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Five doomsday predictions for Florida Football ahead of 2024 season

There is reason for hope in Gainesville, but there are also reasons it could all go south

By Benjamin Henderson

Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier collars at the officials during first half action as Florida takes on Florida State at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 25, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier collars at the officials during first half action as Florida takes on Florida State at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 25, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] / Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Heading into the 2024 campaign, there are reasons for optimism that Florida Football can turn it around and surprise people this season. It is not outside the realm of possibility that Billy Napier and the crew put it all together and pulled off an 8-4 or even 9-3 season if everything went right for them.

But we here at Hail Florida Hail are also realists and understand there are a lot of unknowns with this team.

The following are five predictions we aren't certain to happen, but in a worst-case scenario, it wouldn't be shocking if they happened.

Offensive Line Is Still A Mess

Prior to last season, most fans, including us, ignored the warning signs that the offensive line was going to struggle. The unit was fine in 2022, and Billy Napier had grabbed reinforcements from the transfer portal ahead of the 2023 season.

However, the unit just never came together with liabilities across the board and played a massive role in why Florida could never attempt anything deep.

We don't know how the offensive line is looking heading into the 2024 season, but plenty of flashing red lights create concern. Damieon George and Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson still don't have their starting spots locked down. Guard was supposed to be George's natural spot, but redshirt freshman Roderick Kearney is pushing him for snaps. Most assumed the battle for the two tackle spots would be between Crenshaw-Dickson, Austin Barber, and transfer Devon Manuel, but it's Kamryn Waites who is having his name pop up as a possibility at right tackle.

So, if we are looking at the line compared to last year we potentially have:

  • LT - Austin Barber (same from last year, hopefully improved)
  • LG - Knijeah Harris (can't be worse than the LG from last year, but we don't know)
  • C - Jake Slaughter (the safest bet on this line)
  • RG - Damieon George (reading the tea leaves, is potentially a downgrade from last year's RG)
  • RT - Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson (RT was a liability last year, but is Crenshaw-Dickson an upgrade?)

Could this unit gel together? Of course.

Is there potential for this unit to still be a mess? Also yes.

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