Gators look for East repeat

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the sixth in a series of previews of the 2016 SEC football teams:
FLORIDA:
The Gators finished 10-4 and claimed the SEC East title under first-year coach Jim McElwain.
But the question remains – can Florida make a return trip to the SEC championship game?
With a little luck – the answer is yes.
But the Gators could also fall to third place behind Tennessee and Georgia.
JIm McElwain is not Steve Spurrier or Urban Myer – but the Gator fans will love to see his Gators repeat as SEC East champions for the first time since 2008-09.
But a late season decline similar to last season and the Florida faithful could be reminded of the 28-21 run under Will Muschamp’s tenure.
Florida had 10-1 run in 2015 but closed with losses to Florida State, Alabama and Michigan.
The biggest question is who will be the starting quarterback – and that spot is vital to the Gators’ success this season.
The NCAA suspended quarterback Will Grier for violating its policy on performance-enhancing drugs – and he transferred to West Virgina.
Trenon Harris finished the season at QB, but was moved to wide receiver after his spring suspension for academic issues.
McElwain now turns to transfer Luke Del Rio, the son of Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio, or Purdue graduate transfer Austin Appleby. The winner of the quarterback race will become Florida’s ninth starting quarterback since Tim Tebow’s final season, in 2009.
The weakest link was the offensive line that allowed a nation leading 45 sacks.
David Sharpe and Martez Ivey are the key leaders on the line that need to protect the quarterback and open holes for running backs Jordan Scarlett and junior colleg transfer Mark Thompson.
Receiver Antonio Callaway is a gamebreaker who averaged 17.6 yards and scored six touchdowns on 69 touches.
The Gators’ strength is the defensive line with Caleb Brantley, Cece Jefferson, Bryan Cox, Keivonnis Davis and Jabari Zuniga.
All-SEC cornerback Jalen Tabor and one of the SEC’s best linebackers, senior Jarrad Davis are expected to have great seasons,
Junior cornerback Quincy Wilson and senior safety Marcus Maye are established SEC talents, giving Florida a top secondary once again.
The Gators should open the season with wins over UMass, Kentucky and North Texas which will set up the Spet, 24 showdown at Tennessee.
The Gators should win at Vanderbilt and at home gainst Missouri but a home loss to LSU or Georgia and the SEC East title won’t be possible.
Florida closes the regular season with road trips to Arkansas and Florida State sandwiched around home games against South Carolina and Presbyterian.
The Gators’ 2016 schedule has three cupcakes plus games against Kentucky and Vanderbilt, teams Florida has gone 49-1 against since 1990.
But the Gators could could lose to Tennessee, LSU, Georgia, Arkansas, and Florida State and finish with seven wins.
Or with upsets over LSU, Tennessee and Georgia, the Gators could make their 12th appearance in the SEC title game, the most of any conference team.
Time will tell which direction the Gators head in 2016.