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Florida Football: 2017 season preview, predictions

By Connor Muldowney

TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 26: Florida Gators players get ready before the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on November 26, 2016 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 26: Florida Gators players get ready before the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on November 26, 2016 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 30: Malik Zaire #8 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs with the ball against the LSU Tigers during the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl at LP Field on December 30, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 30: Malik Zaire #8 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs with the ball against the LSU Tigers during the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl at LP Field on December 30, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Offense

Although the Gators are looking at a new starting quarterback in 2016, there are question marks surrounding the entire offense.

First off, the wide receiver position is in limbo thanks to Antonio Callaway’s recent suspension. He was the lead-returning receiver with starting experience, but senior Brandon Powell will have to step in. He was second on the team in receiving last season with 45 catches for 387 yards and two scores. He will be joined by talented sophomore Tyrie Cleveland.

Don’t sleep on Freddie Swain, Josh Hammond and Dre Massey who will all likely be in the rotation.

Moreover, the running back position returns junior Jordan Scarlett. He racked up 889 yards and six touchdowns in 2016 and could break the 1,000-yard mark in 2017. Lamical Perine is a more than capable sophomore backup.

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Tight ends DeAndre Goolsby and C’yontai Lewis finished third and fifth on the team in receiving, respectively, last season.

Luckily, most of the offensive line returns to block for whoever starts at quarterback for the first time. Martez Ivey and Jawaan Taylor return at the tackle spots, Tyler Jordan and Fred Johnson are back at both guard positions and sophomore T.J. McCoy is a first-year starting center.

This line will be a bright spot on offense.

Can Malik Zaire hold the starting job?

It’s tough to tell if Malik Zaire is going to remain healthy for an entire season for the first time in a few years. The grad transfer from Notre Dame chose the Gators over the likes of Texas and Wisconsin this offseason, but he knew he’s have to battle it out for that No. 1 job.

Since he’s come to campus late and has had to cram the playbook into his brain over the past couple of months just to catch up, there’s a good chance he may struggle with confidence early on. In fact, he hasn’t played a meaningful snap as a starting quarterback since last September, and that time was short-lived.

Redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks is one of the better talents on the team and he could rise up and take back the job he once thought was his before Zaire’s transfer. He was a blur-chip recruit in the 2016 class and sat back last season while the quarterbacks struggled.

How long can Zaire hold on to a starting job with Franks surging? Heck, he may not have the job at all.

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