These are areas of confidence and concern for Florida football in 2026

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After a spring training full of national buzz for Florida football, CBS Sports views the Gators as a top-25 team entering 2026. However, breaking down the program's outlook for next season reveals strengths and weaknesses that college football writer Brad Crawford loves and hates for Jon Sumrall and company.

Crawford praised the Gators' pass-catching unit as the "best starting wide receiver group in years" — a group that features emerging star Vernell Brown III and one of ESPN's top 100 newcomers in Eric Singleton Jr. Last season, Brown became the first true freshman to start a season opener since Percy Harvin, while Singleton Jr. arrives in Gainesville with over 2,000 career yards and 26 touchdowns to his credit.

"Florida should be strong at wide receiver, running back and across all three levels of the defense in Year 1 under Jon Sumrall," Crawford says. "Adding Eric Singleton from Auburn reunites him with offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner after the pair previously worked together at Georgia Tech. Sophomore Vernell Brown in the slot and Dallas Wilson outside give Florida several dependable third-down options regardless of who wins the quarterback job."

A cause for concern when it comes to the Gators' 2026 campaign is quarterback play.

"Many expected Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo to seize the role because of his familiarity with Faulkner's offense, but redshirt freshman Tramell Jones made the competition far more interesting this spring after remaining with the program following DJ Lagway's transfer to Baylor. Sumrall needs clarity at quarterback before the regular season begins."

Florida has sufficient talent at the skill positions to compete in the SEC this season, but stabilized QB play will be the defining factor in Jon Sumrall's first season.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: What to love, hate about Florida football: Wide receiver, quarterback

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