Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin, Brandon Spikes: Gator Football Leaders in 2008

Known Quantities

QB Tim Tebow

Strengths: He’s basically the quarterback that Urban Meyer had in mind when creating his spread offense, plus he’s a great guy who will never cause off-the-field problems.

Must Improve: Late-game drives. In each of Florida’s losses last year, the Gator offense had a chance or two to execute fourth-quarter drives to tie or go ahead, and it failed to do so. Eventually, that traces back to the quarterback.

WR Percy Harvin

Strengths: He is a shifty speed demon who has good hands and is becoming a good route runner, too.

Must Improve: He must find a way to stay healthy all season. He has yet to do that, and his heel surgery this spring raises more questions about his durability.

LB Brandon Spikes

Strengths: He is a hard-hitting, instinctive player who may become the best middle linebacker to go through Florida in the past two decades.

Must Improve: Discipline. He over-pursues at times, and his performance in pass coverage could use some work.

Potential Breakouts

RB Chris Rainey

Will Star Because: With Harvin out, Rainey was the most electrifying Gator in the spring. He made a huge impression at the Orange and Blue Game in front of a national TV audience.

Not Just Yet: He played sparingly on special teams before getting hurt last season, and he didn’t appear to have his head in the game while on the field. He must prove he can focus and perform in a real game.

TE Aaron Hernandez

Will Star Because: He has good size and great hands, and he had some open field runs last year that showed some nice mobility for his size.

He’s good enough alongside fellow TE Cornelius Ingram that Urban Meyer will actually put in some sets with two tight ends, a previously unthinkable scenario for a guy who loves to spread the field.

Not Just Yet: He didn’t play starter’s minutes last year, so it’s not yet known how consistent he will be at running routes and blocking.

DE Carlos Dunlap

Will Star Because: He’s a physical freak. He’s tall, strong, and fast enough that in high school he actually returned kicks on occasion. He was one of the most improved guys in the spring, and he had four sacks in the Orange and Blue Game.

Not Just Yet: He saw almost no action last year because of poor fundamentals. A consequence of being a physical freak is that he was able to overpower guys in high school, leaving him with almost no technique coming into Florida. Raw physical ability alone is not enough to dominate in college.