On Wednesday, the Florida Gators got a commitment from 2017 quarterback Jake Allen. Allen made his choice after a recruiting tour that included Notre Dame, Stanford, and Michigan. There were several factors that he cited in his decision, which included a childhood fandom of former Gator quarterback Tim Tebow and the desire to play in a rivalry the caliber of UF-FSU. Allen is the first quarterback signing for Jim McElwain since taking the helm in Gainesville following the firing of Will Muschamp.
The timing of this signing will be vital for McElwain. While most SEC coaching jobs are high pressure, especially Florida, there is usually a “honeymoon” period where there is a larger margin for error. Allen will be coming in as Florida shifts from rebuilding mode to contention. Florida has access to a great pool of talent in-state, and will continue to bolster it’s next two recruiting classes in preparation for a run at the SEC East in a few years.
In what will be McElwain’s third year, he will need a man under center who can lead a team through the gauntlet of an SEC schedule. Allen stands at 6’3″, so there is no question of height when it comes to standing in the pocket of a pro-style offense and surveying the field. The only concern physically of going through a whole season against hard-hitting defenses is Allen’s weight. He currently sits a 191 lbs., but considering the trend of players bulking up drastically once they reach the college level, this is something that will be of no concern in the near future.
While Allen’s signing brings great promise for the future, McElwain will need to manage with what he has for two seasons. While the athletic Treon Harris has game experience, Will Grier will likely be the starter as he is the better pro-style passer, as well as the better decision maker. There is even a chance that McElwain turns Grier into a star, as he has done with A.J. McCarron and Garret Grayson in recent years.
Despite the various questions that surround the quarterback position in Gainesville, there are few better than Jim McElwain to come in and improve an offense that has been horrendous in the past two seasons. While there is rebuilding in the foreground, look for Florida to be fighting for the SEC East in the not too distant future.