The Florida Gators enter the 2010 season with a completely different look to them, as they no longer have Tim Tebow running the show on offense. Tebow without a doubt will go do as one of the best college football players of all time, and now this team will have to try and find a way to win without him. The Gators only loss in 2009 came in the SEC Championship game against Alabama, as they finished the year an impressive 13-1 after beating Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl.
The Gators enter the 2010 season with just 11 starters back, and for many schools that usually means a down year, but we are talking about one of the best football programs in the country. There is no doubt with the talent this team has just waiting to get onto the football field, they are going to be competitive year in and year out. Whether they will be good enough to win the SEC this year is a different story. Here is a look at what the Gators are bringing back on both sides of the ball in 2010, plus my prediction on where they finish the season in the SEC.
Offense: All signs point to junior John Brantley taking over the vacated starting quarterback job, and don't be surprised if this kid has a great season in 2010. Brantley is not going to rush for near as many yards or score 14 rushing touchdowns, but he is very accurate and could put up better passing numbers than Tebow did in his final season.
At the skill positions the Gators welcome back junior running back Jeff Demps, who ran for 745 yards and 7 scores last season. I would not be surprised at all if Demps passed the 1,000 yard mark this season. Looking at wide receiver the Gators lose four of their top five weapons from 2009, as the only starter back is junior Deonte Thompson. They moved fellow junior Chris Rainey into the slot receiver this spring, while adding junior college transfer Carl Moore at wide out.
The offensive line will be the key, as the Gators figure to have one of the best groups up front in the entire nation. They will make life a lot easier for Brantley, who should have plenty of time to get rid of the football, and Demps should have no problem running through the holes this unit creates.
Defense: Florida returns just five starters on this side of the ball, but don't be surprised if this unit is just as good as the group they sent out in 2009. Sophomore Omar Hunter figures to be a beast in the middle of the front four, but for the d-line to really be successful they are going to need solid production out of Justin Trattou and William Green, both of whom figure to step in and start at defensive end.
At linebacker the Gators only return junior AJ Jones, but look out for some of the young talent this team has waiting to get on the field at this position. It looks as though sophomore Jonathan Bostic and red-shirt freshman Jelani Jenkins have the early edge at the two open spots.
The rest of the teams in the SEC figure to have a hard time throwing the ball against Florida in 2010, as the Gators look to have a top class secondary this season. Even though they lose CB Joe Haden and safety Major Wright, they look to have one of the best safety duos in the country with senior Ahmad Black and junior Will Hill. At corner they return one of the best in the SEC in junior Janoris Jenkins, and are expected to start a very talented freshman in Joshua Shaw at the other corner spot.
Prediction - 1st SEC East: I have the Gators winning the East thanks to a schedule that has them playing South Carolina at home and Georgia at Jacksonville, the two top competitors in the East. We could get a preview to the SEC Championship game when Florida takes on Alabama on Oct.2.
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