Florida returns 17 starters going into 2018

BMF

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Florida returns 17 starters going into 2018

Florida will have one of the SEC's most veteran returning teams heading into the 2018 season.


https://florida.247sports.com/Bolt/...returns-17-starters-going-into-2018-113292967


GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- With left tackle Martez Ivey announcing his decision to return to school this week, GatorBait.net takes a look at what Florida has coming back in the starting lineup next fall.

Simply put, the Gators have a wealth of experience returning on both sides of the ball.

The offense returns nearly every starter from the 2017 season, with senior receiver Brandon Powell the only departed player. With 10 starters back on that side of the ball, including the entire starting offensive line, new coach Dan Mullen should definitely have some experienced players to begin molding.

On defense the numbers aren't quite as strong in terms of returning starters. Still, Florida returns seven starters.

For the sake of this story, we define returning starters as players who started in at least half of Florida's games in 2017.

And with that, it's worth noting that there were a handful of players who didn't quite qualify as returning starters that still got plenty of starting experience last fall.

On defense, cornerback C.J. Henderson and linebacker Jeremiah Moon finished just one start shy of being deemed a returning starter, while defensive end Jachai Polite finished two games shy. On offense, receiver Freddie Swain also finished just two games shy.

Needless to say, the Gators will be a veteran outfit next fall. Below you can view the returning starters on each side of the ball.

Florida's Returning Starters in 2018

OFFENSE

QB Feleipe Franks
RB Lamical Perine
WR Tyrie Cleveland
WR Joshua Hammond
TE C'yontai Lewis
LT Martez Ivey
LG Brett Heggie
C T.J. McCoy
RG Fredrick Johnson
RT Jawaan Taylor

DEFENSE

DE CeCe Jefferson
NT Khairi Clark
DE Jabari Zuniga
LB Vosean Joseph
LB David Reese
CB Marco Wilson
S Chauncey Gardner

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TN G8tr

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I would be ok with that number being 16 taking Franks off that list.
 

TN G8tr

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I would be ok with Emory starting. Why not throw a TF out there. Plenty of those kids in big games. The two teams playing tonight did it and it's worked out pretty good.
 

jdh5484

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IIRC... in 2009, we returned 20/22 players in 2 deep on the D. 20/22.

Just FYI.
 

FireFoley

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Call me negative or whatever and this is not a shot at Cousin Eddie. Quite the contrary. But does it really matter how many starters you have returning if the majority of them stink out loud or are not good football players? Look at the offensive line last year. Lots of returners, awful play!
 

Gatorraid81

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I like having the whole Oline back, just hope this coaching staff can help them reach their full potential. If we had a QB we could be really improved, but we that could’ve been said for the past several years. I really like the RB’s that we have and the one coming in. Hopefully Davis can get back to his top form by early to mid season. We could really have a lethal run game this year with improvement in the Oline.
 

78

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2018 is a feel-good year to me. I just want to feel good about where we're going.
 

NoGaGator

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All these starters coming back from a 4-8 team? Could be addition by subtraction.
 

Gator87

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The biggest plus is not having any of those sh*tty a$$ coaches returning from last year, with the exception of Sieder whose running backs were the only guys on the team last year that looked like they practiced.
 

crosscreekcooter

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Cleveland might be starting for the Raiford Jailbirds
 

GatorJB

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These guys apparently were never required to lift weights until now, and they will be learning an entirely new system on both sides of the ball. I think this is one of the few instances where experience means squat.
 

Swamp Donkey

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Yeab, Ole Butters and his amazin offense wuz gonna explode cuz we had a bunch of returning starters last year too.

Good times.
 

jdh5484

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1/2 those guys will probably quit because of the new conditioning program.
 

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