Mullen's Magical Numbers Tell Story
By Chris Harry / Senior Writer
Raise a hand if, over the course of the last few Florida football seasons, you mumbled (or railed) to a fellow friend in orange and blue something to the effect of, "If only the Gators could manage to be average on offense … ."
Go ahead. Get ’em up.
A review of UF’s 2018 offensive statistics in Coach Dan Mullen’s first season will not overwhelm anyone when compared to the digits, say, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Clemson or Alabama have amassed to date, but in the spirit of the above premise they don’t have to, either. They just needed to be competitive as opposed to abysmal, which has been the case the last few years on the way to undermining consistently some, sometimes dominant play by the Florida defense.
We could go on and on about the struggles on offense and the program’s search for a quarterback since Tim Tebow left after the 2009 season. UF’s pregame notes packages (take a bow, communications assistant director Zach Dirlam) are chock full of 2018 stats that are firsts for the program since those days; an era, by the way, when Mullen called Florida’s plays and coached Gators quarterbacks.
I see a pattern developing here.
We don’t have to cycle through the previous, frustrating eight years of offensive futility for the numbers; that would be running up the score. After the Gators and quarterback Feleipe Franks just posted a third straight game with 500 or more yards for the first time in nine seasons (on the road in a blowout victory at Florida State, no less), we just need to go back one season to make the point.
Continue scrolling for the"Tale of the Tape" between Florida’s 2017 offense under Coach Jim McElwain versus the 2018 offense under Mullen. It’s a sample that can be made comparing units of basically the same personnel — same quarterback, same offensive line, very similar receiving corps — with the splashy addition of tailback Jordan Scarlett and wideouts Van Jefferson and Trevon Grimes.
Worth noting: Most of the numbers in the right-hand column are better than just average.
Prediction: They’re going to get better in the years to come.
Charting the Gators
A comparison of some key Florida offensive statistics in 2017 under Coach Jim McElwain vs. the same numbers posted by Coach Dan Mullen's unit in 2018, using mostly the same personnel. Note: Remember, the FBS stats reflect the place among 129 teams, while the SEC reflects (obviously) the place among 14.
Florida Stat Leaders
PASSING
Feleipe Franks — 175-for-299, 2,284 yards, 23 TDs, 190.3 ypg
RUSHING
Lamical Perine — 128 att, 750 yards, 6 TDs, 62.5 ypg
RECEIVING
Van Jefferson — 31 rec, 439 yards, 6 TDs, 36.6 ypg
TACKLES
Vosean Joseph — 87 total, 37 solo, 50 ast
SACKS
Jachai Polite — 11.0 sacks, 16.0 TFL
INTERCEPTIONS
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Donovan Stiner, Brad Stewart Jr., CJ Henderson — 2 INTs
KICKING
Evan McPherson — 15-for-17 FGs, 45-for-45 PATs
Michigan Stat Leaders
PASSING
Shea Patterson — 188-for-289, 2,364 yards, 21 TDs, 197.0 ypg
RUSHING
Karan Higdon — 224 att, 1,178 yards, 10 TDs, 107.1 ypg
RECEIVING
Nico Collins — 33 rec, 552 yards, 6 TDs, 46.0 ypg
TACKLES
Devin Bush — 79 total, 38 solo, 41 ast
SACKS
Josh Uche — 7.0 sacks, 8.0 TFL
INTERCEPTIONS
Josh Metellus, Brandon Watson — 3 INTs, 6 PBU
KICKING
Jake Moody — 8-for-8 FGs, 4-for-4 PATs
Projected Starters
Offense
LT • 73 • Martez Ivey // 6-5 / 306 / Sr.
LG • 64 • Tyler Jordan // 6-4 / 321 / Sr.
C • 66 • Nick Buchanan // 6-3 / 291 / R-Jr.
RG • 74 • Fred Johnson // 6-6 / 330 / Sr.
RT • 65 • Jawaan Taylor // 6-5 / 328 / Jr.
WR • 89 • Tyrie Cleveland // 6-2 / 206 / Jr.
WR • 10 • Josh Hammond // 6-0 / 194 / Jr.
TE • 80 • C’yontai Lewis // 6-4 / 233 / R-Sr.
RB • 25 • Jordan Scarlett // 5-11 / 210 / R-Jr.
QB • 13 • Feleipe Franks // 6-6 / 239 / R-So.
WR • 12 • Van Jefferson // 6-2 / 197 / So.
Defense
DE • 92 • Jabari Zuniga // 6-4 / 257 / R-Jr.
DT • 95 • Adam Shuler // 6-4 / 275 / Gr.
-or- 56 • Tedarrell Slaton // 6-5 / 343 / So.
NT • 55 • Kyree Campbell // 6-3 / 304 / So.
-or- 93 • Elijah Conliffe // 6-4 / 317 / So.
BUCK • 99 • Jachai Polite // 6-2 / 242 / Jr.
-or- 96 • Cece Jefferson // 6-1 / 252 / Sr.
MLB • 33 • David Reese II // 6-0 / 221 / Jr.
MLB • 11 • Vosean Joseph // 6-1 / 226 / Jr.
STAR • 23 • Chauncey Gardner-Johnson // 6-0 / 208 / Jr.
CB • 5 • CJ Henderson // 6-1 / 191 / So.
S • 2 • Brad Stewart // 6-1 / 200 / So.
-or- 29 • Jeawon Taylor // 6-1 / 202 / Jr.
S • 13 • Donovan Stiner // 6-1 / 203 / So.
-or- 31 • Shawn Davis // 5-11 / 202 / So.
CB • 21 • Trey Dean III // 6-3 / 194 / Fr.
-or- 12 • C.J. McWilliams // 5-11 / 184• R-So.
Specialists
K • 19 • Evan McPherson // 5-11 / 177 / Fr.
P • 43 • Tommy Townsend // 6-2 / 183 / R-Jr.
KR • 4 • Kadarius Toney // 5-11 / 190 / So.
KR • 16 • Freddie Swain // 6-0 / 199 / Jr.
PR • 16 • Freddie Swain // 6-0 / 199 / Jr.
LS • 41 • Ryan Farr // 6-1 / 230 / Sr.
H • 43 • Tommy Townsend // 6-2 / 183 / R-Jr.
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
About the Peach Bowl
Peach Bowl, Inc. is the organization that owns and operates the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Challenge charity golf tournament, manages day-to-day operations of The Dodd Trophy, and was the original recruiter and founding sponsor of the new College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. PBI was originally founded by the Georgia Lion’s Club in 1967 and hosted its first NCAA-sanctioned Peach Bowl game in Atlanta in 1968. Chick-fil-A has sponsored the game since 1996, and this will be its second year in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Welcome to Atlanta
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Last summer, the brand new Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened its doors. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is a world-class sports and entertainment facility and home to the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons and Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United. The multi-purpose stadium will host major sports and entertainment events, including the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games, the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship, the 2019 Super Bowl, and the 2020 NCAA Men’s Final Four.
From technology, food and beverage, fan comfort, merchandise and more, it is the finest sports & entertainment facility in the world.
Florida Bowl History
Year • Bowl • Opponent • Result
1953 • Gator • Tulsa • W, 14-13
1958 • Gator • Ole Miss • L, 3-7
1960 • Gator • Baylor • W, 13-12
1962 • Gator • Penn State • W, 17-7
1966 • Sugar • Missouri • L, 18-20
1967 • Orange • Georgia Tech • W, 27-12
1969 • Gator • Tennessee • W, 14-13
1973 • Tangerine • Miami (OH) • L, 7-16
1974 • Sugar • Nebraska • L, 10-13
1975 • Gator • Maryland • L, 0-13
1977 • Sun • Texas A&M • L, 14-37
1980 • Tangerine • Maryland • W, 35-20
1981 • Peach • West Virginia • L, 6-26
1982 • Bluebonnet • Arkansas • L, 24-28
1983 • Gator • Iowa • W, 14-6
1987 • Aloha • UCLA • L, 16-20
1988 • All-American • Illinois • W, 14-10
1989 • Freedom • Washington • L, 7-34
1992 • Sugar • Notre Dame • L, 28-39
1992 • Gator • N.C. State • W, 27-10
1994 • Sugar • West Virginia • W, 41-7
1995 • Sugar • Florida State • L, 17-23
1996 • Fiesta • Nebraska • L, 24-62
1997 • Sugar • Florida State • W, 52-20
1998 • Citrus • Penn State • W, 21-6
1999 • Orange • Syracuse • W, 31-10
2000 • Citrus • Michigan State • L, 34-37
2001 • Sugar • Miami (FL) • L, 20-37
2002 • Orange • Maryland • W, 56-23
2003 • Outback • Michigan • L, 30-38
2004 • Outback • Iowa • L, 17-37
2004 • Chick-fil-A • Miami (FL) • L, 10-27
2006 • Outback • Iowa • W, 31-24
2007 • BCS Championship • Ohio State • W, 41-14
2008 • Capital One • Michigan • L, 35-41
2009 • BCS Championship • Oklahoma • W, 24-14
2010 • Sugar • Cincinnati • W, 51-24
2011 • Outback • Penn State • W, 37-24
2012 • Gator • Ohio State • W, 24-17
2013 • Sugar • Louisville • L, 23-33
2014 • Birmingham • East Carolina • W, 28-20
2015 • BWW Citrus • Michigan • L, 7-41
2016 • Outback • Iowa • W, 30-3
National Championships
1996
The third-ranked Gators lay claim to their first national championship as they stripped top-ranked Florida State’s hopes for a perfect season with a 52-20 victory before a Superdome Sugar Bowl record crowd of 78,344 and an ABC national television audience in the 1997 Nokia Sugar Bowl.
2006
Senior quarterback Chris Leak threw for a touchdown and senior running back DeShawn Wynn ran for another score to lead the second-ranked University of Florida football team to a 41-14 victory over Ohio State in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game, earning the Gators their second-ever national football championship. With the win, Florida became the first school in NCAA Division I history to capture national titles in football and men’s basketball during the same calendar year, having earned its first title on the hardcourt by defeating UCLA in April.
2008
Winning their second national championship in three years — and third overall — the No. 2 Gators defeated the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners, 24-14, in the FedEx BCS National Championship at Dolphin Stadium. Florida completed its national championship run with a 13-1 record on the season, tying a school record for wins (13).
Players to Watch
FELEIPE FRANKS
QB • 6-6 • 240 • R-So.
Franks threw for at least three touchdowns in four games this season, the most for a Florida QB since Tim Tebow in 2008 ... His six games of 200-plus yards passing are the most since Tebow in 2009 ... He threw for a career-high five touchdowns in Florida's win over Charleston Southern and a career-high 284 yards in the Gators' victory at Vanderbilt
LAMICAL PERINE
RB • 5-11 • 227 • Jr.
Perine leads the Gators with 750 yards and six touchdowns on the ground ... The duo of Perine and Jordan Scarlett has combined to run for 1,467 yards this season, and they are the first pair of Gator teammates to top the 700-yard mark in the same season since 2009 ... He had a career-high 126 yards in the Gators' last outing, a 41-14 win over Florida State
JACHAI POLITE
DL • 6-2 • 242 • Jr.
An All-SEC First Team selection by the league's coaches and the Associated Press, Polite's five forced fumbles are tied for the most in the FBS this season and one off the Florida record ... Had 2.5 sacks vs. Florida State to boost his season total to 11.0, which ranks second in the SEC and sixth nationally ... The 11 sacks are the fifth-highest single-season total in school history
Bowl Opponent: A Quick Glance at Michigan
By Scott Carter, Senior Writer
Much has changed for the Gators since they last faced Michigan, a 33-17 loss 456 days ago in Arlington, Texas.
In a rare season opener away from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and the first career start for quarterback Feleipe Franks, Florida led 17-13 at halftime behind a pair of interception returns for scores by defensive backs Duke Dawson and CJ Henderson.
Unfortunately for the Gators, they still had to play the second half. The Wolverines dominated the rest of the way, limiting UF to 192 yards of total offense and only nine first downs.
The loss foreshadowed a disappointing season for Florida, which finished 4-7 and suffered through a five-game losing streak late in the season that cost former head coach Jim McElwain his job (among other issues). The Wolverines started fast but finished with a thud, dropping their final three games to finish 8-5.
Both programs rebounded nicely in 2018. Florida finished 9-3 under first-year head coach Dan Mullen. Michigan finished 10-2 and was in contention for a College Football Playoff berth until losing to Ohio State in the regular-season finale.
The schools will meet for the fifth time on Dec. 29 in Atlanta in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. While the game is four weeks away, here is a quick glance at the 2018 Wolverines for Gators fans interested in catching up on the latest from Ann Arbor:
AT A GLANCE
Head coach: Jim Harbaugh (fourth season, 38-13)
Key wins: Beat No. 15 Wisconsin, 38-13; won at No. 24 Michigan State, 21-7; beat No. 14 Penn State, 42-7. (Note: All rankings are from time of matchup).
Key losses: Lost at No. 11 Notre Dame, 24-17; lost at No. 10 Ohio State, 62-39.
Top offensive players: RB Karan Higdon (1,178 yards, 10 TDs, first UM 1,000-yard rusher since 2011); LT John Runyan (All-Big Ten first-team honors from coaches); QB Shea Patterson (2,364 yards passing, 21 TDs, 65.1 percent completion rate); WR Donovan Peoples-Jones (39 catches, 541 yards, 7 TDs).
Top defensive players: LB Devin Bush Jr. (team-high 80 tackles, 5 sacks, Big Ten Defensive Player of Year); DE Rashan Gary (44 tackles, 3.5 sacks in nine games); LB Josh Uche (team-leading 7 sacks); DE Chase Winovich (62 tackles, team-high 14.5 tackles for loss), CB Lavert Hill (excellent cover corner had five pass breakups, one pick).
Story of season: The Wolverines showed their promise in a tough loss to Notre Dame in the season opener. They regrouped to win 10 consecutive games to take some pressure off Harbaugh, whose critics grew at the end of last season following a third consecutive loss to Ohio State.