As the SEC welcomes the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners, who officially joined the conference on July 1, much of the attention has naturally been focused on these new additions.
However, ESPN analyst and former Florida Gators wide receiver Chris Doering believes there’s another team that deserves a closer look this season: the Florida Gators.
During a recent appearance on Sirius XM with ESPN’s Peter Burns, Doering expressed confidence in his alma mater, predicting that the Gators could “surprise some people” this season.
Doering, who played for the Gators from 1992 to 1995, highlighted the team’s offseason acquisitions and the development of its younger players as key factors in his optimism.
“I think at the end of the day, this is a team that has a lot of quiet confidence,” Doering remarked. “I think coach [Billy] Napier likes this team a lot because of what they’ve done in terms of adding some pieces and the growth that some of the young guys who had to play last year have shown.
“I really do think that this is a team that’s going to surprise a lot of folks.”
While Doering’s faith in the Gators is evident, Florida faces a grueling schedule, especially in the latter half of the season.
Their final five games include matchups against powerhouses like the Georgia Bulldogs (Nov. 2), Texas Longhorns (Nov. 9), LSU Tigers (Nov. 16), Ole Miss Rebels (Nov. 23), and Florida State Seminoles (Nov. 30).
It doesn’t get much tougher than that.
Despite losing key players like edge rusher Princely Umanmielen to Ole Miss and running back Trevor Etienne to Georgia through the transfer portal, Florida has bolstered its roster with several significant additions.
These include wide receiver Elijhah Badger from Arizona State, cornerback Cormani McClain from Colorado, and offensive lineman Jason Zandamela from USC.
The Gators’ 2024 recruiting class is also impressive, featuring commitments from standout players such as former five-star quarterback DJ Lagway, former five-star defensive lineman LJ McCray, and former four-star linebacker Myles Graham.
The team will also see the return of key players like quarterback Graham Mertz, safety Jordan Castell, wide receiver Trey Wilson III, and running back Montrell Johnson Jr.
Florida is set to kick off the 2024 season on August 31 with a highly anticipated matchup against the in-state rival Miami Hurricanes, a game that could set the tone for the rest of their challenging season.
While most people feel head coach Billy Napier is on the hottest of hot seats, Doering believes the Gators could stun some big boys this season.
What are your thoughts on his comments? … Are people sleeping on the mighty Florida Gators???