Florida Football: Three Intriguing Offseason Storylines to Know

Who will be the offensive playmakers?

Florida’s offense was one of the most improved in the country in 2019.

From 2017 to 2018, the Gators jumped from 108th to 22nd in terms of scoring offense, Florida jumped from 109th to 42nd in terms of total offense.

Every year since Tim Tebow left Florida in 2009, there have been questions about the quarterback position at Florida.

However, this year the Gators seem to have their answer with redshirt junior Feleipe Franks solidifying himself as the starter. He contributed  31 touchdowns during the season and showed significant improvement under the guidance of Mullen.

Instead, the question is regarding the offense as a whole. At the running back position, the Gators have depth with Lamical Perine leading the group as he enters into his final season.

Perine was four yards shy of having 1,000 yards from scrimmage in 2018, and he ended the season strongly, averaging over 102 yards in his final two games.

At the wide receiver position, the contributors are more convoluted. Clear contributors consist of senior wideout Van Jefferson and junior receiver Trevon Grimes.

Jefferson and Grimes led the team in 2018 in receiving yards with 503 and 364 yards respectively. But junior receiver Kadarius Toney was the player who many expected to be the most productive wideout in 2018.

However, Coach Mullen limited his touches because Toney did not have a sufficient enough knowledge of the offense to possess the ball without being a liability.

In 2019, the hope is that Toney will work harder to learn the playbook and subsequently, he will get more touches. There is no doubt that Toney is electric with the ball in his hands along with his astounding elusiveness and blazing speed.

A surprise player that I would identify as a game changer on offense in 2019 is redshirt freshman Jacob Copeland.

Copeland missed most of the season with a knee injury and only played in a cupcake game against Idaho. Cope was UF’s highest-rated commit of the 2018 class at 69th in the country 247Sports composite. In his senior year of high school, he has nearly 100 all-purpose yards a game.