This season is a big one for the Florida Gators and head coach Jim McElwain. McElwain, a former Nick Sabin Alabama offensive coordinator, has had trouble the past couple of years when running into his old boss in the SEC championship game. Winning the east and going to the SEC championship alone is an accomplishment. The issue with that is many believe it was with the Gators great defense that Will Mushchamp, former Gator head coach, recruited.
With most of those players graduated now, it is time for McElwain to show the Gators his offensive expertise. Every season the Gators have had a new quarterback from Treon Harris to Luke Del Rio to now the transfer from Notre Dame Malik Zaire. Jim has not shown the Gator fans his recruits yet and it has his fan base questioning him as the head guy. With Zaire most likely winning the starting job over redshirt freshman Filipe Franks, this marks the third first year quarterback in a row for the Gators. Their savior on offense is potentially the best wide receiver this year, Antonio Callaway. If he and the quarterback can get on the same page early in the season the gators will be back in Atlanta.
The defense seems a bit young with players such as Duke Dawson and Chauncy Gardner, who have to fill the shoes of Teez Tabor and Quincy Wilson, who left for the NFL. The defense hopes to still be a force to be reckoned with in the SEC because it’s been their team’s identity for the last three years.
Starting the season against Michigan will be an early test for the Gators. Other key games that the Gators have to deal with is Georgia here in Jacksonville with young quarterback Jacob Eason and running back Nick Chubb returning to the Bulldog’s roster. You also can never count out the big rival at the end of the season, Florida State, who has had the Gators number the last couple of years. The Seminole have star quarterback Deondre Francois leading the Seminoles into the swamp this season on November 25th. Every game is a big one for the 2016-2017 Gators and it all starts on September 2nd.
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