One day after reportedly meeting with Florida, Kurt Roper will reportedly have a new home in 2014.
ESPN.com confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the Duke offensive coordinator will be hired to fill the same role with the Gators. An announcement is expected later this week, the website stated.
If the hiring comes to fruition, Roper would replace Brent Pease, who was fired shortly after the end of the 2013 season following two very unproductive seasons in Gainesville.
Roper has been with the Blue Devils since 2008 and was a Broyles Award finalist in 2013. This year, Roper directed a Duke offense that finished the regular season 49th in scoring (31.6 points per game) and 68th in total yards (408.1 yards per game).
While that doesn’t exactly scream “Baylor” or “Oregon,” it’s vastly superior to anything that’s happened offensively for the Gators since 2009. In the four seasons since -- one under Urban Meyer, three under Will Muschamp -- Florida has not averaged more than 30 points per game or more than 350 yards per game in a single season. 2013 was absolute rock-bottom as the Gators finished the regular season T-111th at 18.8 points per game, 112th in total offense at 316.7 yards per game and 107th in passing offense at 170.9 yards per game.
(Photo credit: Duke athletics)
