Florida Football: Building the Perfect Gator Player

Like a mad scientist, the bottles have been mixed. We took a tad from this guy, a pinch from that one and a slice out of another in order to reach our goal:

Building the perfect Florida Gator football player.

It wasn't easy, and no doubt there are some interchangeable pieces (Jeff Demps for John Capel, perhaps?). But we think we've got it right.

We didn't take specific body parts because who knows which former or current Gator has the best hands (Carlos Alvarez?, Wes Chandler?, Nat Moore?, Ricky Nattiel?, Kirk Kirkpatrick?, Aubrey Hill?, Ike Hilliard?, Chris Doering?, Cornelius Ingram?, Aaron Hernandez?), best hips (Fred Weary?, Joe Haden?), best arm (John Reaves?, Doug Johnson?, Eric Kresser?, Rex Grossman?, Cam Newton?) and the like?

So, we built from the inside out, taking superior traits from a few Gator greats.

Brain: Steve Spurrier

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08 Sep 2001: Steve Spurrier, coach of the Florida Gators watches his team warm up prior to the game against the La.-Monroe Indians at Florida Field in Gainesville, Florida. The Gators defeated the Indians 55-6. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Scott

Steve Spurrier won the Heisman Trophy in 1966 as Florida's quarterback. However, he probably is best known now for being one of the most innovative offensive coaches in college football.

He has made a winner out of Duke (yes, Duke), delivered a national championship to UF and has built South Carolina into a budding powerhouse.

Leadership: Tim Tebow

The orator of college football's most famous speech since "win one for the Gipper," Tim Tebow was the ultimate leader.

And the 2007 Heisman Trophy-winner didn't just talk about it, he was first in line for drills, fought for tough yards and got his teammates to completely trust in him.

It also didn't take long.

To this day, former Gators still shake their heads and smile when recalling the day Tebow, then a freshman, dove across the finish line on a hard gym floor to win a sprint.

How could you not give your all for that guy?

Toughness: Jack Youngblood

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ANAHEIM, CA - NOVEMBER 20: Defensive back Jack Youngblood #95 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on during the game against the Washington Redskins at Anaheim Stadium on November 20, 1983 in Anaheim, California. The Redskins won 42-20. (Photo by George Rose

The first Gator ever elected to the NFL Hall of Fame, Youngblood is one of the toughest players in football history.

That said, he wasn't a shoo-in as the toughest-ever Florida player. After all, who could forget Emmitt Smith—playing the second half with a separated right shoulder—rushing for 168 yards to help the Dallas Cowboys defeat the host New York Giants on Jan. 2, 1994?

Still, Youngblood gets the nod here. A defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams, the former Gator played in the 1979 NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl XIV with a broken left fibula.

It doesn't get much tougher than that.

Vision: Emmitt Smith

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IRVING, TX - DECEMBER 21: Running back Emmitt Smith #22 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles at Texas Stadium on December 21, 2002 in Irving, Texas. The Eagles defeated the Cowboys 27-3. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Im

Never the biggest, strongest, fastest or most athletic of players, Emmitt Smith, nonetheless, retired as the NFL's all-time leading rusher.

The former Gator did it by being tough, shifty and seeing tiny creases most backs would miss.

Yes, No. 22 was a sight to behold.

Intensity: Wilber Marshall

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

26 Jan 1986: Quarterback Tony Eason #11 of the New England Patriots is brought down by linebacker Wilber Marshall #58 of the Chicago Bears during Super Bowl XX game at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Bears won the game 46-10.

One of current Gator coach Will Muschamp's favorite players as a child, Wilber Marshall was one of the leaders of perhaps the NFL's all-time best defense: the 1985 Chicago Bears.

A ferocious hitter, Marshall played with a passion few others shared, and to this day, former USC quarterback Sean Salisbury says he still has nightmares about Marshall constantly hitting him when the Gators and Trojans played in the early '80s.

Winner: Danny Wuerffel

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

2 Jan 1997: Quarterback Danny Wuerffel of the Florida Gators celebrates after the Nokia Sugar Bowl against the Floirda State Seminoles at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Florida won the game, 52-20. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport

Four Southeastern Conference championships. Two national title game appearances, one a victory. The 1996 Heisman Trophy.

Danny Wuerffel built one of college football's all-time winningest resumes while at Florida, and off the field, he has proven to be the ultimate winner, choosing to spend his life giving to those who need it most in his adopted hometown of New Orleans.

Physique: Jevon Kearse

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 23: Jevon Kearse #93 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after he sacked Drew Brees of the San Diego Chargers on October 23, 2005 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Chargers 20-17.

With muscles on top of muscles on top of muscles, there is a reason Jevon Kearse was nicknamed "The Freak."

Built like an ancient Greek statue, Kearse had more cuts than a 20-ounce steak. And he always looked that way.

Before growing first into an outside linebacker and then a defensive end, Kearse arrived at Florida in the mid-1990s as a 6'5", 230-pound safety. At media day, then-UF receiver Reidel Anthony was asked if he would go across the middle with "that guy" (reporter pointing at Kearse) waiting. Anthony gave a "you must be kidding" look before laughing and saying "go ask Ike (Hilliard). He goes across the middle, I run posts. But I don't think Ike would even want to do it."

Speed: John Capel

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5 Sep 1998: John Capel #10 of the Florida Gators runs with the ball during a game against the Citadel Bulldogs at the Florida Field in Gainesville, Florida. The Gators defeated the Bulldogs 49-10.

This title belongs to John Capel for now. But don't look back because Jeff Demps is gaining ground.

A former Gator receiver, Capel is now a professional track athlete. His fastest times are 6.48 in the 60, 9.95 in the 100 and 19.85 in the 200.

A senior-to-be tailback for UF, Demps is college football's fastest player, and has been since former LSU standout Trindon Holliday left Baton Rouge two years ago.

Demps' fastest times: 6.53 in the 60, 10.01 in the 100 and 21.04 in the 200.

Versatility: Percy Harvin

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 22: Percy Harvin #1 of the Florida Gators scores a touchdown during the game against the Citadel Bulldogs at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 22, 2008 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Running back. Slot Receiver. Wideout. Quarterback. Kickoff returner. Punt returner.

Percy Harvin played all of those roles in his three years as a Florida Gator. Talk with some of his former UF teammates and you'll learn Harvin also could have been a heckuva cornerback or safety.

A Swiss army knife on offense, Harvin was so versatile that his job in former coach Urban Meyer's offense got its own name: The Percy Position."

Power: Joe Cohen

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GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 07: Florida Gators quarterback Chris Leak #12 and defensive back Joe Cohen #20 take the field against the Louisiana State Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 7, 2006 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Gett

Despite weighing less than 280 pounds at the time, former Florida defensive end/fullback Joe Cohen bench pressed 480 pounds in 2006.

To put that in perspective, plenty-strong Pittsburgh Steelers' Pro Bowl rookie center Maurkice Pouncey (at 325 pounds) benched 420 pounds his junior year at UF.

Pound-for-pound, there may never have been a more powerful Gator than Cohen.