Florida Football: Three storylines to watch as Fall Camp opens

As Florida football prepares to take the practice field for 21 days before taking the field for real on August 31, some elements of the 2023 squad need to be ironed out.

These are the three storylines we will be keeping an eye on as the Gators wind through Fall Camp.

Florida Football: So about the starting QB…

If one were a betting person, it would be a safe bet to lay a ton of money on Graham Mertz being the starting QB when Florida faces Utah. The transfer from Wisconsin is far from the most exciting choice to lead the Gators, but there is a game plan that can be formulated to still ensure that Florida keeps the ball moving.

But after an underwhelming Spring Game, Mertz didn’t 100% secure the job.

The thing is, Jack Miller didn’t showcase anything either that would scream he is ready for the job.

Billy Napier has said publicly throughout the summer that he is going to allow there to be a competition for the starting QB role. But if the “competition” drags on and neither emerges as the clear number one, that is going to raise a few eyebrows.

Meet me in the middle

One of the positions getting a complete overhaul this season is middle linebacker. Ventrell Miller and Amari Burney have left for the NFL, leaving an opportunity for new blood.

Florida brought in Teradja Mitchell, Mannie Nunnery, and Duce Spurlock out of the transfer portal to compete with Shemar James and Derek Wingo for the inside linebacker slot.

Most would assume James is being tapped as one of the starters this season, but the linebacker group as a whole feels like a position there hasn’t been much said about over the summer, so there is still a lot of mystery surrounding this group.

Mr. Wilson has arrived

Napier has made sure to highlight the fact that 93% of the Gators roster has been on campus since January. One of the few to only recently arrive on campus is true freshman Eugene Wilson.

We’ve highlighted some of the insane feats of strength he has pulled off in the weight room, but we have yet to see him on the field in a Gator uniform.

He headlines an exciting crop of freshmen receivers along with Aidan Mizell and Andy Jean, and there is an opportunity to see the field on opening night. Wilson projects best in the slot, which could create a logjam with Ricky Pearsall if he also plays in the slot.

But if Wilson comes to camp and is the real deal, Florida might have to toy around with some formations to get both guys on the field.