Meet your 2017 Florida Gators

In 2016, the Florida Gators fell just two points shy of playing in the National Championship game. In 2017, just about the entire team returns expecting to make up for those two points. This almost shapes up to be the season that it has to happen as key defensive players will be lost after 2017 is over. With that said, excitement is high for this season and coaches have even higher expectations.


Quarterbacks
Pos Name Ht, Wt Year OVR Comp Att Yds Comp% TD INT Yards/Att.
QB Jason Rivero 6-1, 200 Sr 88 189 309 3559 61.2 17 11 11.52
QB Nick Jude 6-4, 234 JrRS 92 9 14 138 69.2 3 0 9.86
QB Paul Edwards 6-2, 239 FrRS 84 Redshirt
QB CJ Bozeman 6-2, 207 SrRS 87 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
QB Mason Glover 6-2, 215 Fr 81
QB Jason Rivero returns after an excellent Junior season where injected an immediate spark into the offense. Not only did he have a very good passing season but he also added a QB running game that had been missing from the Gators offense for a long time. He returns for another year hoping to make his senior season very special. Behind him is Nick Jude who could start most teams in the country but without the running abilities, his effectiveness is less realized in the Florida offense. If needed though, he can easily step in and lead the team. After this season, the QB competition will be even more tough with Jude a senior, the best arm on the team in Paul Edwards, and the electric Freshman in Mason Glover.

Runningbacks
Pos Name Ht, Wt Year OVR Car Yds TD YPC FUM Long
HB Michael Swan Grad 27 219 2 8.11 0 66
HB Joel Wilson Grad 2 14 1 7.00 0 0
HB Isaac Gordon 6-2, 252 So 80 303 1491 22 4.92 1 63
FB Trent Rivero 6-1, 249 So 69 0 0 0 0.00 0 0
HB Dwight Butler 6-0, 221 JrRS 82 84 758 8 9.02 0 80
HB Stephen Stewart 5-9, 191 SrRS 86 0 0 0 0.00 0 0
HB Leo Lyles 5-11, 210 FrRS 79 Redshirt
QB Jason Rivero 6-1, 200 Sr 88 157 646 8 4.11 12 54
Like Rivero, newcomer Isaac Gordon burst on the scene last season, or rather in Gordon's case, barreled through it. The tough-running bowling ball didn't have very many highlight reel runs but was a very hard-nosed runner that was always consistent to pick up yardage. Alongside him is the lightning to his thunder in Dwight Butler. Butler had flashes of excellence throughout the season but truly emerged in the Capital One Bowl when Gordon went down to injury. Butler's coming out party put up 278 yards on the ground on 15 carries with 3 touchdowns. Senior Stephen Stewart has quietly waited for his opportunity and this year he may see it, though likely only in a backup role.


Receivers
Pos Name Ht, Wt Year OVR Catches Yards TD YPC Drops Long
WR Travis Clifford Grad 43 636 4 14.79 7 44
WR John Jefferson Grad 1 27 0 27.00 0 27
WRX Donald Boone 6-1, 191 JrRS 90 44 570 4 12.95 5 42
WRZ Trey Strickland 6-2, 202 So 85 38 661 3 17.39 3 42
WRY Dustin Burch 6-2, 206 SoRS 80 14 236 2 16.86 5 79
WRZ Calvin Butler 6-5, 226 JrRS 82 Redshirt
WRZ Justin Johnson 6-0, 220 JrRS 80 Redshirt
WRX Nate Stallings 6-2, 194 SoRS 76 0 0 0 0.00 1 0
WRY Keith Grant 6-3, 193 JrRS 74 2 25 2 12.50 0 14
WRT Walter Long 6-7, 268 FrRS 72 Redshirt
WRY Clarence Murphy 6-1, 210 Fr 70
WRX Jayson Seals 6-2, 205 Fr 69
Perhaps the biggest loss on the offensive side will be speedster WR Travis Clifford. However, sure-handed Donald Boone returns and the offseason treated him well; expect him to truly shine this season. Replacing Clifford will be Trey Strickland as the outside speed threat and there appears to be no drop-off. At the slot will be burner Dustin Burch. Burch was a running threat and a return specialist in 2016 but now will be called on for more duty. Coming off the bench will be a myriad of talented players. Calvin Butler and Justin Johnson both are very capable and could see quite a bit of playing time. Perhaps the most intriguing will be big-bodied, former TE, Walter Long. At 6'7, 268, he'll be a mismatch for just about any defender. He also has good hands and has the strength and ability to bully around any defensive back in the running game.


Tight Ends
Pos Name Ht, Wt Year OVR REC YDS TD YPC Drops Long
TE Avery Smiley 6-1, 272 Sr 81 25 306 2 12.24 3 32
TE T.J. Bush 6-2, 261 JrRS 82 Redshirt
TE John Ashley 6-7, 261 So 74 3 68 1 22.67 0 51
Avery Smiley returns as the starter after a solid year in 2016. He didn't dazzle but was always reliable when called upon. TJ Bush returns to the field after sitting out a season due to ineligilbity which will allow youngster John Ashley to redshirt this season.


Offensive Lineman
Pos Name Ht, Wt Year OVR 2016 Starts
C Kirk Ford Grad 0
LT Brandon Marquardt 6-4, 276 Sr 84 13
LG Maurice Green 6-4, 303 So 81 13
C Anthony Mills 6-6, 285 Sr 92 13
RG John Archer 6-6, 345 Sr 82 13
RT Duane Harvey 6-3, 297 So 83 13
RG Matt Johnson 6-4, 312 Sr 84 0
C Cedric Myers 6-7, 321 SoRS 82 0
LG Cory Phillips 6-6, 350 JrRS 81 Redshirt
LT Joe Jones 6-3, 295 SoRS 76 Redshirt
RT Brent Sullivan 6-4, 296 Fr 76
LT D.J. Kane 6-6, 306 So 76
Along the offensive line, the Fab 5 Freshman from the 2014 season are now seniors and ready to truly dominate. While Johnson and Phillips have been replaced by younger talent, Marquardt, Mills, and Archer all have started every game of their career thus far. Look for the group to be at it's best as they send the seniors off on a high in 2017.


Defensive Lineman
Pos Name Ht, Wt Year OVR Tackles % of Team TFL Sacks INT FF FR
LE Phillip Brewer Grad 11 1.99% 8 4 0 0 0
DT Mike Ford Grad 5 0.91% 1 0 0 0 0
DT Rod Smith Grad 1 0.18% 1 1 0 0 0
LE Anthony Newton 6-5, 244 Fr 79
DT Scott Dixon 6-5, 281 Sr 91 30 5.43% 10 4 0 0 0
DT Brendan Owen 6-4, 308 SoRS 90 22 3.99% 11 6 0 0 0
RE Shelton Howard 6-5, 289 SoRS 78 Redshirt
LE Maurice Harvey 6-3, 271 SrRS 86 0 0.00% 0 0 0 0 0
RE Terry Bullock 6-4, 263 JrRS 83 3 0.54% 1 0 0 0 0
DT Joseph Nixon 6-2, 271 Fr 75
DT E.J. Patterson 6-3, 267 FrRS 67 Redshirt
DT Eric Kerr 6-4, 264 Sr 85 17 3.08% 8 6 0 1 0
DE Phillip Brewer was one of only 3 departing starters that needed to be replaced. Brewer's replacement is a stud Freshman in Anthony Newton. Newton has the strenghth and skills to be a dominate force in his first year on the field. Alongside him will be the DT twins in senior Scott Dixon and sophomore Brendan Owen as they will continue to hold down the middle of the field in 2017. Former RE Eric Kerr moves inside to allow him to develop his strength and will sit for a year; replacing him will likely be bully DE Shelton Howard.

Linebackers
Pos Name Ht, Wt Year OVR Tackles % of Team TFL Sacks INT FF FR
LOLB Travis Woodard 6-3, 215 Jr 79 9 1.63% 4 0 0 0 0
MLB Jason Mitchell 6-3, 240 Sr 92 68 12.32% 17 2 3 0 1
ROLB Carlos Gipson 5-11, 213 Sr 84 60 10.87% 15 5 0 1 0
MLB Damon Baker 6-1, 245 SoRS 76 5 0.91% 4 3 0 0 0
ROLB Trey Martinez 6-2, 214 JrRS 81 Redshirt
LOLB Obadiah Moody 6-5, 242 SrRS 78 0 0.00% 0 0 0 0 0
ROLB David Douglas 6-0, 241 Jr 80 45 8.15% 15 2 1 1 0
MLB Clint Johnson 6-0, 205 So 75
LOLB Caleb Morton 6-0, 226 Fr 68
At Linebackers, MLB Jason Mitchell returns to lead the defensive charge. Behind the block-eaters in Dixon & Owen, Mitchell and ROLB Carlos Gipson were a dominate force living in the backfield on running plays. Look for the pair to continue to dominate. LOLB Travis Woodard moves from the middle to the outside to utilize his abilities to rush the QB. Behind the starting trio, MLB Damon Baker will be the first off the bench. Baker has not only the speed to play on the outside but has the strength to help stuff the middle. While Mitchell and Gipson will be missed after this season, the speedy duo of Baker and OLB David Douglas make the outlook for the future very bright.


Secondary
Pos Name Ht, Wt Year OVR Tackles % of Team TFL Sacks INT FF FR
SS Tye Gray Grad 75 13.59% 7 0 4 0 0
CB Bernard Johnson Grad 28 5.07% 2 0 1 0 0
FS Marcus Kane Grad 0 0.00% 0 0 0 0 0
CB Casey Jenkins 6-2, 182 Sr 89 28 5.07% 3 0 5 0 0
CB Brian Jones 6-1, 184 SrRS 89 49 8.88% 3 0 7 0 0
FS Jermaine Grant 6-5, 210 Jr 88 62 11.23% 3 0 1 0 0
SS Roderick Mixon 5-9, 170 FrRS 83 Redshirt
SS Justin Carter 6-3, 212 JrRS 81 18 3.26% 4 0 1 0 0
CB Jesse Wilcox 5-11, 190 JrRS 83 Redshirt
CB Charles Moore 6-1, 169 SoRS 76 16 2.90% 2 1 1 0 0
CB Greg Nixon 5-11, 166 SoRS 75 0 0.00% 0 0 0 0 0
CB Kevin Watson 6-2, 175 Fr 74
CB Harvey Blalock 6-1, 185 Fr 69
FS Jonathan Jones 6-0, 215 FrRS 80 Redshirt
FS Fred Meyers 6-0, 218 SrRS 84 0 0.00% 0 0 0 0 0
SS Danny Johnson 5-11, 206 Fr 75
The biggest loss after the 2016 season is certainly SS Tye Gray. Gray was a leader on the team not only statisically but also of the team itself. Replacing him will be difficult. However, returning at CB are the duo of Casey Jenkins and Brian Jones. Both have very good speed and excellent coverage abilities. Behind them at Nickel will be an also very capable CB in Jesse Wilcox. Deep at Free Safety will be towering Jermaine Grant who can not only cover very well but also surprised the coaches the past two years with his ability to fly to the ball in run defense. At Strong Safety, attempting to fill in Gray's loss will be redshirt Freshman Roderick Mixon. Mixon was like a sponge during his redshirt year and leared from Gray. Alongside him in 335/425 looks will be Justin Carter who saw extended playing time last season.


Kickers
Pos Name Ht, Wt Year OVR FGM FGA FG% LONG XPM XPA PTS
P Richard Hooper Grad
K Ben Andrews 6-2, 191 So 84 20 21 95.24% 53 62 62 122
P Justin Johnson 6-2, 204 Fr 78
Returning at Kicker will be Ben Andrews who had a very good season last year missing only one attempt. With an even stronger leg this year, look for distance to not be an issue at all and he will likely go without a miss this season. At punter, Florida lost their planned starter to transfer in the offseason but were able to find an incoming player from the soccer team to take over. Justin Johnson comes in with a strong leg and good accuracy so the Gators will move on without missing a beat.


Returners
Pos Name Ht, Wt Year OVR KR YDS TD PR YDS TD
WRY Dustin Burch 6-2, 206 SoRS 80 65 1869 2 33 411 0
WRZ Trey Strickland 6-2, 202 So 85 1 -1 0 1 61 1
At return specialist, WR Dustin Burch had a very good year returning 2 kickoffs for touchdown. Given his bigger role in the offense however, look for Florida to turn to another speedster on the roster, perhaps WR Keith Grant or WR Calvin Butler.