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EARLY
BIRD 2008 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2007 |
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FLORIDA
GATORS |
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OFFENSE
- 8 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 9 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Andre Caldwell-WR, Eric Rutledge-HB, Drew
Miller-C, Carlton Medder-OT, Joey Ijjas-K |
DEFENSE:
Clint
McMillan-DT, Tony Joiner-SS, Kyle Jackson-FS |
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Quarterback
/ Linebacker |
Having a
dual-threat Heisman winning
QB automatically qualifies Florida
as a top team with big expectations.
The LBs, led by All-SEC honoree
Brandon Spikes, will continue
to make this defense one of
the nation's top ten run stuffers. |
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Secondary |
The youth
movement in '07 now has to learn
to play together and show they
can help this defense stay off
the field while cutting back
on the amount of points surrendered.
Ranking 86th again (for pass
defense) would keep UF from
the BCS, no matter how good
the offense may be. |
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QB
Tim Tebow |
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DE
Derrick Harvey |
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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 2008 Preseason Preview due out this
coming spring. |
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FLORIDA
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Tim
Tebow-Jr |
Cameron
Newton-So |
FB |
.. |
.. |
RB |
Kestahn
Moore-Sr |
Brandon
James-Jr |
WR |
Riley
Cooper-Jr |
.. |
WR |
Percy
Harvin-Jr |
Jarred
Fayson-Jr |
WR |
Louis
Murphy-Sr |
David
Nelson-Jr |
TE |
Cornelius
Ingram-Sr |
Aaron
Hernandez-So |
OT |
Jason
Watkins-Sr |
.. |
OG |
Jim
Tartt-Sr |
.. |
C |
.. |
.. |
OG |
Maurkice
Pouncey-So |
Maurice
Hurt-So |
OT |
Marcus
Gilbert-So |
.. |
K |
.. |
.. |
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FLORIDA
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Derrick
Harvey-Sr |
Carlos
Dunlap-So |
DT |
.. |
.. |
DT |
Javier
Estopinan-Sr |
Mike
Pouncey-So |
DE |
Jermaine
Cunningham-Jr |
Justin
Trattou-So |
SLB |
A.J
Jones-So |
.. |
MLB |
Brandon
Spikes-Jr |
.. |
WLB |
Dustin
Doe-Jr |
Ryan
Stamper-Jr |
CB |
Wondy
Pierre-Louis-Jr |
.. |
CB |
Joe
Haden-So |
.. |
SS |
Dorian
Munroe-Jr |
.. |
FS |
Major
Wright-So |
.. |
P |
Chas
Henry-So |
.. |
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QUICK
ANALYSIS |
Not
many will be surprised by this high of a
ranking, especially with a Heisman winner
at QB. The Urban Meyer-led Gators will be
savvy and swaggering as almost every unit
returns intact. The Gators had a huge turnover
this past year on defense, and they will
again lose two safeties that truly had everyone’s
back. But the trial-by-fire that forced
this year’s learning curve on D will
pay dividends next season with nine starters
returning. The only thing seemingly working
against them is the fact that most of the
country is now running similar versions
of the spread - Florida used to have a unique
version, but Meyer’s innovative approach
is now in fad, so defenses are better geared
for it. Still, superior athletes like Brandon
James, Percy Harvin and dual-phenom Tim
Tebow will continue to keep the ball moving
with their balanced effectiveness, regardless
of the opponent. Non-cons Miami and Hawai’i
– both at home - look manageable.
Trips to Knoxville (won SEC East) and Auburn,
who has beat UF the past two times, are
true challenges, and home tilts with national
title hopeful LSU, South Carolina and FSU
are no gimme’s. The superior recruiting
classes seen here lately have so much talent
waiting in the wings, a Florida J.V. team
would do nearly as well. This past season
was not supposed to be the year the Gators
would defend a national championship with
all of the youth being served. The expectations
for 2008 are quite the opposite.
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FLORIDA
2008 SCHEDULE
8-30
HAWAI'I
9-6 MIAMI FL
9-20 at Tennessee
9-27 MISSISSIPPI
10-4 at Arkansas
10-11 LOUISIANA STATE
10-25 KENTUCKY
11-1 vs. Georgia @Jacksonville,
FL
11-8 at Vanderbilt
11-15 SOUTH CAROLINA
11-22 THE CITADEL
11-29 at Florida State
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