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Florida Football: Studs and duds from the 2019 season

By Dante Pryor

MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 30: Kyle Trask #11 of the Florida Gators celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half of the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 30, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 30: Kyle Trask #11 of the Florida Gators celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half of the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 30, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Dud: Injuries

There’s no doubt the Gators are evoking memories of Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer. Dan Mullen is proving his “lateral move” was the right one. They are putting up points, playing classic Florida defense. If there’s anything that kept them from Atlanta this season, it was the injury bug.

Cornerback CJ Henderson, defensive end Jabari Zuniga, quarterback Feleipe Franks, safety Shawn Davis, wide receiver Freddie Swain, tackle Jean Delance and nose tackle Kyree Campbell are among the starters or rotational contributors that dealt with injuries at some point in the season.

One of the biggest injuries that hampered the Gators this season was to Swiss army knife and do-everything player Kadarious Toney.

If you are going to win the SEC, you need dynamic speed on the perimeter. Both LSU and Alabama have proven that with the sprinters they have playing wide receiver. Van Jefferson and Freddie Swain are really nice pieces, but Toney is next-level fast. He’s the type of player Mullen loves to have on his team.

When he was offensive coordinator under Urban Meyer, he had a do-everything guy by the name of Percy Harvin. Toney is that type of player. The Gators missed his explosive play making ability on offense.

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Even with the injuries they had this season, they were close to Georgia and gave LSU fits for a good portion of that game. Injuries were the biggest dud on this team this year. If the Gators can stay healthy next season, they are going to give Georgia a run for their money in the SEC East.

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