The 2012 college football season is just around the corner and as it draws nearer, Rant Sports will profile every SEC team in its By the Numbers series. In this edition, we profile the Florida Gators.
105: The ranking of the Gator’s offense as a whole last season out of 119 Division 1 schools. The Florida Gators were a horrible offensive team last season. This is why the program hired Brent Pease away from Boise State to be their offensive coordinator. Pease will be expected to bring new life to the team’s offense and young quarterbacks.
89: The ranking of the Florida Gators passing attack last season. Quarterback John Brantley graduated last season, leaving Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel as the team’s best options at the position. Brissett threw for 206 yards last season with two touchdowns and four interceptions, while Driskel threw for 148 yards and two interceptions on five less passing attempts than Brissett. Pease’s offense should help the quarterbacks but up better numbers in their second year. The two are neck and neck for the team’s starting quarterback spot.
5.9: The average yards per carry of senior running back Mike Gillislee in 2012. Pease is looking to bring a physical ground game to the Florida Gators offense and Gillislee will be his primary instrument for doing so. At 5-foot-11 and 201 pounds, he may not be the biggest back in the Gators backfield but he is certainly the most proven.
94: The number of tackles linebacker Jon Bostic accrued last season. Bostic is the leader of Florida’s defense and led the name in tackles last season. In year two of Will Muschamp‘s defense, Bostic should feel more at home and is a threat to break the century mark in tackles this season.
28: The number of receptions made by tight end Jordan Reed in 2012. Reed, a converted quarterback, is the returning leader in receptions for the Florida Gators. The 6-foot-3 tight end will be a weapon for whomever will start for the Gators. However, he will need his two quarterbacks to improve their passing skills in order to record more receptions. Reed is key to the team’s passing attack.
Chris Lionetti covers the Southeastern Conference (SEC) as a College Football Writer for Rant Sports.
Follow him on Twitter at: @ChrisLionetti
