By Matt Osborne
SouthernPigskin.com

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If the Florida Gators hope to contend in the SEC East, these four players must produce at a high level.

If the Florida Gators hope to contend in the SEC East, these four players must produce at a high level.

No. 1 3 QB Jeff Driskel

There is no way around it: Florida simply has to get better production from under center. Amazingly, the Gators have finished in the bottom three of the SEC in total offense every season since the graduation of Tim Tebow following the 2009 season. New offensive coordinator Kurt Roper has a tremendous reputation as a quarterback guru, and the Gators are hoping that he will be able to help Driskel make big strides in his development. With the talent that Florida has returning at running back and along the offensive line, Driskel should have the luxury of lining up across from many crowded defensive boxes this fall. He will need to take advantage of those situations in order for the Gators to contend in the East.

No. 2 3 LB Dante Fowler, Jr.

Despite finishing second in the conference in total defense in 2013, the Gators finished the campaign with a mere 19 sacks, the second-lowest total in the league. Florida has a chance to boast the SECs top defense this fall, but in order for that to come to fruition, the Gators must find a premier pass rusher. Fowler, a rising junior, is undoubtedly the prime candidate to fill that role after finishing second on the team with 3.5 sacks a season ago. A former five-star recruit, Fowler is a tremendous athlete who should benefit exponentially from better conditioning levels in 2014. The emergence of some of Floridas other young defensive linemen should also help alleviate some of the attention which is generally drawn in his direction.

No. 3 3 WR Demarcus Robinson

In order for Driskel to improve as much as the coaches are hoping, the Gators will need to get much better production out of their receivers. Floridas wide outs deserve at least an equal amount of blame for the relative ineptitude of the passing game over the past four seasons, as they have struggled getting open with any semblance of consistency. Robinson entered Gainesville with lofty expectations as a true freshman, but managed to haul in just six receptions in seven games last fall. He was a standout performer during Floridas recent spring practice session, however, and there seems to be a consensus that he is due for a breakout sophomore campaign. With Ahmad Fulwood and Quinton Dunbar flanking him on the perimeter, he will, at the very least, have plenty of chances to showcase his skills.

No. 4 3 CB Jalen Tabor

Following in the footsteps of fellow cornerback Vernon Hargreaves, III, Tabor wasted little time in asserting himself into Floridas starting defense. Hargreaves, a first-team All-SEC selection as a true freshman, has already become a feared player to opposing quarterbacks, meaning that signal callers will test Tabor early and often this fall. The fact that he has already worked his way into the starting lineup is obviously indicative of his elite talent, but that doesnt necessarily guarantee success once the ball is kicked off to start the regular season. Tabor has tremendous size for a first-year defensive back, which should help him quickly adjust the physicality of SEC football. If Tabor is as good as Floridas coaching staff thinks he will be, SEC quarterbacks will have tons of problems attempting to throw the ball against the Gators.