4 best QBs Florida will face in 2016? There’s one … and everybody else
By Andrew Olson
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On first glance, Florida’s 2016 schedule looks difficult. Since this is an even-numbered year, it includes road trips to Tennessee and FSU. There’s also annual showdowns with LSU and Georgia, at home and in Jacksonville, respectively.
While the rotating SEC West draw of Arkansas might not look so bad compared to recent games against Alabama and Ole Miss, the road contest against the Razorbacks comes on Nov. 5, the time of year when the Hogs seem to always be hitting their stride.
From an opposing quarterback perspective, however, Florida’s schedule is undoubtedly favorable.
Only two of the Power 5 quarterbacks on this year’s schedule started all regular-season contests last season – that should bode well for a Gators defense strong upfront and in the secondary.
1. Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee: Florida didn’t face many running quarterbacks in 2015, but Dobbs certainly gave the defense fits on the ground, rushing for 136 yards on 18 carries. A running Dobbs could prove an even bigger problem this year, as the Gators lost key run-stoppers Jonathan Bullard and Antonio Morrison to graduation.
On the flip side, Dobbs had a largely forgettable day passing against the Gators, going 10-of-17 for 83 yards. While that was below his average of 176.2 passing yards per game, eighth best among conference quarterbacks, it doesn’t mean Florida should take him lightly as a passer heading into this year’s game. Dobbs has had a whole offseason to focus on improving his passing and the Vols emphasized the deep ball throughout spring practice.
Based on pre-2016 resumes, Dobbs is without a doubt the best quarterback Florida will see in 2016. After Dobbs, a significant drop starts at No. 2.
2. Sean Maguire, FSU: It’s not set in stone that Maguire will win the starting job, but he seems like the likely pick over redshirt freshman Deondre Francois and true freshman Malik Henry. Despite only seven career starts, as a class of 2012 signee, Maguire will be the most senior quarterback the Gators face in 2016.
His numbers from FSU’s 27-2 win over UF last year in The Swamp were fairly pedestrian (14-of-28, 160 yards, TD), but the Nov. 26 meeting will be a much different setting: Senior Day in front of Florida State faithful at Doak Campbell Stadium. As a veteran quarterback at home, Maguire will be comfortable and confident going against the Florida defense.
The deciding factor in the game, however, will likely be if Florida can finally find a way to slow down RB Dalvin Cook.
3. Jacob Eason, Georgia: It’s not yet known which quarterback will be Georgia’s starting signal-caller in Week 1, but it’s a safe bet to assume that by Week 9, when the Gators and Bulldogs meet in the Cocktail Party, former five-star recruit Jacob Eason will be leading UGA. Even those in favor of Georgia starting Greyson Lambert in Week 1 acknowledge that Eason will win the job sooner or later.
Granted it was only a spring game, Eason certainly looked ready to take on SEC defenses in his G Day debut (19-of-29, 244 yards, TD). Gators fans know all too well that Eason is a special talent – they wanted him badly to flip his commitment to Florida after Mark Richt’s parting with Georgia.
Here's the latest on what we know about Florida's visit with Jacob Eason today. $$ update. https://t.co/usn9TBpdG7 pic.twitter.com/4WcVtJiPtY
— Andrew Spivey (@AndrewSpiveyGC) December 11, 2015
And if for some reason it’s Lambert on Oct. 29, he’s probably worthy of the No. 3 spot, anyway. He was the starter for all but one game last season, giving him more experience than the majority of quarterbacks Florida will face.
4. Brandon Harris, LSU: A case could be made for one of the SEC East quarterbacks in the No. 4 spot. Drew Barker (Kentucky), Drew Lock (Missouri) and Kyle Shurmur (Vanderbilt) have potential, but I’m going with a quarterback who has actually beaten the Gators: Brandon Harris.
Last year, the UF defense was so focused on containing RB Leonard Fournette – which, it didn’t – that Harris unloaded on the Gators for one of his top passing performances of the year (13-of-19, 202 yards, 2 TD). There should be chemistry in the LSU passing game with Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre back as the starting wideouts.
While most analysts consider Harris to be LSU’s potential weak link on offense, it’s safe to say that he won’t be intimidated by playing in The Swamp. If Florida concentrates too hard on Fournette again, Harris could repeat last year’s success with the deep ball.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaign of Fred Taylor.
