The 20 greatest players in Florida football history

Van Sickel has the distinction of being the first Gator football player to be named a first-team All-American (1929). A two-way standout at Florida, the Gators posted a 23-6 record during his three seasons for his hometown school. Despite dealing with injuries in his final season, Van Sickel is also one of nine Florida players inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Ferguson should be a quick mention when we talk about legendary Florida Gators athletes. A three-year starter for the Gators, Ferguson was one of the school’s early record-setters when he recorded 43 receptions, 668 receiving yards, and five touchdowns during the 1941 season. In addition to his stellar football skills, Ferguson competed on Florida’s track and field and baseball teams while excelling as a boxer. He also was part of the allied invasion of Normandy during World War II but suffered head wounds that resulted in his death in 1954 at age 34. The Fergie Ferguson Award is given annually to the Gators football senior who shows remarkable leadership, character, and courage.

The “Ol’ Ball Coach” is a College Football Hall of Famer as both a player and coach. Before he guided the Gators to the 1996 national championship, he was the first University of Florida player to win the Heisman Trophy. That came in 1966 when Spurrier led the Gators to a 9-2 record. It was the second of back-to-back All-American seasons for Spurrier, who also won the Walter Camp Trophy. For his college career, Spurrier threw for 4,848 passing yards with 37 touchdowns. He is also one of six players, and the only coach, to be included in Florida’s “Ring of Honor.”

Youngblood came to Florida as a linebacker but was moved to defensive end, where he starred for three seasons and ultimately found himself among the program’s “Ring of Honor.” In 1969, Youngblood recorded 14 sacks — an official school record, including five during a victory over rival Florida State. The All-American and 1970 Outland Trophy finalist posted 29 career sacks. Youngblood’s talent and knack for making the big defensive play carried onto the NFL, where he was a seven-time Pro Bowler and earned membership into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

It’s been more than 50 years since Alvarez played football at Florida, but his 2,563 career receiving yards, 15 receptions in a game, and 88 catches for a season (1969) are all still records for the program. Entering the 2022 season, Alvarez’s 19 career touchdowns also rank among the top 10 in school history. A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Alvarez was listed as one of the “SEC Legends,” as chosen by the conference in 1994.

Reaves was part of the Gators’ talented 1969 group of sophomores, along with Carlos Alvarez, known as the “Super Sophs.” That group helped Florida to a memorable 9-1-1 mark and Gator Bowl victory over favored Tennessee. Reaves, an All-American in 1971, still ranks in the top 10 of Florida football history with 7,581 career passing yards (an NCAA record at the time) and 56 touchdowns. Following a respectable career in the NFL and USFL, playing for Steve Spurrier in the latter, he served as a Gators assistant in the early 1990s.

Football fans of a certain age probably remember Chandler best for his stellar NFL career with the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers. Yet, before that, he was a standout for the Gators. A first-team All-American in 1976 and ’77, Chandler recorded 92 receptions for 1,963 and a then-school record 22 touchdowns for his career. He also totaled 172 points during his career with the Gators and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Marshall is one of the most athletic and fierce linebackers to play the game at the college or pro level. He still ranks among Florida’s career leaders with 343 total tackles — 210 solo stops — and 23 sacks. A two-time consensus All-American, Marshall is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and one of the six Gators to be part of the football program’s “Ring of Honor.”

Brown has the distinction of being the only Florida Gators offensive lineman to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He’s also a member of the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. Part of the “The Great Wall of Florida” offensive line unit, Brown started 34 games during his time with the Gators and was named a consensus All-American in 1984. Following his stellar Florida career, Brown enjoyed tremendous NFL success as a seven-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion.

The NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 18,355 yards, Smith ranks second in Gators history when it comes to the school’s career rushing leader (3,928 yards). An All-American (1989) and three-time All-SEC first-team performer, Smith does hold the top-two spots when it comes to Florida’s single-season rushing records — 1,341 (1987), 1,599 (1989). His 316 yards against New Mexico in 1989 remain a school single-game best, and his 126.7 career average yards per game is also No. 1 at Florida. Smith is among the first group of players inducted into the school’s football “Ring of Honor.”

So if a legend like Emmitt Smith is not Florida’s all-time leading rusher, then who is? That would be Errict Rhett, who took the torch from Smith and completely ran with it to a school-record 4,163 career yards. A two-time All-SEC first-team selection and an All-American in 1993, Rhett also ranks among the top five in Florida history in single-season rushing yards (1,289 in 1993), career touchdowns (34), career average rushing yards per game (90.5) and career receptions (153).

Though it seems Odom remains in the shadow of Lomas Brown, Odom enjoyed quite a successful career with the Gators during the early-to-mid-1990s. Not only was Odom a two-time first-team All-SEC selection and a unanimous All-American in 1995, but he was a big part of Florida’s three-straight SEC championship teams from 1993-95. Odom is also a member of the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame and played four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Exactly 30 years after Steve Spurrier became the Gators’ first Heisman Trophy winner, Wuerffel repeated the feat with a stellar 1996 performance when he threw for 3,625 yards with 39 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. A two-time SEC Player of the Year and first-team All-American, Wuerffel set various conference and NCAA records during his career, which he concluded with 10,875 passing yards (second-most in school history), 114 touchdowns (program record) and 163.6 passer rating. A College Football Hall-of-Famer, Wuerffel is also part of the program’s “Ring of Honor.”

There have been more decorated defensive backs in Florida Gators’ history. Weary stands out for his knack for finding the ball and his overall value to the teams he was a member of. A consensus first-team All-American in 1997, Weary is the school’s all-time leader with 15 interceptions. He also broke up 35 passes during his career. Perhaps most important, Weary’s individual talent helped the Gators win three SEC titles (1994-96) and the 1996 national championship. 

Brown is the first Gators defensive lineman to be named a first-team All-American on two occasions — 1999 and 2001. His 33 sacks are still the most in school history for a career, and the 13 Brown recorded during the 1999 campaign are the most for a season by any Gator. A three-time All-SEC first-teamer, Brown helped Florida win an SEC championship in 2000, was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2001, and is a member of the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame

Casual college football fans might forget just how good Grossman performed at Florida. He was the first sophomore in school history to receive first-team All-American honors following a 2001 season where he threw for 3,896 yards (second-best in school history) with 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while also finishing fifth in the Heisman voting and winning College Football Player of the Year by The Associated Press. For his career, Grossman ranks within the Gators’ top 10 in receiving yards (9,164) and touchdowns (77).

There have been many decorated receivers in Florida Gators’ history. But what Gaffney did in just two seasons in Gainesville earns him a spot on our list. As a redshirt freshman in 2000, Gaffney recorded 71 receptions for 1,184 yards with 14 touchdowns to earn national freshman player of the year honors. A year later, he earned All-American honors with 67 catches for 1,191 yards and 13 more receiving touchdowns. Those 27 touchdowns were the most by a player during his freshman and sophomore seasons combined.

People throw shade at Tebow, but when it comes to his college football career, he’s one of the greats. He’s Florida’s third and most recent Heisman winner and the first sophomore to claim that honor. Tebow led the Gators to two national titles (2006, ’08), was a two-time first-team All-American, won the Maxwell Award twice, and was the SEC Player of the Year on two occasions. Tebow ranks among the school’s top 10 for passing yards (9,285), touchdowns (88), and rushing yards (2,947). He’s the school’s all-time leader with 57 rushing touchdowns, a College Football Hall of Famer, and a member of Florida football’s “Ring of Honor.”

Pouncey, who played alongside his brother Mike at Florida, is the only Gator to win the Rimington Trophy, which honors the nation’s best center. During his career with the Gators, Pouncey started all but two of the 41 games he played. He was a key member of Florida’s 2009 national championship team and a consensus All-American. Pouncey went on to enjoy an 11-year NFL career where he was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection.

The second Gator to win the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end, Pitts’ Florida career consisted of 32 games spanning three seasons. And when it comes to pass-catching tight ends in Gainesville, Pitts just might be the best. Pitts’ 100 career receptions rank second in school history among tight ends, while his 1,492 receiving yards are the most of any Gator to play the position. Pitts, who recorded 12 touchdowns in eight games during his All-American, COVID-shortened season of 2020, also holds the single-game yards record among Gator tight ends with 170 versus Mississippi during that campaign.