Football Thoughts on this Florida team......

[instaGATOR]

ESPN's Top 100 Players for 2024

SEC QB's listed in the Top 100:

92. Inco Lamaleava - TN

81. Conner Weigman - aTm

65. Brady Cook - Mizzou

41. Jaxson Dart - Ole Miss

23. Quinn Ewers - TX

22. Jalen Milroe - Bama

7. Carson Beck - UGly

An almost all defensive top 5?! College football's top 100 players for 2024

With relatively few established superstars, college football's top 100 players for 2024 might have some surprises.

www.espn.com

 

[ocalaman]

Gators land commitment from Top100 CB Ben Hanks Jr.

The Gators have added another elite legacy prospect to the 2025 class

247sports.com

 

[TEBOW TIME]

 

[ocalaman]

View embedded media

I hope he's right. The time when we shall all see is coming up pretty fast.

 

[TEBOW TIME]

I hope he's right. The time when we shall all see is coming up pretty fast.

Gotta root for this guy and the #15.

 

[instaGATOR]

Always rooting for the Gators in every sport, but facts/stats cannot be overlooked in the process.
What has been seen can no longer be tolerated. Changes must happen this season.

The Gators' defense, which ranked among the worst in the nation in 2023, will have to be markedly sharper this season. (2 new D coaches added)

The offensive line, which surrendered sacks at a higher rate than all but 18 FBS teams, can't afford a repeat performance. (a new OL coach added)

Florida's special teams units, which failed to put 11 players on the field at least once in half of its games last season, must be more organized. And the list goes on. (new ST's coach)

The HC's Dink & Dunk Mertz offense totaled just 20 passing TD's +4 rushing in 2023.

Season TD's -- Tebow 32 +23 - Wuerffel 39 +2 - Trask 43 +3
"Jus-the-facts, ma'am" -- Sgt Joe Friday - Dragnet....
Meyer/Tebow --- P32 + R23 = 55
Mullen/Trask ------ P43 + R3 = 46
Spurrier/Wuerffe - P39 + R2 = 41
Napier/Mertz ------ P20 + R4 = 24
20 TD's, 3 Int's for the best completion-% in the SEC - 72.9%. leading to a 5-7 season. -- Whoopee!

Of his 358 attempts, Mertz threw just 39 passes 20 or more yards through the air and completed 16, causing Florida's deep-ball-attempt rate to drop from 19.6% in 2022 down to 10.9% in 2023.

Of the top 10 teams in total offense in 2023, 9 ranked inside the top 10 in total plays of 30 yards or more and 6 ranked inside the top 10 in plays of 40 yards or more.

Florida Gators deep passing under microscope in fall scrimmage No. 2

The Gators are looking to elevate their offense through explosive passing in 2024 after falling short in the category in 2023

247sports.com

 

[instaGATOR]

Just trying to put a good/better spin on where they are today....

Highly Rated Legacies in its 2025 class that had either a father, grandfather, uncle or cousin that previously played for the Gators.

WR Kahleil Jackson - Willie Sr, Willie Jr, + Terry Jackson
LB R.J. Moten - LB Ron Moten
RB Treyaun Webb - CB Dee Webb
DE Titus Bullard - DE Thaddeus Bullard + Earnest and Myles Graham
QB Lawrence Wright IV WO - SS Lawrence Wright (HS Coach Willie Jackson Jr)
-----
WR Vernell Brown III - DB Vernell Brown II, Vernell Brown + RB/DB Vincent Brown
LB Myles Graham - RB Ernest Graham + Thad Bullard - Titus Bullard
CB Ben Hanks Jr - LB Ben Hanks
Ath/DB Demetres Samuel Jr - FS Marcus Maye
===============

Talent & Depth in - The Top 3 so far.
But any of these 10 receivers could get the job done.

WR
Eugene Wilson III
Kahleil Jackson
Elijhah Badger
-----
WR Aidan Mizell
WR Andy Jean
-----
Slot Receivers
Chimere Dike
Marcus Burke
Taylor Spierto
+++
WR Tank Hawkins Fr
WR TJ Abrams Fr

Deep passes still seem to be a work-in-progress with all 4 QB's working:
Graham Mertz, DJ Lagway, Clay Millen and Aidan Warner.

 

[ocalaman]

Coming for the official Florida Gators official athletics website, we have to expect mainly positives. But I found this article to be very in depth and overall pretty objective.

Gators Position Preview: Offensive Line - Florida Gators

Checking in on Florida's offensive line as preseason camp winds down.

floridagators.com

 

[GatorNation79]

I think Napier was pretty consistent the first 2 seasons. Have one good home win each season but lose to all of the other better teams at home and find a way to lose to a terrible Arkansas team. Then on the road lose to all the better teams plus find a way to lose to Vandy. If Napier keeps his standards the same this might be close to the 2024 results. History says Napier should find a way to lose to either Miss State on the road or to lose to either UCF or KY at home. LSU would seem like a candidate for his one good home win. Ole Miss would probably be the other candidate for the one good win.

Miami - loss
Sanford - win
A&M - win
@Miss State - loss
UCF - win
@TN - loss
KY - win
GA - loss
@TX - loss
LSU - win
Ole Miss - loss
@FSU - loss

We will see but I'm optimistic about the first 5 games. This will be the best all around talent/depth we have had. If CBN can make it he better win 4 of those games.

 

[GatorNation79]

I hope he's right. The time when we shall all see is coming up pretty fast.

True Ocala, gonna have to see it on the field. Glad the season is almost here

 

[gatordad3]

Found this a few days ago.

#5 Myles and Earnest Graham
#59 Titus and Thad Bullard
#23 Josiah Davis and Keith Kelsey
#22 Kahleil with Willie Jackson Sr and Jr
#11 Aiden and Will Mizell(parents ran track at UF)

 

[TEBOW TIME]

Graham Mertz is really good, but how will Florida use DJ Lagway?

DJ Lagway is Florida's future, but how Billy Napier plans to use his 5-star QB in 2024 is one of the hottest topics in Gainesville.

www.saturdaydownsouth.com

 

[ocalaman]

Capitalizing in camp: Which Gators made the most of their opportunities in fall camp?

A look at which Gators put themselves in position to play a larger role in 2024

247sports.com

 

[ocalaman]

This is a little off topic, but I thought ya'll would find it interesting to see how the UF guys who left via the portal are doing at their new schools. https://247sports.com/college/flori...review-roster-depth-chart--234936559/#2467749

 

[Gator Fever]

This is a little off topic, but I thought ya'll would find it interesting to see how the UF guys who left via the portal are doing at their new schools. https://247sports.com/college/flori...review-roster-depth-chart--234936559/#2467749

Forgot about some of those departures. Wilson probably needs to switch to LB to have any chance to do much. ETN I am sure will be breaking off some big runs in that offense. His per carry average should be higher there. Princely is a big loss as we have no good pass rushers unless Boone is ready to take off. Mazzccua was a pretty good run blocker so that may be missed here.

 

[instaGATOR]

The 4 most important guys to the Gator's 2024 Team are not roster players or incoming xfers or HS recruits in the iG's opinion......

Will Harris - Assist. Coach / Secondary - Came from the Los Angeles Chargers

Will Harris - Football Coach - Florida Gators

Will Harris enters his second season with the Gators as Florida’s secondary coach. Harris, 36, joined the program in December, 2023 after spending that year with

floridagators.com

Jonathan Decoster - Assist. Coach / Offensive Line - Came from the Cleveland Browns
https://floridagators.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/jonathan-decoster/1840

Gerald Chatman - Assist. Coach / Defensive Line - DL Coach from Tulane.

Gerald Chatman - Football Coach - Florida Gators

Gerald Chatman enters his second season with the Gators as Florida’s defensive line coach after being hired in December, 2023. In 2024, Chatman helped guide Florida

floridagators.com

Tyler Miles - Director of Strength & Conditioning -- Promoted to new position from within.
https://floridagators.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/tyler-miles/1839

Billy's job might just hinge on the ones that he's hired to help him with the team coaching and development. Because talent can only take a player so far. At some point, the coaching will need to be up to par to help maximize these talents and put them in positions to succeed.

 

[instaGATOR]

Unveiling the Gator's Secondary for 2024:

If season started today: The rebuilt secondary would include a mixture of old and new, with Castell, Turner and Douglas likely taking the most reps on the backend, Moore and Marshall at the corners, and Gates, Denson or Bridges at STAR. Regardless of the combinations, the Gators have a group of 10 or 11 defensive backs expected to factor into the equation.

Gators Position Preview: Defensive Back - Florida Gators

The Gators have a revamped secondary, led by new assistant coach Will Harris, entering the 2024 opener against Miami.

floridagators.com

 

[instaGATOR]

The ST's problem was too many penalties and too few players on the field, an issue that popped up more than once to generate the unwanted attention social media critics feast upon and head coaches steam over.

Gators coach Billy Napier was forced to address the topic publicly more than once during the season, and in the offseason, hired former Southern Cal kicker Joe Houston from the New England Patriots as a senior analyst to work alongside gamechanger coordinator Chris Couch.

Besides adding Houston and incorporating a launch pad to organize specific units for when it's their time to take the field, the most crucial development for the Gators is that both Crawshaw and Smack return to the kicking game.

Gators Position Preview: Special Teams - Florida Gators

A closer look at Florida's special-teams unit entering the 2024 season.

floridagators.com

 

[instaGATOR]

Gators roster ranks No. 12 on 247Sports Team Talent Composite​

247Sports Team Talent Composite has been released for the 2024-2025 season. It examines and ranks every FBS team based on how their players ranked in high school. The ranking accounts for transfers, dismissals, and other departures or additions to the rosters. Any transfer additions added to a schools Team Talent Composite will account for what their ranking was out of high school, and not their 247Sports Transfer rating.

A look at where Florida's opponents rank on the 247Sports Team Talent Composite:

Florida - No. 12
-----
Miami - No. 14
Texas A&M - No. 7
Mississippi State - No. 34
UCF - No. 32
Tennessee - No. 17
Kentucky - No. 24
Georgia - No. 2
Texas - No. 4
LSU - No. 9
Ole Miss - No. 20
Florida State - No. 13

Looks like the Gators should go 7-5, based only on the HS talent rankings of the teams....

Use the link for the details...

Gators roster ranks No. 12 on 247Sports Team Talent Composite

Florida's standing in the Team Talent Composite is up a few spots in the ranking from last season

247sports.com

 

[instaGATOR]

Predicting Florida football's transfers in order of expected impact during the 2024 season.​

No. 1 is LB Grayson 'Pup' Howard. For the others use the link.​

Ranking Florida football's 16 transfer additions in order of expected impact in 2024

Predicting Florida football's transfers in order of expected impact during the 2024 season

247sports.com

=============

Florida sophomore TE Hayden Hansen was named to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List on Wednesday.
After not seeing the field as a first-year player in 2022, Hansen appeared in all 12 of Florida's games in 2023 with 9 starts, though it should be noted that his role was largely limited to blocking and pass protections.
The 6-foot-6.5, 272-pound, second-year Gator caught 12 passes for 150 yards 12.5 Yds/Rec with 2 TD's.

Hayden Hansen named to Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List

Tight end Hayden Hansen is entering his third season with the Gators under head coach Billy Napier

247sports.com

 

[ocalaman]

Gators roster ranks No. 12 on 247Sports Team Talent Composite​

247Sports Team Talent Composite has been released for the 2024-2025 season. It examines and ranks every FBS team based on how their players ranked in high school. The ranking accounts for transfers, dismissals, and other departures or additions to the rosters. Any transfer additions added to a schools Team Talent Composite will account for what their ranking was out of high school, and not their 247Sports Transfer rating.

A look at where Florida's opponents rank on the 247Sports Team Talent Composite:

Florida - No. 12
-----
Miami - No. 14
Texas A&M - No. 7
Mississippi State - No. 34
UCF - No. 32
Tennessee - No. 17
Kentucky - No. 24
Georgia - No. 2
Texas - No. 4
LSU - No. 9
Ole Miss - No. 20
Florida State - No. 13

Looks like the Gators should go 7-5, based only on the HS talent rankings of the teams....

Use the link for the details...

Gators roster ranks No. 12 on 247Sports Team Talent Composite

Florida's standing in the Team Talent Composite is up a few spots in the ranking from last season

247sports.com

So we have the 12th best talent in D1, and yet are picked to only finish 12th in the SEC!!?? Kind of a disconnect there, EXCEPT for maybe the perceived quality of the coaching staffs involved. I will be surprisingly shocked if we win 7 games. But who knows at this point?

2024 SEC Football Preseason Media Poll, All-SEC Team announced - Southeastern Conference

Georgia has been predicted to win the 2024 SEC Championship, according to a preseason poll of media covering SEC Football Media Days.

www.secsports.com

 

[TEBOW TIME]

 

[ocalaman]

View embedded media

It would be nice, but I doubt it.

 

[instaGATOR]

Gators 2024 TE Depth Chart - TE Coach Russ Callaway

H-TE Arlis Boardingham 6-3 245 rsSo - John Mackey Award Watch List
2023 - 26 for 289 yds, 11.1 Yds/Rec, 4 TD's
---
TE Amir Jackson 6-4.75 228 Fr ****
HS Sr WR - 44 for 727 Yds, 16.5 Yds/Rec, 12 TD's
Rushing - 200 Yds, 4 TD's
Defense - 57 Tkls, 6 TFL, 1 Sack.
-----
TE Keon Zipperer 6-1.25 242 rsSr - rehabbing injury
TE/OL Tony Livingston 6-4.75 254 So - rehabbing injury


Y-TE Hayden Hanson 6-7.75 267 rsSo - Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List
2023 - 12 for 150 Yds, 12.5 Yds/Rec, 2 TD's
---
TE Caleb Rillos 6-5.75 252 Sr - AF xfer-in
2023 - 7 for 91 Yds, 13.0 Yds/Rec
-----
TE/OL Tony Livingston 6-4.75 254 So - rehabbing injury

Reserves:
TE Scott Isacks 6-4 249 rsSo - PWO
TE/DE Gavin Hill 6-3 246 rsFr (switched from DL) - rehabbing injury
---
TE/OLB Dawson Johnson 6-3.5 225 4.7/40 Fr - PWO - Cherry Creek, Colo
HS Sr - 27 for 406, 15.0 Yds/Rec, 4 TD's

Overall, this is arguably the deepest tight end room Billy Napier
has had in his time with Florida. Callaway would agree.

“I feel really good about our room, and most importantly, all those guys -- to me, this is the first time in that room and in this team that we can truly say we have the Gator mentality,” he said. “I can look in that room and say, hey, he's got that Gator in him. He's got the growth mindset that we want. He's got the work ethic. I think ultimately that's the biggest difference, not only in our room, but our offensive unit, and I'm super excited.”

Florida Gators On SI - Sports Illustrated

AllGators is a Sports Illustrated channel featuring Zach Goodall to bring you the latest News, Highlights, Analysis, Recruiting surrounding the Florida Gators.

www.si.com

 

[Gator Fever]

Gators 2024 TE Depth Chart - TE Coach Russ Callaway

H-TE Arlis Boardingham 6-3 245 rsSo - John Mackey Award Watch List
2023 - 26 for 289 yds, 11.1 Yds/Rec, 4 TD's
---
TE Amir Jackson 6-4.75 228 Fr ****
HS Sr WR - 44 for 727 Yds, 16.5 Yds/Rec, 12 TD's
Rushing - 200 Yds, 4 TD's
Defense - 57 Tkls, 6 TFL, 1 Sack.
-----
TE Keon Zipperer 6-1.25 242 rsSr - rehabbing injury
TE/OL Tony Livingston 6-4.75 254 So - rehabbing injury


Y-TE Hayden Hanson 6-7.75 267 rsSo - Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List
2023 - 12 for 150 Yds, 12.5 Yds/Rec, 2 TD's
---
TE Caleb Rillos 6-5.75 252 Sr - AF xfer-in
2023 - 7 for 91 Yds, 13.0 Yds/Rec
-----
TE/OL Tony Livingston 6-4.75 254 So - rehabbing injury

Reserves:
TE Scott Isacks 6-4 249 rsSo - PWO
TE/DE Gavin Hill 6-3 246 rsFr (switched from DL) - rehabbing injury
---
TE/OLB Dawson Johnson 6-3.5 225 4.7/40 Fr - PWO - Cherry Creek, Colo
HS Sr - 27 for 406, 4 TD's

Overall, this is arguably the deepest tight end room Billy Napier
has had in his time with Florida. Callaway would agree.

“I feel really good about our room, and most importantly, all those guys -- to me, this is the first time in that room and in this team that we can truly say we have the Gator mentality,” he said. “I can look in that room and say, hey, he's got that Gator in him. He's got the growth mindset that we want. He's got the work ethic. I think ultimately that's the biggest difference, not only in our room, but our offensive unit, and I'm super excited.”

Florida Gators On SI - Sports Illustrated

AllGators is a Sports Illustrated channel featuring Zach Goodall to bring you the latest News, Highlights, Analysis, Recruiting surrounding the Florida Gators.

www.si.com

I think Boardingham could be a pretty good receiving threat if used properly.

 

[instaGATOR]

Boardingham has been helping Hanson with his receiving.
Hanson has been helping Boardingham with his blocking.
TEAM - They have been helping each other get better at both.
Zipperer, while rehabbing his injury, has been the leader helping them all.
The entire TE room is doing it the right way it seems to me.

 

[instaGATOR]

The iG's WaG at the receiver early season depth chart:

Wilson So
Mizell rsFr
Abrams Fr

Jackson rsJr
Badger Sr - AzSt xfer-in

Slot
Dike Sr - Wis xfer-in
Burke rsJr
Hawkins Fr

Injuries: Back in the above mix once rehab is complete.
Fraziars Sr
Jean rsFr

The Others:
Taylor Spierto rsJr
Alex Gonzalez rsSo
Zak Sedaros rsSo
Jaden Edgecombe rsFr
Jackson Wade rsFr
Brian Green Jr rsFr
DeBraun Hampton Fr
David Schmidt Fr

 

[ocalaman]

Four-star WR Naeshaun Montgomery commits to Florida

Florida's earned a commitment from four-star Miami Central wide receiver Naeshaun Montgomery on Sunday. Montgomery chose Florida over finalists Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Oregon and Penn State while stre

gatorswire.usatoday.com

 

[TEBOW TIME]

Four-star WR Naeshaun Montgomery commits to Florida

Florida's earned a commitment from four-star Miami Central wide receiver Naeshaun Montgomery on Sunday. Montgomery chose Florida over finalists Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Oregon and Penn State while stre

gatorswire.usatoday.com

Good for 2025, plus Ali showing a little boob crack

 

[ocalaman]

View embedded media

Good for 2025, plus Ali showing a little boob crack

Gotta win some games this fall to get these commitments to actually sign their NIL's.

 

[ocalaman]

View embedded media

After the Miami game, do you still say that, Graham?

 

[ocalaman]

We will see but I'm optimistic about the first 5 games. This will be the best all around talent/depth we have had. If CBN can make it he better win 4 of those games.

After today's disaster, are you still optimistic about the next 4 games, 79? Other than Samford, I think every game is a struggle.

 

[Gator Fever]

We look like a MAC team playing a power 5 team.

 

[Gator Fever]

After today's disaster, are you still optimistic about the next 4 games, 79? Other than Samford, I think every game is a struggle.

Sanford might drop 42 in the 1st half on us again.

 

[ocalaman]

The iG's WaG at the receiver early season depth chart:

Wilson So
Mizell rsFr
Abrams Fr

Jackson rsJr
Badger Sr - AzSt xfer-in

Slot
Dike Sr - Wis xfer-in
Burke rsJr
Hawkins Fr

Injuries: Back in the above mix once rehab is complete.
Fraziars Sr
Jean rsFr

The Others:
Taylor Spierto rsJr
Alex Gonzalez rsSo
Zak Sedaros rsSo
Jaden Edgecombe rsFr
Jackson Wade rsFr
Brian Green Jr rsFr
DeBraun Hampton Fr
David Schmidt Fr

Don't matter how good the receivers are if the O-line can't pass protect (recurring problem) and the QB can't make accurate throws downfield. Saw the same issues today against Miami that we've had for at least the last 2 years. Can't establish a running game against good defenses, play calling is bush league and the O-line still can't block. Different names on many of the jerseys, same results.

 

[TEBOW TIME]

Thanks Ocala for giving me some air time by quoting everything I post

 

[LordofallSocks]

Some people call it a kaiser blade, I calls it a sling blade. MMMHMM.

 

[ocalaman]

The 4 most important guys to the Gator's 2024 Team are not roster players or incoming xfers or HS recruits in the iG's opinion......

Will Harris - Assist. Coach / Secondary - Came from the Los Angeles Chargers

Will Harris - Football Coach - Florida Gators

Will Harris enters his second season with the Gators as Florida’s secondary coach. Harris, 36, joined the program in December, 2023 after spending that year with

floridagators.com

Jonathan Decoster - Assist. Coach / Offensive Line - Came from the Cleveland Browns
https://floridagators.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/jonathan-decoster/1840

Gerald Chatman - Assist. Coach / Defensive Line - DL Coach from Tulane.

Gerald Chatman - Football Coach - Florida Gators

Gerald Chatman enters his second season with the Gators as Florida’s defensive line coach after being hired in December, 2023. In 2024, Chatman helped guide Florida

floridagators.com

Tyler Miles - Director of Strength & Conditioning -- Promoted to new position from within.
https://floridagators.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/tyler-miles/1839

Billy's job might just hinge on the ones that he's hired to help him with the team coaching and development. Because talent can only take a player so far. At some point, the coaching will need to be up to par to help maximize these talents and put them in positions to succeed.

New coaches, new players, same head coach and same results as the first 2 years of Sun Belt Billy's tenure.

 

[ocalaman]

Some people call it a kaiser blade, I calls it a sling blade. MMMHMM.

How 'bout some of them french friend taters??!!

 

[ocalaman]

QB Graham Mertz suffers concussion, enters protocol after exiting early in UF 41-17 loss to Miami

Florida's sixth-year quarterback exited the contest and did not return

247sports.com