GAINESVILLE -- It’s the bye week, so what better time to rank Florida’s top 10 players to date…
1. WR/KR Solomon Patton – 28 catches for 426 yards, 5 total touchdowns: Florida’s most explosive and reliable playmaker. Think how inept UF’s offense would be if the senior were still a jet-sweep specialist?
(Solomon Patton | courtesy rantsports.com)
2. CB Vernon Hargreaves III – 19 tackles, 3 interceptions, 7 passes broken up: ‘Nuff said.
3. LB Michael Taylor – team-leading 41 tackles, 3.5 TFL: Florida’s top linebacker on a unit that’s struggled all season. It’s strange to live in a world where Taylor is a better linebacker than Antonio Morrison, but alas, that’s where we are and it’s a major reason why Florida suddenly cannot stop the run.
4. UT QB Nathan Peterman DL Dante Fowler Jr. – 27 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 8.5 TFL, 7 quarterback hurries, 3 FF: The sophomore is still learning how to set the edge in the run game, but the baby-faced pass rusher remains Florida’s most menacing defensive line presence.
(Dante Fowler Jr. (No. 6), Jon Bullard (No. 90) | courtesy zimbo.com)
5. WR Trey Burton – team-leading 29 receptions for 336 yards, 1 touchdown: The sheriff of Checkdown Central. With minimal zero tight end production, the senior is quarterback Tyler Murphy’s favorite target, especially on third down.
6. ARK QB Brandon Allen DL Jon Bullard – 20 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3 quarterback hurries: Not as heralded or dynamic as Fowler Jr., but Bullard has been one of Florida’s most consistent (despite playing out of position inside) linemen in Dominique Easley’s absence.
7. CB Loucheiz Purifoy – 14 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 FF, 1 blocked punt: Borrowing ESPN Bill Simmons’ 90-10 theory, 90 percent of what Purifoy brings to the table is still better than almost any cornerback in the country.
(Loucheiz Purifoy | courtesy cbssports.com)
8. Kentucky’s whole team K Francisco Velez – 3-for-3 on field goals, long of 44 yards: The walk-on hasn’t missed since leapfrogging Austin Hardin and Brad Phillips on the depth chart.
9. S Jabari Gorman – 30 tackles, 1 interception: The unsung junior is the team’s best tackler in the secondary and is better in coverage than Cody Riggs.
10. LG Max Garcia – At tackle it’s a different story, but when at guard (his natural position) Garcia has been UF’s most consistent and productive offensive linemen -- hands down.
Thoughts? Comments? Your own list(s)…
Have at it.
Follow me on Twitter @JesseReSimonton
Comments