Florida is 7-3 after the Gators stormed back from a late third-quarter 17-point deficit to defeat South Carolina 35-31 Saturday at The Swamp.

Florida is ranked No. 15 in the College Football Playoff Rankings and remain in the conversation for a New Year’s Six Bowl berth.

A year removed from the program’s second four-win campaign in five years, the Gators have a chance to win 10 games in Year One under Dan Mullen. At a minimum, Florida is poised to end the program-record five-game losing streak against Florida State when the Sunshine State rivals square off in Tallahassee in two weeks.

In a bottom-line business, a five- or six-win improvement coupled with a victory over a bitter rival would make 2018 a roaring success story.

Here are five observations from the first 10 games of the Mullen era.

You’d better fit the power and counter when you play Florida

Two of Florida’s best three wins this season have come on the backs of a dynamic power running game.

Florida outplayed a physical LSU team at the point of attack, compiling 215 yards rushing in their 27-19 upset of the Tigers in October. They overcame a 17-point deficit Saturday at home against a good South Carolina team by piling up 367 yards rushing on 62 attempts.

Florida is hardly an offensive juggernaut under Mullen. Inconsistency at the quarterback position remains an issue for the program, rearing its head in Florida’s losses to Georgia and Missouri.

But Florida has improved on offense, mostly thanks to a power run game that ranks 37th in S&P+ rushing offense and 39th nationally in rushing offense. That’s a big reason that, despite the quarterback position being a work in progress, the Gators are set to finish with more than 30 points per game (currently 31) for the first time since the Tim Tebow era.

While the powerful running back duo of Jordan Scarlett (102 carries, 629 yards) and Lamical Perine (109 for 587) deserve plenty of the credit, offensive line coach John Hevesy also deserves his share of the laurels. He has coaxed excellent production out of what had been an underachieving (based on recruiting rankings) offensive line this season, and Florida’s rediscovered physicality at the point of attack as a result.

The Gators don’t quit

A year ago, Florida’s football culture was a toxic hellscape, something out of Blade Runner or Mad Max. The Credit Card Nine derailed Florida’s 2017 season before it began, and whatever hopes the program had of salvaging it ended when Jim McElwain, clearly disinterested in keeping his job, alleged that his players were receiving “death threats” without evidence ahead of Florida’s annual rivalry tilt with Georgia.

What a difference a season makes.

Florida’s character shined through in Saturday’s second-half comeback win over South Carolina, but that was just the latest evidence of a trend of high-character performances from the Gators.

Florida also overcame an 18-point deficit on the road at Vanderbilt, overcame a lousy pass interference call to stop Georgia on seven consecutive plays inside the 2-yard line and have compiled a 3-0 record on the road, including an impressive win over Mississippi State  in a frenzied environment in Starkville.

Culture change doesn’t happen overnight, and there are still causes for concern. Florida lacked fire or focus in a lopsided home loss to Missouri earlier this month, and the team has been plagued by slow starts all season.

Still, Florida’s culture and program are on track, and the Gators are starting to buy into the “relentless effort” mantra required to build a consistent winner again in Gainesville.

Florida’s defensive starters have talent

Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Florida has good players in their first 11 on defense.

Jachai Polite will be consensus All-SEC and is one of the nation’s leaders in sacks and tackles for loss. Jabari Zuniga has had a nice year. CJ Henderson is an All-American-caliber corner, as his bait-and-switch interception of Jake Bentley to seal the South Carolina win demonstrated. David Reese has been, well, David Reese: a quiet, consistent leader who is really good at football.

Brad Stewart has been quiet due to injury and suspension in the second half of 2018, but he had a promising first half that saw him make multiple midseason All-American lists.

Vosean Joseph has had his moments at linebacker, including a dominant game against LSU, even as he has continued to struggle in pass coverage. Cece Jefferson has had his moments, especially of late.

But this defense isn’t elite, and the Gators need to recruit better

As good as Florida’s starters have been at times defensively, this isn’t a deep group, and there isn’t enough high-end talent.

While Florida football has been adrift in the wilderness throughout the decade, a dominant defense has remained a staple.

Florida’s excellence on defense was the sole reason the program captured two division titles in the brief McElwain era and the primary reason Florida won 11 games and nearly made the BCS National Championship Game in 2012.

Even in Florida’s eight-loss season in 2013, the Gators played well defensively, finishing first nationally in passing defense and 15th in S&P+ defensive efficiency. Between 2008-16, Florida finished 20th or better in total defense and yards allowed per play every season.

That dominance has disappeared in the last two seasons.

Florida finished outside the top 50 in total defense for the first time since 2007 last season, and this year’s team, while better, is still just inside the top 40 at 39th in total defense.

The Gators also surrender a very average 5.28 yards per play (64th nationally), and in their last three football games they have yielded an unsightly 105 points (35 a game).

The injury to All-SEC corner Marco Wilson has hurt the secondary all season. The lack of a true three-technique inside has limited the effectiveness of Florida’s talented defensive ends. The linebacker play outside Reese isn’t consistent enough, and there’s nobody in that group outside of Reese whom an opposing defense can’t diagnose and dissect with some quality film study.

Florida’s freshmen have promise, especially corner Trey Dean, but the reality is that the program needs to recruit better on the defensive side of the football to provide Todd Grantham the bodies he needs to consistently play his attacking brand of defense.

Kadarius Toney is about to explode

Toney has had his highest usage rates in two of Florida’s last three games, and his six touches against South Carolina were a season high.

Toney isn’t Percy Harvin — who is?

Toney is, however, the most explosive player with the ball in his hands Florida has had since Harvin, and it appears the coaches are beginning to trust him enough for that to make a difference.

Toney is a first-down machine, averaging a first down per touch since he arrived at Florida (10.4 yards per touch on 63 touches).

To borrow from Mullen, the plays they design for Toney rarely “go the way they are designed to (go),” but “when he touches the ball, really exciting things happen.”

Only a sophomore, expect Toney to grow into the star his talent suggests he can be next season in Gainesville, especially as he continues to improve as a wide receiver.