Trask already making strong case to become Heisman contender
GAINESVILLE — Florida offensive coordinator Brian Johnson backed up Heisman Trophy runner-up Alex Smith at Utah and later coached two-time All-SEC QB Dak Prescott at Mississippi State.
Johnson said Gators quarterback Kyle Trask is performing at a similar level to both of the elite signal-callers.
“He’s playing as good as anyone right now in college football,” Johnson said. Trask is setting new standards for the Gators and the SEC too.
Trask’s 18 touchdown passes are the most through four games of any quarterback in conference history — a collection of quarterbacks at UF that includes three Heisman winners and a runner-up.
Johnson, an accomplished college quarterback in his own right, said Trask’s Heisman candidacy will “be up for debate.”
Trask’s transcendent play for the No. 8 Gators (3-1) entering Saturday’s showdown with No. 5 Georgia (4-1) has been unquestionable. The redshirt senior could prove the key to UF ending a three-game skid against the rival Bulldogs.
Georgia’s SEC-leading defense will be missing some key players, including star safety Richard LeCounte.
The meticulous and instinctive Trask will be ready for whoever and whatever comes his way, a quality that reminds Johnson of Smith and Prescott.
“I think just his overall understanding of how to get ready to play in a game,” Johnson said when asked to compared the three of the quarterbacks. “Of really breaking it down and for understanding what you’re
getting, understanding leverages of defenses, understanding how teams are trying to take away what you want to do.
“And then being able to get to a second, third, fourth or fifth read in progression.”
Trask’s feel for the game and anticipation allow him to see “stuff happen before it happens.”
What lies ahead for Trask himself hinges on his ability to maintain his high quality of play. Prescott’s play, for one, dipped a bit after Mississippi State reached No. 1, eventually leaving him eighth in the Heisman voting.
A win against the Bulldogs would vastly improve the Gators’ SEC East title hopes and Trask’s Heisman odds.
“The challenge is to make sure we’re consistent each and every week and continue to play at a high level,” Johnson said.
Road trip tweaks
Last month’s COVID-19 outbreak occurred during UF’s Oct. 10 visit to Texas A&M, leading the Gators to reexamine everything about road travel during a pandemic.
Mullen said it is comforting to know the Georgia game poses fewer challenges than a routine SEC road trip.
Yet the Gators will drive to the Jacksonville area Friday in five buses rather than in three, allowing for more distancing.
“We’re going to spend special attention to who’s on what bus going up there,” Mullen said.
Team meals will now have assigned seating.
“I don’t know that that became a factor at all but that was, it was just another thing we could control,” Mullen said. “We decided to control it.”
He said it helps that the Sawgrass Marriott south of Jacksonville in Ponte Vedra Beach is more spacious than the accommodations during the Texas A&M trip. The locker room at TIAA Bank Field is much larger, too, “not like a closet like you have on some of the road games,” Mullen said.
“I think all of those things kind of ease some of the pressure of dealing with our travel issues and our travel plans,” he said.
The Gators still have two true road trips remaining on the schedule, Nov. 21 at Vanderbilt and Dec. 5 at Tennessee.
Prayers for Georgia’s LeCounte
UF defensive coordinator Todd Grantham opened his videoconference Tuesday by saying he was encouraged by the Gators’ defensive showing against Missouri.
Grantham then suddenly paused his interview after two questions to share his well wishes for Georgia’s LeCounte. The Bulldogs senior was involved in a motorcycle accident Saturday after his team’s win against Kentucky.
“I’d like to do is offer my thoughts and prayers to Richard LeCounte,” Grantham said. “I certainly want to wish him a speedy recovery. You hate to see that happen to anyone.
“We look forward to watching him play soon and getting back to being able to be in the National Football League.”
LeCounte was moved Monday out of the intensive care unit. Earlier in the day, he was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week after recording13 tackles and a fumble recovery against Kentucky.
Grantham said he has respected LeCounte as a player for some time.
“You watch teams in the offseason and you watch crossover games being in the SEC, and you kind of notice certain guys,” Grantham said. “He’s a guy that you certainly notice when you watch tape. He plays the game the right way and he’s certainly an excellent player.
“I’m really appreciative of the way he plays.”
Gators closer to full strength
Not one to reveal much about his roster makeup week to week, Mullen has been even less inclined amid the chaos and uncertainty caused by a pandemic.
On the heels of 14 scholarship players sitting out Saturday’s decisive win against Missouri, Mullen would allow that the Gators should be closer to full strength for the Georgia game.
“We certainly hope,” Mullen said Tuesday.
The fact UF reported no new positive COVID-19 cases bodes well for the Gators, who were without three starting defensive backs and placekicker Evan McPherson against Missouri.