2013 Outlook - Florida

I am projecting the 2013 Florida Gators to improve significantly over their 2012 version.  It has been a long time since a Florida Gators football team won only 7 games, but in their second season under HC Will Muschamp, the Gators should win more games, mostly on the back of one of the outstanding defensive units in the nation.

There is still questions about who will be under center on Sept 1st against Bowling Green.  Both SO QBs, Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett got some game time last year, and both struggled.  This year they have more experience under their belt though, so regardless of who gets the call, the QB play should be a step up from last year's disaster.  At RB the team lost a lot of speed with Rainey heading to the NFL and Demps giving up football to focus on making the US Olympic team.  I am not sold on SR Mike Gillislee being a real threat, so the gators may need one of their younger guys to step it up.  Andre Debose is the team's top wide out, but the biggest weapon on this offense may be TE Jordan Reed.  He is very talented, shows good speed, good hands, and a good head about him.  I think he will be the focal point for this offense in 2013.

As many question marks as there are on the offense, the defense really has a lot to be excited about.  SR DT Omar Hunter,  JR DEs Dominique Easley and Ronald Powell, along with former LB turned DE Lerentee McCray make this one of the top defensive fronts in the whole nation.  Add in playmaking LBs Jonathan Bostic, and Jelani Jenkins and you have a formula for sleepless nights for opposing QBs.  Even this secondary will be quite good.  Marcus Roberson is one of the most exciting young ball players in the country, and along with super safety Matt Elam, this is one skilled, and complete defense.

If the Gators offense can develop some consistency, and manufacture a few points each game, their defense should keep them in most ball games.  They may not yet be ready for National Title consideration, but they are not far off that mark.