The 20 greatest players in Florida football history

Van Sickel has the excellence of being the primary Gator soccer participant to be named a first-team All-American (1929). A two-way standout at Florida, the Gators posted a 23-6 file throughout his three seasons for his hometown faculty. Regardless of coping with accidents in his ultimate season, Van Sickel can also be considered one of 9 Florida gamers inducted into the Faculty Soccer Corridor of Fame.

Ferguson needs to be a fast point out after we speak about legendary Florida Gators athletes. A 3-year starter for the Gators, Ferguson was one of many faculty’s early record-setters when he recorded 43 receptions, 668 receiving yards, and 5 touchdowns throughout the 1941 season. Along with his stellar soccer abilities, Ferguson competed on Florida’s monitor and area and baseball groups whereas excelling as a boxer. He additionally was a part of the allied invasion of Normandy throughout World Warfare II however suffered head wounds that resulted in his dying in 1954 at age 34. The Fergie Ferguson Award is given yearly to the Gators soccer senior who exhibits exceptional management, character, and braveness.

The “Ol’ Ball Coach” is a Faculty Soccer Corridor of Famer as each a participant and coach. Earlier than he guided the Gators to the 1996 nationwide championship, he was the primary College of Florida participant to win the Heisman Trophy. That got here in 1966 when Spurrier led the Gators to a 9-2 file. It was the second of back-to-back All-American seasons for Spurrier, who additionally gained the Walter Camp Trophy. For his school profession, Spurrier threw for 4,848 passing yards with 37 touchdowns. He’s additionally considered one of six gamers, and the one coach, to be included in Florida’s “Ring of Honor.”

Youngblood got here to Florida as a linebacker however was moved to defensive finish, the place he starred for 3 seasons and in the end discovered himself among the many program’s “Ring of Honor.” In 1969, Youngblood recorded 14 sacks — an official faculty file, together with 5 throughout a victory over rival Florida State. The All-American and 1970 Outland Trophy finalist posted 29 profession sacks. Youngblood’s expertise and knack for making the massive defensive play carried onto the NFL, the place he was a seven-time Professional Bowler and earned membership into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.

It has been greater than 50 years since Alvarez performed soccer at Florida, however his 2,563 profession receiving yards, 15 receptions in a recreation, and 88 catches for a season (1969) are all nonetheless information for this system. Getting into the 2022 season, Alvarez’s 19 profession touchdowns additionally rank among the many prime 10 at school historical past. A member of the Faculty Soccer Corridor of Fame, Alvarez was listed as one of many “SEC Legends,” as chosen by the convention in 1994.

Reaves was a part of the Gators’ gifted 1969 group of sophomores, together with Carlos Alvarez, often known as the “Tremendous Sophs.” That group helped Florida to a memorable 9-1-1 mark and Gator Bowl victory over favored Tennessee. Reaves, an All-American in 1971, nonetheless ranks within the prime 10 of Florida soccer historical past with 7,581 profession passing yards (an NCAA file on the time) and 56 touchdowns. Following a good profession within the NFL and USFL, taking part in for Steve Spurrier within the latter, he served as a Gators assistant within the early Nineties.

Soccer followers of a sure age most likely bear in mind Chandler finest for his stellar NFL profession with the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers. But, earlier than that, he was a standout for the Gators. A primary-team All-American in 1976 and ’77, Chandler recorded 92 receptions for 1,963 and a then-school file 22 touchdowns for his profession. He additionally totaled 172 factors throughout his profession with the Gators and is a member of the Faculty Soccer Corridor of Fame.

Marshall is without doubt one of the most athletic and fierce linebackers to play the sport on the school or professional degree. He nonetheless ranks amongst Florida’s profession leaders with 343 complete tackles — 210 solo stops — and 23 sacks. A two-time consensus All-American, Marshall is a member of the Faculty Soccer Corridor of Fame and one of many six Gators to be a part of the soccer program’s “Ring of Honor.”

Brown has the excellence of being the one Florida Gators offensive lineman to be inducted into the Faculty Soccer Corridor of Fame. He is additionally a member of the College of Florida Athletic Corridor of Fame. A part of the “The Nice Wall of Florida” offensive line unit, Brown began 34 video games throughout his time with the Gators and was named a consensus All-American in 1984. Following his stellar Florida profession, Brown loved great NFL success as a seven-time Professional Bowler and Tremendous Bowl champion.

The NFL’s all-time main rusher with 18,355 yards, Smith ranks second in Gators historical past with regards to the college’s profession dashing chief (3,928 yards). An All-American (1989) and three-time All-SEC first-team performer, Smith does maintain the top-two spots with regards to Florida’s single-season dashing information — 1,341 (1987), 1,599 (1989). His 316 yards towards New Mexico in 1989 stay a college single-game finest, and his 126.7 profession common yards per recreation can also be No. 1 at Florida. Smith is among the many first group of gamers inducted into the college’s soccer “Ring of Honor.”

So if a legend like Emmitt Smith isn’t Florida’s all-time main rusher, then who’s? That may be Errict Rhett, who took the torch from Smith and utterly ran with it to a school-record 4,163 profession yards. A two-time All-SEC first-team choice and an All-American in 1993, Rhett additionally ranks among the many prime 5 in Florida historical past in single-season dashing yards (1,289 in 1993), profession touchdowns (34), profession common dashing yards per recreation (90.5) and profession receptions (153).

Although it appears Odom stays within the shadow of Lomas Brown, Odom loved fairly a profitable profession with the Gators throughout the early-to-mid-Nineties. Not solely was Odom a two-time first-team All-SEC choice and a unanimous All-American in 1995, however he was a giant a part of Florida’s three-straight SEC championship groups from 1993-95. Odom can also be a member of the College of Florida Athletic Corridor of Fame and performed 4 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Precisely 30 years after Steve Spurrier grew to become the Gators’ first Heisman Trophy winner, Wuerffel repeated the feat with a stellar 1996 efficiency when he threw for 3,625 yards with 39 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. A two-time SEC Participant of the Yr and first-team All-American, Wuerffel set varied convention and NCAA information throughout his profession, which he concluded with 10,875 passing yards (second-most at school historical past), 114 touchdowns (program file) and 163.6 passer score. A Faculty Soccer Corridor-of-Famer, Wuerffel can also be a part of this system’s “Ring of Honor.”

There have been extra embellished defensive backs in Florida Gators’ historical past. Weary stands out for his knack for locating the ball and his general worth to the groups he was a member of. A consensus first-team All-American in 1997, Weary is the college’s all-time chief with 15 interceptions. He additionally broke up 35 passes throughout his profession. Maybe most necessary, Weary’s particular person expertise helped the Gators win three SEC titles (1994-96) and the 1996 nationwide championship. 

Brown is the primary Gators defensive lineman to be named a first-team All-American on two events — 1999 and 2001. His 33 sacks are nonetheless probably the most at school historical past for a profession, and the 13 Brown recorded throughout the 1999 marketing campaign are probably the most for a season by any Gator. A 3-time All-SEC first-teamer, Brown helped Florida win an SEC championship in 2000, was named the league’s Defensive Participant of the Yr in 2001, and is a member of the College of Florida Athletic Corridor of Fame

Informal school soccer followers would possibly overlook simply how good Grossman carried out at Florida. He was the primary sophomore at school historical past to obtain first-team All-American honors following a 2001 season the place he threw for 3,896 yards (second-best at school historical past) with 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions whereas additionally ending fifth within the Heisman voting and profitable Faculty Soccer Participant of the Yr by The Related Press. For his profession, Grossman ranks inside the Gators’ prime 10 in receiving yards (9,164) and touchdowns (77).

There have been many embellished receivers in Florida Gators’ historical past. However what Gaffney did in simply two seasons in Gainesville earns him a spot on our record. As a redshirt freshman in 2000, Gaffney recorded 71 receptions for 1,184 yards with 14 touchdowns to earn nationwide freshman participant of the 12 months honors. A 12 months later, he earned All-American honors with 67 catches for 1,191 yards and 13 extra receiving touchdowns. These 27 touchdowns had been probably the most by a participant throughout his freshman and sophomore seasons mixed.

Folks throw shade at Tebow, however with regards to his school soccer profession, he is one of many greats. He is Florida’s third and most up-to-date Heisman winner and the primary sophomore to say that honor. Tebow led the Gators to 2 nationwide titles (2006, ’08), was a two-time first-team All-American, gained the Maxwell Award twice, and was the SEC Participant of the Yr on two events. Tebow ranks among the many faculty’s prime 10 for passing yards (9,285), touchdowns (88), and dashing yards (2,947). He is the college’s all-time chief with 57 dashing touchdowns, a Faculty Soccer Corridor of Famer, and a member of Florida soccer’s “Ring of Honor.”

Pouncey, who performed alongside his brother Mike at Florida, is the one Gator to win the Rimington Trophy, which honors the nation’s finest middle. Throughout his profession with the Gators, Pouncey began all however two of the 41 video games he performed. He was a key member of Florida’s 2009 nationwide championship crew and a consensus All-American. Pouncey went on to get pleasure from an 11-year NFL profession the place he was a nine-time Professional Bowl choice.

The second Gator to win the John Mackey Award because the nation’s prime tight finish, Pitts’ Florida profession consisted of 32 video games spanning three seasons. And with regards to pass-catching tight ends in Gainesville, Pitts simply may be one of the best. Pitts’ 100 profession receptions rank second at school historical past amongst tight ends, whereas his 1,492 receiving yards are probably the most of any Gator to play the place. Pitts, who recorded 12 touchdowns in eight video games throughout his All-American, COVID-shortened season of 2020, additionally holds the single-game yards file amongst Gator tight ends with 170 versus Mississippi throughout that marketing campaign.