Florida Football: Don’t sleep on Gators as SEC champs in 2021

Dan Mullen was brought to Gainesville to do two things: contend for the SEC title and make the College Football Playoff.

In 2020, he did one of those.

Florida won the SEC East and made the conference title game, losing to Alabama in a surprisingly-close affair but falling short in the playoff race. The Gators could have been in the playoff conversation if not for a shocking loss to LSU in the season finale in Gainesville.

Mullen had to feel disappointed with coming so close yet falling short with an all-star cast such of Kyle Pitts, Kyle Trask and Kadarius Toney leading the way. Those were three first and second-round NFL draft picks which should have been enough to get over that hump and into the College Football Playoff but now that they’re gone, people are back to counting Florida out.

Who is going to lead the offense? How can Todd Grantham possibly rebound from the 2020 disaster? Can the Gators survive without a run game or at least develop a semblance of one?

Why we shouldn’t count Florida out just yet

Florida may be losing three legit NFL prospects on offense, but don’t forget that Emory Jones was once one of the top prospects in his recruiting class and his backup, Anthony Richardson, was also a four-star quarterback recruit. There’s plenty of talent returning at quarterback and with a full offseason to adjust to a starting role, Jones could be a legit stud in this offense.

The backfield, too, has a ton of talent and depth despite minimal production last year. The Gators landed former five-star Lorenzo Lingard last offseason and former five-star Demarkcus Bowman this offseason. Both will join a talented group of backs and the run game will get a boost.

The offensive line returns three starters and the defense will only need to really reload in the secondary and it’s shown the ability to do that over the years. Talent is not lacking.

As long as this team plays to its potential, this season could be special.

Florida is already being doubted by everyone and Georgia is considered the favorite in the SEC East to start the season, but Mullen may have one of the most talented rosters in the country and the Gators should give the Bulldogs a run for their money.

We continue to doubt Mullen and the Gators but this seems like a year when Florida is going to surprise everyone and make a serious playoff push.