Pat Dooley
May 26, 2024 7:00 am ET
When I was pitching the idea of re-ranking the top 50 players in Florida football history, my wife asked, “Why now?”
To which I responded, “Well, we did the top 100 in 2006 and there have been a lot of good players in the last 18 years.”
“It’s been 18 years?”
She wasn’t happy to think about how much time has passed since Florida football was a big deal.
Maybe it will be important again and we’ll have to pull these rankings out to check on. After all, things do tend to change over time and it is always good to get a fresh perspective — especially with plenty of players vying for a top ranking over the past several years.
Anyway, the point was to update an old list. And that includes some guys on this next installment from Nos. 40 to 31.
No. 40: Fred Weary
Andy Lyons/Allsport
Every time I hear his name I think about Steve Spurrier laughing after Florida won the national title and saying, “Yeah, for some reason Fred gets one thrown over his head once a game.”
Well, that wasn’t true, but he did give up some big plays. However, he erased way more than he gave up.
Weary still has the Florida record with 15 career interceptions and also had 35 pass break-ups from 1994-98.
No. 39: Huey Richardson
USA TODAY Sports
Man, did Spurrier inherit some talent when he took over in 1990. Most of it was on defense including a senior named Richardson
The year before he had 12.5 sacks, which was the Florida record until Alex Brown came along and he is third in career sacks.
Richardson is also fourth in Florida history in tackles for a loss.
No. 38: John L. Williams
Stephen Dunn-Imagn
He was one of the most versatile backs ever to play the position.
Florida had so many tailbacks it was hard to get on the field. But he was out there because of his ability to catch the ball.
This was back in the days where the screen pass was a weapon and Williams led Florida twice in receiving and also led the Gators in rushing in 1984.
No. 37: Kyle Pitts
Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
The best tight end to ever play at Florida and I won’t bore you with stats.
I assume you saw him play.
Pitts was incredible in that he could make circus catches and then outrun defensive backs like they were standing still.
That 2020 season was so preposterous that sometimes I will watch a highlight tape of his scores that season.
No. 36: Kerwin Bell
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
The Throwin’ Mayoan was such a big deal that newspapers covered his wedding. But probation hit hard after Bell had led Florida to a pair of 9-1-1 seasons.
Still, he made some special things happen whether it was the comeback against Auburn when he limped in for the winning two-point conversion or the wins over Georgia and FSU in 1986.
Don’t forget, he was a walk-on with no scholarship offers and was eighth on the depth list when he arrived on campus.
No. 35: Louis Oliver
RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
Only twice in Florida history has a defensive back been named an All-American twice.
One of them was a walk-on.
Oliver came to Florida with hopes of making the team, but he did so much more. With his trademark neck roll making him look like he wanted to hurt somebody, Oliver was the guy you didn’t want to get hit by.
He also has the UF record for pass breakups in a season and had 11 interceptions in his career.
No. 34: Mike Peterson
Scott Halleran/Allsport
A current member of the Florida staff, Peterson came to UF after leading Alachua Santa Fe to a state title as a quarterback.
Florida knew where he really belonged and that was at linebacker where he just stuffed people.
Go back and look at the hit he put on Pooh Bear Williams of FSU in the national title game on fourth down.
Now try it again without wincing.
No. 33: Brandon Siler
Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
The lifeblood of the 2006 national championship team and a guy who enjoyed contact.
Those who did not helped him set a season record in 2005 when he forced seven fumbles.
Those are a lot of fumbles, but he had a real knack for it.
And for delivering teeth-rattling tackles.
No. 32: Jabar Gaffney
Scott Halleran/Allsport
If the official said he caught the ball in Tennessee, that’s all that matters.
But here is a stat you may not know about Gaffney. No player in the history of Florida football has had more 100-yard receiving games.
Gaffney had 15 of them and finished his career ninth in total receptions, second in total yards despite having only two seasons and fourth in total touchdowns for a Gator career.
No. 31: Jimmy Dubose
Scott Halleran/Allsport
When Florida was struggling in 1973, Doug Dickey put Jimmy Du at fullback and moved Vince Kendrick to tailback.
That saved the season and two years later, Dubose would have the kind of season that would see him receive all kinds of awards.
Playing as the fullback in Florida’s wishbone attack, Dubose was named the SEC Player of the Year and finished sixth in the Heisman voting in 1975.
His 1,307 yards is the third best total ever at Florida.
Read more
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