SEC Kickoff Preview: Florida Gators

2022 wasn’t quite the season that the Gator faithful imagined when Billy Napier was hired. With the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft under center (Anthony Richardson), Florida finished the 2022 season with a 6-7 record. Five additional Gators also heard the commissioner call their names. Florida’s lackadaisical effort and embarrassing undermanned performance in a 30-3 shellacking by Oregon State in the Vegas Bowl was a disgrace to the once proud program and the Southeastern Conference. I know, bowl games don’t count, but, man, was that ugly. The Beavers just didn’t win the game, the Pac-12 team physically whipped the Gators. Badly.

In the eyes of Florida supporters, the Gators suffered more disconcerting defeats at the hands of Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Both the Cats and Dores have historically been considered automatic wins on the Gators’ schedule. Reality is much different. Kentucky has been the better program over the past half-decade and has passed the Gators in the East. Vanderbilt is rising under Clark Lea and was the obvious better team when the two squared off.

Can Napier right the ship? We’ll see. Things went south in a hurry in 2022. Florida no longer has the best, or even one of the best, rosters in the SEC. Debatably, this year’s squad is less talented than that of a year ago. That can’t be good news after the Gators’ disappointing end to last season. Napier has some work to do in order to calm the storm in the Sunshine State. Let’s get into it.

OFFENSE

Rob Sale is technically Florida’s offensive coordinator. Billy Napier is the actual play caller. The Gators averaged 30 points and 424 yards per game. Those numbers rank in the middle of the SEC. Anthony Richardson wowed and frustrated before going on to being selected in the first round by the Indianapolis Colts. Guard O’Cyrus Torrence was taken in the second round by the Bills. There are doubters outside the state of Florida that question if the offense can actually be better in year two without those two in the starting lineup. We’ll see.

Quarterback Graham Mertz comes over from Wisconsin. He played a great deal of football in the B1G. That’s nice, but he’s now in a different league playing against new defenses that feature more talented players. It’s unknown how Mertz can hold up against SEC defenses on a weekly basis. Running back Montrell Johnson will be a focus and back for another season carrying the football or the Gators. He’s joined by Trevor Etienne to form a formidable one-two punch. The RB duo could ease Martz’s transition.

Portal additions will be counted on to bolster the offensive line. Tackle Austin Barger will be the leader in the room to assist in the transfer transition. Former 5-star Kiyaunta Goodwin (Kentucky), Micah Mazzccua (Baylor), and Damieon George (Alabama) will compete to top the two-deep.

Best Offensive Player: Montrell Johnson

Montrell Johnson followed Billy Napier from Louisiana to Florida. He played in 13 games including 9 starts in 2022. The 5’11, 218-pound junior carried the football 155 times for 841 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. He’s being mentioned for preseason honors. Johnson is also viewed as a potential NFL prospect.

Most Important Defensive Player: Graham Mertz

Graham Mertz started 32 games for Wisconsin prior to entering the transfer portal. The quarterback experienced an up-and-down career in Madison by throwing for 5,387 yards and 48 touchdowns as a Badger. The former 4-star prospect from Kansas was a highly regarded signee.

Mertz gets a second chance at Florida. Defenses are a little different than what he’s used to in the B1G. Coach Billy Napier had .500 record with Anthony Richardson under center. Mertz isn’t Richardson or even close if we’re being honest. The Gators will need the transfer to be consistent and not hurt his team with turnovers. Mertz’s success or failure will drive the team’s overall achievement in 2023.

DEFENSE

Relative to program standards, the Florida defense was not good in 2022. The Gators surrendered 29 points and 411 yards per game. Additionally, UF was ranked in the teens in the league against the run and pass.

The Gators welcome several newcomers on the defensive line. That group will be led by Edge Prince Umanmielen. The 6’5, 255-pound junior from Manor, Texas earned preseason All-SEC honors. You can read about him below. The Gators’ top returning linebacker registered 47 stops a year ago. You can also read about him below.

The secondary could be a team strength. Cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. recorded 29 tackles, 8 pass breakups, 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception, and 1 QB hurry. 6’0, 220-pound safety Kamari Wilson played in 13 games with 2 starts last season. He’s expected to lead the back third. He registered 39 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, and a pass breakup in 2022.

Best Defensive Player: Princely Umanmielen

This pick is largely because of potential. Umanmielen is an upper-level athlete that operates off the edge. He finished last season with 39 total tackles including 9.5 for loss, 4.5 QB sacks, and 5 QB hurries. The 6’5, 250-pound OLB/DE is the Gators’ most threatening defender and projects to an All-SEC level defender.

Most Important Defensive Player: Shemar James

Shemar James earned invaluable experience and reps in 2022 after playing in all 13 games including 4 starts. The result was 47 tackles, 3 QB hurries, 2 tackles for loss, 2 QB sacks, a forced fumble and a recovery. The true sophomore is still learning the college game and moves into a full-time starter role. He needs to be solid at the second level while his fellow defenders settle into new roles.

2023 Schedule Preview

Florida’s non-conference slate starts off with a bang when the Gators fly to Utah to take on the Utes. The season finale against Florida State doesn’t exactly look like a swell matchup as well.

The SEC home schedule includes contests vs. Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas. The Gators also get the Dawgs on a Jacksonville neutral field in the World’s Largest Cocktail Party. The conference road lineup features Kentucky, South Carolina, LSU, and Mizzou.

A rough opening and closing to the season could be sandwiched with more losses that could lead to Napier being directly on the hot seat.

2023 Projection: SEC, 6th

What Does All This Mean?

The end of the 2022 season was ugly for the Gators. Three losses including an embarrassing effort vs. Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl topped off a less-than-stellar finish. Patience is not a virtue that’s universally shared by the Gator faithful.

The season’s outcome could hinge on transfer quarterback Graham Mertz, defensive improvement, and the implementation of a load of transfers.

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