Looks like Jake McGee will be swapping one form of orange and blue for another.
Florida had a big need at tight end with the departure of Jordan Reed two years ago and never really filled it last year. So instead of turning to recruiting to find his replacement, they landed McGee, a senior-to-be tight end at Virginia who wanted out of Charlottesville. He is eligible to play immediately for the Gators.
It’s a huge get for Will Muschamp for a number of reasons. McGee was UVA’s leading receiver a year ago, and that fact alone should have Florida fans salivating considering how nonexistent Florida’s passing game was last year. The numbers are just as impressive: he’s 6’6, 250 pounds, and runs a 4.6 40 yard dash. Add all that up and I think Florida’s found their starting tight end, or at least a top pass catching tight end, for next season.
As of right now, he’s probably a mid round pick in the NFL Draft, but a strong year in 2014 with the Gators should push him up to the second or maybe even the first round. Remember, Eric Ebron was drafted #10 overall by the Lions, and McGee presents a lot of the same mismatch problems that Ebron did.
Of course, there’s more to his decision to transfer than to increase his draft stock. He wants to win, and being on a Florida team that has a strong running game with Kelvin Taylor and Mack Brown and a strong defense but lacks playmakers is the ideal landing place for him. Look for him to immediately become a featured weapon in the Gators’ passing attack.
