statistics, wave after wave of reporters approached Gators linebacker Shemar James as he sat on a raised podium during SEC Media Days.
They tossed all sorts of questions toward James, a junior from Mobile, Ala., and one of the critical veterans that UF coach Billy Napier had join him in Dallas. But the most common inquiry, by far, was why Florida’s defense will be better this year than last.
Florida’s defensive struggles stretch deeper than a season ago. Florida hasn’t had a defense rank in the top 10 nationally since 2019, and after having never allowed more than 400 yards per game throughout a season, the Gators have done it twice (2020 and 2022) in the past four seasons.
The damage has shown up on the scoreboard. From 1946 to 2019, Florida allowed an average of 25 points per game only three times (1971, 2007, 2017). Florida’s opponents have averaged that many for four consecutive seasons entering 2024.
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