HOOVER, Ala.— Four years ago, Florida made the change from offensively focused coach, Urban Meyer, to a defensive guru in Will Muschamp. 
After finishing 13th in conference in total offense under Muschamp last season, the Gators turn to offensive-minded coach Jim McElwain to right the ship and bring Florida back into SEC championship contention. 
McElwain returns to the Southeastern Conference following a three-year stint as a coach at Colorado State. He served as Alabama’s offensive coordinator from 2008 to 2011. 
Although he has high expectations for the Gators, McElwain‘s experience in the league has taught him to recognize the tough road ahead. 
“Part of the experience of being in this conference is realizing it doesn’t happen just overnight,” McElwain said. “And yet every time we go to work every day, every time we wake up, our responsibility is to try to go out there and win… We’ve got a ways to go, and yet there are some good things in place.”
The transition between Muschamp and McElwain is evident with the change in the scheme on the offensive end. 
Although the Gators spent the majority of their downs in the shotgun in 2014, sophomore wide receiver Brandon Powell said McElwain has brought variety to the formation by putting the quarterbacks under center. 
McElwain‘s focus on offense is to create a system that fits the players on his roster. 
“Fitting the parts in that we have and finding out how exactly we’re going to go about it is something that we look forward to building as we get there in August,” McElwain said. 
Another part of the changing of the guard has been the amount of time McElwain has spent with the offense. 
“It’s different because Coach [McElwain], he’s more of an offensive guy so you get to see him a lot and talk to him a lot,” Powell said. “Also, if you’re making plays he’s the one who has the decision to make who can get the ball.”
Despite Muschamp’s departure, the Gators look to the leadership of senior defensive end Jonathan Bullard and junior defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III to continue Florida’s defensive dominance. 
Bullard’s decision to return for his senior season brings experience and leadership to a young defensive line. 
“I just had higher expectations for myself, I was ready to come back to where I’m from,” Bullard said. “I knew I had something to prove. I hope I can show that and get drafted to where I want to be.”
Despite being a year younger than Bullard, Hargreaves production on the field has capulted him into a leadership role. 
In his first two seasons, Hargreaves has tallied 24 blocked passes, six interceptions and 88 tackles. In 2014, he was named a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award for the best defensive player in the nation. 
Bullard said the best part about Hargreaves is that despite his position as a leader he willing to listen and learn from his teammates