Keys to Success: Florida Gators

Finding the replacement for Percy Harvin will be tough. No current player has the combination of speed, agility, vision, and ability to play in the space that Percy Harvin had during his tenure at the University of Florida.

Percy Harvin accounted for 1,303 yards during the 2008 season, while still missing two and a half games—Hawaii, Alabama and Florida State. Those numbers earned him the No. 2 spot on both rushing and receiving.

Coaches, so far, have not announced a player to take his role and, in fact, one person may not take it. Coaches have spoken at length about an amalgamation of players to fill his role.

Enter Andre Debose.

Andre Debose is the All-Star from Seminole High School, and he has many of the skills that Percy had coming out of high school. However, we are unsure how that will translate to college football.

Coach Meyer has spoken at length about Andre Debose, even calling him the best player in the country. Coach Meyer has also said that Debose will see the field in the fall and will be a go-to-guy.

However, many think, including Debose, that those are unfair expectations to place on a young high school player, and I agree.

I expect Percy Harvin's position to be replaced by the combination of Deonte Thompson, Chris Rainey, Jeff Demps, Andre Debose, Emmanuel Moody, and Omarius Hines.

To expect one player to take his role is naive. However, will the offense still be as productive? Absolutely!

With the graduation of Percy Harvin and Luis Murphy, the Florida Gators receiving corps received a huge production blow. They need the young group of wide receivers to step up and replace that production.

Enter David Nelson.

It's hard to believe that a man that only caught 12 receptions for 228 yards last season is considered this year's go-to wide receiver. He is. The redshirt senior is tall, fast, and has very dependable hands—the perfect combination for the No. 1 receiver spot.

Unfortunately, he injured his ankle this spring, but don't expect that to stop him as he climbs the depth chart and becomes one of Tebow's big targets.

Of course, Nelson will not be the only player to make up for that production—Riley Cooper, Carl Moore, Deonte Thompson, and Justin Williams will need to step up.

As long as Nelson stays healthy, I see the Gators continuing a strong production level with these wide receivers.

This one is easy.

They stopped one of the most prolific offenses of all time.

They return with all 11 starters and second-string backups.

They received big commitments from Jelani Jenkins, Gary Brown, and John Bostic.

As long as the defense plays how they should play, they will go down as one of the best groups of defenses in the history of college football.

Florida has one of the deepest rosters when it comes to safety as Dorian Munroe, Ahmad Black, Major Wright, Dee Finley, and Will Hill could all see the field at every single FBS school in 2009.

However, only two can, and currently, Ahmad Black and Major Wright are those two.

But, that doesn't mean that Will Hill isn't one of the team's best defenders.

Will Hill saw extensive action in all 13 games last season and was named to the SEC All-Freshman team, with 48 tackles and two interceptions.

Whether it is on special teams, as the nickel corner back, or at safety, he needs to be on the field.

No other player on the team has his drive, speed, vision, and hard-hitting ability.

Why is this a picture of Moody in a USC uniform?

Because that was the last time he was effective.

Emmanuel Moody transferred from USC to the University of Florida two years ago to be the go-to running back.

Unfortunately, his inability to learn the playbook and injuries last year hurt his chances, and with a backfield of Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey, it makes it hard to become effective.

This past year, Moody spent time learning the playbook and changed his attitude. Unfortunately, he had surgery on his hand this spring and will be out for the Orange and Blue game.

But in the Summer, Moody will have the opportunity to flash his skills and mixture of speed and power, and become the go-to running back.

Last season, Moody only played in mop-up time, but with the loss of Kestahn Moore, Moody is the only power running back on the team.

Moody must hold on to the ball, find holes, and utilize his speed and power mix to become the go-to back he wanted to be when he chose to transfer to UF.

This spring, the Gators have lost: center Maurkice Pouncey, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, defensive linemen Carlos Dunlap and Lawrence Marsh, guard Mike Pouncey, return specialist Brandon James, receiver David Nelson, and running backs Jeff Demps and Emmanuel Moody.

Wow!

The Gators must remain healthy in order to go back to the promised land.

They can't afford loses of any of their wide receivers, defensive linemen, or offensive linemen.

Filling in for Tim Tebow will be extremely difficult—in fact, nearly impossible.

However, in 2010 he will take over the Gators' prolific offense, and he will be expected to put up big numbers.

This success point is more pointed at future success, but relies on proper utilization this year.

This season's schedule will allow for more Brantley experience and rest for Tebow, as Florida competes against Charleston Southern, FIU, Troy, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.

In order for Brantley to be an effective redshirt junior in 2010, he needs to gain more experience during 2009.

Last season, it took a promise by Tim Tebow. This year, do they need that motivation, or will they play for the championship starting in game one?

Urban Meyer usually does not let them get cocky, and Tim Tebow and Brandon Spikes won't either, but you never know.

The Gators will start the season as the No. 1 ranked team in the country, and they could stay there as long as they have they a goal in mind.