Nov 1, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Florida Gators celebrate after they beat the against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at EverBank Field. Florida Gators defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 38-20. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The SEC East is so wide open that it’s actually conceivable that the Gators can find a way to win the SEC East in head coach Jim McElwain’s first season. However, to do it Florida will probably need to win some crazy three or four-team tiebreaker because this team will lose three conference games in even its best-case scenario.
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But, there is a chance. McElwain has a strong track record of developing quarterbacks, and he’s got two talented ones to choose from in redshirt freshman Will Grier and sophomore Treon Harris. Grier appears to be the most natural fit for McElwain’s pro-style system, and he will have a few weapons to turn to including running back Kelvin Taylor, who has 1,000-yard potential, and wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, who emerged as a big-play threat in 2014.
Defensively, the Gators return seven starters from last year’s stingy unit that ranked in the nation’s top 20 in scoring defense (21.1 points per game), rushing defense (116.2 yards per game) and total defense (329.8 yards per game). Florida also has arguably the nation’s best defensive player in junior cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, who has six career interceptions and broke up 13 passes last season.
To win ten games and compete in the East, Florida needs to get off to a strong 3-0 start before hosting Tennessee September 26. If the Gators can win just two of their five games against Tennessee, Ole Miss, Missouri, LSU and Georgia, they’ll have a chance to finish 9-3 – just a bowl game victory away from double-digit wins.
Florida’s Best-Case Scenario: Jim McElwain does more with a talented roster than Will Muschamp could and becomes a threat in the SEC East
Next: Worst-Case Scenario: Florida