Florida Football: A Look Back at Percy Harvin and the Latest 5-Star Recruits

The Florida Gators have had arguably the best success in college football within the last five years. 

Those five years include two BCS National Championships, two SEC Championships, a Heisman Trophy winner and multiple SEC records.

And even though the Gators struggled in 2010, one thing remains a constant for the Gators every year.

They always recruit and recruit well.

Since the 2006 recruiting class, the Gators have hauled in 18 5-star commitments, according to Rivals.com.

And while some of these 5-star recruits don't pan out and get lost in the shuffle, some live up to the hype and become impact players for the football program.

So let's take a look back at some of the recent 5-star recruits for the Gators and examine their contributions to the program so far.

5. S Matt Elam (Class of 2010)

Matt Elam's recruitment was anything but calm.

A long-time Florida commit, Elam began to reconsider his decision once former head coach Urban Meyer decided to retire after the 2009 SEC Championship. 

Elam decided to switch his commitment to Florida's in-state rival Florida State.

However, after some coaxing and a reassuring conversation with Meyer, Elam switched back to the Gators at the Army All-American game.

In his freshman season, Elam played in a backup role to safety Ahmad Black. Elam recorded 22 tackles and one sack in limited action during the 2010 season.

Now that Black has left for the NFL, Elam will be replacing him as starting safety alongside Josh Evans.

While Elam will go through the growing pains of being a first-year start and only a sophomore, he still expects to make a big impact.

Like many Florida players, Elam has excellent speed and great first jump on the ball. One thing that has also stood out is his anticipation on routes and being able to get to the ball very quickly. 

The media has also taken notice of Elam and the potential he has to do big things at Florida. He was named to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list for the 2011 season.

4. OLB/DE Ronald Powell (Class of 2010)

Ronald Powell was the top recruit in the entire 2010 recruiting class.

He shined on both sides of the ball as a tight end and defensive end.

But he made the switch from defensive end to linebacker halfway through the 2010 season.

Statistically, Powell made a moderate impact on defense recording 27 total tackles, including three tackles for loss.

But that should be just the start for this standout freshman. In the new 3-4 system, Powell will start out as linebacker, which should free him up to show off his outstanding speed off the edge when blitzing.

And as a tight end, Powell has shown his soft hands and excellent ability to get to the ball. This will make him even more of a threat on defense, if he is ever able to recover a fumble or make an interception.

His natural ability to see the field, set up blockers and catch the ball with consistency will make him a big play threat on defense.

Look for Powell to have a breakout season in 2011.

3. DT Sharrif Floyd (Class of 2010)

Another 5-star commitment was defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd. 

As a part of a top-rated 2010 recruiting class, Floyd was expected to to big things during his Florida career.

With one year behind him, Floyd looks to be on the way to fulfilling those expectations.

Like Powell, Floyd made a moderate impact on the defense in 2010 with only 23 tackles, but he showed flashes of what Gators fans expected out of Floyd since arriving to Gainesville.

His speed off the line makes him an immediate threat to sack the quarterback on every play.

Although he is only a sophomore, Floyd is expected to be given a prominent role in the defensive line rotation.

His increase in plays should really help him showcase the talent that recruiters were raving about all through his high school years.

2. LB Jelani Jenkins (Class of 2009)

After red-shirting in 2009, Jelani Jenkins became a team leader during the 2010 season.

In high school, he was heralded as the top linebacker in the nation and the top-rated player in the state of Maryland. His play last season proved those rankings correct.

He was named the starter at middle linebacker two games into the 2010 season, and he did not look back.

Jenkins was second on the team with 76 tackles, along with two sacks and an interception. With a defense that struggled on making consistent tackles, Jenkins shined above the rest.

Although only a red-shirt freshman at the time, Jenkins stepped up and became one of the most important players on the Florida defense.

He will be the starter again in 2011, and his talent will significantly increase the prowess of the linebacker corps. 

Jenkins has the ability to be the top linebacker in the entire conference if he is able to remain healthy throughout the whole season.

1. WR Percy Harvin (Class of 2006)

Perhaps one of the top five players of all-time at the University of Florida was former 5-star recruit and current Minnesota Viking wide receiver Percy Harvin.

At Florida, Harvin was one of the most electric players in college football, and he took over games with his amazing speed and elusiveness.

He captured two BCS Championship victories and played a major role in both years. In 2006, Harvin had 82 total yards and one touchdown after being name the MVP of the SEC Championship game prior to facing Ohio State. In 2008, Harvin more than doubled his yardage by accounting for 171 yards and a touchdown on an injured ankle.

For his career, Harvin accumulated for more than 3,000 yards and 32 touchdowns. 

After completing an outstanding college career, Harvin declared early for the 2009 NFL draft and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings.

In his rookie season, Harvin continued to show his dominance with 790 receiving yards and six touchdowns, along with two touchdowns off kick returns. 

Harvin was named the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and also was selected to the 2010 Pro Bowl roster.