Florida Football: What can we expect from Lorenzo Lingard in 2020?

Lorenzo Lingard transferred to Florida football from rival Miami this offseason and was granted immediate eligibility. What can we expect?

It’s been two years since Lorenzo Lingard committed to Miami over Florida and Florida State. Heck, Florida State seemed to be his second option but he chose the Hurricanes after playing high school ball in Orange City, Fla.

Fast forward to the 2020 season and Lingard has decided to transfer to Florida to be closer to his family and was granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA.

The former five-star prospect who was ranked the No. 25 player in the 2018 class as well as the second-best running back, according to 247Sports, looks to be one of the most intriguing transfers in the country and he could fill a need for the Gators in the backfield.

So what can we expect from the former five-star at Florida in 2020?

Right now, it looks like Dameon Pierce will be the No. 1 running back after rushing for 305 yards and four touchdowns last season as Lamical Perine’s backup. He’s waited patiently for his turn and that’s going to pay off with the role of RB1 this fall.

Behind him will be a combination of Lingard, Malik Davis and Iverson Clement. Some might want Davis to be the backup or even Clement, but I could see Lingard breaking out and becoming the clear No. 2 running back on the team and he may even push for that top spot by the end of the season.

Lingard has the highest ceiling of any running back on the team and his explosiveness and speed along with size at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds have him looking like a future star.

If I were a betting man, I’d say that Lingard becomes one of the SEC’s breakout stars this season and the Gators’ top running back by the end of the season.