The Florida Gators did not live up to their standards in the 2023 season. They went 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the SEC. The good news is that quarterback Graham Mertz will be returning and he had some great stats on the year. However, the defensive side of the ball took a hit on Wednesday. 2023 sack leader Princely Umanmielen has entered the transfer portal.
Florida Gators Edge Princely Umanmielen Enters Transfer Portal
Outside of Umanmielen, the Gators struggled to get pressure on the quarterback which was a big reason for their struggles. In today’s game and with the quality of quarterbacks in the SEC, the defense must get pressure. Umanmielen was the only player with three or more sacks on the Gators team with seven. He had 17 quarterback hurries and there wasn’t another player on the team with more than five. This leaves a huge void on the defense.
Billy Napier Has His Work Cut Out For Him
Napier has some work to do this offseason. He and his staff will have to see if they can land some talent in the portal. The 2024 recruiting class might have a pass rusher that pops off. Ultimately, it is on the coaching staff to scheme up ways to get more pressure with what they have. The good news is the offense should be more stable next season. With Mertz returning, there will be some continuity that other teams do not have.
The SEC is going to look different next year and Florida will have new powerhouses to contend with. The Swamp remains one of the toughest places to play and hopefully, they can have a bounceback season in 2024.
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