Riggs tackles LSU's Jarvis Landry in a 17-6 loss; Photo: USA Today Sports
Will Muschamp had as tough of a 2013 season as any coach in college football and, at least for now, it looks to be continuing into 2014. In December, ESPN posted an injury-by-injury look at Florida's 2013 season and it wasn't pretty. I think I pulled a hammy just reading that article.
Injuries are just part of the story as the team also failed to live up to expectations and Muschamp is now on the hottest seat in college football as we head into spring football. While the injuries mounted in 2013, and they still continue, a big story heading into 2014 is the attrition that is facing this Florida team.
In December, the Gators announced that six offensive players including TE Kent Taylor (a four-star prospect rated by many as the top tight end of the 2012 class) were transferring. A few days later QB Tyler Murphy made it seven as he departed for Boston College.
On Wednesday, Muschamp announced another Gator would be transferring as starting Safety Cody Riggs, who started all 12 games in 2013, will head to another school after he graduates this spring. The reasoning given by Alligator Army is that he wants to play cornerback. On Thursday, Riggs said it wasn't just a football decision but that he wants to impact the community with his Family Youth and Community Sciences degree and is planning to go to graduate school.
If that's true, which we have no reason to believe it's not, it's refreshing to see a young man make that kind of decision for his future. But…it doesn't help Muschamp and the Gators.
The Gators defense is already tasked with replacing studs Dominique Easley and Ronald Powell along the line of scrimmage on defense and Loucheiz Purifoy, Jaylen Watkins and Marcus Roberson in the secondary. With the addition of Riggs to Florida's "key losses", the Gators defense is in need of almost a complete overhaul.
With the hire of Kurt Roper, Muschamp is on his third offensive coordinator. With the defensive talent that needs to be replaced, Muschamp better hope that he has finally made the right hire for that position as the Gators look like they will need to score some points in 2014.
