Florida loses three major offensive weapons before Cotton Bowl

Three heavy hitters on the Florida offense will skip the Cotton Bowl and go to the NFL.

Kyle Trask and the Florida Gators were able to put up offensive numbers that rivaled any across the country, but they weren’t good enough to help them win the SEC or make it into the College Football Playoff. While a Cotton Bowl matchup against Oklahoma could be an extremely enticing game for coaches and viewers alike, Florida will go into this game shorthanded thanks to the looming specter of the 2021 draft.

All-purpose weapon Kadarius Toney confirmed today that he will not play against the Sooners in Dan Mullen’s second New Year’s Six Bowl with the Gators. Toney will join tight end Kyle Pitts and wide receiver Trevon Grimes in opting out.

All of these Florida players could become instant starters at the NFL level

Toney started his Gators career as a speed demon in the Percy Harvin mold, but he has developed into an excellent slot receiver over the course of this season. Toney came into the season with 50 catches, 606 yards, and two touchdowns as a receiver. In 2020, he caught 70 passes for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns, showing that his speed will make an NFL team extremely happy on Day 2.

Pitts has pulled away from the likes of Pat Freiermuth and Brevin Jordan, cementing himself as 2021’s top tight end. He caught 43 passes in eight games, 12 of which were touchdowns. The 6-6, 245-pounder has the speed and route-running skills of a receiver 50 pounds lighter, and that dynamic playmaking ability could see him picked in the top half of the first round.

A former Ohio State transfer, Grimes also had his best season this year, setting new career-highs in catches (38), yards (589), and touchdowns (9). He will get plenty of attention due to his 6-4 frame and solid top-end speed.

While the Gators will still put up a fight, their offense will be much less fearsome without Trask’s three favorite targets.

For more NCAA football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.