With spring football finally in sight, Gator Country is here to get you through these final few days 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. Moving onto wide receivers and tight ends, 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.
The Gators had some big-time departures across the board, but have potential to replace the talent and continue on the path of success.
Florida’s offense will be under full reconstruction mode throughout the spring. Though the receiver rooms won’t quite be full yet, this is the time to build up some of the less experienced guys who will be big this fall.
Who’s Leaving: WR- Kadarius Toney, Trevon Grimes
TE- Kyle Pitts
Florida’s top three pass catchers from 2020 are gone, along with the man that threw to them.
Toney took a long awaited major step forward in 2020 as he led the Gators in receiving yards, nearly eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark. He made 70 catches for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Florida likely won’t have anyone with the ability to break ankles quite like Toney next season.
Grimes finished his final season with 38 receptions for 589 yards and nine touchdowns. A red zone threat and a big body to go up and catch those 50/50 deep balls, Grimes was another big piece of Florida’s offense.
But no receiver made quite the impact in any given game than Pitts. The walking mismatch tight end played in just eight games, but simply could not be stopped when he got on the field.
Pitts averaged nearly 100 yards per game as he finished the season with 770 yards on 43 catches for 12 touchdowns. The Mackey Award winner already had an NFL skill set in college, and could be the toughest of anyone to replace.
Who’s Back: WR- Justin Shorter, Jacob Copeland, Xzavier Henderson, Trent Whittemore, Rick Wells, Jordan Pouncey, Ja’Markis Weston, Ja’Quavion Fraziars
TE- Kemore Gamble, Keon Zipperer, Jonathan Odom
The Gators return a great deal of talent in 2021. However, much of it is unproven talent at this point in time.
Both Copeland and Shorter had their moments last season, but were largely overshadowed by the three previously mentioned players. Accounting for three touchdowns apiece, Copeland put up 435 receiving yards while Shorter had 268.
Similarly to Toney and Grimes, Copeland just hasn’t quite made the impact expected of him heading into his fourth season at Florida. With the help of wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales, this could finally be his season.
Wells and Pouncey add some veteran depth to the room, but younger guys like Henderson and Whittemore are coming for more snaps this season.
Henderson played a good bit as a true freshman, hauling in nine catches for 148 yards and a touchdown. Whittemore had similar numbers with 10 receptions for 128 yards and a score, despite being sidelined for several games with an injury.
Weston and Fraziars will also be ones to watch this spring. Though they likely won’t be starters (barring a big jump), the Gators need them to make more of an impact in their second and third seasons.
As for tight end, Gamble and Zipperer have big shoes to fill. Florida has help coming in this summer in LSU transfer Arik Gilbert, but for now, the two veterans will have to hold it down.
Gamble got some significant playing time in 2020 behind Pitts. He came up big in the Georgia win with three receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown after Pitts left the game with a concussion.
His receiving abilities came through last season, but he still has some work to do on his hands. A step forward there would make him more valuable to add to his blocking abilities.
Gamble and Zipperer had similar stats in 2020, as Gamble had 10 catches for 160 yards and three scores while Zipperer finished with 11 receptions for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Gamble’s added experience should keep him ahead going into spring.
Breakout Watch: Trent Whittemore
Whittemore is a name that just keeps coming up from those closest to the program.
The 6’4, 208 pound Gainesville native is the frontrunner to replace Toney in the slot. Though their games are extremely different, Whittemore has the potential to be just as big of a threat as his career moves forward.
Whittemore was actually once projected to be a safety at Florida, but he showed glimpses last season of why his big body and good hands make him an even better fit for the offensive side of the ball. There should be plenty more opportunity for him to prove that this spring and into the fall.
Newcomer(s) of Note: Daejon Reynolds, Nick Elksnis
Gilbert is obviously the name that will eventually be inserted here, but for now, the Gators have several freshmen coming in to add depth to their positions.
Reynolds could compete for some early playing time as a wide receiver. Getting the four-star signee in for spring ball really ups his chances there as he can learn the playbook and get accustomed to Florida’s offense quickly.
Elksnis will likely need more time to develop in the system as a tight end. But spring will be a good time to get first impressions of him and what he could add to the offense in the coming years.
Questions: These are the three things we want to know before the end of spring.
1. How will Florida’s receivers evolve with a dual-threat quarterback taking over?
The Gators will look much different this season. Though Emory Jones (and Anthony Richardson) has a great arm, the offense won’t be quite so centered around the passing attack. More balance means less targets, so Florida’s receivers need to make the most of what they are given.
2. Are the veterans ready to take the next step?
A majority of the returners listed above are headed into their third or fourth season with the Gators. Florida managed to replace the talent that departed after 2019 with even better production, and though that is not expected of these receivers, it is time for several of them to have their true breakthrough season.
3. Can anyone begin to fill the gaping hole Kyle Pitts left?
No. No one is expected to step in and be the best tight end in the country. Players like Pitts don’t come around often. And while Gilbert could be one of the best with time, we won’t get to see that in spring. Florida just needs guys like Gamble and Zipperer to be steady presences in the meantime.