2005 Statistics

Quarterback
Urban Meyer didn’t do what he has done in the past two places (Bowling Green, Utah) he was brought in – he failed to make the QB (Chris Leak, in this case) much better than he already was. Leak hasn’t been bad, but has yet to live up to his potential. The Charlotte-native was the No.2 pro-style hurler when recruited in ’03, and with 4.6 speed, and most thought Meyer would make him as efficient as Alex Smith and/or Omar Jacobs became. But the SEC has defenses that are “up to speed” with the best, so Meyer’s schemes have yet to truly blossom under Leak. But none of this disqualifies Leak from the top spot here. Most know that Leak should be more impacting in his second/senior year with Meyer, and we agree. Leak has the improvisational skills to make the UF spread offense work, so expect his tenure to go out with a bang. Hi s2005 backup, Josh Portis, was too good not to start, so he transferred to Maryland. Luckily, the big news out of Gainesville in the off-season has been Tim Tebow, who set state prep records at St. Augustine for both career and single-season total yards, and was rated this year’s top QB prize. Meyer will surely play Tebow, knowing the future is so bright in the sunshine state and that the kid needs to see time so this unit can develop beyond 2006. Still, no experience would likely mean adjustment time if Tebow becomes the primary. But after that, he could actually make the O hum even better.

Running Back
Coach Meyer lambasted the spring developments here, saying that if more isn’t seen from them, and soon, he may just throw every down…really, he said that. His disappointments are shared with so much talent to be had, but a rebound is surely in their forecast. DeShawn Wynn weighs 235 lbs. and can run the 40 in 4.35. Do we really have to say more? When given the rock, he runs over, around and right through defensemen, with a deceptively quick first few steps. He is too often 10 yards down the field before anyone can even touch him, and what a load to bring down – arm tackles don’t work with Wynn. Marcus Manson has a 39” vertical leap and is even faster. He doesn’t quite have Wynn’s power, but his swiftness allows him to be a nice alternative to Wynn. Both will have jobs on Sundays in the future. Kestahn Moore is a hybrid RB/WR who gets the ball enough that we will list him, though Wynn seems to be allowed to go deeper in his routes in Meyer’s eclectic play-calling. Chevon Walker entered school prior to spring so as to be “up to speed” with the Gator schemes, but he is neither big nor super fast, though is supposed to be the future here with so many prep accolades. The nation’s 16th-rated RB prospect (Scout.com), Mon Williams, also seems a bit slow to take the corner for sure gains, but has the same promise as Walker and will surely get a look. With the QBs also having ground impact, UF needs to make this unit reflect better results (56th rushing offense and only 3.9 per carry in ’05).

Receiver
Senior Dallas Baker joins two classmates to give the Gators another formidable group that foes cannot ignore, or else. Baker will be the primary target and has the size to go underneath without being slaughtered by safeties. Jemalle Cornelius will help to stretch the field, while Ken Tookes and junior Andre Caldwell (most reliable hands on the team) can do the same, or anything else Meyer requires. All are over 6-foot, so the Gator’s three-and four-WR sets impose mismatches galore. Then there is the No.1 overall recruit of this year’s class – Percy Harvin – who will hit the field sometime soon, and Harvin is just one of many major recruits (sub-4.4 guys Jarred Fayson and Riley Cooper are both too fast not to see time) Meyer has made sure come here to play their best. Only LSU has had a unit this deep so recently, a corps going four-deep across each spot. The only problem will be getting them all the rock enough so that none transfers, a problem that bodes well for Gator fans.

Tight End (H-back)
Tate Casey has the size and speed to make this spot work both ways, but Meyer doesn’t give this position the usual look. Trent Pupello will add dimension to the spot, though Pupello comes for his first year as a Gator. Eric Rutledge and Cornelius Ingram are brought in more for running plays when conventional two-TE sets are used, but that won’t happen as much as plays where the TE/H-back is put in the slot/spread and/or backfield. Still, so many options here has to keep foes guessing, depending on how they look as the ball is snapped.

Offensive Line
We see a weakness here, comparatively, for the UF offense. Losing four starters will hurt, but Meyer has recruited well to get the kind of guys he wants, so it is just a matter of time until this area develops beyond what it once was. Steve Rissler and Drew Miller, both Sarasota-Riverview products (our editor’s alma mater), will give them size inside to go with experience. Street & Smith prep all-American Jim Tartt, now a sophomore, also has enough size and footwork to take on the biggest of DLmen, and he will anchor an outside spot. Five-star recruit Carl Johnson is the No.4 guard coming in this year, representing the youth we outlined that should make this area eventually better than it was - a group that gave up 35 sacks, even with the mobility of Leak, and plowed for under four per rush. Meyer pulls and shifts assignments up front, something that has worked best when Urban can get his big men into his quirky approach before they learn more conventional (and easier) schemes. But a move toward ore convention may occur, so it is all good. Like last year, developments here will dictate how the entire offense works, for this area is too relied upon not to mean such.

OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
This will be the second year under the creative schemes of Urban Meyer, which, at his other stops, has been the year his offense becomes one of the nation’s best. But the SEC is a tough place to think that you can just fly by those superior in-conference defenses, and Meyer knows it won’t be magic that raises the production. One cannot just “spread” opposing SEC defenders and expect them to be exploited via isolation – athletic defenders in this superior conference can recover and exploit such ways, themselves. Dan Mullen, brought along from Utah with Meyer as his secret weapon, will surely take hard lessons to heed and benefit the offense due to such. Their results with the talents of Leak at the helm were balanced (56th-ranked in rushing, 51st in passing), but that only ranked UF 61st in total production, very un-Meyer/Mullen-like numbers with so much at the talent positions. The revamped line will actually help developments in the long run, and their trip to Knoxville (third game) will let us know how far this offense will be able to go via the “Gator beef”.

Defensive Line
Four proven seniors will make the line again formidable. Inside will be returning starters Marcus Thomas and Steven Harris, two seemingly undersized guys who play bigger than they appear. Both are smaller than most tackles, but Thomas is a special kind of player that occupies two hats, or foes pay the price. Harris isn’t “chopped liver”, making plays all over, too. Hey, you can’t put two hats on both, so the middle will be constantly clogged. Classmate Joe Cohen and sophomore Derrick Harvey get the nod on the outside, with Harvey excelling enough to pass senior backup Ray MacDonald on the depth chart. Jarvis Moss, a man amongst men, seems to be the statistical choice to start, so a healthy rotation means experience and fresh legs for 60 full minutes of pain. Three four-star-caliber DTs come in with this class. This is a top 10 rushing defense again, possibly lowering their 3.1 yards allowed per carry average, too.

Linebacker
Brandon Siler will be a junior, and with his 4.5 speed in the 40 and all-academic mind, he will lead the D from his MLB spot again to great heights. If there is a loose ball, he falls on it (seven fumble recoveries in ‘05), and he is just everywhere the action goes. Ex-RB Earl Everett is the lone senior starter to return, and he produces much from his weakside spot. Everett can play any back-seven position, so when you see him line up one-on-one in the slot, don’t buy into any thoughts of a mismatch. Big guy John Demps was too good not to see time his first year and is primed to step up as a starter, if heralded, while svelte RS frosh Ryan Stamper and his 4.6 speed will produce as another cover-specialist. This year’s No.2 prize (Rivals.com) at OLB is Shelby, N.C.-native Brandon Spikes, and Meyer made sure he is wearing Blue-and-Orange for a reason. Other four-star prospects make this area have depth even before real game trials prove anything. Foes who have discounted UF’s LB corps in the past have paid, dearly, and unknowns dotting the roster shouldn’t scare Gator fans.

Defensive Back
This is the area we feel could cost UF the most yards, seeing how three of four starters have left, and how the remaining starter, free safety Kyle Jackson, is only a sophomore. He is well-sized and hits with vengeance, and there is a foundation of experience around which to build with junior Reggie Nelson. Nelson is a kick-blocking fiend, so his presence in the box will be commonplace, most likely. Nelson had more tackles than Jackson, and will rotate in early and often, if not making the starting grade, himself. Classmate Tony Joiner will likely be the other safety, and he has made coming up with huge plays his forte. Jacques Richardson and Derrick Robinson (4.25 speed!) will push twins Jermaine and Tremaine McCollum for those vaunted starting corner spots, but experience says the brothers will be the main components on the outside, and both can survive on islands, if need be. It will matter how quickly this group can come together as to how the entire defensive effort plays out, but Meyer has enough green recruits to plug in if injuries occur. That may mean a step back initially, but the talent is there for this to be as good a crew as any in the conference.

DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
The front seven is strong, and the DBs just have to catch up to their brethren’s quality to make the secondary as feared. Since the LBs (Everett and Siler) are the genuine shizz, their efforts will pull the entire D together for maximum results, aiding the DBs until they come along. Meyer demands his D hold as much water as his creative spread offense, so there will be little room for errors before subs are brought in, and depth exists everywhere. They will likely employ a healthy rotation, anyway, and such will keep the entire defensive effort strong for the 60 needed minutes, with no drop off in fourth quarter production (they were only on the field an average of 27+ minutes in ’05, which should continue). Still, the 78 fourth-quarter points given up by the Gators has to be lessened, or losses will occur. With sunshine state prospects displaying speed and strength, there is no reason to believe the secondary’s initial showing(s) will not drastically improve as they learn, and the schedule demands this to be true. Cover-two will be employed early, but Meyer and his blitzing ways will demand more as the SEC foes hit. This will again be a top 10 defense (ninth overall in ’05).