Florida Football: 3 keys for successful 2020 season

3. Establish a high-caliber passing offense

For years after Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow left the program, the Gators have struggled to find an efficient quarterback who could consistently throw the ball.

Many fans thought that Feleipe Franks would be the first great quarterback for the Gators, who could create a high-velocity passing offense. Then Franks suffered a severe right leg injury in the third game of the season, giving way to junior quarterback Kyle Trask.

Not only did Trask help stabilize the offense but he turned the Gators to one of the explosive units in the SEC. In the 12 games played this past season, Trask finished second overall in the SEC in passing yards with 2,941 yards only behind Heisman Trophy-winning LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. Trask completed 237 passes (out of 354 attempts) for 2,941 yards, 25 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a had passer rating of 156.1.

Trask recorded seven games in which he threw for 250 yards and four games of 300 yards and four games where he threw three touchdowns. The Gators finished the season ranked 28th in the nation in points per game (33.2) and 16th in passing yards per game (300.8). Trask is the first quarterback since Rex Grossman in 2001 to help the Gators average over 300 passing yards per game.

The bad news for the Gators is that they must replace three of their top four wide receivers from last season. Their leading playmaker in receiving yards is junior tight end Kyle Pitts, who caught 54 passes for 649 yards and five touchdowns last season. The Gators’ top returning wide receiver is former Ohio State Buckeye in senior Trevon Grimes, who caught 33 passes for 491 yards and three touchdowns.

Both Grimes and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jacob Copeland have the potential to create a dangerous passing offense. There’s also potential that their two incoming transfer wide receiver in Justin Shorter (Penn State) and Jordan Pouncey (Texas) could impact immediately this season.

If the Gators want to maintain their high-power passing offense, they will need to pressure their receiving corps and tight end Pitts on deep routes.