Well, Tim Tebow is gone and what a great 4 years it was but every good thing must come to an end. So, it is early but let's look at what the 2010 Florida Gator Football team will look like:
Offense:
QB (John Brantley)
- Tim Tebow is gone but in steps the guy that can easily make people forget about the Legend if that is possible. Gone will be the QB run but not always, Brantley can run and will do it every so often to keep the defenses honest but it will not make people forget about Tebow. What will however is his cannon right arm and QUICK release. He can thread the needle guys and girls and I will guarentee Heisman talk about him before the end of the 2010 season.
RB (Jeff Demps, Emmanual Moody, Chris Rainey, Mike Gillislee, Mack Brown)
- This goes without saying but the Gators are loaded at RB. Mack Brown is wavering a bit with his commitment after RB Coach Kenny Carter left for Louisville but he should stay and he is special, very special. Speaking of recruiting, if Pete Carroll leaves then there is a huge possibility that Dillion Baxter (5* #1 RB in the Nation) is more than likely going to decommit from USC and we look like a front runner.
WR (Deonte Thompson, Andre Debose, Carl Moore, Omaris Hines, Frankie Hammond Jr., Stephen Ali, Chris Dunkley)
- I have been touting Thompson for years now and it is finally time! Andre Debose was last year's stud recruit and a hamstring surgery sidelined him for the entire year. This guy is very, very special and will remind people of Percy Harvin. Carl Moore lost last year due to injury and should shine after his medical redshirt Senior season is granted. Brantley will make all these guys special and the offense will be much more balanced and loaded at WR no matter what you hear from the so-called experts. All the above guys are 4-5* recruits and Dunkley is a special incoming Freshmen. all you needed was to have watched the Under Armor game this past Saturday to understand how special he is, a freak! Speaking of freaks, Kyle Prater (5* #1 WR in the Nation) will be decommitted from USC if Carroll goes and well you never know but very loooong shot. In short, USC' loss is our gain, pay attention to the Carroll situation, could be a present for the Gators.
TE (Desmond Parks, Gerald Christian)
- No doubt we are weak here but Parks was a top recruit last year and Christian is the #2 rated TE recruit this year.
OL (Carl Johnson, Xavier Nixon, Sam Robey, Marcus Gilbert, Maurice Hurt, Nick Alajajian, Pouncey Twins, Ian Silberman)
- Everyone above has started for the Gators in their careers. Note the Pouncey Twins being almost last, that is because I believe like most that they are gone to the NFL. Recruiting update, the Gators are in contention for the #1 Recruit in the land, a massive OT named Sentrelle Henderson. It would be a shock if he came to us but our chances were slim to none two weeks ago and now he can't stop talking about the Gators.
Defense:
DT (Jaye Howard, Omar Hunter, Lawrence Marsh, Justin Trattou, Terron Sanders, Shariff Floyd*, Leon Orr)
- Everyone returns and will the REAL Omar Hunter please stand up!! He was a stud can't miss prospect a couple of years ago and was suppose to come in right away and be a stud from day 1, well it is year three and we are still waiting. Speaking of can't miss prospects, all indications are that Shariff Floyd, the #1 DT in this year's class will announce his decision to go to UF tomorrow and he should step right in and contribute. Trattou continues to improve and impress and should be all SEC next year.
DE (Duke Lemmons, William Green, Justin Trattou, Earl Okine, Kedric Johnson, Ronald Powell, Dominique Easley, Neiron Ball)
- Alright, here is our problem. If Dunlap comes back which I highly doubt then we are deadly but if not then we have alot of unproven but very talented DE's. Ronald Powell is a stud and expected to announce tomorrow for UF. He is a terror and has surefire NFL Top 10 pick in his future. If Dunlap leaves, Powell will start next year, bank on it! Easley is just as special but again all are young and the experience is very little. Gators could struggle to get to the QB next year.
LB (AJ Jones, Brandon Hicks, Jelani Jenkins, Jon Bostic, Lorenzo Edwards, Brenden Beal)
- Some might think we are going to lose a lot here with Spikes and Stamper gone but the reality is the Gators will just get faster and deadlier at this position. Our best LB last year before his injury was AJ Jones, bar none! I know Spikes was a beast but he actually peeked two years ago during his Junior season. The whispers down in Gatorland this past year was how slow the Senior LB's were and folks they were. The group above will bring the speed back with Jones leading the way. Jenkins is ready and will be a stud!
DB (Jenorius Jenkins, Adrian Bushnell, Jeremy Brown, Joshua Shaw, Cody Riggs, Jordan Haden, Jaylen Watkins, Demar Dorsey, Travan Van)
- JJ is the real deal and will be ready to step in for Joe Haden as the shut down corner. After that it is iffy at best. We will be young and untested here but very, very talented. Demar Dorsey is so good he was dubbed the " No Fly Zone" in the Under Armor game this past week. He is a stud recruit along with Joe Haden's little brother, Jordan.
S (Will Hill, Major Wright, Ahmad Black, Josh Evens, Matt Elam)
- We are loaded here and I mean loaded. Our backups could start for any team in the land. Elam is expected to announce tomorrow for UF and he is already achieved legendary status before ever playing a down for anyone. Considered the top Athlete in the state of Florida and a 5* can't miss phenom.
K (Caleb Sturgis)
- We are fine, 50-60 yard FG's are chip shots for this guy.
P (Chas Henry)
- Will be First Team All American.
So what does this all spell for the prediction for next year. I for one fully expect the Gators to be very underrated going into next year but after they go up to Knoxville and steam roll Kiffin's Cheaters, the hype will return. Make no bones about it, the Gators will be underdogs going to Knoxville but will quickly strike fear into most after they win by more than two touchdowns. They should go to Alabama in October undefeated and hopefully better and healthy as this should be a huge test. Regardless the SEC Championship Game is a very real possibility and from there, well you can imagine as the SEC has owned the BCS National Title for four straight years now. Also remember that the Gators seem to win it now every other year and next year is that every other year. Watch out and Go Gators!
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