Gator Country

Now the that recruiting dust has settled, it looks like the consensus will wind up putting Florida's 2011 class in the Top 15. Right now it is No. 12 among Rivals, No. 12 ESPN, and No. 18 Scout. Some of those ratings, though, I believe were before the Jacoby Brissett commitment. Looks like Alabama will be No. 1 with FSU No. 2.

It’s going to be the sleepers who make the difference.

I’ve seen Chris (Juice) Johnson of Trinity Catholic up close and interviewed him. He’s well cut and appears to have excellent upper body strength to go with better than average speed. And I agree he will be one of the factors in this 2011 recruiting class.

However, the guy I see making the field right away is fullback Hunter Joyer because of the need for a healthy fullback who can block and pass protect. He’s strong with good lower body balance and is said to be an excellent protector.

We all pretty much know what to expect out of Jeff Driskel and have high hopes for Jacoby Brissett, as well as others.

None of that means a thing to Muschamp, who from his NFL drafting experience knows that everything in personnel is a crapshoot – both college and pro.

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Don’t ask me how I know this, but I’ve got a feeling the offense Charlie Weis puts on the field this season won’t be what we think it’s going to be --- whatever you are thinking. That’s because I don’t know that Weis and Muschamp have even decided that yet.

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Yes, I’ve heard the same rumors many of you have about the alleged chair-smashing incident by Muschamp in his “discussion” with Janoris Jenkins about his citation (but not an arrest) for marijuana. Honestly I don’t know the truth, but would not be surprised if the new Florida coach took a stand with his senior cornerrback and made an example out of him, insisting he follow the “Florida Way.” He just has to hope that Jenkins doesn’t decide it’s not worth coming back for his senior year. Everybody would agree there needs to be a line drawn in the sand, but drawing it in front your best defensive player can be risky.

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Speaking of drawing a line in the sand, or clay, Mark Richt has done that.

ATLANTA (AP) Mark Richt suspended tailback Washaun Ealey on Tuesday for failing to follow “the Georgia Way.”

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One reason Kevin O’Sullivan’s team has Baseball America’s No. 1 ranking is because of the young arms on the pitching staff. With 22 returning lettermen, including 11 pitchers, the Gators have a shot at getting back to Omaha. Among those pitchers are righthander Hudson Randall and lefty Brian Johnson, who is also a threat with the bat. They open the season Friday, Feb. 18, at home in a three-game series with USF.

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There is more than one Aubrey Hill connected to the Gator football program. You probably know about the new recruiting coordinator under Will Muschamp and former WR and one of Steve Spurrier’s captains in 1994.

The other Aubrey Hill is the young niece of UAA Senior Associate Athletics Director Mike Hill.

Aubrey Hill the coach doesn’t know it yet, but Mike says he’s going to ask him for an autographed photo one day soon to give his niece.

BTW, Aubrey Hill the player at Florida helped the Gators to a four-year record of 43-10-1 (.806) and three SEC championships.

Sorry, no athletic records available on Miss Aubrey Hill.

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Want to win a bar bet? Ask somebody to name the all-time winningest active football coach. Joe Paterno? Nick Saban? Jim Tressel? Nope, it’s John Gagliardi, St. John’s (Minn.) with the most wins (478 wins, 129 losses, and 11 ties for a .782 winning percentage).

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Historical Factoids

--- Five is still the most first team All-Americans on a Florida team and that 1965 group was it: Safety Bruce Bennett, WR Charles Casey, G Larry Gagner, DE Lynn Matthews and QB Steve Spurrier.

Most since then were four in 2001 --- DE Alex Brown, WR Jabar Gaffney, QB Rex Grossman and G Mike Pearson; and 2009 --- CB Joe Haden, LB Brandon Spikes, C Maurkice Pouncey, TE Aaron Hernandez.

--- First Gator named first team All-SEC: Walter (Tiger) Mayberry 1937, two-way player and punter from Daytona Beach.

---In more than 100 years of football, there has only been letter winner whose name started with the letters U and X. Michael Uspensky in 1969 and Jon Xynidis, 1995, ’96 and ‘97.

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There’s still time to help Billy Donovan win the ESPN “Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge.”
Donovan is currently the leader among the 14 coaches and if he receives the most votes through March 11 the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation will win $100,000, which will go toward the children’s hospital at UF&Shands.
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According to FootballScoop.com, Charlie Weis is one of at least 37 new quarterback coaches who will be working next next fall.
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A TV Analyst Throwdown? Wonder how many daddies would like to punch Phil Simms in the snout for making a criticism of their NFL-playing sons? (Although, granted, Simms never Tweeted it). I like Desmond Howard in two falls out of three over Simms. Tweet that!

About the author

BuddyShow

Buddy Martin is the author of seven books, including Urban Meyer's authorized biography, and was a recipient of an Emmy while working for CBS Sports on "The NFL Today." The native son of Ocala and Florida-educated journalist is the former sports editor of the New York Daily News, Denver Post, St. Petersburg Times and Florida Today. He has won more than 165 state and national awards for writing and editing. "Urban's Way" (St. Martin's Press) is now out in paperback. It can be purchased at all major book stores or by writing Buddy at buddyshow@aol.com.

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