Q and A on the Athletic

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Hey, Allan. Welcome to Gator Nation! Can you give us a prediction for breakout player on offense and defense this year? — Kunwar S.

Appreciate the hospitality. Returning to the South after eight years in West Virginia, I’m unpacking my collection of cardigans and making plans for a trip to Goodwill.

On offense, Jacob Copeland should deliver a big season — like 50-plus catches. He possesses top-end skills that will be amplified with safeties bracketing tight end Kyle Pitts.

Defensively, it feels like Brenton Cox has already broken out, based on the fawning reviews from coaches and teammates. But let’s remember he’s 21 months removed from his last game. Otherwise, Mohamoud Diabate has added 10 pounds without losing a step. He can be a nasty disrupter, especially in passing-down packages when he and Cox are unleashed.

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How many wins is a reasonable expectation for the Gators this season, assuming all 10 games are played? And which team do you think is the biggest matchup problem? — Jonathan D.

It’s hard to win ’em all in the SEC, even under the typical eight-game conference schedule. The last 20 years’ worth of data proves it: Only nine of the 40 SEC Championship Game participants went unbeaten in league play. Thus, I think a 10-game SEC slate is going to be particularly brutal.

“It’s going to be like the National Football League,” said Florida assistant Tim Brewster, “where each week you’re running the gauntlet.”

So I’ll give the Gators one loss on principle. Initially, I suspected they might trip up at Texas A&M, but then Aggies wide receiver Jhamon Ausbon opted out, leaving Kellen Mond without his top target. (And essentially without any targets returning.)

If you’re looking for matchup problems, Georgia has an elite defense and Kentucky and Tennessee have units capable of looking elite on a given Saturday.

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