Countdown to Kickoff 2025

With 89 days to go until kickoff (we'll pretend it's 99 for today until catching up) we honor Gator Greats from yesteryear.

#99 Sammy Green LB/DL (1973-75)
Green, from small-town Fort Meade, in Polk County, made his mark at middle linebacker but also played some nose tackle at UF (as a 228-pounder). He was big enough and tough enough to play nose tackle, fast enough and athletic enough to also play linebacker. He excelled at both positions throughout his stellar career. He set a single-season school record with 202 tackles as a senior in 1975, when he was a first-team All-SEC pick, and is third in school history with 457 total stops. He had 337 of those in his final two seasons. Other notables: LB Tim Paulk, DE Jachai Polite, DT Ian Scott, DE Buck Gurley.

 

Continuing on with another great defender...#98. (Unfortunately he died from a heart attack at 42. May he RIP)

# 98 Godfrey Myles OLB (1988-91)
Myles, from Miami Carol City, played outside linebacker and the “Gatorback” position, a hybrid linebacker/safety role. He was a big, athletic outside linebacker who consistently made plays from sideline to sideline. He was All-SEC in his junior season in 1990. Other notables: OLB Patrick Miller, DE Anthony Mitchell, DE Anthony Riggins.

 

We honor a pair of Gator great defenders at #97.

#97 David Barnard DT (1992-95)
He was a big-time (and big) run stuffer for the Gators for four seasons. He was a rock in the middle of the UF defensive front.

#97 Mike Brandon DL (1990-91)
Brandon, who starred at Taylor County High in Perry, had an injury-plagued UF career, but when he was healthy, he was a force. He started at defensive tackle as a junior in 1990, then started at end in ’91 early in the season before being injured and missing the rest of the season. His injury meant more time for Kevin Carter and Darren Mickell. In 16 games in 1990 and ’91, Brandon had 59 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss.

 

We continue with another great Gator a #96.

# 98 Jeff Roth NT (1985-88)
Roth was an offensive tackle, fullback and outside linebacker at Seminole High in the St. Petersburg suburbs, but was a nose tackle at UF. He redshirted as freshman in 1984, was a part-time starter as a redshirt freshman, then started in his final three seasons on campus. While he was 6-4, he weighed no more than 255 pounds, using quickness and leverage to be disruptive. He is 10th in school history with 44 tackles for loss, including 17 sacks. Others considered: DL CeCe Jefferson, DE William Green.

 

Another legacy defensive player who rose to fame at #95.

# 95 Ray McDonald DE/DT (2002-06)
Just like his dad, Ray, a UF wide receiver in the mid-’80s, McDonald starred at Belle Glade Glades Central. McDonald arrived at UF as a defensive end, but moved inside after redshirting as a true freshman in 2002. He became a four-year starter at tackle and earned first-team All-SEC honors as a senior in 2006, when a stout defense helped the Gators win the national title. Other notables: DT Torrey Davis, DT Jeff Whitaker, DE Alex McCalister.

 

Two more Gator great defenders to celebrate at #94.

# 94 William Gaines DT (1990-93)
This big, athletic tackle from Mississippi was a mainstay for three seasons up front for the Gators. He was first team All-SEC in his senior season.

#94 Ed Chester DT (1995-98)
Chester was a stud recruit from Spring Hill Springstead and became a first-team All-SEC defensive tackle as a sophomore in 1996. He was a three-year starter, and also earned second-team all-league honors twice, including as a junior in ’97, when he was a third-team All-American. His football career ended in 1998 when he suffered a severe knee injury against LSU. Others considered: DE Jarvis Moss

 

Continuing on with #93 is another Gator great from the past.

#93 Alonzo Johnson OLB (1981-85)
Johnson starred at Rutherford High in Springfield, near Panama City, then became an immediate starter as a freshman in 1981. He missed the ’82 season for a disciplinary matter, then developed into one of the best big-play defenders in the SEC. He is second in school history with 27 sacks, including 12 as a senior in 1985, and second with 55 tackles for loss. He was an All-American in 1984 and ’85 and a Butkus Award finalist in ’85. Other notables: All-American defensive end Trace Armstrong, DE Tim Beauchamp, DT Steven Harris, DT Taven Bryan.

 

#92 honors a couple Gator greats from the past.

#92 Darren Mickell DE (1990-91)
His UF career was relatively brief, but when he was on the field he was a dominant force and one of UF’s best playmaking defensive linemen in the 1990s.

#92 Reggie McGrew DT (1995-97)
He played for his dad, Taylor, in high school at Mayo Lafayette County. But while his dad went to FSU, Reggie chose UF. He was an elite recruit who started for two seasons at UF. McGrew was a freshman All-American in 1996 and a first-team All-SEC selection in ’98; he left early for the NFL after that season. He was a first-round pick in the 1999 draft. Other notables: DE Jabari Zuniga, OLB Ephesians Bartley.

 

#91 is another Gator great defensive lineman from the past.

#91 Derrick Harvey DE (2004-07)
Harvey was a five-star recruit from the Baltimore area. It took him a while to get acclimated to college ball (he redshirted as a true freshman in 2004, then was a reserve in ’05), but he developed into a pass-rush force. He was a two-time second-team All-SEC selection and is ninth in school history with 20.5 sacks and third with 51.5 tackles for loss. He was defensive MVP of the BCS Championship Game after the 2006 season, when he had three sacks and a fumble recovery in a rout of Ohio State.

 

We go back to the 80's to honor another great defensive lineman.

#90 Huey Richardson DE (1986-90)
Richardson was one of the highest-rated (and certainly one of the most hyped) recruits in school history coming out of Atlanta. He lived up to expectations as a two-time first-team All-SEC selection and a first-team All-American as a senior in 1990. He is third in school history with 26.5 sacks and fourth with 50.5 tackles for loss. He also was a four-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection, the first player in school history to achieve that status. He was a first-round pick in the 1991 draft. Other notables: DT Jonathan Bullard, DE Preston Kendrick, DE Val Brown.

 

Unquestionably one of the greatest players ever to grace Florida Field at #89.

#89 Wes Chandler WR (1975-77)
The only player more electrifying than Chandler in UF history was Percy Harvin. Chandler was a running back at New Smyrna Beach High, then, ironically, was moved to receiver at UF, which used the Wishbone at the time. He was a three-year starter who led the Gators in receptions in 1975, ’76 and ’77 — a total of just 89 catches but for a combined 1,914 yards, which is 21.5 yards per reception. He finished his career with a then-school record 22 TD catches (that’s now eighth, and every receiver ahead of him played for Spurrier). He was an All-American in 1976 and ’77. Other notables: WR Charlie Casey, WR Ricky Nattiel, WR Spencer Jackson.

 

#88 Wilber Marshall, OLB (1981-83)

Most will agree that he’s the greatest defensive player in the history of Florida football. He came to UF as a tight end, but was moved to outside linebacker after his freshman season and he exploded on the college football scene, disrupting offenses and terrorizing opposing quarterbacks. A two-time consensus All-American, he finished his career with a school-record 23 sacks.
Other notables: TE Jim Yarbrough, TE Kirk Kirkpatrick, TE Erron Kinney, TE Alvis Darby, TE Randy Jackson.