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Jordan Scarlett is Florida Gators’ next big star

By David Waters

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The transfer of Adam Lane out of the Florida backfield only opens the door for the next star in Gainesville in the form of freshman Jordan Scarlett.

The Florida Gators received a bit of unexpected news last week when running back Adam Lane decided to transfer from the program. Lane, last season’s Birmingham Bowl MVP, was second on the depth chart with only Kelvin Taylor and a couple of freshmen in the Florida backfield.

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The departure of Lane accelerates the need of getting those freshmen ready and opens the door for Jordan Scarlett to become Florida’s next big star.

After one week of fall camp and a team scrimmage, it was becoming clear to Scarlett’s fellow teammates just how good the freshman running back can be.

“I feel like Jordan Scarlett is a complete back,” defensive back Quincy Wilson said, via Thomas Goldkamp of 247Sports. “He’s big, he’s fast, he can run you over, he can shake you, and he can catch. I just feel like that’s something we need.”

Another defensive teammate, Jarrad Davis, describes Scarlett as, “deceiving, very deceiving. He’ll shake you and then take the ball and run right through you.”

Florida’s offense needs that size, speed, and power to change the fortunes of one of the SEC’s worst offenses the last few seasons. In an offense full of inexperience and void of playmakers, Scarlett has every opportunity to burst on the scene.

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The U.S. Army All-American came to Florida as head coach Jim McElwain sold him on becoming a game changer immediately and help a struggling offense. After rushing for 1,124 yards on 143 carries and scoring 24 touchdowns his senior season at St. Thomas Aquinas, Scarlett was going to be a major focus no matter the situation at the running back spot for the Gators.

With inexperience at the quarterback position, where Will Grier and Treon Harris battle it out, and all along the offensive line, there is going to be a need for McElwain to lean on the running game to help bring along those two units. Scarlett will only be behind Kelvin Taylor on the depth at chart and will get plenty of chances to show his skills as soon as the Gators run out of the tunnel vs New Mexico State.

The situation with Scarlett is much like McElwain’s 2009 season as offensive coordinator at Alabama. Mark Ingram was the established number one running back returning for the Crimson Tide, but they needed help behind him. There were questions at quarterback and offensive line and Alabama was going to rely on a strong running game to carry the offense. Ingram couldn’t do all by himself and that’s where true freshman running back Trent Richardson came in.

Richardson produced in a big way playing in all 14 games, rushing for 751 yards on 145 attempts and eight touchdowns as Alabama won the 2009 National Championship.

Scarlett likes to compare himself to Richardson and it’s clear McElwain sold Scarlett on his history of using running backs with the style of play he won with in the past. At 5-11, 210 pounds. and great speed, Scarlett is going to come in and be used as Florida’s most versatile running back, even as a true freshman

Even before the departure of Adam Lane, Scarlett was going to come in and get plenty of playing time in McElwain’s offense. Many freshmen have come in the SEC lately and had success getting on the field and making huge contributions for their team.

Scarlett will to do the same in Gainesville.

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