(AP Photo/ Phil Sandlin)
1. Who will be the Gators’ starting quarterback?
Florida entered fall camp without a starting quarterback, as sophomore Treon Harris and redshirt freshman Will Grier compete for the job. Coach Jim McElwain has not put a timetable on naming a starter. One thing is for sure, the guy who wins the competition won’t have long to adjust to life as Florida’s starting quarterback.
2. Can the Gators get adequate offensive line play?
Once Florida names its starting quarterback, the offensive line will then have to protect him. That could be an issue, as the Gators lost four starters to the NFL Draft. The most experienced offensive lineman is redshirt senior Trip Thurman, who started 10 games at left guard last season after playing as a backup in 2013. But Florida is optimistic the addition of five-star freshman Martez Ivey and transfers Mason Halter and T.J. McCoy will help solidify the line.
3. Can the defense live up to the hype?
Does Florida have the best defense in the country? A lot of the Gators’ players think it’s possible. Having All-American cornerback Vernon Hargreaves on your side definitely helps things. But the wildcard is the health of linebacker Antonio Morrison, who is still recovering from a knee injury.
Morrison is working to return for Florida’s season opener on Sept. 5, but that’s looking less and less likely. With a lot of unknowns on offense, the Gators’ defense will need to live up to the hype this season.
