10 Florida Gators
2009 Record: 13-1
Returning Starters: 12 (six offense, six defense)
The Gators may not stay this low for long. While they seem capable of reloading on defense and should get excellent quarterback play from junior John Brantley, a few key questions remain. For starters: To whom will Brantley throw? No one on Florida’s roster has proven himself a go-to receiver — yet. (Redshirt freshman Andre Debose, who missed last season after surgery to repair a torn hamstring, has some Percy Harvin-like qualities.) Also, while junior tailback Jeff Demps is excellent in space, it’s tough to imagine him running between the tackles much. With Tim Tebow gone, someone is going to have to gain the tough yards for Florida, and it won’t be Brantley. It may be backup quarterback Trey Burton or tight end Jordan Reed, filling the role Tebow filled in 2006. If the Gators identify their playmakers before they hit the meat of their schedule, Florida will return to the top five.
SI.com
8/17/10
