Roundtable: Mullen and the NFL; most intriguing position; 2020 season grade

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Corey: If there was a time for Dan Mullen to head to the NFL, it should be now. The Gators lit up the scoreboard all season and featured the nation's top-ranked passing attack behind a former two-star prospect turned Heisman Trophy finalist. UF also had the nation's No. 1 tight end on its roster in Kyle Pitts, while wide receivers Trevon Grimes and Kadarius Toney are expected to be drafted as well.

The defense struggled mightily; there is certainly no denying that, but Mullen is known for his offensive prowess and it was certainly a season to remember in that regard. The NFL is always intrigued by coaches who posses a strong track record with developing quarterbacks, and Mullen certainly checks off that box. Many of the teams linked to Mullen have early first-round picks and are considering drafting a quarterback, including the New York Jets, so considering the success Mullen had with Trask in 2020, I don't believe his stock is going to get much higher from that standpoint.

Also, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the 2021 squad. There is no clear-cut option at quarterback, as Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson are expected to have a competitive battle all throughout camp, while UF is also forced to replace its top-three options on the perimeter in Pitts, Grimes and Toney.

If the Gators deliver a subpar season in 2021, there is no doubt that would hurt Mullen's stock as a head coach. With that being said, if he does receive a job offer and accepts it, I certainly wouldn't blame him.

Nick: Dan Mullen is in the third year of a six-year contract. Having less than four years in writing means that he’s up for an extension and possible raise. Mullen, his agent Jimmy Sexton, and Scott Stricklin all knew that heading into the year. Then, Mullen stuck his foot in his mouth at every opportunity, had the chance to walk back his “pack the Swamp” comments, even had a pre-prepared written statement that he agreed to read the Monday following those comments but bailed. Then there was the Missouri fight, his odd comments after the Cotton Bowl loss, and all the while, behind the scenes, his program was being investigated for recruiting violations.

Yeah, you can say any contract negotiation leverage was kicked further than Cade York’s game winner in the Swamp.

What’s the quickest way to regain that leverage, float your name out as a potential candidate for one of the six NFL head coaching jobs. Sexton and Mullen could easily get that leverage back and get more of what they would want when it comes down to contract extension talks.

Would Mullen leave for the NFL? I think he would but it would have to be the right situation with the right quarterback. Is that available right now? Maybe the Chargers, with Justin Herbert in place, or the Jacksonville Jaguars, with a ton of cap space and the No. 1 overall pick, but you won’t get a ton of time to prove yourself in the NFL.

Conner: I ultimately think it’s a matter of when, not if, Dan Mullen leaves for the NFL. His name is constantly linked to head coach openings every year and he does little to dispel those rumors and has even said he’s open to moving to the NFL

For a coach that has the stigma of not liking to recruit, he wouldn’t have to do any of that at the NFL level and can just focus on coaching and game planning. I don’t know if it will happen this year, but I do expect Dan to make that jump in the near future.

Corey: You can go in a lot of directions when answering this question, but for me, it's running back. Dameon Pierce, Malik Davis and Nay'Quan Wright are all likely returning in 2021, while Demarkcus Bowman, a former five-star prospect, enters the mix as well after transferring in from Clemson. Will Lorenzo Lingard make an impact as well?

Pierce received the most carries this past season, but Wright's workload increased as the year went on and Davis looks to have gained his confidence back after suffering a leg injury earlier in his career. All of the hype is surrounding Bowman, and understandably so, but nothing will be given to him and I think it's going to be a more competitive battle than many think.

Greg Knox certainly has options, as running back should definitely be one of the more deeper positions on the roster.

Nick: I think the most intriguing position battle will be the quarterback. Listen, I know everyone wants to see Emory Jones and has for a while but I think the world of Anthony Richardson and a lot of people around the program feel the same. I’m not necessarily saying Richardson will be the starter but I’m interested in seeing how close he can make it.

Conner: I would have to say wide receiver. With Florida’s top-three pass catchers headed to the NFL, someone needs to emerge as a reliable target for the next quarterback. Jacob Copeland looks to be WR1 heading into next season, but outside of him, there isn’t much proven depth.

We have seen flashes from Justin Shorter, Trent Whittemore, Rick Wells, and even Xzavier Hernerson, but nobody has shown consistency. That is partly due to playing time and the production of the guys in front of them, but with Pitts, Toney and Grimes now gone, some new faces will have to step up to make a solid four-deep receiver rotation.

Corey: I'm giving the program a C for the year. There is so much to be proud of when dissecting the offensive success, along with the national-recognized performances from Trask, Pitts and Toney. This is a program that won the SEC East and constructed an inspiring performance against Alabama as well, but when it was all said and done, UF finished 8-4 and dropped its final three games of the season.

The LSU game was certainly a stinger, as the Gators were flagged for one of the more undisciplined penalties I've came across, especially considering how much time was left in the game and the College Football Playoffs on the line. It was also an LSU team that held a 3-5 record at the time. It's worth mentioning the team's uninspiring performance in the Cotton Bowl, but over a handful of key playmakers didn't play and I will give them the benefit of the doubt for that.

I was initially going to give a B-, but what pushed the grade down to a C was the Gators' lack of success on defense. We all know they fell short of expectations on that side of the ball and didn't play with much discipline either, especially when it came to wrapping up and tackling in space. It was a season jam-packed with highs and lows.

Nick: It’s tough to answer that. On one hand the Gators beat Georgia and won the East. Florida lost three games by a total of 12 points, so they’re 15 points away from being an undefeated SEC Champion and in the playoff.

On the other hand, everything I mentioned in the first question also happened.

So, while I give the staff, players, and the university immense credit for even being able to have a season and operate this year, I think they ultimately fell flat in the end.

Grade: C

Conner: My overall grade for the 2020 season, in my opinion, would be a C. In a year that the Gators looked primed to make a run at the playoffs with record-setting quarterback Kyle Trask at the helm, finishing the season at 8-4 is very disappointing.

Florida fielded one of the best offenses in program history, but that production was negated by the worst defense in the school’s history. Combine that with the inconsistency week after week of not knowing if the team that flashed as a playoff contender would show up or if it would be the team that slept walked through Tennessee and lost to LSU.

The grade for this year should have been much higher, but Florida’s inability to perform defensively cost them a lot.