1- The 2013 Class of Freshman
Florida’s two most notable recruits are five star cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III and five star running back Kelvin Taylor. They were ranked as ESPN’s third and eighth overall prospects, respectively. With Jaylen Watkins moving to free safety, Hargreaves III will battle it to be the team’s nickel corner and Taylor will be Matt Jones’ spell back and relieve him when necessary. Along with those two five stars, the Gators landed 20 four-star recruits, including the third and fifth-ranked outside linebackers (Daniel McMillian and Alex Anzalone, respectively).
Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, the seventh ranked receiver of the class, could even be as high as third on the depth chart and work the slot. The Swamp will also welcome seven three star recruits to fill out the depth chart. As a whole, these incoming freshman will be productive and make a huge impact in their efforts to be crowned as the SEC champions.
2- A Dominant Running Attack
Headed by sophomore Matt Jones, the Gators running attack will be effective and relentless. Jones shows great vision and elusiveness, both in open space and between the tackles, along with toughness and the strength to fight for extra yards when necessary. In 2012, Jones had 52 carries that totaled for 275 yards as a freshman behind Mike Gillislee, who is now with the Miami Dolphins. Despite how talented Jones is, Kelvin Taylor, son of former NFL running back Fred Taylor, will see a decent amount of reps as well.
The top-10 recruit flashes quickness and agility in his cuts paired with solid ball carrier vision. Not only will the two running backs be dominant, but quarterback Jeff Driskel adds a surprise running threat that could strike at any time with his speed. Driskel’s shining moment in his rushing career came last season as he ran for three touchdowns, including a 70 yard run, against Vanderbilt.
3- Star Studded Defensive Backs Corps
Matt Elam and Josh Evans, the 2012 starting safety tandem, went to the NFL, so the defensive back corps is doomed, right? Quite the opposite, actually. Marcus Roberson and Loucheiz Purifoy make up what is arguably the nation’s best cornerback duo. Roberson is more technically sound and more superior as a true cornerback, while Purifoy is more just an athlete playing cornerback, but his athleticism gives him huge advantages over opposing wide receivers.
Jaylen Watkins was also a solid athletic corner, primarily in the slot, but will be moving to free safety this season to fill the hole left by Evans. Watkins athleticism will give him great range and he could be a ball hawk in the making. Vernon Hargreaves III, Cody Riggs, and Brian Poole, all of which are incredibly talented, will share time as the nickel and dime corners.
4- Underrated Talent at Wide Receiver
If you are looking for a place to find criminally under appreciated receiving talent, The Swamp is a great place to start. For starters, Quinton Dunbar is arguably the nation’s most talented wide receiver that’s going unnoticed. He’s a solid athlete that adds a comforting level of consistency to the offense. Andre Debose possesses freakish speed that can burn even the most talented defensive backs. Solomon Patton and Latroy Pittman are two solid contributors that often come in as changes of pace or as rotational players.
Surprisingly, the game changers may end up being the freshman. Demarcus Robinson is the most highly regarded of the bunch. He’s a bigger, more physical receiver that’s quite young Anquan Boldin esque. Just behind him is Ahmad Fullwood, who is about 6’4” and 200 Lbs. If that wasn’t enough, he runs roughly a 4.47 40 yard dash to compliment his great size. While it may not have one stand out guy, such as Sammy Watkins of Clemson or Marqise Lee of USC, it is a well rounded corps with phenomenal depth.
5- William L. Muschamp
Muschamp has had loads of success as a coordinator on both the collegiate level (LSU, Auburn, and Texas) and on the pro level (Miami Dolphins). Muschamp accepted the head coaching job for Florida for the 2011 season and lead them to a mediocre 7-6. In 2012, Muschamp proved that he can win against all the odds. The Gators were ranked 25th to start the season and had essentially been completely written off as SEC contenders.
Muschamp took this as a challenge and he certainly came through as he lead the Gators to an 11-1 regular season record and was a fumble via Jordan Reed away from an SEC title shot. For all we know, that fumble may have robbed Florida of a crystal football. The Gators didn’t lose anyone on offense that can not be replaced, which should make things easier for Muschamp. Being the defensive genius that he is, the Champ should have no problem with loss of starters on defense, especially since they are being replaced by an array of talented student athletes.