Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
When asked, Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp has always truthfully expressed where he thinks his team stands going into the 2013 football season. Muschamp feels his team has grown and developed on offense as well as defense.
Offensively, Muschamp is very confident in his team. Knowing that offense was a weakness for the Gators last season, Muschamp commented on his team’s progress over the offseason. Running back Matt Jones and fullback Hunter Joyer, who Muschamp has referred to as the best fullback around, were commended by the coach on several occasions. Muschamp has a lot of faith in Gators quarterback Jeff Driskel. He had much to say about Driskel’s transformation from last season. “Offensively Jeff Driskel is a better player at this time than he was last year,” Muschamp beamed. “He is an outstanding young man, a great competitor, he’s a guy that makes our team better.” That is the highest of high praise any player can receive from their coach.
Though the Gators lost most of their key defensive players to the 2013 NFL Draft, Muschamp believes certain returning players can still make an impact. Leon Orr, Dominique Easley, Darious Cummings and Damien Jacobs are four players Muschamp thinks can get the team to Atlanta. He is confident about the secondary,as well. “We’ve got some guys we can win a championship with. Marcus Roberson, Loucheiz Purifoy and Jaylen Watkins…all three play extremely well for us.” One “luxury” Florida has is that players Cody Riggs and Jaylen Watkins can play both safety and corner back. The Gators have a good enough mixture on the back end to have another great season.
The short-tempered, no-nonsense University of Florida football coach is entering his third season with the Gators, and he’s looking to make an even bigger statement than he did in 2012 “I think we’ve got a good mixture of talent and leadership, character, enough play-makers emerging offensively [and] enough talent on defense,” Muschamp said. He is proud of his team’s accomplishments and is confident in what they can achieve under his direction.
*Unless otherwise stated, all quotes were obtained firsthand.
