Florida’s roster questions are no longer just a Jon Sumrall problem. They’re a Dave Caldwell problem too.
That’s the bigger takeaway as the Gators’ roster construction comes under the microscope, especially after Saturday’s game exposed just how many holes still exist. Eight of the 13 offensive players who logged at least 20 snaps were either transfer additions brought in by Sumrall or players who beat out those additions. That’s a pretty clear sign the roster is still a work in progress.
And Caldwell is part of that conversation now, whether people want to frame it that way or not.
Florida hired Caldwell as general manager on Dec. 1, bringing in the longtime Jacksonville Jaguars GM to help oversee football roster building. At the time, athletic director Scott Stricklin praised the move in strong terms, saying:
"David Caldwell is one of the most respected personnel evaluators and team-builders in football. His experience as an NFL general manager, his understanding of roster construction, management and retention. His ability to manage complex football operations make him an invaluable addition to our program.
As the college landscape continues to evolve, David's leadership and expertise will help ensure Florida Football is aligned, agile, and positioned for sustained success."
That’s the pitch. The results, at least so far, have left plenty of room for debate.
Sumrall has already hinted that last year’s transfer portal process was harder for him to manage because he was splitting his attention with Tulane. When he was asked today what he has learned over the past 11 months, he pointed directly to roster building.
“And so I think maybe there's a lot of roster-building things I've learned that I think will help us moving forward that I already kind of knew. Some of it is helping create momentum internally to help us build it the right way, too.
There are certain things we have to lean into to do a better job to create the resourcing. We need to be at the highest level in this conference.”
That sounds like a coach who knows the roster needs work and is willing to own part of it. It also sounds like someone who has been carrying a lot of the burden for a roster that hasn’t come together cleanly.
The offensive line has been the clearest example. Those portal pickups haven’t worked out as a group, and Sumrall also said Florida trusts only two cornerbacks. Those are not small issues, and they’re not the kind of gaps that disappear on their own.
Still, if Caldwell’s role is roster construction, then it’s fair to ask why the blame should land only on Sumrall. Florida may not have had the NIL money to land one of the headline offensive tackles in the portal, but that doesn’t automatically mean the group they ended up with was the best possible outcome.
That’s the tension heading into the offseason. Florida’s fans are going to watch closely to see whether Sumrall and Caldwell can finally put together a roster that fits, especially when they get a normal cycle to work with.
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Kentucky has won four of the last five meetings, which only adds to the pressure on a Florida offense looking for answers on the road. The Wildcats are coming off a loss to Tennessee, and the betting market has moved only slightly ahead of kickoff, but the bigger question for Florida is whether it can find enough rhythm to keep this one from turning into another frustrating afternoon. [Read more 🡒]