Florida will spend at least part of its training camp in a hotel as coach Dan Mullen searches for ways to avoid another COVID-19 outbreak within the program.

Florida tight end Kyle Pitts (84) makes the catch ahead of Alabama linebacker Christian Harris (8) during the second half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida standout Kyle Pitts, the team’s best player and the top tight end in the country, is turning pro and skipping a potential bowl game. Pitts made his announcement on social media Sunday, less than 12 hours after the 11th-ranked Gators lost to No. He's expected to be the first tight end selected in the 2021 NFL draft and quite possibly a top-10 pick. He's expected to win the Mackey Award given annually to college football’s top tight end and surely will get some Heisman Trophy votes.

6 Florida could be without standout tight end Kyle Pitts against Arkansas on Saturday because of a concussion. Coach Dan Mullen called Pitts questionable for the game. Pitts spent the rest of the game in the locker room. If Pitts can’t play against the Razorbacks (3-3), Kemore Gamble and Keon Zipperer would fill his role. You look, he goes out and Kemore has a great game.

5 Florida will open the season short-handed up front. Coach Dan Mullen said Monday that center/guard Ethan White had knee surgery and will miss Saturday’s game at Ole Miss. Mullen added “we expect him to be back shortly, though.”White was expected to start at one of the three interior spots, likely center. Without him, Brett Heggie is slated to snap to quarterback Kyle Trask, with Richard Gouraige and Mississippi State transfer Stewart Reese flanking him. “What it does is it hurts the depth aspect of things,” Mullen said.

This much is clear: Florida will rely on a number of newcomers — some transfers, some freshmen — as it tries to dethrone rival Georgia in the Southeastern Conference’s East Division. The NCAA denied his waiver request to play right away, so he ended up sitting out last season under transfer rules. “He hasn’t played in live game situations or live football situations where people are coming, running at you to try to block the kick,” Mullen said. Dexter visited only one school — Florida — before signing day. DEREK WINGOAfter losing leading tackler David Reese, who led the team with 94 stops last season, the Gators have concerns at linebacker.

One of the bigger questions facing the 2020 Florida Gators is how can they improve in the run game? In comes Mississippi State, grad transfer offensive lineman, Stewart Reese. David Waters is joined by Will Miles (ReadandReaction.com) to break down Reeses transfer to Florida. The two discuss how Reese fits in the offensive line and Mullens success in the transfer portal. LISTEN: Catch up on previous episodes of Gators BreakdownFollow David Waters on Twitter @GatorDave_SEC to stay plugged in, or click one of the following to tune in:Megaphone | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Play | Stitcher