Dan Mullen discusses how Florida’s success can have positive impact on Kyle Trask’s Heisman bid
By Jake Rill
Published:
Among the front-runners for the Heisman Trophy, Florida redshirt senior quarterback Kyle Trask is looking to lead the Gators to a strong finish to the 2020 season. And if he does that, perhaps he’ll take home the nation’s top award.
As for Florida head coach Dan Mullen, he doesn’t think there needs to be extra promotion to try to convince the voters to pick Trask. Instead, Mullen believes the best thing that he and the Gators can do is to keep having team success.
“Win on Saturday. That’s about it,” Mullen said during his Monday press conference. “The only thing we can do is win. If we win, they’re going to keep talking about you. If we don’t, they’re not.”
Mullen also shared how he believes that had an impact on a Heisman Trophy vote when he was at Mississippi State. In 2014, the Bulldogs ascended to the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 poll. But after they lost their first game and the national spotlight wasn’t as bright, Mullen thought Prescott didn’t get as much Heisman consideration, which led to him not being a finalist for the award.
That’s likely not going to be an issue for Trask. The Gators appear on their way to a likely appearance in the SEC Championship Game and a head-to-head showdown with Alabama, which has an offense led by quarterback Mac Jones, another Heisman front-runner. If Trask can put up big numbers and lead Florida to a win, it could be an opportunity for him to secure votes for the award.
So far, Trask has impressed during the Gators’ 7-1 start. He’s passed for 2,810 yards, 34 touchdowns and three interceptions.
“Turn on the TV, they know who he is. Talk radio, they know who he is,” Mullen said. “If you win, they’ll keep talking about you.”
This week, Florida is set to take on Tennessee on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
Jake Rill contributes to news coverage for Saturday Down South. He has covered the SEC since 2016.
