Top Players For The 2008 Gators

Florida is among one of the top teams in the country in terms of talent.  Urban Meyer has compiled a top-3 recruiting class for the last 3 years and it will pay dividends in the upcoming season.  A plethora of talent is displayed on both sides of the ball. 

On offense, it is no surprise the player to watch out for is the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Tebow. 

Tebow does not have many weaknesses one can point out at the college level.  He knows the offense, is very efficient (32 TDs-6 Ints), has plenty of arm strength, and he runs (over people) well.  He has all the intangibles: poise, leadership, and passion for the game. 

But what is something he has to work on?  The 2 minute drill.  Tebow did not have any successful drives at the end of games to win (Auburn, LSU, Michigan). 

Percy Harvin is another Heisman trophy candidate this year.  One of the fastest players in the nation, he is probably the player SEC defensive coordinators loose sleep over the most.  He can score every time he touches the ball, and is also versatile because he can line up in the backfield or split out wide. 

However, I have been calling him Mr. Glass for the past year as his list of injuries is equally impressive to his on the field statistics (He is currently recovering from heel surgery). 

Chris Rainey burst on the scene as a big weapon during spring practice and in the Orange and Blue Game which was televised on ESPN.  He is just as fast as Harvin which makes for a dangerous combination. 

He too can take it the distance every time he gets his hands on the ball. Look for him to be utilized much like Harvin was used last year.  Listed at 5-9 167 lbs. will Rainey be able to take the hits all year? 

Cornelius Ingram is still around.  He is coming back for his senior year.  He is a match-up problem for most defensive coordinators because he is too quick for a linebacker and too big for a DB to cover.  He will be a good NFL prospect in the 2009 draft. 

On defense there are not as many sure things. 

Brandon Spikes will be manning the middle of the field at LB as well as being the leader of the defense.  He is big and fast and will be able to run around more this year with an improved defensive line taking up blockers. 

Although he shows good instincts, he could probably work on his pass coverage more like the rest of the defense.  He is a first round talent though. 

Carlos Dunlap is a beast at defensive end. He stands 6-6 290 lbs. and has freakish speed at that size.  In the spring game he dominated, sacking the QB four times. He will be one of the best pass rushers in the SEC this upcoming year.  

Although Carlos' strength as a pass rusher can sometimes be his weakness.  He struggles a lot with run defense because he always goes for the QB, taking him out of his assigned gaps.

These are just some of the players who will contribute to the Gators next year, but look for more players to emerge as play makers on the defensive side of the ball while the offense will look to spread the wealth.