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  • Staff Predictions: Florida / Miami

    Staff Predictions: Florida / Miami

    Photo by David Rosenblum / Getty Images

    The 2019 season is finally upon us! It’s been far too long.

    The Gators are opening the season in Orlando against in-state rival Miami. This week zero contest is kicking off the 150th year of college football.

    The Hurricanes lead the all-time series 29-26 and the two programs announced a home and home set for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

    The following are our staff’s predictions for the Florida-Miami game:

    Michael Pfeffer:

    This is the biggest stage that Florida could possibly be on to open the 2019 season. The entire nation will be watching this marquee matchup, as it is the first game of the season. The expectations are through the roof and I believe these boys still have a chip on their shoulder. Florida will do everything they can to bring home a W to start Dan Mullen’s second season. Miami’s talented defensive front will keep them in it early but as the game wears on, Mullen’s “fresh legs” philosophy and the Gators talent at the skill positions will be too much for Miami. Florida wins 35-20.

    Ainslie Lee:

    With both teams in similar boats with offensive lines lacking experience and borderline elite defensive fronts, the battle in the trenches will define the outcome of the game, as it does most times. However, what sets Florida aparts is the comfort at QB; for the first time in years, there was no question as to who was taking snaps at Florida. Miami wasn’t as fortunate as they elected to start Jarren Williams, who has just 17 career passing yards. With Zuniga and Greenard on the ends, I expect Williams to be on his back more than on his feet with the passes he does get off, being under immense pressure and his receivers in tight coverage. I’ve got Florida being +2 in the turnover margin, which ultimately wins them the game. 31-10, Florida.

    Brandon Buckman:

    Football season is back, and it kicks off with a great matchup between UF and Miami. For me, I am really excited to see what a junior year Feleipe Franks can do, he’s got all the physical tools and the pieces around him to be special, now add in an extra year of experience and familiarity with Dan Mullen’s system, and I have big expectations for Franks in 2019. Ultimately, the Gators defense will hold the key, I don’t think the offense will have trouble scoring, they just need to find a way to slow down Miami’s offensive game and force turnovers, therefore I’m taking the Gators 28-14.

    Mark Stine:

    The Week 0 matchup involves two experienced defenses and two inexperienced offensive lines. It’s going to be a low-scoring war of attrition in Orlando, and it will come down to big plays and turnovers. Big plays begin with quarterbacks, and UF’s Feleipe Franks is way more experienced than UM’s Jarren Williams, who will make his first career start on Saturday. With Dan Mullen’s tricky playing-calling on his side as well, it’s Franks’ game to lose. He didn’t have a single interception in the final four games of 2018, so taking care of the football has become a strength for Franks. Williams, on the other hand, may have difficulty preventing turnovers against UF’s experienced secondary and pass rush. I’ve got the Gators winning the turnover battle, time of possession and plays of over 20 yards, leading to their first win of the year.

    Brian Fox:

    Florida will have to utilize quick passes against a talented front seven for Miami. The Hurricanes offense should struggle against a terrific Gators defense. I expect the game to be close for the first half, with Dan Mullen making the necessary adjustments out of the halftime break. Florida has the talent to win big. Gators 31-13.

    __________

    Florida and Miami are set for a 7:00 PM kickoff on Saturday from Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The game will air on ESPN. You can follow all the action through our various Twitter accounts.

  • Previewing Florida / Miami

    Previewing Florida / Miami

    Photo by Joel Auerbach / Getty Images

    Florida vs Miami

    Saturday August 24, 2019

    7:00 PM / ESPN

    Camping World Stadium, Orlando

    College football will celebrate its 150th season in 2019 and the Florida Gators will be playing the very first game. A rivalry that has lain dormant for much of the past thirty years will be renewed on Saturday night in front of the entire nation. Despite the long breaks in the series, Florida still hates Miami and the Canes loathe the Gators.

    There will be a myriad of story lines to focus on when the two storied rivals take to the turf at Camping World Stadium. Which team’s inexperienced offensive line will hold up best against the other’s deeply talented defensive front? How will first year head coach Manny Diaz fare against his former boss, in Dan Mullen?

    These are just a few of the many questions that will be answered on Saturday night when these two schools meet each other for the 56th time. Miami currently leads the series with a 29-26 record and has had the Gators number as of late. However, it is Florida who comes into the matchup as a 7.5 point favorite.

    Florida will be looking to build on the successes of Dan Mullen’s first season in Gainesville. Following a 10-3 season that saw the Gators finish in the top ten as Peach Bowl champions, the expectations are even greater for the Gators in 2019. Many are even considering them a dark horse candidate for the college football playoff.

    The Gators have the talent to make a run this season, but much of that will hinge on whether or not the Gators can stay healthy. Depth is a very real concern for Florida both in the secondary and along the offensive line. As long as both of these units remain unhindered by injury, the Gators will be a difficult test for any team.

    Redshirt junior quarterback Feleipe Franks is expected to take even greater strides in his development than he did last season. Historically, Dan Mullen’s quarterbacks have always put up big numbers in their second year playing under him. Early reports out of fall camp indicate that this trend will be repeating itself yet again.

    Lamical Perine had a very impressive year in 2018 and will be leading a deep and talented stable of running backs this season. Perine is the total package and he could make things very difficult for a Miami defense that struggled against the run last season.

    Florida returns one of the best receiving corps in the nation, which bodes well for them as they face off against a Hurricanes secondary that has lost significant depth to the transfer portal over the last couple of weeks. The tandem of Van Jefferson and Trevon Grimes have only gotten stronger this off-season, and both have improved their already solid technique.

    Florida has dynamic playmakers all over the field. Between Jacob Copeland, Kadarius Toney, C.J. Henderson, and Marco Wilson, the Gators are a scoring threat no matter which unit is on the turf. With that said, this game could be a blowout win just as easily as it could be a nail-biter.

    Miami is always a tough opponent for the Gators and they shouldn’t be taken lightly. Manny Diaz is a brilliant defensive mind who will likely scheme to keep the game close into the fourth quarter.

    Florida will need to be creative in their protections against a highly skilled Miami defensive front. Franks needs to be crisp and decisive in his ball placement. There is no time for being unsure of what to do or where to go.

    On the opposite side of the ball, Miami quarterback Jarren Williams finds himself in an unfavorable position. He will make his first career start against an elite Gators defense. Todd Grantham will make sure that Williams is never comfortable, and the Florida defensive backs will close all aerial routes.

    Much of this chess match will be played in the trenches and that is the equalizer. Miami needs to be dominant in this area in order to have a puncher’s chance. If Florida manages to get an early edge or plays above expectations along the offensive line, this will get ugly very quickly.

    The Gators just have too much talent for Miami to overcome this time and they should leave Orlando with a big win to start the 2019 campaign.

    Florida takes on Miami at 7:00 p.m. EST live from Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Coverage begins at 10:00 a.m. on ESPN.

  • Mt. Rushmore: Gators Baseball

    Mt. Rushmore: Gators Baseball

    Photo by J. Meric / Getty Images

    In recent years, Florida fans look forward to spring nearly as much as fall with their stellar teams on the diamond. Florida baseball and all its success has outgrown its old stadium and has earned a new ball park with a proposed budget of $65 million. Through the years, there have been some elite faces that have ran the bases for the Gators; with four of them earning a spot in the Mt. Rushmore of Florida baseball. 

    Brad Wilkerson – 1996-1998

    Brad Wilkerson was the star of Andy Lopez’s first team at Florida. Known for his line drive hitting and versatility in the field, Wilkerson was Mr. Baseball in Gainesville during his college career; which only lasted three years as he forewent his senior year to head to the MLB. 

    Wilkerson sits at number one in the Gator record book for the best batting average through his career with a .381. Wilkerson also sits comfortably at number two for runs batted in with a whopping 239. 

    Wilkerson’s success continued onto the pitching mound where he is number six in Gator baseball history for wins, with 26 and strikeouts with 292. 

    Given his ability to put up impressive statistics, Wilkerson was a three time first team all-American while at Florida and even earned himself the NCBWA Player of the Year in 1998. Climbing to the top of the record books once again, Wilkerson topped his career with becoming the first Gator to be inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012. 

    Mike Zunino – 2010-2012

    Mike Zunino got to join Kevin O’Sullivan’s Gators just two years into “Sully’s” tenure at Florida. It came to no surprise that Sullivan, a former catcher at his alma mater Virginia, developed Zunino into a stud behind the plate. 

    Despite being drafted by the Oakland Athletics in 2009, Zunino decided to join the Gators in 2010. During his time at Florida, Zunino helped the Gators to three consecutive College World Series appearances. 

    While Zunino’s name is found in the team’s record book at number five for home runs and number three for fielding percentage, his career is highlighted by the hardware he took home. 

    In 2012, Zunino became the first Gator to win the Dick Howser award which is bestowed to the National Baseball Player of the Year. In 2018, Gator ace, Brady Singer joined Zunino in winning the award for Florida. Zunino also won Baseball America’s Player of the Year in 2012 before being drafted by the Seattle Mariners with the 3rdoverall pick in the 2012 MLB draft. 

    Matt LaPorta – 2004-2007

    During his time at Florida, every Gator baseball fan knew exactly who Matt LaPorta was. Whenever he’d come to the plate, one side of McKethan Stadium would yell “La!” while the other side responded with “Porta!”.

    Whether it was the crowd’s energy or LaPorta’s sheer talent, LaPorta would eventually send a pitch well outside of the park. In fact, during his career at Florida he sent 74 pitches over the wall, making him the school record holder for most home runs. 

    In 2005, LaPorta led division I baseball with 26 home runs as he helped take the Gators to the College World Series Final where the Gators were shocked by the Texas Longhorns. Nonetheless, LaPorta’s impressive sophomore year was enough to get him first team all-American honors. 

    Despite a rocky junior year, LaPorta was drafted by the Boston Red Sox, but ultimately decided to stay at Florida to finish out his senior year. As a senior, LaPorta batted a .402 and tallied 20 home runs with a season’s performance that won himself the 2007 SEC Player of the Year. 

    Mark Ellis – 1996-1998

    Florida’s version of Ellis Island came on the baseball diamond with Mark Ellis’ elite fielding capabilities. While Ellis was on a team stacked with elite ball players, he was often overshadowed. Nonetheless, the man of Ellis Island still made marks in the Gator record books. 

    During his three year career at Florida, Ellis captured the number one spot in the record books for most runs scored with 240. Offensively, Ellis also sits at number eight for homeruns with 36 and number nine for RBIs with 164. 

    Perhaps the most storied stretch of Ellis’s career was the 1998 postseason where he lead the Gators to Omaha with 14 hits. Adding to the post season drama, Ellis recorded each of those 14 hits on a broken foot. 

    *Inspired by Steve Russell’s radio show, Sports Scene, we have opted to determine the Mount Rushmore of each UF program that we cover. Let us know if you agree or if there are any omissions.
    Also, we chose to omit coaches intentionally and will do a totally separate post on the top coaches at UF.

  • ICYMI: Recapping Dan Mullen’s Monday Press Conference

    ICYMI: Recapping Dan Mullen’s Monday Press Conference

    Photo by David Rosenblum / Getty Images

    On Monday afternoon, Dan Mullen held his first game week press conference of the 2019 season. With Florida playing in the first game of the season, the eyes of the nation are fixed firmly on the Gators. Mullen addressed the unique situation, calling it an honor to kick off college football’s 150th season.

    Indeed, it is an honor and a large stage for the Gators to show just how far they have come in so little time under Mullen. When asked how he is preparing his team for such a stage, Mullen stated that he poses a question to them.

    “Everybody’s watching. What do you want them to think about you?” He hammers this notion home by simply telling his team to, “Embrace it.”

    Apart from a pair of season ending injuries to David Reese II and C.J. McWilliams, the Gators are healthy as they head into the week zero matchup with Miami. This bodes well for the Gators, who are facing some potential depth issues at a couple of positions.

    See also: 2019 Season Predictions

    This announcement brought up the question of whether or not there would be any suspensions being served. As is usually the case with this subject, Mullen was coy in his response.

    “If we have any, like we always do, that’d be something we’d announce on Saturday before the game.”

    One of the unique aspects of this head-to-head pairing of Florida vs Miami, is the game within the game. Miami head coach Manny Diaz once served as a defensive coordinator under Mullen, which lends familiarity to each of the coaches.

    Mullen remained very complimentary of Diaz, saying, “Yeah, we played against him when he was at Middle Tennessee State and I thought that he was… One, I thought he had some energy on the sidelines, which I like. You know? I like guys that have juice and energy. I thought he had a good scheme that was… and he wasn’t afraid to think outside the box and try different things. You know? So one of the things when we were at Mississippi State, you’re looking for, ‘O.k., how do we look for different things?’ I remember after we played him, I put his name in my folder as people to consider if the position came open. And then afterwards, meeting him, found out how intelligent he was. He had the energy. He had an interesting scheme. He wasn’t afraid to think outside the box with his scheme, and then had the intelligence to back it up. And we got along pretty well when I met him. So I thought it was a great fit for us at Mississippi State and I thought we worked really well together.”

    Diaz will have his hands full trying to bring a program that underachieved in 2018 back to national prominence in his first season as a head coach. Facing a team like Florida in week zero is yet another challenge in an already lengthy list.

    Both teams boast talented defensive lines, while breaking in young and inexperienced offensive fronts. Mullen was pressed to name a couple of backups to fill in a two deep rotation and, once again, remained cryptic in his response.

    “I don’t know,” said Mullen. “We’ll see how this week goes, in practice. How they figure it out. A lot of them are going guys and they’ve never been through a game week at this level. So I want to see how they handle it all.”

    Despite their youth, many reports about the development of the offensive line, out of fall camp have been encouraging. Just how much they have matured remains to be seen.

    Regardless of where the offensive line’s development is at, Mullen enters year two with the same starting quarterback that he had last season. If history is an indicator, this means Florida fans can expect a big year from Feleipe Franks.

    Mullen’s quarterbacks have shown consistent and impressive growth in their second season, dating all the way back to his time as a quarterbacks coach at Bowling Green University. When Mullen was asked about this, he responded with a modicum of humility.

    “Those guys are more comfortable within the system,” he said. “We only have them for so many years. I bet Tom Brady’s pretty comfortable in the Patriots’ system at this point. Drew Brees is pretty comfortable in the Saints’ system at this point. I think when you look at guys that get into their next year, they understand it. Again, it’s a very quarterback friendly, quarterback based offense.”

    Although there is truth to this statement, I believe Mullen is understating his own impact on the quarterbacks that he has developed in his career. In the meantime, he has one more week with Feleipe Franks before the snaps count.

    Florida takes on Miami at 7:00 p.m. EST live from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Gameday coverage begins at 10:00 a.m. on ESPN.

  • Mount Rushmore: Gators Softball

    Mount Rushmore: Gators Softball

    Photo by Shane Bevel / Getty Images

    The Florida Gators enter their fall season with the daunting task of replacing two of the greatest players in program history: left fielder/first baseman Amanda Lorenz and pitcher Kelly Barnhill.

    Lorenz and Barnhill’s departure to National Pro Fastpitch leaves us thinking, do they belong on UF’s all-time Mount Rushmore?

    Stacey Nelson

    If there is one lock for softball Mount Rushmore, it’s Stacey Nelson.

    The two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year hurled the Gators to their first Women’s College World Series appearance in 2008. She twice led UF to the No. 1 overall seed at the WCWS, finishing in the semifinals in 2008 and in the finals in 2009. The Gators also secured back-to-back SEC regular season and tournament championships spanning from 2008-09.

    Nelson sits atop the school rankings in most of the relevant pitching categories, including wins (136), earned-run average (0.99), complete games (133) and shutouts (60).

    Florida is not what it is today without Nelson, as the program went from strong to elite in her tenure.

    Lauren Haeger

    There has to be a player from Florida’s 2014 and 2015 WCWS title teams on Mount Rushmore, and Lauren Haeger’s outstanding 2015 season puts her in front of other greats like Kelsey Stewart, Kirsti Merritt and Delanie Gourley.

    Haeger won the 2015 Honda award, which honors the NCAA’s most outstanding softball player. She was also named 2015 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year, 2015 SEC Female Athlete of the Year and 2015 SEC Pitcher of the Year.

    She blasted 19 home runs along with 71 RBIs en route to UF’s second national championship, and she went 32-2 in the circle.

    More impressively (if that’s even possible), Haeger joined Babe Ruth as the only players in collegiate softball, baseball or Major League Baseball history to record 70 career wins and 70 career home runs.

    Amanda Lorenz

    Lorenz has to be on this list because she took offensive efficiency to a new level during her four years at Florida. She’s the first Gator with an over .400 career batting average and a .500 career on-base percentage.

    Just to put into perspective how consistent Lorenz was in her college career, each of her four seasons rank in UF’s top 10 for batting average and on-base percentage. She also is the only Gator to reach base safely in every game of a season, and she holds the program’s single season walks record with 70.

    Lorenz is also just one of two Florida players to eclipse 300 career hits (301). Stewart leads with 357 hits, but Lorenz amassed 137 more walks than Stewart. She sits at the top of career walks list with 238. Kayli Kvistad is the next closest with 186.

    Kelly Barnhill

    As the face of the UF softball program for the past three seasons, Kelly Barnhill more than deserves a bust on Florida’s Mount Rushmore.

    Barnhill owns plenty of the Gators career pitching records despite Nelson’s dominance in history books. Nobody has struck out more batters (1,208) or limited opponents to a lower batting average (.134). She also averaged a staggering 10.53 strikeouts per seven innings.

    Barnhill is most known for her 2017 season. Her sophomore campaign was one of the most dominant ever by a college pitcher, as she held a .51 ERA, a 26-4 record and average 13.0 strikeouts per seven innings.

    Her dominance in 2017 earned a litany of accolades: USA Softball Collegiate National Player of the Year, Honda award, espnW Player of the Year, ESPY – Best Female Collegiate Athlete and SEC Pitcher of the Year.

    *Inspired by Steve Russell’s radio show, Sports Scene, we have opted to determine the Mount Rushmore of each UF program that we cover. Let us know if you agree or if there are any omissions.
    Also, we chose to omit coaches intentionally and will do a totally separate post on the top coaches at UF.

  • #GatorMade: Pete Alonso launches homer No. 40 to set NL record

    #GatorMade: Pete Alonso launches homer No. 40 to set NL record

    Photo by Rich Von Blberstein / Getty Images

    Former Gators slugger Pete Alonso is slugging his way through the National League record books as a MLB rookie.

    On Sunday, the Mets first baseman crushed his 40th homer of the season. The dinger represented the NL rookie record for homers.

    Alonso is hitting .271 after going 3-4 in New York’s 11-5 rout over Kansas City on Sunday.

    The 2017 second round pick has a stat line of: .271 average, 40 HR, 95 RBI, and 76 runs scored in 123 games this season.

  • Gators add Miami to 2024, 2025 schedules

    Gators add Miami to 2024, 2025 schedules

    Photo by Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images

    One week before the Florida Gators are set to kick off the 2019 season against in-state rival Miami in Orlando, the schools are set to announce a future home-and-home series, according to multiple reports.

    Florida and Miami used to be an annual contest until 1987, but the programs have played just six times since. Miami leads the all-time series 29-26 heading into next weekend’s matchup.

    Florida will host the Hurricanes in 2024 and Miami will host the Gators in 2025.

    See also: Roundtable 2019 season predictions

    Florida has added home/home series’ with Colorado and Texas recently in addition to a two-for-one with South Florida.

    The Gators open the 2019 season on August 24 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando against the Hurricanes.

    Stay posted with ChompTalk for much more on the upcoming season.

  • Mount Rushmore: Gators Women’s Basketball

    Mount Rushmore: Gators Women’s Basketball

    Photo by Filippo Monteforte / Getty Images

    The women’s basketball program at Florida debuted as a varsity sport in 1975. Although they haven’t experienced the same successes of SEC mates, Tennessee, Georgia, or more recently South Carolina and Mississippi State, Florida fans have had the pleasure of watching some of the best athletes in the country over the years.

    The following is my opinion on the Mount Rushmore of Florida women’s basketball (in no particular order).

    Merlakia Jones, 1991-95: Merlakia Jones still holds the program record for most points scored in a career at 2,001. Jones averaged 16.9 points per game over the course of her four years at UF and led the team in scoring all four years that she played. Jones wasn’t a one-trick pony, however. She recorded 830 rebounds in four years and averaged a double-double (18.6 points and 10.1 boards) during 1993-94 season. Jones was the 13th pick in the WNBA Draft in 1997.

    Muriel Page, 1994-98: Muriel Page averaged 15.0 points per game over four years as a Gator. Like Jones, Page also did the dirty work and collected 1,251 rebounds to go along with her 1,915 career points scored. Page averaged a double-double in both her junior (15.8 points and 10.3 rebounds) and senior (19.1 points and 12.6 boards) seasons. Page was a first team All-SEC selection in both 1997 and 1998 and was a finalist for the basketball Honda Award. Page received votes for the 1998 National Player of the Year Award before being selected with the third overall pick in the 1998 WNBA Draft.

    DeLisha Milton, 1993-97: You can’t have a Mount Rushmore of Florida women’s basketball without the inclusion of DeLisha Milton. Milton was a three-time captain while at UF and became the first Gator named first team All-American. Milton was a do-it-all kind of player that recorded 1,858 points, 1,109 rebounds, and 281 steals. The final tally is good for tops in program history. Milton averaged 14.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game over her four years in the Orange and Blue. Milton was drafted #2 overall in the 1997 American Basketball League and #4 overall in the 1999 WNBA Draft. Milton also represented the United States internationally, earning two gold medals (2000, 2008)

    Quientella Bonner, 1976-81: A 6’0 forward from Pensacola, Quientella Bonner basically wrote the record books during the infancy of the Florida women’s basketball program. In the days before a three-pointer, she scored 1,789 points and grabbed 1,321 boards. She also blocked 230 shots, which ranks second in program history. Bonner scored a program record 45 points and grabbed 31 rebounds in separate contests, both are still the high-water marks for a single game.

    Honorable Mention:

    Tammy Jackson, 1981-85

    • 6’3 Center from Buccholz High in Gainesville
    • 1,895 career points, 1,141 career rebounds
    • First Gator to represent the USA in the 1992 Olympics
    • 3-time All-SEC selection

    Sha Brooks, 2005-09

    • 5’7 guard from Jackson, Tennessee.
    • Started all but one game over her four years in the Orange and Blue (125 games)
    • 1,820 career points, 365 assists, 589 made 3’s in career, all among top in program history
    • Three time All-SEC selection

    *I know many people who read this will probably disagree with my inclusion of Bonner over Jackson. My explanation for this is that Bonner helped set the foundation for the program, and in my opinion, that merits inclusion on this type of list.

    Inspired by Steve Russell’s radio show, Sports Scene, we have opted to determine the Mount Rushmore of each UF program that we cover. Let us know if you agree or if there are any omissions.
    Also, we chose to omit coaches intentionally and will do a totally separate post on the top coaches at UF.

  • 2019 Gators Football Predictions

    2019 Gators Football Predictions


    Photo by Sam Greenwood / Getty Images

    The 2019 season is set to get underway on August 24 with a massive contest against Miami in Orlando. With the beginning of a new season, and expectations abound for Florida, we decided to utilize a panel of Gators football scribes to predict several keys to the success of the 2019 squad.

    We are fortunate enough to be joined by Will Miles of ReadAndReaction.com, David Waters from Gators Breakdown, and Graham Hall of GatorSports.com. ChompTalk.com football beat writer Michael Pfeffer also joins the discussion.

    FINAL RECORD PREDICTION:

    Michael Pfeffer: 11-1, loss to LSU

    Will Miles: 10-2, losses to LSU & Georgia

    David Waters: 10-2, losses to LSU and Georgia

    Graham Hall: 11-1, loss to Georgia

    Brian Fox: 9-3, losses to LSU, Georgia, Missouri

    OFFENSIVE MVP and why:

    MP: Feleipe Franks – I am continuing to see improvement in his form and the ability to recognize the weak points in the defense. More than this, Franks has displayed some of the intangibles that the game-changing quarterbacks have ever since silencing the home crowd against South Carolina, last season.

    WM: Feleipe Franks – I wish I could pick LT Stone Forsythe, because Franks’ ability to succeed is going to rely heavily on how Forsythe plays. But when an offense succeeds, the QB wins the awards and that happens here.

    DW: Lamical Perine – He becoming a complete RB. Mullen will use his him as a RB1, workhorse and Perine will make the most increased usage.

    GH: While it’s no secret Franks and Perine are vital to the offense, I’m going Kadarius Toney here. After receiving the No. 1 jersey this offseason, Toney should be a dynamic presence in Florida’s offense. If he becomes a true match-up nightmare, the entire offense around him will improve.

    BF: Feleipe Franks – it’s now or never for the Gators QB. With one of the deepest receiving corps in program history, Franks has the opportunity to improve his draft stock and leave UF on an incredibly high note.

    DEFENSIVE MVP and why:

    MP: I’m taking CJ Henderson for this honor, although, I could see Marco Wilson taking it just as easily. Both of these guys are lock down corners and will make all kinds of trouble for any quarterback that has the displeasure of facing them, but I like Henderson to win by a slight edge.

    WM: Amari Burney – If this defense takes a next step, Burney is going to be the reason why. Grantham has been raving about him and his ability to cover and run sideline to sideline opens up flexibility that gives Florida a personnel advantage at linebacker they haven’t had in a long time.

    DW: Jabari Zuniga- Zuniga took a step forward last season and will really benefit with the addition of Jonathan Greenard. UF has many options at DE and Buck and opposing offenses will have to gameplan for all of them. Zuniga will be in backfield constantly in 2019.

    GH: Just like Kadarius Toney, I’m going with the new No. 1 on defense — C.J. Henderson. After leading Florida’s secondary in 2018 following the loss of Marco Wilson, Henderson emerged as not only one of UF’s leaders on defense, but one of the nation’s best cornerbacks, too. Look for offenses to continue avoiding him in 2019.

    BF: The Defensive Line – Florida will enter 2019 with a lack of experienced depth in the defensive backfield, forcing the d-line to play a major role. Jonathan Greenard and Jabari Zuniga will help each other and could combine for 15+ sacks. For Florida to be successful, the whole defensive line will have to play up to their potential.

    RUSHING LEADER:

    MP: Lamical Perine, 1,197 yards

    WM: Lamical Perine, 850

    DW: Lamical Perine, 1,200

    GH: Lamical Perine, 930

    BF: Lamical Perine, 1,050 yards

    RECEIVING LEADER:

    MP: Trevon Grimes, 805 yards

    WM: Trevon Grimes, 750

    DW: Trevon Grimes, 700

    GH: Kadarius Toney, 800

    BF: Van Jefferson, 730 yards

    TACKLE LEADER:

    MP: David Reese, 103

    WM: David Reese, 102

    DW: David Reese, 107

    GH: David Reese, 96

    BF: David Reese, 91

    SACKS LEADER:

    MP: Jonathan Greenard, 9

    WM: Jabari Zuniga, 9

    DW: Jabari Zuniga, 11

    GH: Zach Carter, 7.5

    BF: Jonathan Greenard, 8

    INTERCEPTIONS LEADER:

    MP: CJ Henderson, 4

    WM: Donovan Stiner, 3

    DW: Trey Dean, 4

    GH: C.J. Henderson, 4

    BF: Marco Wilson, 5

    WHAT BOWL WILL THE GATORS PLAY IN?

    MP: Sugar Bowl – There are so many reasons to be optimistic about the coming season, but the outcome of this season rides a line of fragility that is cause for concern. My prediction is what I perceive as the ceiling for the Gators’ 2019 season. I believe that the talent is in place for Florida to challenge anyone in the country but in order to do so, they must remain healthy. I believe Florida gets the better of Georgia this season after losing a close battle at Death Valley. They will just miss out on the CFP after losing to Alabama in Atlanta.

    WM: Sugar Bowl – In 2018, the Gators defense struggled with experienced QBs who could make them pay for being out of position. There aren’t many of those on the schedule this year, but they come in rapid succession on the road against LSU and South Carolina and then in Jacksonville against Georgia in games 7-9. Florida will be a better team in 2019 in year two under Dan Mullen, but I think they lose to LSU and Georgia, finish second in the SEC East, and get another New Year’s 6 bowl bid.

    DW: Sugar Bowl — Florida does one thing in 2019 that they didn’t do in 2018. They will beat the teams they’re supposed to beat. The win over Miami will fuel an early season streak into a brutal mid-season stretch. I’m not sold on LSU being a better team but it’ll be tough walking out of Baton Rouge with a win. UGA is just better all around right now and that’s one I have to see happen before I can pick UF.

    GH: Citrus Bowl — I think Florida loses to Georgia and just barely misses out on the College Football Playoff. With Alabama and the “Dawgs making the CFP, the Gators finish third in the conference and accept a Citrus Bowl invite. That’s the best case scenario. If the offensive line doesn’t live up to its full potential, or the secondary falls victim to the injury bug once again, then the Gators will have trouble with the likes of Auburn and, even more so, LSU.

    BF: Citrus Bowl – The Gators lose their shot at the Sugar Bowl with the loss to Missouri, which is a sneaky pick to finish as runner up in the East. Despite Florida having a better coach, the talent in Athens is superior to the talent in Gainesville right now. While I’m not a fan of Joe Burrow, they call LSU Death Valley for a reason. Florida won’t sneak up on anyone this year after winning ten games a season ago. I think the schedule is very difficult and a 9-3 regular season shouldn’t be deemed a failure by any measure.

    How did we do, Gator Nation? Do you agree or disagree with our selections? Leave a comment or join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter.

    *My sincere appreciation goes to Will, David, and Graham for joining Michael and I in this roundtable discussion.

  • Brenton Cox, the Transfer Portal, and A Quest for Eligibility

    Brenton Cox, the Transfer Portal, and A Quest for Eligibility

    Photo by Joe Robbins / Getty Images

    One of the hottest topics this off-season has been the transfer portal. Since its inception, the portal has brought about college football’s equivalent of free-agency. Players have used the new transfer system with great enthusiasm in an unending search for greener pastures.

    I’m not suggesting that every player that has entered into the portal has done so for shallow or self-serving reasons. In fact, there have been many cases where the portal has been beneficial to an athlete who had a reasonable cause for departure.

    Truth be told, I remain relatively neutral in the debate surrounding the transfer portal. I see it’s pros and cons accepting them for what they are. The portal is quite simply the next evolution of the collegiate game.

    What I do take exception to, is the NCAA’s incomprehensible inconsistencies in determining which players are granted immediate eligibility after transferring, and which ones are not. There has been a myriad of high-profile players that are cleared for virtually no reason at all, while others are denied when they are attempting to be closer to an ailing family member.

    Whether everyone sits out for a season or they all play immediately, the NCAA needs to be transparent and consistent in their decision making process.

    Currently, Florida is seeking a pair of waivers for former five-star Georgia Bulldogs linebacker/defensive end Brenton Cox. Because he transferred within the conference, Cox requires a separate SEC waiver to be signed by commissioner Greg Sankey.

    When asked about the waivers and the possibility that Cox could become eligible to play this season, Dan Mullen responded, “We feel good about it, of having him be able to play. I think you look at all previous scenarios that are out there around the country, we feel we have a good opportunity.”

    The scenarios Mullen is referring to are those of players like former Gators signee Chris Steele. Steele transferred from Florida to Oregon and was granted immediate eligibility based on a claim that Florida didn’t allow him a dorm reassignment when he complained about his roommate, former freshman quarterback Jalon Jones. Jones left the program not long before Steele transferred, following a pair of sexual assault accusations levied against him.

    Still another high-profile transfer who was granted immediate eligibility is University of Miami quarterback Tate Martell. He was granted immediate eligibility when he chose to transfer from Ohio State after the arrival of yet another transfer, Justin Fields.

    Fields may have the best eligibility claim of all the aforementioned players. He left Georgia, citing a culture of racial hostility after Georgia baseball player Adam Sasser made some racially charged comments about him.

    Despite this appearing to be an isolated incident that led to the dismissal of Sasser, no person should be subjected to this treatment. Ultimately, the incident allowed Fields to transfer without penalty even though he chose to wait until the end of the season to enter the portal.

    With the exception of a few, the appearance has been that if you are a high-profile athlete, you really only need to feel a modicum of discontent with you current situation in order to qualify for an NCAA waiver.

    All of this is to say, Brenton Cox should be made eligible immediately if for no other reason than the consistent inconsistency of college football’s governing body. He has just as much of a case for his transfer as many of those who went before him have had.

    He doesn’t have much of a case, you say? Well, that’s kind of my point. None of these players really had much reason to leave their original schools -Fields being the exception- other than they weren’t happy with where they were ending up on the field or on the bench.

    Cox left Georgia on his own, hoping to find a better fit for his career. Although, Cox was arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession back in April, he also earned the University of Georgia’s student athlete of the week honors during his time there.

    Just like every other person who has entered the portal, Cox has made mistakes but has also shown the potential to be a model of success. Despite this, the staff at Georgia had different plans for Cox and he made his decision based on those plans and what he believes to be the best move for his own path.

    It is for this reason, I believe Cox deserves that opportunity. He has the chance for a fresh start at Florida, much like Fields, Martell, and Steele have at their respective landing destinations. Based on decisions made by the NCAA in their cases, I feel that he deserves that fresh start and he deserves it immediately.

    Tom Mars, the attorney that assisted Justin Fields in his transfer and eligibility hearing, claims that Cox has zero chance for immediate eligibility and doesn’t agree with Mullen’s comments on previous cases.

    “This comment from coach Mullen typifies part of the root problem with the current thinking about waivers,” said Mars. “It’s impossible to generalize about these cases and it’s irrational for anyone to think that just because this or that player got a waiver, some other player with different circumstances should probably get one, too.”

    While Mars is correct that all individual cases have their own unique nuances, the common thread that binds them together is that they are all taking advantage of a new system. One in which the NCAA has yet to provide and adhere to a clear and rigid set of guidelines to determine which cases should be determined to be eligible and those that must face the one year transfer penalty.