12/9/08
If you accept the in-season statements Heisman winner (2007) Tim Tebow has made about his ‘definite’ return for a senior ’09 campaign, then it is easy to conclude why the Gators are atop our Early Bird rankings. This kid wins, and with the stacked talent (positions) behind and around him, Tebow will be tough to beat. Harvin’s return, though, is doubtful – at best – and fellow senior-to-be Brandon Spikes will likely follow him into the NFL draft. Ok, so the top three rushers in ’08 all averaged over eight yards per carry…and two of them - speed merchants Demps and Rainey - will definitely be donning the Orange-and-Blue next year. If you follow Florida football, you know that there is always loads of talent waiting to get their due. Urban Meyer has stacked the coffers (i.e. under-utilized Thompson, Moore), and the recruiting focus recently on the offensive line will help overcome so many departures there. Leading the nation in margin-of-victory (currently beating opponents by an average of 34 points per game as the bowls beckon) speaks volumes for how well this team plays together. When the defense is poised to possibly bring back every starter from a top 10 unit (total and scoring), and Florida boasts an offense-by-committee that is unstoppable, it is hard to imagine anyone thinking that the Gators won’t be consensus number one across the board. In a year of major SEC programs still revamping (Auburn, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Ole Miss), look for Florida to again chomp down on those nipping at their tails.