Florida Football: 3 reasons the Gators will win SEC East in 2020

3 of 4

Kaiir Elam, Florida football (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

2. Florida will have one of the nation’s best defenses

In 2019, the Gators finished ninth in the NCAA in total defense, fourth in sacks, 10th in tackles for loss, fourth in rushing defense, No. 8 in first down defense and third in red-zone defense. If it wasn’t obvious, these are elite numbers.

The Gators only lose three starters (players who started seven or more games) from last year (CJ Henderson, Jonathan Greenard and David Reese) not including Jabari Zuniga, who only started five games due to injury. This leaves Florida with nine returning starters from an elite defense.

Florida returns the most sack production in the SEC and they are adding a potential high draft pick to the mix in 2020. Former Georgia Buck transfer Brenton Cox Jr. has received rave reviews out of spring and fall camp for the Gators. He’s already had a year learning the defensive system because the NCAA deemed him ineligible for the 2019 season due to transfer rules. He will have big shoes to fill as he tries to replace 2019 SEC sack leader Jonathan Greenard but Cox has a great chance to step in and be great.

More from Florida Gators

Sophomore and former top 100 recruit Khris Bogle will be behind Cox in the Buck rotation.

Florida also returns one of the top cornerback duos in the SEC in sophomore Kaiir Elam and junior Marco Wilson. Elam had a breakout freshman year, with two interceptions and four pass deflections. He earned Pro Football Focus’ fourth-highest grade for a freshman cornerback ever and is regarded as Florida’s best player by PFF as well.

Wilson had three interceptions and two pass deflections in 2019. Many criticized Wilson in 2019, especially because of his play early in the season. People forget that he was coming off an ACL tear which sidelined him for all of 2018. In his first year in 2017, he outplayed his freshman counterpart Henderson (selected No. 9 in the 2020 NFL Draft) and had 10 pass deflections, a truly ludicrous number. Wilson is fully healthy for the first time since 2017 and is ready to cement his status as one of college football’s best at his position.

Florida also returns senior defensive tackles in Kyree Campbell and Tedarell Slaton. The latter has the potential to be an early draft pick in 2021 and Campbell is a two-year starter already. Five-star freshman sensation Gervon Dexter will join the defensive tackle rotation as well.

At defensive end, senior Zachary Carter will look to continue his great work after recording 4.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2019. He has a great chance to be an early draft pick as well. Freak athlete Jeremiah Moon will look to break into the defensive end rotation alongside Carter.

At linebacker, juniors Ventrell Miller and James Houston IV will step into their roles from last year. In 2019, Miller had 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks and Houston IV had five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Their primary role will be stopping the run.

At Star, Amari Burney will likely be the starter. He had a good 2019, securing 37 total tackles and an interception. Chester Kimbrough will back up Burney. Kimbrough is part of a trio of sophomore corners (Jaydon Kill and Elam) who are ultra-talented. He will be ready when his name is called.

Finally, at safety, the Gators return their three best starters from last season. Seniors Shawn Davis Jr. and Donovan Stiner have been starters in this defense for two years already. Stiner led the team with four picks in 2019 and added a pass deflection. Davis had three picks and three pass deflections. However, at times, Davis and Stiner looked lost. They will look to improve on their timing and positioning on the field in 2020.

Senior Brad Stewart Jr. will also look to break into the safety rotation. He is probably Florida’s most talented safety but has stayed in trouble off the field which has limited his playing time.

Finally, junior Trey Dean III will be transitioning back to his natural position of safety in 2020. Dean has tried to play outside corner and Star in his two years at Florida, not having much success at either position. However, Dean is a natural safety who has a tremendous skill set for the position and he has put on a ton of muscle in the offseason. Also trying to break into the rotation is true freshman Mordecai McDaniel who has received some of the best reviews out of fall camp of any player.

The safety position may turn into a strength for the Gators in 2020.

Home/Florida Gators