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Florida is right to bet big on Todd Grantham

By Rucker Haringey

ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 23: Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and Mississippi State Bulldogs linebacker Dez Harris (10) walk onto the field before the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Georgia Bulldogs on September 23, 2017, at Sanford Stadium in Athens, GA. Georgia defeated Mississippi State 31-3. (Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 23: Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and Mississippi State Bulldogs linebacker Dez Harris (10) walk onto the field before the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Georgia Bulldogs on September 23, 2017, at Sanford Stadium in Athens, GA. Georgia defeated Mississippi State 31-3. (Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Todd Grantham can fix Florida’s defense.

Dan Mullen understands that he will need a great defense to be successful at Florida. That’s why the Gators are making a big bet on defensive coordinator Todd Grantham to hold SEC offenses in check.

According to records released by the school yesterday, Grantham has signed a three-year deal that will make him the highest paid assistant in school history. He will reportedly earn $4.47 million over the full length of the contract. That’s well over the compensation for quite a few FBS head coaches.

If Grantham works the same magic at Florida he did last season for Mississippi State, it will be money well spent. He played a huge role in the Bulldogs’ defensive improvement to become one of the best units in the SEC. It’s no surprise that Mullen elected to bring Grantham with him to Gainesville.

For a defense with so many athletes, the Gators were shockingly mediocre on that side of the ball last season. Florida gave up 27.3 ppg, which was good for 69th place out of 130 FBS programs. That’s nowhere near good enough to compete for an SEC title.

The good news for Grantham is that he should inherit a more talented group than he coached last year in Starkville. One could also argue that the offenses he’ll face in the SEC East are easier than the juggernauts he had to compete with in the West. Mark Richt’s Georgia attack might be the only elite offense Florida has to face on an annual basis.

Of course, if Grantham does too good of a job, he won’t be around to collect all of his checks from the Gators. Being the defensive coordinator at Florida should put him in contention for quite a few head coaching positions when they open up. He’s got a great gig in Gainesville, but there’s still more money to be made as a head coach somewhere else.

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Credit Florida for making big time investments in their football program. Gators officials correctly understand that spending big money on a head coach isn’t enough. It also takes great assistants to assemble a team capable of challenging for a national title. Florida’s decision to bet big on Todd Grantham should give them an excellent defense in the near future.

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