With the season opener about a month away, the Florida Gators are back on the practice field preparing for their 2020 season. The Gators start the season as the eighth-ranked team in the country according to the Coaches and AP Polls. The Florida offense could pave the way for a special season.
Florida will open their season on the road against the Ole Miss Rebels. Florida returns about half of their offensive starters from last season. Kyle Trask, Trevon Grimes, and Kyle Pitts were big contributors last season and will play even a bigger role in 2020.
However, the Florida coaching staff will need some of their players to step and replace some of the starters they lost to the NFL. Here are three potential breakout candidates in the Gators offense.
Breaking down the Florida Offense
1. Wide Receiver Jacob Copeland
Coming out of high school, Copeland was the top-ranked wide receiver in the state of Florida. Copeland was heavily recruited by some of the top football programs in the country. The former Under Armour All-American signed with Florida over Alabama and Tennessee.
In his first year on campus, Copeland was banged up at the beginning of the season and redshirted. He did get some playing time but really didn’t play any meaningful downs.
In his redshirt-freshman season, Copeland got a lot more involved in the offense. He had 21 receptions for 273 yards and two touchdowns. His most productive game was against the South Carolina Gamecocks as he recorded three catches for 89 yards and a touchdown.
As a redshirt-sophomore, Copeland will likely be a consistent starter for the Florida offense. Florida is replacing a lot of talent at the receiver position and will look to Copeland as somebody they can count on. Copeland’s versatility as a receiver should keep him on the field and should help him get more touches in 2020.
2. Running Back Lorenzo Lingard
The Gators didn’t sign a running back in their 2020 recruiting class but did land a top back in the transfer portal. Former five-star running back and Miami Hurricane Lorenzo Lingard transferred to UF last winter and has already been granted immediate eligibility for the 2020 season.
Lingard was one of the top playmakers coming out of high school but didn’t get playing time with Miami due to injuries. When Lingard did play, he was very productive as he had seventeen carries for 136 yards and two touchdowns.
Lingard will likely start the season as the number two running back on Florida’s depth chart with junior Dameon Pierce as the starter. Lingard might be the more talented back but his lack of experience in Florida’s offense will keep him as the backup.
If he can stay healthy, the Gators are getting a difference-maker in their backfield with elite speed and good pass-catching ability. The former Cane might be ready to show the nation what he’s all about in the Florida offense in 2020.
3. Center Ethan White
When White arrived at Florida, he was very out of shape and didn’t look like a college football player. However, White and Florida’s strength and conditioning staff put in the work in the offseason and helped the big offensive lineman shed a ton of bad weight.
White ended up having some start last season as Florida needed help with their offensive line. Not only did White start some games, but he also looked like he belonged.
White was creating running lanes for the Gators’ running backs and would get to the second level. The kid that arrived at Florida is gone for good due to White’s work ethic and the Gators’ strength and conditioning staff.
As a sophomore, White is competing for a starting role for the Florida offense and has been seen as the first team’s center. White didn’t take any snaps at center last season but White could work out at center with two veterans next to him.
The Florida rushing attack last season wasn’t great and a lot of that had to with the offensive line. The Gators’ offensive line had looked better in camp and will need to have a good showing in 2020 if Florida wants to reach their goals this season.
