Countdown to Kickoff 2025

#53 Charlie Williams LB (1975-77)
The man they called “Horse” was a tackle machine in the mid-’70s. After starring at Jacksonville Raines, Williams became a three-year starter for the Gators and racked up 409 tackles, fourth-most in school history; he had three seasons with at least 126 tackles. He is tied for second in school history with eight fumble recoveries. Charlie had 153 stops as a senior and his striking ability earned him the nickname “Charliehorse.” Other notables: C Kim Helton, DL/OL Bruce Culpepper, LB Frank McCarthy.

 

#52 Chris Bromley G (1987-90)
Older brother Phil was a starting center and, truth be told, a bit better than Chris. But Phil wore No. 50 and he wasn’t better than Brad Culpepper. Like his brother, Chris starred at Pensacola Woodham and played center when he got to UF. But Chris moved to guard as a sophomore and was a part-time starter that season. He then started fulltime in 1989 and ’90. He was a captain as a senior in ’90, when he was named second-team All-SEC.



#52 Jon Bostic LB (2009-11)
A big-time hitter, Bostic had an outstanding season in 2012, leading the Gators in tackles (94) and earning second team All-SEC honors. He helped lead UF to the Sugar Bowl. Other notables: LB Alvin Butler, LB Roger Pettee, LB Dwayne Thomas, C David Swain, DT Ricky Williams.

 

#51 Brandon Spikes LB (2006-09)
One of the highest-rated recruits in the Urban Meyer coaching era, Spikes certainly lived up to his potential in his four years in Gainesville. He was a two-time All-American and a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski, Chuck Bednarik and Dick Butkus awards and a two-time finalist for the Lombardi Award. For his career, he piled up 307 tackles, 31.5 tackles for losses, 14 pass breakups and 6.5 sacks. He’s the only player in UF history to return four interceptions for touchdowns.



#51 David Little LB (1977-80)
David Little arrived at UF with little fanfare from Miami Jackson; his main claim to fame was that he was the brother of eventual NFL Hall of Fame guard Larry Little of the Dolphins.
But David was a three-year starter who owns the school record with 475 tackles; he also had nine interceptions. He was an All-American as a senior in 1980. Little went on to play for
the Pittsburgh Steelers for 12 seasons and sadly passed away in an accident in 2005. Other notables: All-American (1966) C Bill Carr, DT Tim Newton, C Robbie Moore, OL Ryan Kalich,
OL Anthony Ingrassia.

 

That's the only way the Noles can get a punch in...unless it's one of their coeds.

 

#50 Brad Culpepper DL (1988-91)
He grew up in Tallahassee, but his dad and uncle played at UF and Brad followed. He was a reserve as a true freshman in 1988, then started for three seasons. He wasn’t big — he was listed at 6-2 and 263 pounds as a senior — but had a quick first step and was relentless. He had 47.5 career tackles for loss, which is seventh in school history and the most by an interior lineman. With his combination of quickness and power (and will), he was one of the most disruptive defensive tackles in school history. In his senior season, he set the school record for tackles for losses by an interior lineman with 21.5.



#50 Phil Bromley C (1981-84)
He was the rock-solid center on Florida’s “Great Wall” offensive line in 1984. He may have been overshadowed at times by Lomas Brown, Crawford Kerr and Jeff Zimmerman, but he was one of the dominant players on that line, earning All-SEC recognition his junior and senior seasons. Other notables: OB Yancey Sutton, LB Ricky Browne, LB Mike Kelly, LB Marcus-Oquendo Johnson.

 

#49 Fernando Jackson LB (1979-82)
Jackson, from small-town Blountstown in the Panhandle, might have been the hardest hitter in school history, especially considering his size (5-11, 207). He played with the proverbial reckless abandon and frequently blew up opposing ball-carriers. He was a three-year starter and finished with 353 career tackles, which is seventh in school history. He is tied for third
in UF history with nine forced fumbles. He was second team All-SEC in his junior season. Other notables: DE Jermaine Cunningham, K Judd Davis, K Jeff Chandler.

 

#48 Dexter Daniels LB (1992-95)
He was the USA Today National High School Defensive Player of the Year at Valdosta (Ga.) High, and his signing in 1992 was seen as a coup for Spurrier and his staff.
He was a reserve as a true freshman, then started for the next three seasons. He was a first-team All-SEC pick as a senior and a second-teamer as a junior. Other
notables: K Wayne Barfield, LB Todd Gatlin.

 

#47 Bruce Vaughan DB (1980-83)
He was a walk-on from Largo High who first gained notice when wide receiver Cris Collinsworth told coaches he was having trouble shaking Vaughan’s coverage in practice. Vaughan earned a scholarship and became a three-year starter. He tied for the SEC lead with five picks as a sophomore in 1981 and tied for the SEC lead again with four interceptions in 1983. He finished with 10 regular-season interceptions plus two more in bowl games. Other notables: DT Brandon Antwine, LB Todd McCullough, DB Rod Graddy, LB Matt Pearson.

 

College football kicks off a week before our first game.
Not posting on weekends while folks enjoy their summer.
How many weekend days until the season starts then?

 

#46 Chuck Hunsinger HB (1946-49)
Florida had some awful teams in the late 1940s, but Hunsinger still was a star. He was a first-team All-SEC pick as a junior and senior,
and finished his career in 1949 with a then-school-record 2,017 rushing yards. He was a first-round pick by the Chicago Bears in 1950.



#46 Jimmy Barr DB (1969-71)
The Super Sophs in 1969 weren’t just on offense. There were also several on defense, and Barr was one of them. He started all three seasons of his UF career and was a consistent playmaker throughout. Other notables: S Jarvis Herring, LB Webbie Burnett, LB Fred McCalister, DB Jim Revels.
"In 1971 we were 0-5, having lost three games by one point. FSU came into our game 5-0. We had a team meeting on Florida Field – no coaches – on Friday night. We pledged to each other that no matter what the outcome the next day, we would leave it all on the field. We got Tommy Durrance, Robert Harrell and Jimmy Barr back from injury. Tommy had a good day rushing the ball for close to 100 yards. Miraculously Jimmy Barr intercepted a fumble in midair and returned it for a touchdown. On the game-winning play, Larry “Moose” Morris was the long snapper and Coach Dickey put me in to hold. Richard Franco split the uprights with a 42-yard field goal and we upset the previously unbeaten Seminoles, 17-15!!!"
- QB John Reaves