![Florida cornerback Cormani McClain (25) warms up during spring practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_94,w_2690,h_1513/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ReutersImages/mmsport/213/01m0k75pnek3995nff8m.jpg "Florida cornerback Cormani McClain (25) warms up during spring practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]")
We're about two weeks from the Florida Gators opening the Jon Sumrall era against FAU. The Gators are a massive favorite to win big in Sumrall's debut, but there are also some questions that need to be answered.
The Owls bring in a big-time passing attack. Zach Kittley brought in his Air Raid-style offense from Houston Christian last season and Florida Atlantic slung the ball around the yard to the tune of 340 yards per game. They have a returning quarterback, Caden Veltkamp, who threw for 3,641 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. It's going to be a chance for fans to see what Brad White and his defense are going to be about.
Florida's secondary has to show up and show out in Week 1
Veltkamp threw for a lot of yards, but he also threw a lot of interceptions — 17 to be exact. It's going to be a busy night for a Gators secondary that has a lot of talent, but needs to show that it be consistent from week-to-week.
There are a lot of recruiting stars. Cormani McClain is a former five-star recruit that began his career in Colorado before transferring to Florida. He has shown flashes of being good, and he played a lot of snaps last season until he suffered a knee injury against Tennessee that ended his season. McClain likes to take some chances, and it hasn't always worked to his benefit, but the experience he got last season as a starter is something that should carry over.
Ben Hanks III is another player with a tremendous pedigree out of high school and was one of the top players in the Class of 2025. He struggled with a sports hernia injury most of the season, but when he did play, there was a lot there to be excited about.
True Freshman Ben Hanks III in his first collegiate start with the #Gators against rival FSU:
— Dylan Olive (@DylanOlive_UF) August 17, 2026
🐊4 Targets | 1 catch allowed | 7 yards
🐊2 PBUs | 1 INT
🐊52.1 NFL passer rating when targeted
Breakout has continued in camp as he pushes for a starting role in year 2. pic.twitter.com/5qldG0s6UJ
The two sophomore corners are going to be flanked by some senior leadership at safety with Bryce Thornton (22 starts) and DJ Coleman, who had nearly 600 snaps last season as a full-time starter with Baylor and was a rotational guy with the Bears since stepping on campus in 2023.
This has the makings of a superb group that can force negative plays and shut down receivers. You add Kanye Clark at nickel, where he comes in with some starts from UCLA, and Cam Dooley, who performed at a high level under White last year at Kentucky, as a rotational safety and this could be one of the top units in the conference.
It's not all on the secondary. White is going to have to scheme up some ways to get pressure on Veltkamp to make him uncomfortable and, if that happens, Florida has the guys to make him pay for mistakes.
This is a good opener because Florida will face some good quarterbacks like Byrum Brown, Trinidad Chambliss, Arch Manning and John Mateer. Veltkamp isn't at their level, but he's a gamer and a player that isn't afraid to challenge a secondary. It's a challenge that the Gators pass defense should be excited to accept.
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