Jon Sumrall inherits talent, aiming for immediate contention. Can he overcome offensive line and quarterback questions to secure a bowl game and ignite the Florida's return?
The Florida Gators went 4-8 last season, leading the program to go in a new direction under head coach Jon Sumrall, who took Tulane to the College Football Playoff in December.
Frankly, it wasn't as if the UF didn't have the talent to make a bowl game, or even run at the CFP. The team underperformed with former head coach Billy Napier.
Sumrall is inheriting plenty of talent this spring to turn the Gators into an immediate CFP contender. However, there are questions about the offensive line and quarterback before training camp.
Brandon Marcello of CBS Sports argued recently that Sumrall should be able to take the Gators bowling, though they might not crack the CFP bracket just yet.
"Jon Sumrall will take Florida to a bowl game in his debut season. Honestly, this is the least-bold prediction on the list," Marcello wrote. "Sumrall has won at least nine games every season, and he always gets the best out of his roster. He's rebuilding a third program in five years. He's a combined 21-7 in debut seasons.
"The critics will point to the underwhelming quarterback battle between Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. to justify their lowered expectations, but Sumrall and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner thrive when forced to build from the ground up."
A bowl game would represent moderate improvements for the Gators and a step in the right direction under Sumrall. UF plans to compete for championships, and its new head coach believes that'll happen soon.
"Like, it’s time we wake this thing up," Sumrall said after the Blue and Orange Game on Saturday. "This is a sleeping giant. I’m telling you right now, it ain’t a matter of if we’re gonna win here. It’s how fast we’re gonna win. It’s coming. This winning thing, it’s coming.
"Now, I’m not patient. I want it to happen every day. But we are going to land some pieces in recruiting. We’re about to do some things that I think and build a roster here that is going to bring it back to where we all want it to be.”
A winning season would certainly get future prospects interested in the Gators.
It could take a couple of seasons, but Sumrall should get UF back in the CFP conversation if he gets the best out of his roster in the upcoming season.