re: 3* star safety Dakota Mitchell is a Gator

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I understand the larger point here is in defense of Pruitt, and I'm not arguing that Tennessee wasn't a mess when he got there, but Mullen absolutely was impressive in 2018 and not sure what good diminishing that does.

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I am not ITT diminishing Mullen (like the Georgia fans), I am simply making the argument that Mullen and Pruitt inherited much different rosters and cultures.

Mullen inherited a defense with:

Vosean Joseph
David Reese
Chauncey Gardner
Jachai Polite
Jabari Zuniga
CJ Henderson
Cece Jefferson (know he was injured but the point stands).


Comparatively, VOLS had:

Darrell Taylor
Shy Tuttle (who had broken one leg and torn an ACL in the other leg the previous two seasons)
Daniel Bituli, who has no knees left (proven by his failed physicals leading up to the draft.

Florida definitely had a significant talent advantage on defense.


On offense:

RB: Perine and Jordan Scarlett > Ty Chandler and Tim Jordan (not close imo)

QB: Franks > Gitmo (although both are trash so not really worth mentioning).

WR/TE: Swain, Cleveland, Toney, and Lewis > Jennings and Callaway. Mullen did well getting Van Jefferson in but he inherited a more talented and deeper group, although there’s not a huge difference there.


Both O Lines inherited were complete slaw. Taylor and Trey Smith are probably the only two worth a shite from both groups.



Not to mention one team had a losing streak to all 13 schools in the league while the other won 2 division titles in the 3 years prior. Mullen inherited a team that at least had experience winning and a better locker room culture overall imo, however much stock you put into that kind of thing.

Fair enough, I won't argue that Pruitt inherited a tougher situation than Mullen, although I don't the gap was that wide -- both inherited bad QBs and OLs. Not a lot of coaches can scheme around that, and Mullen did an exemplary job of it

Pruitt is doing work on the trail right now, though, and I look forward to the East becoming a three-horse race again

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although I don't the gap was that wide -- both inherited bad QBs and OLs. Not a lot of coaches can scheme around that, and Mullen did an exemplary job of it

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Agree that the offensive talent was fairly similar, only glaring difference was Florida’s backfield being significantly better. Mullen did far more with the transfer portal but it’s to be expected especially when Pruitt’s OC hire turned out to be a complete dud. Could have really used Chaney right from the start

No comparison with regards to the defensive talent though.

And we beat down the same Michigan team that beat us down the year prior

There was a ridiculous jump from that 2017 team to that 2018 team and downplaying the difference by summarizing it as "all you did was beat the teams you're supposed to beat" is reductive and juvenile

I guess that made Bama lucky too when Tua got into the game? Lucky is fluky shite that happens that can't be explained.

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Dakota Mitchell is a Gator 

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I was sad to see him decommit from LSU. Im no expert but I thought his film was outstanding.

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Lol, so NOW he inherited a top 15 roster? Revisionists are the worst man.

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10 players drafted the past two seasons that Mullen inherited from Mac. Wasn’t a great roster but definitely top 15

No, we just remember the literal insults that were used to describe that very roster at the time. You didn't call it a top 15 roster then did you? No, I'm pretty sure you didn't. So, as first stated, revisionists suck.

Nice deflection. Go ahead and search my post history saying your roster was garbage. Here’s a hint, I never said that. Gator fans on the other hand treat it like its gospel when clearly it’s not true

Alright, since you asked for evidence of an impressive turnaround, I'll give it to you

Let's go through our S&P+ rankings throughout Muschamp, Mac, and Mullen's tenure. It'll give what Mullen did right away an even bigger shine.

Muschamp's tenure:

2011 (7-6) -- OVERALL #24, OFF #57, DEF #10
2012 (11-2) -- OVERALL #5, OFF #44, DEF #1
2013 (4-8) -- OVERALL #46, OFF #81, DEF #12
2014 (7-5) -- OVERALL #21, OFF #62, DEF #6

Mac's tenure:

2015 (10-4) -- OVERALL #25, OFF #81, DEF #9
2016 (9-4) -- OVERALL #20, OFF #84, DEF #5
2017 (4-7) -- OVERALL #34, OFF #51, DEF #33

Mullen's tenure:

2018 (10-3) -- OVERALL #9, OFF #15, DEF #17
2019 (11-2) -- OVERALL #7, OFF #11, DEF #7

You can diminish the obvious turnaround there by saying it was a schedule difference, that we got some lucky breaks in close games, or that we only beat the teams we were supposed to beat.

But we hadn't had a top forty offense in a decade.

Mullen came in and immediately changed that.

It was impressive. You can be obtuse and deny that, but know that you're being willfully obtuse.