2022 Football Discussion Thread General Thoughts & Comments

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Honestly I see 7-5

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Gators Chalk Talk, which welcomes middle and high school coaches, will feature guest speakers from the college and NFL levels.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida produced an excellent group of receivers in Dan Mullen's first few years, but the unit took a slight step back in production in 2021, perhaps due to erratic play at the quarterback position.

In any case, following the offseason transfer of leading receiver Jacob Copeland to Maryland, the Gators have some retooling to do.

There's still a good deal of younger talent on the roster, but most of it is as yet unproven. Only two returning receivers, senior Justin Shorter and junior Xzavier Henderson, tallied more than 20 catches a year ago. So there will be opportunities aplenty at the position this spring, particularly with a new coaching staff affording players who might have been overlooked under the previous staff a fresh start.

Let's take a look at the position heading into spring football.

SPRING PREVIEW: WIDE RECEIVER

Overview: Florida's experienced talent at the position is significantly diminished from the core group it had in 2018, 2019 and 2020. That said, some of that could simply be appearances; UF's quarterbacks struggled in 2021, so opportunities for receivers were a bit more limited. In any case, Florida will be looking for go-to playmakers this spring. Shorter has proven above average, Henderson is solid and a few others have shown flashes. But the Gators probably need some younger talent to emerge. There's no clear-cut All-SEC type on the roster right now, so development is needed.

Strengths: Size, Blocking

The shortest scholarship player listed on the roster is Jordan Pouncey at 6 foot 1, and he hasn't been an impact player so far. Everyone else has length to spare and the type of big frame that Mullen and his staff really favored. That means the Gators should have some targets who can go up and make contested catches. With good technique work, they should also be able to use their size to shield off defenders and make life easier on themselves. This group is also above average as blockers, as former receivers coach Billy Gonzales placed a real premium on perimeter blocking.

Weaknesses: Short-Area Quickness, Top-End Speed

Honestly, Florida is really lacking slot receivers right now. Mullen had noted that was an area they needed to attack in recruiting after signing the three-man class of Trent Whittemore, Ja'Markis Weston and Dionte Marks (since transferred), but his staff didn't end up doing it. The Gators simply don't have many guys, if any, on the roster right now who are going to win in a phone booth with short-area quickness and footspeed. There's at least some top-end speed, as Henderson can take the top off a defense, but there aren't a ton of blazers in the group as a whole.

*** What To Watch: At a position as unsettled as this one on the depth chart beyond Shorter, which guys emerge as staff favorites this spring will be highly interesting. Ja'Quavion Fraziars is a top name to keep an eye on. He consistently earned rave reviews from our sources at practice the last two years but didn't get many opportunities on Saturdays, tallying just five catches for 35 yards and a pair of touchdowns last season. He's a definite breakout candidate. We've cooled a bit on Henderson after the past two years, but he may benefit from Napier's style of offense, which is run-heavy but likes to take the top off defenses a bit more than Mullen's did. Both second-year players Marcus Burke and Daejon Reynolds are also interesting prospects with a good deal of high-pointing ability.

*** What We Expect: Shorter should lock down a starting spot based on his experience, his work ethic and his leadership. That's all but a certainty. Beyond that pretty much everything else should be up for grabs. We're big Whittemore fans here as an athletic but crafty slot receiver underneath given the void of smaller-statured, super speedy guys on the roster. If he can stay healthy we think he has a big year. Beyond that, Fraziars, Burke and Reynolds will have the chance to really establish themselves this spring. It wouldn't be surprising to see any of those three emerge as the third starter.

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