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EARLY
BIRD 2007 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2006 |
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FLORIDA
GATORS |
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OFFENSE
- 6 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 6 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Chris Leak-QB, DeShawn Wynn-RB, Dallas Baker-WR,
Jemalle Cornelius-WR, Billy Latsko-HB, Steve
Rissler-C, Chris Hetland-K |
DEFENSE:
Ray
McDonald-DE, Marcus Thomas-DT, Steven Harris-DT,
Joe Cohen-DT, Brian Crum-SLB, Earl Everett-WLB,
Reggie Lewis-CB, Tremaine McCollum-CB, Eric
Wilbur-P |
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Offensive
Line/Defensive Back |
These
two units are stacked with seniors
who know Meyers’ system(s)
and will make other areas better
due to their impact. |
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Defensive
Tackle/Linebacker |
Brandon
Siler can’t help the new
DTs and drop back in the middle,
so some new bodies have to hold
their own quickly for the Gator
defense to again finish in the
top ten for total effort. |
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WR
Andre Caldwell |
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DB
Reggie Nelson |
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* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic
gauge for listing players that departed and players
that received the most playing experience (consistent
starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance
of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts,
transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups
and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our
full 2007 Preseason Preview due out this coming
spring. |
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FLORIDA
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Tim
Tebow-So |
.. |
RB |
Kestahn
Moore-Jr |
.. |
WR |
Louis
Murphy-Jr |
Riley
Cooper-So |
WR |
Andre
Caldwell-Sr |
.. |
WR |
Percy
Harvin-So |
Jarred
Fayson-So |
TE |
Tate
Casey-Sr |
Cornelius
Ingram-Jr |
OT |
Phil
Trautwein-Sr |
.. |
OG |
Jim
Tartt-Jr |
.. |
C |
.. |
.. |
OG |
Drew
Miller-Sr |
.. |
OT |
Carlton
Medder-Sr |
.. |
K |
.. |
.. |
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DEFENSE |
DE |
Derrick
Harvey-Jr |
.. |
DT |
Javier
Estopinan-Jr |
.. |
DT |
.. |
.. |
DE |
Jarvis
Moss-Sr |
.. |
SLB |
.. |
.. |
MLB |
Brandon
Siler-Sr |
.. |
WLB |
Dustin
Doe-So |
.. |
CB |
.. |
.. |
CB |
Ryan
Smith-Sr |
.. |
SS |
Tony
Joiner-Sr |
.. |
FS |
Reggie
Nelson-Sr |
.. |
P |
.. |
.. |
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QUICK
ANALYSIS |
Two
years at Bowling Green produced the all-time
highest scoring MAC offense and a 5-0 mark
against BCS teams. Two years at Utah resulted
in a 12-0 record (2004), the first Ute coach
ever to be named National Coach of the Year,
a Heisman finalist and top draft pick in
Alex Smith, and the first mid-major to make
(and win in) the BCS. Two years at Florida
have produced the school’s first bowl
victory since 2001, two consecutive years
of beating UF’s biggest rivals - Tennessee,
Georgia and FSU, as well as a shot at the
national title. Urban Meyer just keeps making
his teams better and better, which should
have Gator fans rabid for what he will achieve
in ’07. And the excitement over dual-threat
QB Tim Tebow means that Meyer finally has
his own hand-picked field general to run
this complicated offense. Many would think
that losing the school’s all-time
leading passer (Chris Leak) means a step
back. But Tebow saw plenty of action in
’06, enough so that the offense can
most likely pick up and improve under Meyers’
spread approach. Tebow’s proven set
of wheels will open up the passing potential.
All the sophomore has to do is establish
himself as capable of hurling the rock for
Florida’s offense to finally reach
its potential. WRs Andre Caldwell, Jarred
Fason and SEC Freshman of the Year Percy
Harvin continue a great tradition of top
Gator snarlers, so departures here should
not slow the team down one bit. The OL is
stacked with seniors, though most are over
300lbs and will need more mobility for ball
movement to be achieved in the spread. The
defense has more to replace, especially
the inside of the line if they want to again
finish in the top ten for run stopping (6th).
Brandon Siler can help from his MLB slot,
but the revampings at the other linebacker
positions will need time to gel. UF is loaded
with newbies to replenish these marginal
areas, so it is just a matter of time before
the “Gator Swagger” returns
and this front seven is feared. The secondary
is also laden with seniors. Look for Reggie
Nelson to dot some preseason All-American
lists, though fellow-safety Tony Joiner
and CB Ryan Smith had better number in ’06
due to opposing QBs throwing away from wherever
Nelson seemed to be. Pick your poison with
these three, who combined for 16 regular
season INTs. The only true weakness on the
team is found in the kicking game. Chris
Hetland departs after a 4-for-13 performance
in which his longest field goal was 33 yards.
The change – with whoever wins the
spot – will likely mean improvements
here. This will make the first time Meyer
is head coach of the same team for a third
year. All indications, and the carryover
from the Gators’ first title game
since 1996, point to Florida as modest favorites
to win their division half and finally start
to again dominate like they did under Spurrier.
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FLORIDA
2007 SCHEDULE
9-1
UCF
9-8 Troy
9-15 Tennessee
9-22 @ Mississippi
9-29 Auburn
10-6 @ Louisiana State
10-20 @ Kentucky
10-27 Georgia @Jacksonville, FL
11-3 Vanderbilt
11-10 @ South Carolina
11-17 Florida Atlantic
11-27 Florida State
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