What 2023 preseason magazines are saying about Florida Gators

College football magazines have the hit the shelves ahead of the 2023 season. Florida Gators outside linebacker Princely Umanmielen graces the cover of Lindy’s Sports in the Sunshine State.

Umanmielen is one of the top returners on a team that lost 13 starters, including starting quarterback Anthony Richardson, and looks to win more games this fall after back-to-back 6-7 years.

Here’s what Lindy’s Sports and Athlon Sports said about the Florida football team in their 2023 season preview editions.

Lindy’s Sports

– SEC prediction: The Gators are picked fourth in the East behind Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina.

– No. 32 preseason ranking: “Is QB Graham Mertz the answer? Gators season might hinge on it.”

– Good news: “A strong 1-2 punch at RB, Billy Napier in the second year of his system.“

– Bad news: “Lost gifted QB Anthony Richardson, top OL, top LB, seems average at skill positions.”

– Lindy’s call: “Had losing record with Richardson, could be hard to improve without him.”

– Lindy’s All-SEC picks: P Jeremy Crawshaw (second team), RB Montrell Johnson Jr. (third team), DL Desmond Watson (third team)

– Returning starters: 9 (4 offense, 3 defense), punter, kicker

– Players to watch: QB Graham Mertz, RB Montrell Johnson Jr., RB Trevor Etienne, WR Ricky Pearsall, EDGE Princely Umanmielen, NT Cam Jackson, DT Caleb Banks, LB Shemar James, CB Jason Marshall Jr., S R.J. Moten

– Primary strengths: “Florida returns one of the most potent running back duos in the SEC with Johnson and Etienne; the Gators will lean heavily on the pair, as they did last year. Defensive front seven is completely rebuilt with potent pass rushers, specifically Jackson and Banks who should be disruptive under new coordinator Armstrong.”

– Potential problems: “Mertz was inconsistent at best throughout his tenure at Wisconsin and struggled in his first spring with the Gators. Offensive line lost All-American right guard O’Cyrus Torrence. The receiving room is thin and inexperienced.”

– Overview: “After losing quarterback Anthony Richardson, Florida’s offense appears to have taken a step back, a narrative that can quickly be dispelled if Mertz takes significant steps to improve over the summer in areas like pocket feel and pass precision. The Gator defense looks much improved, though, and could allow the team to be successful in lower-scoring games.”

– Top newcomer: Cam Jackson — “The transfer from Memphis was a mauler along the Gators’ defensive front throughout spring practices and wreaked havoc on Florida’s offense in the spring game. Coaches and teammates have lauded Jackson for his performance, and he is widely expected to be among Florida’s defensive leaders this year.”

– The Gators have seven preseason top-30 teams on their schedule: Georgia (1), LSU (5), FSU (6), Tennessee (13), Utah (15), South Carolina (24), Arkansas (28). Kentucky is ranked No. 36 by Lindy’s Sports.

– Former Wisconsin starter Mertz is ranked No. 15 among the top 15 impact transfer quarterbacks: “TBD on if this will wear, but he is wearing No. 15.”

– Lindy’s Sports on Florida’s 2023 class: “After experiencing some turbulence both on and off the field in year one in Gainesville, Billy Napier and company went back to the basics on the recruiting trail by investing a considerable amount of time and resources in their home state. With an incoming class of 20 signees, 14 of the incoming Gators hail from the Sunshine State. … Napier’s homegrown philosophy is one that makes all too much sense for the Gators.

“Among commits from the Sunshine State are standouts like four-star CB Ja’Keem Jackson … one of the best defensive back prospects in the cycle. The Gators also scored a major in-state win by flipping four-star OL Roderick Kearney from Florida State, in addition to beating out Ohio State for four-star DB Dijon Johnson. Add in a couple of other huge wins for Napier including four-stars Kelby Collins and Kamran James along the defensive line and the Gators have appeared to lay the foundation of a team with their sights set on long term success.”

Athlon Sports on Gators

– SEC projection: The Gators are picked to finish fifth in the SEC East.

– Record prediction: 5-7 (3-5 SEC)

– No. 49 preseason ranking: Eight of the 12 teams on the Gators’ schedule are ranked ahead of them by Athlon Sports and Missouri is No. 50.

– Ranking Florida’s position groups in the SEC: QB (13), RB (6), WR (12), OL (9), DL (11), LB (12), DB (10)

– Athlon All-SEC picks: RB Montrell Johnson Jr., OL Austin Barber, OLB Princely Umanmielen, LB Shemar James, CB Jason Marsall Jr., P Jeremy Crawshaw (all third team)

– Offense: “Billy Napier loses Anthony Richardson, a first-round NFL Draft pick, and All-American guard O’Cyrus Torrence. Napier has history on his side, though. At Louisiana, his Year 2 attack improved by six points per game (to 37.9). À similar jump with the Gators will require that the stars align. Transfer quarterback Graham Mertz is key. He doesn’t possess Richardson’s athleticism Or arm, but he started 32 games at Wisconsin and quickly developed command of Napier’s scheme.

“Florida’s run game will rely on the 1-2 punch of Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne. The duo combined for 1,560 rushing yards and 16 scores. Senior receiver Ricky Pearsall, who capped 2022 with 148 yards and two touchdowns at Florida State, has star potential. Veteran Xzavier Henderson entered the transfer portal in the spring. The Gators lost four starters up front, but aside from the loss of Torrence, they may have upgraded. Tackle Austin Barber, who shined as a redshirt freshman, anchors the unit. Transfer guard Micah Mazzccua (Baylor) and 350-plus-pound tackles Kiyaunta Goodwin (Kentucky) and Damieon George Jr. (Alabama) are the kind of road graders Napier fancies.”

– Defense: “The Gators’ defensive decline reached new lows in 2022. UF allowed opponents to convert an SEC-worst 49.1 percent on third down and yielded at least 30 points in six losses. Many blamed coordinator Patrick Toney’s youth. But when Toney, 32, left for the NFL, Napier hired 29-year-old Austin Armstrong. Players love Armstrong’s energy. Florida’s line should be deeper and heftier, beginning with Memphis transfer Cam Jackson (6-6, 355) – one of seven newcomers up front. Kelby Collins, a top-50 recruit, headlined a stout 2023 class.

“Veteran edge rusher Princely Umanmielen is poised to break out after recording a team-high 9.5 tackles for a loss. Sophomore linebacker Shemar James 47 stops are most among returners. The secondary has the potential and talent to be elite again. Third-year cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. leads the way, while newcomer Ja’Keem Jackson, a top-60 recruit, headlines a class with six defensive backs. Sophomore safety Kamari Wilson, the plum of the 2022 class, will shore up a shaky back end.”

– Specialists: “Punter Jeremy Crawshaw’s 47.9-yard average on 35 punts would have ranked second nationally had the sophomore qualified. Former walk-on kicker Adam Mihalek and coveted 2022 signee Trey Smack will vie for kicking duties. Etienne provides a rare threat in the kick return game.”

– Final analysis: “Napier entered the offseason on the heels of a three-game skid, including Florida’s first loss at Vanderbilt since 1988. Avoiding three straight losing seasons for the first time since the 1950s is not a given. Napier has improved his roster’s talent and depth, but he needs Mertz to improve and for both lines to solidify.”