As camp opens, few positions on offense for Florida Football feel locked in place

Fall camp opens today for Florida Football, and as is the case with every camp, hope springs eternal for the Gators. Part of that hope is that even though Florida has a solid mix of returners, there are enough new faces on the roster that there is a realistic pathway for 2024 to be better than 2023.

But as such, who will actually take the field on August 31 against Miami is still a bit of a mystery. The following is an outlook on each position group for Florida's offense and who is realistically in the mix to be the starters to begin the season.

Quarterbacks

Probably the only position group for the Gators that has zero mystery about who will be the starter for 2024. Graham Mertz returns after a solid 2023 campaign and is healed and ready to go after breaking his collarbone at the end of last season.

Behind him will be DJ Lagway and Clay Millen. Many assume Lagway is the five-star prospect the heir to the throne, while Millen is the transfer from Colorado State. In theory, there is little mystery here, and most would assume that Lagway will be the backup and Millen will be the third string, given how they were used in the spring.

But let's pretend something happens to Mertz in the opener. It wouldn't be shocking to see Billy Napier lean on the experience of Millen rather than throw Lagway into the fire.

Running Backs

Like quarterback, the starter at running back is not a mystery. Montrell Johnson is going to be RB1 on opening day with the possibility of a 1,000-yard season.

Behind him will be plenty of storylines to follow. Treyaun Webb is the only runningback with any real action from 2023, but even his spot doesn't feel secure. Between freshman Jadan Baugh's excellent spring performance, KD Daniels shooting up the rankings his senior year of high school, and Cam Carroll returning from injury, there will be plenty of options for Napier at RB2 heading into the 2024 season.

Wide Receivers

Tre Wilson is here, and he is the presumed WR1. Beyond that, it depends on what combination Napier wants to employ.

There are transfers, Chimere Dike and Elijhah Badger, who seem to have the inside track. Dike projects better as a slot receiver than he does out wide, and if Wilson is sent out wide because of that, Badger feels like the best option.

But guys like Kahleil Jackson, Marcus Burke, Andy Jean, and Aidan Mizell will also be in contention for spots, and if Wilson gets bumped to the slot, it might bump Dike out of the rotation in favor of one of those guys.

Tight Ends

Arlis Boardingham will be the best pass-catching option to start the season. Beyond that, the Gators are still searching for a breakout star like that had with Kyle Pitts.

Hayden Hansen returns as the blocking tight end, but his spot feels like it could be up for grabs with Tony Livingston nipping at his heels. Freshman Amir Jackson will be the wild card within this group. If he can get healthy, Keon Zipperer could unseat everyone by the time the season is over, but he is still recovering from a torn ACL during the 2023 spring campaign.

Offensive Line

Jake Slaughter will be the center. That's about the only known heading into the 2024 season along the offensive line.

At the tackle spot, it seems like the Gator coaching staff is happy enough with Austin Barber at left tackle, and it is the right tackle spot that is up for grabs. Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, the transfer from San Diego State, held down that spot in the spring, but he will be challenged by Kamryn Waites and transfer Devon Manuel for that spot.

Guards are also a mystery. The biggest storyline is Damieon George moving from right tackle to right guard, but based on reports, his spot at right guard isn't locked in. Waites, who is healed from a torn Achilles tendon during the spring of 2023, is also challenging for the right guard spot. Knijeah Harris seems to have the inside track for left guard, but Bryce Lovett is expected to make some noise and challenge for that spot.