Predictions for the Florida Gators football season

It’s here. The Dan Mullen era begins, for real, in six short days.

Here are 10 predictions for the season. Not all are bold, some will be wrong but that’s the fun. Let us know in the comments section and on the message board if you agree, disagree or have some of your own.

Emory Jones does not redshirt
Florida’s heralded quarterback recruit from the last recruiting cycle has fans excited. Jones is the most mobile quarterback on Florida’s roster, something that has been a staple in Mullen’s offenses throughout his career, but he’s not ready as a passer.

A new NCAA rule will allow players to play up to four games this year and still be eligible to redshirt. Some have pontificated that Mullen could get Jones experience by playing him but also give him another year of eligibility by only playing him in four games.

Mullen already has secured commitments from quarterbacks in the 2019 and 2020 class. He’s trying to win now and Jones can be a weapon. There’s no sense in shelving him for two thirds of the season when he can be used in packages throughout games, similarly to how Mullen used a freshman Tim Tebow.

Jordan Scarlett totals 1,500+ yards of offense
I might have gone overboard predicting 1,500 rushing yards on a podcast but 1,500 totals yards of offense is certainly attainable for Scarlett.

You’d have to go back to 2011-2012 to find a Mullen offense that didn’t have a true mobile threat at quarterback but that’s the case this year at Florida. In those years Vick Ballard rushed for a hair under 1,200 yards. Scarlett will be Florida’s feature back and the team will have issues passing the ball. Mullen is going to run the ball a lot this season, as it’s the team’s strength, and Scarlett will be the biggest beneficiary.

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson will make you forget 2017
Chauncey’s relationship with fans grew contentious in 2017.

If we’re being honest he was playing out of position. Gardner-Johnson is a cornerback and has the skillset to be a great cornerback or nickel back. He’s not a safety. He shouldn’t be asked to make 15 tackles a game, like he was in 2017. His move to nickelback this season will highlight his skills and you’ll quickly forget why you tweeted mean things at him last year.

Trey Dean has next
Speaking of cornerback, Florida found a special one in freshman Trey Dean. The Georgia native has already earned reps this season behind two preseason All-SEC corners in C.J. Henderson and Marco Wilson. Florida’s secondary has taken some lumps in terms of injuries, which has given Dean ample opportunity to prove himself.

He’s going to be a special player sooner rather than later.

Gators go 0-2 against the Bulldogs
Don’t shoot the messenger. Florida loses in Starkville and in Jacksonville, but they’ll make it close in both games.

Jachai Polite’s season propels him to the draft after this season
The early returns out of spring and fall camp have been that junior Jachai Polite has been unblockable. He’s a speed rusher off the edge who will take advantage of Todd Grantham’s attacking style of defense. T.J. Slaton made waves when he said he wanted to break Florida’s sack record but it will be Polite that will come close to taking down the record this season.

The Gators will have multiple games with two 100+ yard rushers
As previously stated the Gators will be a run heavy team in 2018. They have the deep stable to support that kind of play calling and it will be a necessity, especially early on.

Florida hasn’t had two different players rush for 100 yards in the same game since Lamical Perine and Jordan Scarlett did it against Missouri in 2016 but they’ll do that, not once but twice in 2018.

Florida will surpass their 2017 interception total
It may not seem bold but Florida intercepted 14 passes last season, second best in the SEC. Their 1.27 interception per game average ranked 19th in the country. Those are great numbers but with Gardner-Johnson back in a role that fits him, Wilson, Henderson and Dean in the secondary and Florida’s speed rush this should be a huge season for the defense that will put an emphasis on creating turnovers.

Florida will block multiple punts
It hasn’t been done in years but Dan Mullen has put an emphasis on punt. The players on punt eat first. It’s one of the first things practiced every day. That’s a breath of fresh air coming after a coach who would joke that he didn’t know the kicker’s name and just called him “kicker.”

Gators’ passing offense finishes outside the top 100, rushing offense inside the top 25.
So this is both, good and bad?

I don’t have much faith in Florida’s passing game because of the quarterback situation and without a starter named it doesn’t seem like Mullen does either. Mullen’s Mississippi State team finished 11th in rushing last season, 23rd in 2016 and 2014.

On the other hand Mississippi State’s passing offense was ranked worse than Florida’s last year. Other than Dak Prescott’s junior and senior seasons Mullen’s never had a passing offense that even cracked the top 50 nationally, twice finishing 113th.

Florida doesn’t have the quarterback to change that this year but they do have a running game that should be the best in the SEC.

Nick de la Torre
A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGC