over his first few seasons.
Newcomer of Note: Carlos Del Rio-Wilson
The Gators added a pair of freshman quarterbacks this signing class in Del Rio-Wilson and Jalen Kitna. Both of them enrolled early and will get a good opportunity to immerse themselves in the offense without pressure to compete for playing time right away.
While both are talented, Del Rio-Wilson comes in with expectations to be Florida’s future star.
In his junior season at McEachern High School, he threw for 1,792 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 572 yards and eight scores. His senior season was shortened due to transfer issues, but he managed to still put up 1,374 yards and 12 scores through the air while adding five more touchdowns and 289 yards on the ground in just eight games at Cartersville High School.
Questions still remain about his accuracy (especially on the deep ball) as he threw nine picks in his last two high school seasons. That will be something to keep an eye on throughout spring and moving into the fall.
Questions: These are the three things we want to know before the end of spring.
1. How will the offense transition with a new quarterback?
Whether it’s Jones or Richardson, Florida’s offense will be tailored to a completely different style quarterback. While Mullen’s offense is built for their skill set, the pieces around them will have to adjust as well. The Gators need a leader in the huddle to make it a smooth transition.
2. Is Jones ready to be a more complete passer?
We know Jones has the arm strength. He showed that off in limited opportunities to throw the ball over the last three seasons. But there is still a slight disconnect on when to zip it and when to add some finesse. If he can perfect the touch pass this spring (as Trask did), he will be a major problem for SEC defenses.
3. Can Garrick McGee fill the hole that Johnson left?
The Gators simply promoted from within to replace Johnson with McGee. He already has experience working with Florida’s quarterbacks and a strong background that includes head coaching and offensive coordinator experience. Plus, Mullen was still the mastermind behind Florida’s offense even with Johnson taking on more responsibility last season. This should not be too big of an issue, but it will be interesting to see how McGee settles into his new role.
Good read bailiegh!