With ten suspended players, a new starting quarterback and many new faces on defense, there was an abundance of candidates for this week’s On the Spot. Heading into Saturday’s showdown Arlington, Texas between No. 11 Michigan and No. 17 Florida, every (available) Gator has something to prove, especially the five below.
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* Five Questions: Florida-Michigan
* Florida Football Fall Roundtable
* Behind Enemy Lines: Michigan Q&A
* Notebook: McElwain on naming Franks as the starter
* Breaking: Franks named starting quarterback
*Alley: Make no mistake about it, CJM didn't want to do this
* Impact Analysis: Scarlett, Wells suspended
* Scarlett, Wells suspended indefinitely
* Alley: Discuss the big suspensions with Florida fans
* GET TWO MONTHS OF FREE ACCESS
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Redshirt freshman quarterback Feleipe Franks
Franks will be Florida’s first redshirt freshman quarterback this century to start the opening game. The last time the Gators sent a redshirt freshman out in game one was Kyle Morris in 1988, when UF defeated Montana State 69-0.
When Franks arrived at Florida in 2016, many recruiting experts saw him as needing at least a year of development. Confirmation of that scouting report came in the 2016 Orange and Blue Debut, when Franks threw three interceptions and looked to be behind fellow freshman Kyle Trask on the depth chart. Franks progressed in the fall, becoming the backup to Austin Appleby, although he would end up redshirting.
A year later, Franks demonstrated he was ahead of Trask with a much more impressive spring-game performance. Franks showed off his strong arm, going 8-of-14 for 119 yards and a touchdown. While he did not dominate a mismatched defense, Franks was finally looking comfortable in the offense.
Playing Michigan at AT&T Stadium is a big step up from a spring game in a half-full The Swamp, but McElwain thinks the Wakulla High School alumnus is ready to shine on the big stage.
Sophomore running back Lamical Perine
With junior running back Jordan Scarlett suspended, Perine will be expected to lead the Gators’ ground attack. In 2016, Perine posted a solid average of 4.63 yards per carry (91 carries, 421 yards). The freshman campaign was a tale of two seasons for the running back from Theodore, Ala. In Florida’s first six games, Perine ran the ball 48 times for 300 yards, an average of 6.25 yards per carry. In the final seven games, that average plummeted to 2.81 yards per carry (43 carries, 121 yards).
Freshman fatigue may have played a factor in Perine’s drop-off, but there was also a drastic change in level of competition. Perine’s best outings came against Kentucky (17 carries, 105 yards) and Missouri (11 carries, 106 yards), the SEC’s No. 12 and 13 rushing defenses respectively. Perine had a harder time running the ball against Georgia (No. 4 in the SEC in rushing defense), gaining only 33 yards on 15 carries.
Last year, Michigan ranked No. 15 nationally in rushing defense, ahead of Florida State (No. 21) and Iowa (No. 45), Florida’s Power 5 out-of-conference opponents. Against the Seminoles and Hawkeyes, Perine logged 10 carries for 28 yards.
Redshirt sophomore center T.J. McCoy
It would be fair to say all five starting offensive linemen are on the spot this week, but McCoy makes the list as the group’s anchor and leader. Put simply, it all starts up front for the Gators.
Franks has shown some mobility in the pocket, but he’s not a quarterback who is able to run his way out of a pass rush. To get the vertical passing game going, Franks needs a clean pocket. Florida allowed 2.15 sacks per game last year, which ranked No. 9 in the SEC.
Run-blocking has also been stressed in fall camp. UF was last in the SEC in rushing offense last season, gaining only 128.23 yards per game on the ground. Opening up running lanes is arguably even more important without Scarlett, who excels at breaking tackles and gaining yards after contact.
Freshman cornerback Marco Wilson
Wilson’s first snap of college football will come in a 100,000-capacity NFL stadium playing against No. 11 Michigan. It’s a lot to ask of someone who was in high school only months ago, but Florida coaches insisted that the best five defensive backs would play. Wilson, the No. 13 cornerback prospect of the 2017 class, earned the starting spot at both cornerback and nickelback.
The Wolverines will likely target Wilson when they throw the ball, but the freshman from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. may have some help from sophomore Chauncey Gardner Jr. A ball hawk and hard hitter, Gardner should be able to help erase some coverage mistakes made by Wilson.
Wilson edged senior cornerback Joseph Putu for the starting cornerback spot and fellow freshman Donovan Stiner at nickelback. If the Gators feel that freshman inexperience is a problem at nickel, Gardner has experience at the position.
Redshirt junior defensive tackle Taven Bryan
Caleb Brantley left big shoes to fill on Florida’s defensive line, and his replacement has been one of the most talked-about players of fall camp. Bryan, listed at 6-4, 291 and nicknamed the “Wyoming Wildman” by position coach Chris Rumph, has gained a reputation as freakishly strong and hard to block.
“Man, sky’s the limit for him, honestly,” McCoy said of Bryan. “I mean he’s, he’s done everything. Making sacks, causing penetration in the run game. He’s just all-around a great player. The player he really reminds me a lot you know in the NFL is J.J. Watt. His size and just causing disruption in plays. He’s a great player and I can’t wait to see him play this Saturday.”
The Watt comparison might be a little generous for a junior with only 27 career tackles, but the Gators desperately need Bryan to help rush the passer and stop the run in a game expected to be decided by the battle in the trenches.
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