College Football: 5 second and third-year coaches who’ll contend in 2020

Florida head football coach Dan Mullen said that it is one thing to take a five or six-win team and make them a 10-win team. The challenge, he said, is winning that extra game or two. That is the challenge for the Florida Gators in year three of the Dan Mullen era.

The Gators are nipping at the heels of the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC East. Can they win the extra game an unseat the Dawgs? The opportunity is certainly there. Despite losing a lot of NFL talent from their roster, the Gators have the talent to challenge Georgia in the East.

Mullen and his staff have two major concerns that have to be addressed if they are going to get over the “Georgia Hump” this season. First, the offensive line — which was patchwork at best — needs to take a step forward. This was a retooled group last season who should be better with a year of experience under their belts.

Second is the defense. It is never easy replacing a first-round pick and the Gators are doing just that. The Gators are deep at cornerback but very young. There is a good chance a true freshman will start at one corner for the Gators. In addition to their defensive backfield, they are replacing both of their defensive ends; Jonathan Greenard and Jabari Zuniga.

This season will tell us how well Mullen and his staff have recruited this season.