Top 5 Gator Recruits That Got Away

We all have stories about the one that got away. Talk to any fisherman and he/she will be able to talk for hours about the ones that got away.

Since 2005 when Urban Meyer was hired a head football coach of the University of Florida, there are some fish tales about those recruits that have gotten away.  

Since coming on board in 2005, Coach Meyer has landed some of the top-ranked recruiting classes in the nation, but each year there has been that one  big fish that got away.

So time to sit back and daydream about these top five talents that the Gators had on the line but got away.

5. Jamie Harper, RB - Class of 2007  

Jamie is a rare breed of speed, size, explosiveness, and power. He would have been a great running back to have in the spread since he is a dual threat back with soft hands and great field vision.

The Gators were in the running with him to the very end, but he was the second back the Gators lost to Clemson. Harper sat behind CJ Spiller and James Davis in the 2008 season and only managed 34 carries for 133 yards.

4. Ramon Buchanan, LB - Class of 2008  

Coming out of high school, Ramon was a 6 foot, 181 pound safety, but had 4.59 forty speed. He just needed to pack on some weight.

Ramon decommitted  from Miami to go with the Gators, then on signing day he flipped back to Miami. Last year, Buchanan played in nine games and recorded six tackles.  

3. Trent Richardson, RB - Class of 2009  

Richardson would be that big back that could take some of the load off Tim Tebow. This year we had to watch on Signing Day as he put on the Bear Bryant houndstooth hat.

Richardson piled up 2,090 yards in 10 games with 25 TD in his senior season at Escambia High School.  

2. Terrence Toliver, WR - Class of 2007  

Terrence was the No. 1-rated receiver on Scout and the No. 2-rated receiver on Rivals coming out of high school. At 6'4, 195 and 4.5 forty speed, he had all to the tools to be a great Gator wide-out.

In the end, this one came down to the Gators and LSU. Terrence has yet to break out for the Tigers. In 2008 he didn't have a game over 60 yards receiving or one with more than 5 receptions.  

1. C.J. Spiller, RB - Class of 2006  

Simply put Spiller should have been the first great back of the Urban Meyer era. Instead, Spiller has been left splitting carries with James Davis and has not been able to put his talents on a prime-time level.

Fact is, Tebow had more carries, yards, and TDs than Spiller did last year.  

Honorable mentions: Ricky Barnum '08, Jevan Snead '06, Jarvis Jones '09, Greg Reid '09, Nu'keese Richardson '09, Marsalis Teague '09