Countdown to Kickoff 2025

#25 Lee McGriff WR (1972-74)
McGriff is one of the greatest success stories in UF history, going from walk-on to the Gators’ leading receiver in 1973 and 1974. A two-time All-SEC selection, McGriff in those two years combined to catch 74 passes for 1,401 yards and 12 touchdowns. His son Travis also was a standout receiver for the Gators; Travis played for Steve Spurrier, while Lee — who began his career as a walk-on — played receiver in a Wishbone offense. McGriff, who went to Tampa Plant, was a second-team All-SEC pick as a junior in 1973, when he led the league with 703 receiving yards (on 38 receptions). He was a first-team selection as a senior, when he led the league in receptions (38), receiving yards (750) and TD receptions (seven).




#25 Brandon James KR/WR (2006-09)
James was one of the great return men this century in college football. He was a consensus All-American in 2008, First-Team All-SEC and SEC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2008 and Second-Team All-SEC in 2007. James’ rushing and receiving totals were just okay. But in his era, there may not have been a more feared player in the return game. And, he helped UF win
two national titles. Other notables: RB Elijah Williams, WR Stacey Simmons, DB Chuck Hatch, RB Jordan Scarlett, S Roger Sibbald, DB Bill Gaisford, RB Dick Kirk.

 

#24 Fred Weary CB (1993-97)
Weary signed as a wide receiver out of Jacksonville Mandarin and was moved to corner while redshirting as a freshman in 1993. He was a three-year starter and twice was a first-team All-SEC pick. He also was an All-American as a senior in 1997, when he was one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award. He had 15 career interceptions, the most in school history, and is fourth
with 35 pass breakups. Other notables: DB Wayne Fields, DB Alvin Cowans, CB Brian Poole, DB Ricky Knight, TE Gene Peek, WR Tre Everett, S Josh Evans.

 

Too bad the games suck on Week 0.
Except maybe Iowa St v. Kansas St.
Better matchups on Thur & Fri though.

 

#23 Allen R. Trammell Jr. CB/PR (1963-65)
He arrived at Florida as a walk-on and became a three-year starter (1963-65). Known mostly for his work on defense, he also returned punts and played some offense and threw a TD pass to spark a win against LSU in 1964. He finished his career with nine interceptions. He also was a star baseball outfielder; he holds the school single-season record with a .425 batting average in 1965. His legendary performance against Kentucky, where he hit a grand slam homerun and two doubles in a single inning, remains etched in Gator folklore. He was a close personal friend with Steve Spurrier.



#23 Derrick Gaffney WR (1974-77)
Gaffney played for coach Doug Dickey's Gators teams from 1974 to 1977. Memorably, Gaffney caught a ninety-nine-yard touchdown reception from Cris Collinsworth in the Gators' season-opening 48–3 victory over the Rice Owls in 1977, which tied the then-current NCAA record and remains the longest touchdown pass in Southeastern Conference (SEC) history. He finished that game with 14 receptions for 319 yards and two TDs. Derrick played for the Jets from 1978 to 1984 and again in 1987. His single best season was his rookie year in 1978, when he caught thirty-eight passes for 691 yards. Gaffney started sixty-eight of 100 games in which he played for the Jets, and finished his NFL career with 156 receptions for 2,613 yards and seven touchdowns.



#23 Mike Gillislee RB (2009-12)
Gillislee rushed for 1,152 yards, the seventh-best year in UF history. He was First-Team All-SEC. Other notables: DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, WR Carlos Perez, RB Dwayne Mobley, DB Curtis Stacey, RB Leonard George. Special mention here goes to George, who in 1968 became the first black player to ever sign with the Gators (Willie Jackson Sr. was in the same class but signed shortly after George).

 

#22 Emmitt Smith RB (1987-89)
An All-American in 1989 and a three-time All-SEC selection, Smith set an astounding 58 UF records during his career. In only three seasons, he became the Gators’ all-time leading rusher (at the time) by piling up 3,928 yards. He was a reserve in his first two games as a Gator, then proved all the hype was real by rushing for 224 yards in an upset of Alabama in the third game of his college career. He holds the school record with 23 100-yard games. Emmitt went on to become the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. Other notables: CB Steve Tannen, WR Willie Jackson Jr., S Matt Elam, RB John L. Williams, RB Terry Jackson.

 

#21 Fred Taylor RB (1994-97)
An elite-level recruit from Belle Glade Glades Central, Taylor was a fulltime starter at UF only as a senior but still saw enough action throughout his career to be the No. 5 rusher in school history with 3,075 yards. He was a first-team All-SEC pick and earned some All-America mention as a senior in 1997, when he rushed for 1,292 yards, fourth-most in a season in school history. He had eight 100-yard games that fall, second-most in a season in UF history, and had 14 career 100-yard outings, tied for third-most. He was a first-round pick in the 1998 draft.



#21 Cris Collinsworth WR (1977-80)
During his career at Florida, Collinsworth caught 120 passes for 1,937 yards, and rushed for another 210. He scored 14 touchdowns receiving, two rushing, one on a kickoff return, and threw two touchdown passes. He also returned 30 kickoffs for 726 yards for an average of 24.2 yards per return. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in accounting in 1981 and was inducted into the University of Florida Student Hall of Fame the same year. He was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1991, and as part of a recognition of 100 years of Florida football in 2006, The Gainesville Sun recognized him as the No. 12 all-time Gator player. Collinsworth was named to the 2023 Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Class for his excellence as an NFL football analyst. Other notables: S Major Wright, RB Dexter McNabb, RB Kelvin Taylor, WR Frankie Neal, CB Tyson Sever.

 

#20 Rick Casares RB (1951-53)
Casares was a man among boys in high school at Tampa Jefferson, mainly because at 6 feet 2 and 220 pounds, he often was the biggest player on the field despite playing running back. He starred in football, baseball, baseball and track in high school; he also was a Gold Gloves boxing champ. Casares was a three-year starter for the Gators. He received All-SEC notice and some All-America acclaim as a senior in 1953. He also was an all-league player in basketball. Casares led the NFL in rushing in 1956 with the Chicago Bears.




#20 Vince Kendrick FB/RB (1971-73)
When the Gators got off to a hugely disappointing start in 1973, Doug Dickey made two key changes on offense. He inserted Don Gaffney as the starting quarterback and moved Kendrick from fullback to tailback. They turned out to be brilliant moves that turned the season — and the Dickey era — around. The big, physical and athletic Kendrick gave the Gators a ground game during their “November to Remember.”



#20 Robert Gillespie RB (1998-01)
He was a tailback who could run and catch passes, making him a great fit for Steve Spurrier’s high-powered offense. Gillespie rushed for 1,854 yards and had 1,091 receiving yards during a solid Gator career. He became the second all-time Gators running back in career receptions (96) and receiving yards. Other notables: S Marcus Maye, DE Joe Cohen, RB DeShawn Wynn, WR Tony Lomack, DB/WR Hagood Clarke.