Kickoff 2011: Gators Set To Open Season vs. FAU
Friday, September 2, 2011 | Football
Florida football begins a new era in 2011 as head coach Will Muschamp leads the Gators against the Florida Atlantic Owls Saturday night at 7 p.m. Muschamp was hired on December 11, 2010, after being the coach-in-waiting at the University of Texas since November of 2008. He is a one-time Gainesville native who returned to North Central Florida as the 23rd head coach in Florida football history. Florida is 16-6 in the previous 22 occasions when a head coach makes his UF debut.
In the season opener, Muschamp will serve as the head coach for the first time in his career and he will be facing coaching veteran Howard Schnellenberger, who enters his 27th season as a head coach.
After the Gators finished the 2010 season with an 8-5 record and Outback Bowl win over Penn State, Muschamp takes over a team with a handful of veteran leaders to go along with lots of unproven young players. Florida's talent will have some of the best teachers in 2011, as Muschamp has assembled a coaching staff with 53 years of NFL experience and six Super Bowl rings, both more than any other coaching staff in the Southeastern Conference.
The coaching staff has a very young team to work with this season. This year's squad features 70 underclassmen (24 true freshmen, 10 redshirt freshmen, 36 sophomores) and 18 seniors. The projected opening day starting lineup features six seniors (QB John Brantley, RB Chris Rainey or RB Jeff Demps, WR Deonte Thompson, OL Dan Wenger, DT Jaye Howard and CB Moses Jenkins).
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Charlie Weis has installed a new offense suited to play to the strengths of fifth-year senior quarterback John Brantley, who enters his second season as the starting signal-caller. He will work behind a young offensive line anchored by one senior, two juniors and two sophomores.
Senior running backs Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey have combined for 4,227 career yards from scrimmage, the most of any returning duo in the SEC. Sophomore Trey Burton will also be a factor out of the backfield, showcasing the versatility that helped him lead the team with 12 TDs as a freshman. Deonte Thompson, Frankie Hammond, Jordan Reed and Quinton Dunbar aim to be big beneficiaries of the new pro-style passing attack.
On the defensive side of the ball, Muschamp will team with defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Dan Quinn to bring an aggressive, ball-hawking approach. The strength of the defense appears to be the defensive line, which boasts some highly-touted recruits (Dominique Easley, Sharrif Floyd and Ronald Powell) from 2010, along with veterans Will Green, Jaye Howard and Omar Hunter.
Linebackers Jon Bostic and Jelani Jenkins will hold down the middle of the defense after both players burst onto the scene last season for the Gators. In addition, Lerentee McCray and Powell will play a hybrid style on the outside with opportunities to rush the passer and drop in coverage.
There are a lot of young players in the mix on the back end at both the safety and cornerback positions. As a former defensive backs coach, Muschamp will have a direct hand in guiding the secondary as they look to improve upon last year's takeaway totals.
Kicker Caleb Sturgis returns to full strength following a season hindered by back injuries that forced him to take a medical redshirt. His return should solidify the kicking game that could prove to be the difference coming into the season.
Follow the Gators leading up to kick, during at after the game at GatorZone.com with full coverage from Senior Writer Scott Carter. Follow on twitter @GatorZoneNews and @GatorZoneScott and on Facebook at Facebook.com/FloridaGators.
· Scott Carter's In-Game Live Blog
· Broadcast Information (TV/Radio/Online)
· Pre-Game Notes (.pdf)
