Florida football: 3 reasons the Gators can go 8-4, and 3 for 4-8
By Will Thomas
![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier gestures alongside Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15), Florida Gators running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (2), and Florida Gators running back Trevor Etienne (7) during fall football practice at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 5, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F480a5b26fd88c46cc6584e625d49514ed8d5ea53369dc6ed817b549db865e63c.jpg "Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier gestures alongside Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15), Florida Gators running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (2), and Florida Gators running back Trevor Etienne (7) during fall football practice at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 5, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]")
Reason No. 2 Florida football gets eight wins: The wide receiver room steps up
The Gator’s ground game has gotten all the attention all summer. But the wide receiving core could be a sleeper unit that makes some noise this fall.
Led by Ricky Pearsall, there’s a great combination of returning experience and explosive young guys that can make this group special.
Ja’Quavion Fraziers and Marcus Burke are two other guys coming back looking to build off of some good plays last season.
But where there’s the most excitement is in the new faces. Caleb Douglas, a sophomore who’s back for his second year is getting ready to have an elevated role in the offense this season and has had an electrifying camp.
The Gators also bring in a trio of speedy freshmen in Andy Jean, Aidan Mizell, and Eugene Wilson III.
Jean is a bigger-bodied guy who also has elite speed and can win one-on-one against a lot of DBs, Eugene Wilson has surprising strength for a guy standing at 5’10”-180, and Aidan Mizell is the tallest of the three and the greatest deep ball threat.
Even though the ground game will be the focal point of Florida football’s offense, the receivers will have to be involved to keep defenses on their toes.
While they won’t get a ton of downfield shots, they’ll have plenty of action within ten yards of the line of scrimmage with opportunities to break big plays with the ball in their hands.