The Jon Sumrall Era begins at the Swamp against FAU.  Gator Nation actually has some reason for excitement again and I expect a sellout crowd for the Labor Day weekend home opener.

The Owls will be especially hyped for this in-state matchup, and with a roster mostly composed of Florida-born players they will have extra motivation to take on the Gators.  Head Coach Zach Kittley is in his 2nd year at FAU, and is a young, offensive-minded coach who runs an Air Raid passing offense at breakneck speed.  Senior QB Caden Veltcamp threw for 3,641 yards and 24 TDs last season as the Owls led the nation in passing yards per game.  WR Easton Messner caught 104 passes for over 1,000 yards.  But there were serious problems – FAU’s running game was weak, the Owls led the nation with 20 interceptions and 29 turnovers overall, and had the worst turnover margin at the FBS level at -21.  Most of the passing game is predicated on quick throws in the flat and short zones to stress the defense across the entire field.  But it struggles with 3rd down conversions which, along with the struggles in the running game, really hurts their chances against better opponents.  I do expect FAU to have some success, especially early in the game until the Gator defense can acclimate to the speed of their offense.  Florida has enough speed on defense to be able to adapt, and hopefully enough depth to spell defenders when they tire.  The fast pace of the Owls does make it difficult to substitute players unless there is a stoppage in play or a penalty.  The revamped Florida secondary had some struggles in fall scrimmages, and this will be a stern test.  There will likely be some mixups in coverage early on, and it will be interesting to see if DC Brad White stays in mostly zone coverage or has to make adjustments if that isn’t working well.

The FAU defense was one of the worst against the run last season, and while most of their players returned, that might not be the best news.  They are led by undersized LB Leon Hart Jr., who looks more like a safety but has good instincts and speed.  Their pass rush is actually decent, led by DT CJ Doggette and edge rushers Deshawn Batiste and Wilky Denaud.  It will be no surprise to see Florida line up and play smash-mouth football with their running game, both to exploit the Owl defense and also keep the high-powered FAU passing game on the sideline.  Despite the questions for the Gator O-line heading into the season, Florida should be able to control the line of scrimmage.  If it doesn’t, then the worried whispers about the OL will start to turn into shouts.  I expect a heavy dose of Jaden Baugh and the other RBs, but this should also open up some shots downfield for the passing game – especially on early downs.  Aaron Philo won the QB competition in fall camp and was named the starter, and will have the attention of not just FAU but the fans in the stands and watching on TV.  Florida simply has too many elite skill players for FAU to contain, and I expect a good number of explosive plays.

This game will set the tone for the Gators in terms of getting out of the gate fast and building momentum for the challenges ahead.  Sumrall will have his players jacked up and ready to play.  I do expect some mistakes on both sides of the ball due to the new schemes and some new faces, but nothing that can’t be overcome without too much worry.  The score may stay fairly close into the 3rd quarter, but Florida should pull away with it’s advantages in talent and depth.  Gator Nation is ready to wash away the stench of the Billy Napier Error and move forward.

Prediction:

Florida 41

FAU 17