Kyle Pitts needs to be special for Florida to win big

The redshirt freshman needs to change games for the Gators to enjoy victories in this upcoming stretch.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Four games, three top 10 opponents, two Kyles, one mismatch. 

It's true. Florida's pass-catching corps is incredibly deep. Everybody can play. 

Nobody questions the reliability of Josh Hammond, or the completeness of Van Jefferson, or the speed of Tyrie Cleveland, or the big-play ability of Trevon Grimes. 

However, as good as UF's downfield targets are, only one is arguably unguardable, and he wears No. 84. Kyle Pitts has shown, especially in the last two games, that there is not a linebacker or nickel cornerback in the country big and fast enough to stick with him down the field. And at 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, no defensive back that the Gators face in this stretch have even relatively close to enough size to guard him either. 

Kyle Pitts is a man amongst children when you target him in the redzone.

He's unstoppable. #Gators pic.twitter.com/1UooyAbNgu

— Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall) September 30, 2019

He is unfair. 

Last season, Florida's tight end position accumulated 31 receptions as whole. Pitts is on pace to surpass that count by himself, with 17 receptions through five games. His 17689 receiving yards ranks third on the team, while his three touchdowns lead all Gators' receivers. 

He is the only offensive player that wears orange and Florida's shade of blue where coach Dan Mullen can flex a talent muscle against Auburn, LSU or Georgia. Mullen's niche is finding perceived mediocrity and making it exceptional. But with Pitts, that isn't necessary. He is an obvious monster. 

Kyle Pitts is elite. pic.twitter.com/Oal4pDCY3I

— 🐊 JJ 🐊 (@jjgatorman) September 30, 2019

This is one that is too easy for Mullen. This is one that he, or any coach in the nation really, couldn't possibly screw up. 

As reliable as Hammond is, you can scheme against a 6-foot-tall WR under 200 pounds. As effective as Jefferson, Cleveland and Grimes can be, all have had quiet games before against great teams where Florida still won. 

Because of that mismatch, paired with how much UF has struggled to run the ball as of late and how good Auburn, LSU and Georgia's defenses are, Pitts is the best target for quarterback Kyle Trask to post winnable numbers on the scoreboard over the next month. 

And that starts with Auburn, who doesn't have a starting defensive back that stands over 6-foot-tall. If Trask can get the ball out to Pitts early and often before Auburn's pass rush can make a legitimate impact, Florida's odds at beating the Tigers increase dramatically.