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Florida Football: 5 reasons Gators will be contenders in 2019

By Connor Muldowney

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 10: Kadarius Toney #4 of the Florida Gators crosses the goal line for a touchdown during the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 10: Kadarius Toney #4 of the Florida Gators crosses the goal line for a touchdown during the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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Florida football has the pieces, and the change in culture, to contend for titles in 2019, but why exactly will the Gators be a force in the SEC?

Is Florida officially back? It seems that way, especially after winning 10 games and blowing the doors off Michigan in the Peach Bowl last season.

Dan Mullen has the Gators playing at a high level and his recruiting has been impressive as well. The only knock against the second-year head coach is his number of transfers from the program — but that happens just about everywhere, especially nowadays.

Florida finished just 5-3 in the SEC last season, but many believe the Gators will push Georgia for the East title. They have the talent and the right coach in place, so there’s no reason they can’t head to the SEC Championship in December with a chance to earn a playoff berth.

The Gators will be forces to be reckoned with in 2019.

5. Defense should be elite — or close to it

If there’s one thing that Florida has been known for over the years, and even under Jim McElwain, it’s defense.

The Gators send players to the NFL every year on this side of the ball and the secondary is usually the strength — as it was a year ago, ranking 13th nationally in passing yards allowed per game. The Gators struggled against the run last season, but were 20th nationally in scoring and 28th in total yards allowed.

Defense should once again be a strength in 2019 and it should even improve from its 2018 numbers with seven returning starters, including stars like Jabari Zuniga, David Reese and CJ Henderson who should each be All-SEC selections.

This should be one of the top 3-4 defenses in the conference which could also figure to be top 20 nationally which should aid the improving offense.

Defense wins championships, right?

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