It's Time the Rest of the SEC Starts to Fear Florida Once Again
Remember last week when Florida sputtered for three-and-a-half quarters before getting off the deck and stunning Tennessee 28-27?
It was no fluke.
No. 25 Florida boat-raced No. 3 Ole Miss 38-10 on Saturday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, announcing to the rest of the SEC that the Gators are back and aren't going anywhere.
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It was a major statement by Jim McElwain's crew—which now sits at 5-0 and looks like the most complete team in the SEC East.
If the verdict was still out on quarterback Will Grier, it shouldn't be anymore. After lighting up Tennessee's defense, which was playing soft over the final two drives last week, the redshirt freshman—who was one of several Gators fighting a flu bug this week—lit up Ole Miss' defense, completing 24 of 29 passes for 271 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Florida didn't just make the case that it's the best team in the SEC East. After Georgia's struggles against Alabama, that much is apparent.
Florida is the best team in the entire SEC.
The defense is filthy.
The Gators held the potent Ole Miss offense out of the end zone for the first three quarters, and the Rebels managed just 328 total yards and only 69 rushing yards in the loss. Defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard made a living in the backfield, and Bryan Cox Jr. picked up a fumble.
The secondary is loaded with talented players such as Vernon Hargreaves III, Quincy Wilson and Jalen Tabor.
What was missing was an offensive identity, which apparently came to Gainesville from Fort Collins, Colorado, when McElwain signed on the dotted line.
Grier isn't just a caretaker, he's a difference-maker. What's more, he has difference-makers around him.
Demarcus Robinson had eight catches for 98 yards and a touchdown Saturday night, slot weapon Brandon Powell has been solid all year, and true freshman Antonio Callaway topped the century mark and caught the game-winner last week.
There are three playmakers outside for Grier to work with, whereas the search for one lasted through all four of former head coach Will Muschamp's years at the helm (2011-2014) and Urban Meyer's final season in 2010.
That's on top of Kelvin Taylor, who rushed for 83 yards on Saturday night. As Zach Abolverdi of the Gainesville Sun noted on Twitter, Taylor is on point so far in 2015:
Welcome back, Florida.
You haven't been relevant since the final weekend of the 2012 regular season, but Saturday night's demolition of Ole Miss when combined with the 5-0 start and an offensive identity proves you're the most complete team in the SEC.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports. Statistics are courtesy of CFBStats.com. Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and national college football video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on SiriusXM 83. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
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