ESPN Analyst Names SEC Dark Horse That Will Surprise People This Season

The SEC's recent focus has been the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners, who joined the conference on July 1. ESPN analyst Chris Doering named another team that people should be paying more attention to this season, however.

Doering appeared with ESPN's Peter Burns on Sirius XM recently. Doering thought that the Florida Gators were a team that could "surprise some people." Doering played wide receiver for the Gators from 1992-95.

The former Florida wideout liked the team's recent additions and the growth of some of the younger players to support his claim.

"..But I think at the end of the day, this is the team that has a lot of quiet confidence," Doering said. "I think coach Napier likes this team an awful lot because of what they've done in terms of adding some pieces and the growth that some of the young guys that had to play last year got. I really do think that this is a team that's going to surprise a lot of folks."

While Doering is confident in Florida, the team's schedule is demanding. The last five games on the schedule are the Georgia Bulldogs (Nov. 2), Texas Longhorns (Nov. 9), LSU Tigers (Nov. 16), Ole Miss Rebels (Nov. 23), and Florida State Seminoles (Nov. 30).

Florida lost two key players to the transfer portal this offseason in edge rusher Princely Umanmielen (Ole Miss) and running back Trevor Etienne (Georgia).

However, the Gators also added players from the portal, such as former Arizona State Sun Devils wideout Elijhah Badger, former Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Cormani McClain, and former USC Trojans offensive lineman Jason Zandamela.

Out of the 2024 class, Florida earned commitments from recruits like former five-star quarterback DJ Lagway , former five-star defensive lineman LJ McCray , and former four-star linebacker Myles Graham .

The team returns quarterback Graham Mertz, safety Jordan Castell, WR Trey Wilson III, and RB Montrell Johnson Jr., among others.

Florida faces the Miami Hurricanes to open the 2024 season on Aug. 31.

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