Projecting Florida Gators depth chart: Offense

The Florida Gators will scrimmage on Monday for the first time during fall camp and their first game is less than three weeks away. With the first scrimmage — and season — approaching quickly it’s time to break down where the team stands and how the depth chart looks.

Quarterback
Feleipe Franks – RsJr
Emory Jones – RsFr
Kyle Trask – RsJr

Breakdown: Franks has taken this starting job and run with it. Starting from the end of the South Carolina game he has been an entirely different quarterback for the better. This is Franks’ team. Behind him Jones and Trask have been splitting reps pretty evenly. At his point it would be hard to envision a scenario where Jones doesn’t get some playing time in designated packages.

Running back
Lamical Perine – Sr
Dameon Pierce – So
Malik Davis – RsSo
Iverson Clement – RsFr
Nay’Quan Wright – Fr

Breakdown:
Lamical Perine is the guy. I fully expect him to get more carries than he did last season (134). The Gators will still get their other running backs in the game but I don’t see them rotating running backs as much as they did last season. I have Pierce second on the depth chart but it’s still fluid there. Both players are doing well in camp.

X
Van Jefferson – RsSr
Trevon Grimes – Jr
Rick Wells – RsJr
Trent Whittemore – Fr

Breakdown: Dan Mullen likes to move his receivers around a lot and the guys know the playbook at multiple positions, so don’t lock in to this list. There are six receivers (Jefferson, Grimes, Cleveland, Toney, Hammond, Swain) that are going to play the most. Rick Wells has looked better in camp but there’s just a lot of guys in the receiver room. Trent Whittemore is a player to keep an eye on down the line. I’ve been impressed with his size and athleticism.

Z
Tyrie Cleveland – Sr
Kadarius Toney – Jr
Ja’Markis Weston – Fr

Breakdown: Cleveland and Toney are going to play a lot. We’ve even seen Toney get carries out of the backfield, so his playbook is ever expanding. He’s fun to watch when the ball is in his hands and Dan Mullen is trying to find more ways to do that. Cleveland is back for his senior season. I think we know what to expect from him.

Slot
Josh Hammond – Sr
Freddie Swain – Sr
Jacob Copeland – RsFr
Dionte Marks – Fr

Breakdown: Hammond and Swain aren’t talked about as much as some of the other receivers but they’re the most reliable and consistent receivers. Hammond has, in my opinion, the best hands on the team and I think both can have good seasons. Copeland is coming along and will likely get some playing time this year. He’s also fully healthy now.

Tight End
Lucas Krull – RsJr
Kyle Pitts – So
Kemore Gamble – RsSo
Dante Lang – RsFr
Keon Zipperer – Fr

Breakdown: Krull and Pitts are getting most of the run with the first team. Krull had the setback and missed most of spring camp but he’s healthy and back at it now. I’m interested to see what kind of player he will be with more opportunity this year. Pitts has the potential to be a nightmare for defenses. Lang and Gamble are probably going to play more as a hand in the ground blocking role this year and Zipperer is coming along.

Left Tackle
Stone Forsythe – RsJr
Richard Gouraige – RsFr

Breakdown: Both Forsythe and Gouraige have been practicing strictly at left tackle. Their roles are pretty clear as well —Forsythe starting and Gouraige backing him up. Gouraige did work at guard some last year, and I think he’s in that group of eight or so linemen that the coaching staff would feel comfortable throwing out there, so his cross-training from last season is something to keep in mind.

Left Guard
Brett Heggie – RsJr
Ethan White – Fr
Griffin McDowell – RsFr
Riley Simonds – Fr

Breakdown: As soon as Brett Heggie was healthy he was put back into the starting lineup. He’s healthy now, just needs to stay that way. Ethan White seems to have taken the backup job here but I wouldn’t count Griffin McDowell out. White’s physical transformation is incredible and it’s going to benefit him on the field.

Center
Nick Buchanan – RsSr
Kingsley Eguakun – Fr
Tanner Rowell – RsJr

Breakdown: Buchanan has the starting job and secured but the depth behind him isn’t clear. From what we’ve seen only Buchanan, Eguakun and Rowell have taken snaps at center, so not a lot of experience there. Heggie has played center in the past; it could be possible that Florida would move him to center in case of an emergency.

Right Guard
Chris Bleich – RsFr
Noah Banks – RsSr
William Harrod – Fr

Breakdown: Bleich got the starting spot in the spring and he’s holding on to it. Getting Noah Banks back was big. He’s versatile enough that you could probably get away playing him at tackle or guard. If he stays healthy he’s someone that will get in the rotation.

Right Tackle
Jean Delance – RsJr
T.J. Moore – RsSo
Michael Tarquin – Fr

Breakdown: Delance is starting, that much is clear. Who will back him up is still a question mark Moore has some experience so I gave him the edge over Tarquin here for now.