Florida Gators football: 5 candidates to replace Jim McElwain

GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 30: Florida Gators tight end C'yontai Lewis (80) celebrates a touchdown with fans during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Florida Gators on September 30, 2017 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field in Gainesville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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3. Jason Candle

Candle is in his second full season as head coach at Toledo, with a 17-5 record including a bowl game win when he replaced Matt Campbell at the end of the 2015 season. The Rockets are 7-1 this season, with their lone loss coming to Miami (FL) on the road.

The level of competition in the MAC has to be considered, but the Rockets were a top-20 scoring offense in the country last year. They were also 10th in the country in pass offense (322.8 yards per game), as quarterback Logan Woodside led the FBS in touchdown passes (45), while also having a top-50 rushing offense (46th; 195 yards per game).

So far this year, he results have been similar. Toledo is seventh in the country in total offense (516.6 yards per game), with a pretty equal balance of passing (289.5 yards per game) and rushing (227.1 yards per game), while averaging 40.5 points per game (tied for 11th in the country).

It’s worth noting that McElwain came from a mid-major (Colorado State), which may hurt Candle as a candidate at Florida in some eyes. But youth (38 years old on Nov. 12) should work in the Toledo coach’s favor, along with an adaptable and productive offense that should get some attention.

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