Miami (Ohio)
1st MAC9-4
Florida
7th SEC7-5
Miami (Ohio) @ Florida preview
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
John Brantley has waited patiently for this moment.
He arrived at Florida when the Gators already had a star quarterback in the making, a guy who would win the Heisman as a sophomore and develop into of the best college football players of all time. Brantley, a celebrated quarterback himself, could’ve transferred and started at many schools.
After getting mainly mop-up duty for two years, Brantley makes his first career start on Saturday when the Gators host Miami (OH) in Gainesville. All signs point to the Ocala native being very capable of replacing the legend, Tim Tebow. The 2006 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year, Brantley is big, strong and accurate and in limited duty last season he completed 75 percent of his passes and threw for seven touchdowns in only 48 attempts.
But Brantley isn’t the only untested player. The fourth-ranked Gators, lost 10 starters (five on offense, five on defense) to graduation and/or the NFL. Florida will have to replace its leading passer and rusher (Tebow) and its top two receivers (Riley Cooper and Aaron Hernandez). Those three players alone accounted for 35 touchdowns last season.
Speedster Jeff Demps (99 carries for 745 yards), Emmanuel Moody and Chris Rainey headline a talented backfield that should see an increased role in the Gators’ offense. Center Mike Pouncey anchors a solid offensive line.
On defense, the Gators have to replace LB Brandon Spikes, DE Carlos Dunlap, CB Joe Haden and others. Coach Urban Meyer will rely on unproven players from talented recruiting classes to fill the gaps.
Despite the questions about which players might step up, the Gators are heavily favored against Miami, which was 1-11 last season. Zac Dysert, who threw for more than 2,600 yards as a freshman, is projected to be on the top quarterbacks in the Mid-American Conference. RB Thomas Merriweather led the team in rushing with 291 yards. The RedHawks were dead last (119th) in rushing yards in FBS and 116th in points scored.
Miami has never beaten a team as highly ranked as Florida, but the RedHawks did beat the Gators in their only matchup, 16-7, back in the 1973 Tangerine Bowl. A repeat would shock the nation.
He arrived at Florida when the Gators already had a star quarterback in the making, a guy who would win the Heisman as a sophomore and develop into of the best college football players of all time. Brantley, a celebrated quarterback himself, could’ve transferred and started at many schools.
After getting mainly mop-up duty for two years, Brantley makes his first career start on Saturday when the Gators host Miami (OH) in Gainesville. All signs point to the Ocala native being very capable of replacing the legend, Tim Tebow. The 2006 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year, Brantley is big, strong and accurate and in limited duty last season he completed 75 percent of his passes and threw for seven touchdowns in only 48 attempts.
But Brantley isn’t the only untested player. The fourth-ranked Gators, lost 10 starters (five on offense, five on defense) to graduation and/or the NFL. Florida will have to replace its leading passer and rusher (Tebow) and its top two receivers (Riley Cooper and Aaron Hernandez). Those three players alone accounted for 35 touchdowns last season.
Speedster Jeff Demps (99 carries for 745 yards), Emmanuel Moody and Chris Rainey headline a talented backfield that should see an increased role in the Gators’ offense. Center Mike Pouncey anchors a solid offensive line.
On defense, the Gators have to replace LB Brandon Spikes, DE Carlos Dunlap, CB Joe Haden and others. Coach Urban Meyer will rely on unproven players from talented recruiting classes to fill the gaps.
Despite the questions about which players might step up, the Gators are heavily favored against Miami, which was 1-11 last season. Zac Dysert, who threw for more than 2,600 yards as a freshman, is projected to be on the top quarterbacks in the Mid-American Conference. RB Thomas Merriweather led the team in rushing with 291 yards. The RedHawks were dead last (119th) in rushing yards in FBS and 116th in points scored.
Miami has never beaten a team as highly ranked as Florida, but the RedHawks did beat the Gators in their only matchup, 16-7, back in the 1973 Tangerine Bowl. A repeat would shock the nation.