Gator fans are likely disappointed with the season ending in three straight losses and having the early loss to Texas A&M, but a quick look at the roster shows there is talent here to succeed going forward. Despite his success in resurrecting a floundering power football program, Dan Mullen's critics focus on his good-but-not-elite recruiting. Here are my ratings at each position with an early assessment for next year.
QB - A+. Any QB room with a Heisman candidate who shatters NCAA, SEC, and Florida football records gets an A. Emory Jones opens up the 2021 season in the top 10 with 14:1 odds to win the Heisman. 2021 QB Carlos Del Rio likely slides in as #3 behind Richardson and Jones next year in what will be Florida's best QB room in history with three 4-star QBs in one room, plus two sons of NFL or UF QBs.
QB Jalen Kitna 6-4 200. Burleson High School. Burleson, Texas. 3-star.
RB - D. This was the worst rushing attack Florida has used in my lifetime. Next year this rushing attack will feature two former 5-star RBs in what could be Florida's best rushing attack in recent memory. Iverson Clement will transfer out.
WR-X (Flex/Split) - A-. All the WR positions get an A, with the WR-X position being the "weakest". The former 5-star Justin Shorter was assumed to be the starter here, but Jacob Copeland has come into his own and is the front-runner for WR-X next year. Speaking of next year, the Gators hauled in three 4-star pass catchers. Despite losses in the WR positions this will be their most talented receiving corps in a very long time--probably since the Spurrier days.
WR-Z (Flanker) - A. The transfer out of Ohio State performed well this year and could be a middle round draft pick. Behind him, the transfer out of Texas will need to step up and will be challenged by one of the incoming 4-star receivers.
WR-Y/H (Slot/Hybrid) - A+. Kadarius Toney remade this position and gave us flashes of Percy Harvin. The Human Joystick vastly matured this year with excellent routes in addition to his joystick moves after the catch. One of the incoming freshmen will likely move into this position unless the Gators redefine the "Harvin"/Slot/Hybrid position.
WR Trevonte Rucker 6-0 160 of Vanguard High School. Ocala, Florida. 4-star.
TE/WR-Y - A+. Kyle Pitts finished in the top 10 Heisman voting and is in contention for multiple post-season awards. Pitts is the best to play at his position at Florida and it will be rather difficult to replace him next year. With Zipperer and Gamble coming back next year, assume the offense will shift to 11 personnel more often with the TE remaining in the anchor position nearly 100% of the time. Incoming freshman Gage Wilcox is the most promising youngster for the future. Nick Elksinis has the size to play TE in 11 or 10 personnel groupings. The Gators will be fine next year, but will likely be slightly less dynamic.
TE Nick Elksnis 6-6 220. Episcopal High School. Jacksonville, Florida. 3-star.
Offensive Line - C. This offensive line was downright atrocious in run blocking, but they were adequate in pass protection. Next year the Gators add some much larger youngsters, so this group could be better.
LT
OT Adrein Strickland 6-6 330. A. Crawford Mosley High School. Lynn Haven, Florida. 3-star.
OC Jake Slaughter 6-4 300 of Ocala Trinity Catholic. Ocala, Florida. 3-star.
OT Yousef Mugharbill 6-5 330 of Murphy High School, Murphy, NC. 4-star.
OT Austin Barner 6-7 300 of Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, FL. 3-star.
Overall: A+. As bad as the running game was, this will still go down as one of the best offensive units in Gator history.
QB - A+. Any QB room with a Heisman candidate who shatters NCAA, SEC, and Florida football records gets an A. Emory Jones opens up the 2021 season in the top 10 with 14:1 odds to win the Heisman. 2021 QB Carlos Del Rio likely slides in as #3 behind Richardson and Jones next year in what will be Florida's best QB room in history with three 4-star QBs in one room, plus two sons of NFL or UF QBs.
- GRSR QB Kyle Trask 6-6 212 Manvel HS, Manvel TX. 2-star
- RSO QB Emory Jones 6-3 200 Heard County HS Franklin, GA. 4-star.
- FR QB Anthony Richardson 6-4 213 Eastside HS. Gainesville, FL 4-star
- RSO (WO) QB Jack Ruskell 6-3 195 Libertyville HS. Libertyville, IL. NR.
- SO (WO) QB Luke Matthews 5-9 166 Gainesville HS. Gainesville, FL. NR
QB Jalen Kitna 6-4 200. Burleson High School. Burleson, Texas. 3-star.
RB - D. This was the worst rushing attack Florida has used in my lifetime. Next year this rushing attack will feature two former 5-star RBs in what could be Florida's best rushing attack in recent memory. Iverson Clement will transfer out.
- JR RB Dameon Pierce 5-11 210 Bainbridge HS. Bainbridge, GA. 4-star
- TR-RSO RB Lorenzo Lingard 6-0 190 of University of Miami by way of University High School, Orange City, FL. 5-star.
- RJR RB Malik Davis 5-11 190 Jesuit Tampa FL. 4-star.
- RFR RB Nay'Quan Wright 5-9 188. Carol City HS, Miami, FL 4-star.
- RSO RB Iverson Clement 6-0 190 Rancocas Valley HS, Mount Holly NJ. 4-star.
WR-X (Flex/Split) - A-. All the WR positions get an A, with the WR-X position being the "weakest". The former 5-star Justin Shorter was assumed to be the starter here, but Jacob Copeland has come into his own and is the front-runner for WR-X next year. Speaking of next year, the Gators hauled in three 4-star pass catchers. Despite losses in the WR positions this will be their most talented receiving corps in a very long time--probably since the Spurrier days.
- TR-SO. WR Justin Shorter 6-4 226 of Penn State University by way of South Brunswick High School, Monmouth Junction, NJ. Former 5*.
- RSO WR Jacob Copeland 6-1 181 Escambia HS, Pensacola, FL 4-star.
- RFR WR/DB Trent Whittemore 6-3 185. Bucholz HS. Gainesville FL. 3-star.
- RFR WR/ATH Ja'Markis Weston 6-3 195. Clewiston HS. Clewiston, FL 3-star.
WR-Z (Flanker) - A. The transfer out of Ohio State performed well this year and could be a middle round draft pick. Behind him, the transfer out of Texas will need to step up and will be challenged by one of the incoming 4-star receivers.
- TR-SR WR Trevon Grimes 6-3 202 Ohio State University by way of St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Fort Lauderdale, FL 4-star.
- RSR WR Rick Wells 6-1 185 Raines HS, Jacksonville FL. 3-star.
- TR-RJR WR Jordan Pouncey 6-2 205 Univ of TX by way of Winter Park HS, Winter Park, FL Former 3-star.
WR-Y/H (Slot/Hybrid) - A+. Kadarius Toney remade this position and gave us flashes of Percy Harvin. The Human Joystick vastly matured this year with excellent routes in addition to his joystick moves after the catch. One of the incoming freshmen will likely move into this position unless the Gators redefine the "Harvin"/Slot/Hybrid position.
- SR WR/ATH Kadarius Toney 6'1" 185 Blount Prichard AL. 4-star.
- RFR WR Dionte Marks 5-11 178. Deland HS. Deland, FL 3-star.
WR Trevonte Rucker 6-0 160 of Vanguard High School. Ocala, Florida. 4-star.
TE/WR-Y - A+. Kyle Pitts finished in the top 10 Heisman voting and is in contention for multiple post-season awards. Pitts is the best to play at his position at Florida and it will be rather difficult to replace him next year. With Zipperer and Gamble coming back next year, assume the offense will shift to 11 personnel more often with the TE remaining in the anchor position nearly 100% of the time. Incoming freshman Gage Wilcox is the most promising youngster for the future. Nick Elksinis has the size to play TE in 11 or 10 personnel groupings. The Gators will be fine next year, but will likely be slightly less dynamic.
- JR TE Kyle Pitts 6-5 235 of Archbishop Wood High School, Warminster PA. 4-star.
- SO TE Keon Zipperer. 6-2 240. Lakeland HS. Lakeland, FL 4-star.
- RJR TE Kemore Gamble 6'4" 220 Miami Southridge Miami FL. 4-star.
- RSO TE Dante Lang 6-5 220 Boca Raton HS, Boca Raton FL. 3-star
TE Nick Elksnis 6-6 220. Episcopal High School. Jacksonville, Florida. 3-star.
Offensive Line - C. This offensive line was downright atrocious in run blocking, but they were adequate in pass protection. Next year the Gators add some much larger youngsters, so this group could be better.
LT
- OT Stone Forsythe 6-6 315 West Orange HS, Winter Garden FL. 3-star.
- OL Richard Gouraige 6-5 250 Cambridge HS. Tampa, FL 4-star.
- OT Isaiah Walker, Jr. 6-4 309 Norland HS, Miamia, FL 4-star.
- OL Hayden Knighton 6-3 270 Fork Union by way of North Fort Myers, Fort Myers, FL. NR. (preferred walk-on)
- OL Richard Gouraige 6-5 250 Cambridge HS. Tampa, FL 4-star.
- C OL Griffin McDowell 6-4 280 Lee County HS. Leesburg, GA. 3-star.
- OL Richard Leonard 6-2 320 Cocoa HS, Cocoa, FL, 3-star.
- C/OL Brett Heggie 6-4 290 Mount Dora HS, Mount Dora FL. 3-star.
- OL/DL Tanner Rowell 6-2 298. Melbourne Senior HS, Melbourne, FL
- OG Kingsley Eguakun 6-3 295. Sandalwood HS, Jacksonville, FL 3-star.
- OT Ethan White 6-5 315. Superior Collegiate Academy, Clearwater, FL 4-star.
- OT TJ Moore 6'5" 290 Mallard Creek Charlotte NC. 4-star.
- OG Riley Simonds 6-4 324. Buford HS. Buford, GA. 3-star.
- OT William Harrod 6-5 315. National Christian Academy. Ft Washington, MD. 4-star.
- RSR Jean Delance OT 6’5” 309 North Mesquite HS, Mesquite, TX 4-star.
- TR-SR Stewart Reese OL 6/6" 345 of Mississippi State University by way of Fort Pierce Central HS, Fort Pierce, FL 4-star.
- RFR OT Michael Tarquin 6-5 290. North Marion HS, Citra, FL 4-star.
- FR OT Joshua Braun 6-6 335 Suwannee HS, Live Oak, FL 4-star.
OT Adrein Strickland 6-6 330. A. Crawford Mosley High School. Lynn Haven, Florida. 3-star.
OC Jake Slaughter 6-4 300 of Ocala Trinity Catholic. Ocala, Florida. 3-star.
OT Yousef Mugharbill 6-5 330 of Murphy High School, Murphy, NC. 4-star.
OT Austin Barner 6-7 300 of Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, FL. 3-star.
Overall: A+. As bad as the running game was, this will still go down as one of the best offensive units in Gator history.