Florida Football: Seven reasons the Gators will win seven games this season.

The Gators feature a revamped offensive line and defense that will be the keys to their success this season.

By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com, Football Analyst

The Florida Gators completed their second scrimmage of fall camp Saturday. All indications point to a much cleaner scrimmage compared to last week with both sides of the ball fighting to a stalemate.

With less than two weeks before kickoff, the Gators now turn their attention to getting healthy and mental preparations for the Miami Hurricanes. The contest with Miami will be an early test against a team that feels like Florida feels — they are poised to take the next step as well.

With the nation’s toughest schedule featuring eight teams in the Preseason Top 25, Las Vegas has set the win total for the Gators at 5.5 . If this would hold true, the Gators would have a fourth losing season in as many years and put the Billy Napier era under serious scrutiny.

Fortunately for the Gators, there have been several additions to the roster that not only add to the quality of overall talent, but according to insiders, the character of the team as well. With that the Gators will look to exceed that total and return to the postseason after a one year absence. 

Here are seven reasons the Gators will seven games this season.

1.     Improved Roster-With high school recruits and transfers combined the Gators added 33 new athletes to the roster. After the close of the transfer portal the Gators ranked 7th overall according to 24/7 Sports and added key players at almost every position. Key additions include safety Asa Turner, receivers Elijah Badger and Chimere Dike, linebackers Pup Howard and Myles Graham, defensive linemen Joey Slackman and LJ McCray, and offensive linemen Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson and Devon Manuel. All these additions boosted the overall experience of the roster and its overall athleticism. Turner, Badger, Dike and Dickson bring proven playmaking to their units while Graham and McCray have college ready physiques and look to be key contributors from day one.

2.     Retooled Offensive Line-Along with the addition of Crenshaw-Dickson and Manuel, the Gators also took a look at the personnel that was previously in place and where that personnel fit best. The Gators also welcomed back a healthy Austin Barber, who should start at left tackle and inked in Jake Slaughter at center full time after he earned eight starts in 2023. Damien George moves inside to right guard and Crenshaw-Dickson looks to be the choice at right tackle. Knijeah Harris rounds out the possible starters at left guard and this new look unit should improve on the 39 sacks that the Gators allowed in 2023.

Florida Offenive Line (GatorBait Photo)

3.     Defensive Staff Additions-This spring the Gators added three assistant coaches to the defensive side of the ball. Defensive line coach Gerald Chatman arrives in Gainesville from a successful year at Tulane. Defensive backs coach Will Harris comes to the Gators after spending last season with the Los Angeles Chargers as assistant secondary coach. Prior to his time in LA, Harris was the defensive coordinator at Georgia Southern in 2022 after spending four seasons at Washington where he tutored current Florida safety Asa Turner. Finally, the Gators added the “father of the Creeper” defense, Ron Roberts from Auburn. Roberts spent last season with an undermanned defensive roster at Auburn yet the Tigers finished in the Top-25 in third down defense and first downs allowed while ranking first in the SEC in red zone defense. 

4.     Billy Gonzales and receiver depth-Billy Gonzales is arguably the top receiver coach in college football. His resume is full of players that currently get paid on Sundays to do what Gonzales taught them to do. Recently Gonzales was a key factor in former Gator Ricky Pearsall Jr. being drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. This season the Gators have a plethora of riches at the receiver position and there is no doubt the unit will be as prepared as any in the SEC. The list of talent includes Eugene Wilson III, Kahleil Jackson and transfers Dike and Badger. Add to that the athletic quartet of Marcus Burke, Andy Jean, and Aiden Mizell. The Gators also welcomed freshmen Tank Hawkins and TJ Abrams.  Highly touted freshmen that may also factor in the return game. 

5.     Improved Defensive Communication-Last season the Gator defense was one of the worst in school history. Fortunately for the Gators, the issues were less about the pieces in play but more about the way they were moved. As stated, before Ron Roberts arrives in Gainesville with a resume that notes defensive excellence at every stop. Roberts provides Co-Defensive Coordinator Austin Armstrong with a like-minded sounding board and another voice to present the principles of the weekly game plan in a more efficient manner. Last season’s defensive unit looked disconnected at all three levels particularly in terms of communication Chatman, Harris and most importantly Roberts should help tether that rope.

Quarterback Graham Mertz (GatorBait photo)

6.     Graham Mertz-Mertz is the unquestioned leader of the football team. Since arriving from Wisconsin in 2023 Mertz has earned the respect of all within the organization for his tireless work and his ability to lead the offense. Last season Mertz had career highs in almost every passing category while throwing 20 touchdowns against only 3 interceptions. Mertz showed great control of the Gator offense in what was his first year in 2023 and this year will be given total control of the playbook. Mertz has the full trust of his offensive line, receivers, and backs. In Saturday’s scrimmage, observers stated that Mertz was in total control of the offense and the true alpha dog of the team.

7.     Head Coach Billy Napier-While many on the outside have and will continue to criticize Napier for decisions made both on and off the field, that is not the case within the walls of the Heavener Football Complex. When speaking to both players, parents, coaches, and support staff, Napier is doing it all the right way. Almost to a man or woman, all within the organization have expressed that they made their way to Gainesville because of Napier. Offensive tackle Austin Barber spoke earlier in the spring about how much better the player experience is under Napier and feels like he can bring anything to his head coach. Others continuously state that no matter how things have gone the past two seasons, Napier will steady the ship and guide it to a championship level. It is easy to make assumptions based on what many see from the outside but it is hard to ignore what those closest to the program see on a daily basis. 

So there you have it. 7 reasons for seven wins. Certainly if the Gators best the bookies, there will be more to add. Seven is a good start and despite the schedule, seven could come sooner than later. Either way the curtain opens in 13 days and the show will be loud and in color.  What is to follow is up to those that believe the program is headed in the right direction.

Prediction: 7-5