Nobody knows for sure if Florida will have a strong quarterback this year. Nobody knows who will even start the opener or who will be under center when SEC play begins.
What we are pretty sure of is that the Gators will face some really good quarterbacks this season. We’re not 100-percent sure because two of the five best they will go up against are coming off injuries.
And there’s no telling what will happen to them physically this year.
But here at the Daily Football Fix, we came up with a list of the five best quarterbacks Florida will face this season.
- Drew Lock, Missouri: Lock is a guy who has a chance to be a high NFL first-round draft pick after finishing last season with a flourish. One reason — his performance against Florida in Columbia, Mo.
In that game, Lock was 15-of-20 for 228 yards and three touchdowns in a Missouri rout of a team that just had its head coach fired.
The year before? Not so good. He was 4-of-18 for 39 yards with two picks that went to the house.
As a freshman, Lock was 16-of-39 for 151 yards and two picks, one of them for a score. So in three games, he has accounted for three touchdowns for each team.
But the Lock Florida will see this year is a polished passer with a strong arm. It will be quite a test for DBU.
- Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State: Dan Mullen created this monster and now he has to go up against it on the road. Although he was limited in the spring after an ankle injury knocked him out at the end of last season, he is expected to be full go by the time the season begins.
He was the only player in the SEC to be in the top 10 in passing and rushing and with a new offense is expected to throw more deep balls this year.
Last year, Fitzgerald passed for 1,782 yards and ran for 984.
- Jake Fromm, Georgia: Recruitniks will tell you Fromm could lose his job to incoming freshman Justin Fields. Barring an injury, don’t count on it.
Fromm’s stats are meaningless. All you need to know is he had Georgia one play away from a national title as a freshman.
He may be asked to do more this year. He’s up to it.
- Jake Bentley, South Carolina: The Gamecocks have a new, more up-tempo offense and Bentley appears perfectly suited for it.
Last year, he passed for 2,555 yards and 16 TDs despite losing his best receiver early in the year in Deebo Samuel. Samuel is back and Bentley appears poised to have a big year.
- FSU’s quarterback: It could be Deondre Francois, who was lost for the season to a torn patella in the opener, or James Blackman, who beat UF in Gainesville. Either way, FSU is in good shape at the position with two players who have big-game experience.
It’s a shame Jake fromm is at Georgia. I respect his play but not his judgment about schools. The others are what we get most every year. Imo the best one we will have to win the sec East to get to play which is tua at Alabama
Doesn’t “feel” much different than any other year to year in the SEC, to tell the truth. If Grantham can work the defense to a level of play that offsets it, then we’ll be fine and competitive. If the O-line works this year, and if a QB can step up…….we’ll be better than fine.
Fromm’s stats are meaningless? That’s pretty hilarious! Let’s say it like it really is. They’re meaningless cause they handed the ball off pretty much every play last season and he barely had to throw it. He was far from the reason they won all those games. The only games they needed him to throw to win were against Auburn in the first game and Bama in the championship and they lost both. He’ll be exposed this season now that Chubb and Michel are gone, as will that entire offense. It really is funny to me how many people jumped all over him as being this great true freshman Qb when he really didn’t do anything but be a game manager. I won’t be surprised at all if Fields is starting by the end of the season and it won’t be because of injury.
I hate GA as much as anybody, but Fromm was outstanding at times last year. He made some plays against Oklahoma that definitely didn’t look like a true freshman. Even against Alabama he looked pretty sharp, and GA lost because Saban as usual made some great in game changes.
I wonder about these player’s shoes. Can they fill them?
…only if everyone works together and learns…
Wonder how the Derek Dooley as OC hire will affect Drew Lock.
Good question! He’s certainly got the legacy, let’s see.
FSU should go with Blackman. Francois is woman beater, a dealer and a poor and selfish teammate. Blackman played well considering FSU’s line might have been worse than UF’s and he was a true freshmen. Francois meanwhile sulked like a little wussy after his injury and decided to get into a physical incident with his girlfriend and start to deal pot during his rehabilitation. Some things never change at FSU…Bowden would be proud of these kids just like he was when he was coach.
You are spot on, Nicole, regarding Francois. Likewise FSU in general, but don’t go trashin’ Saint Bobby!
Frankly, I might put Kyle Shumur ahead of Blackmon. Shumur plays among vastly less talent so gets overlooked.
I do not like QB’s that cock the ball backwards like bentley is in the photo. Thats a great way to get it knocked out plus it takes more time to turn it around as you throw. i much prefer the way tom brady & peyton manning cocks it straight back and throws, much faster and safer!
New OC for Bentley as well. I think we will see him take the next step this season.