GCMB Poll: Best UF Linebacker of all time

[78]

This one's just as good.

 

[Frozen Gator]

I agree with everything said here (Wilbur is the greatest), nice of Okeechobee Joe to mention Cameron and Ortega. Also it should remembered that Scott Brantley's jersey WAS retired

 

[Durty South Swamp]

Jarrad Davis is one of the best all time IMO.

Like many others, im not old enough to have seen Marshall play but I'll take your word.

lol

 

[MertzJay26]

lol

Fight me.

But seriously, there is a reason he will be one of the highest drafted LB's to come thru here. He was an absolute stud for 3 years brah. And him playing through pain gives him a +1 in my book

 

[Durty South Swamp]

Fight me.

But seriously, there is a reason he will be one of the highest drafted LB's to come thru here. He was an absolute stud for 3 years brah. And him playing through pain gives him a +1 in my book

lol

 

[stephenPE]

Scott Brantley was the best I ever saw. A college Butkus type. Wilbur was more of a rush end to me. Brantley was more like a middle LB that ate running backs for breakfast. Sammy GReen was a damned tackling machine. I think he had a gazillion tackles at UF. Peterson was fantastic. Kelsey was damned good too. (I played with his dad in HS basketball)

 

[MertzJay26]

lol

Dang man good point. I take back my original position.

 

[Durty South Swamp]

Dang man good point. I take back my original position.

lol

 

[GatorJ]

Fight me.

But seriously, there is a reason he will be one of the highest drafted LB's to come thru here. He was an absolute stud for 3 years brah. And him playing through pain gives him a +1 in my book

highest rank draft picks? He is looking like a second rounder, no? Fantastic Gator and a really good linebacker. But I don't think on an elite talent level like Marshall.

Don't like to use the NFL draft as a barometer for one major reason: NFL draft position does not necessarily correlate to college production (see Tebow) nor NFL success rate (see Derrick Harvey). But since you did:

Wilbur Marshall – 11th pick
Ralph Ortega - 29th pick
Mike Peterson – 36th pick
Jarrad Davis - potential 40th pick
Johnny Rutledge - 51st pick
Brandon Spikes - 62nd pick

Here's a brief snapshot from Wikipedia on what Marshall did at the NFL level.

Marshall is perhaps best known as a significant member of two Super Bowl championship teams, the 1985 Bears and the 1991 Redskins. In 1985, the Bears, behind one of the most celebrated defenses in league history, finished the regular season 15–1, shut out both opponents in the playoffs, and beat the New England Patriots 46–10 in Super Bowl XX. In a 37–17 week 16 victory over the Detroit Lions, Marshall delivered a stunning hit on Lions' quarterback Joe Ferguson that left Ferguson flat on his back, knocked out cold. But perhaps Marshall's most memorable moment came in the 1985 NFC Championship Game, against the Los Angeles Rams. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, snow began to fall at Soldier Field, eliciting loud applause from the Bears fans in attendance. On the next play, Bears defensive end Richard Dent sacked Rams quarterback Dieter Brock, causing Brock to fumble the football. Marshall picked up the loose football and, alongside William "The Refrigerator" Perry, ran 52 yards through the falling snow. The Bears beat the Rams 24–0, and Marshall's fumble return for touchdown continues to be the highlight from that game most replayed.[9] Fox News Chicago also named that play to be the most iconic moment of the game, and of the season, as well. He also had a good performance in the Super Bowl, recording a sack and recovering a fumble. In 1986, Marshall recorded five interceptions and 5.5 sacks and was named first-team All-Pro for the first time.

There's another comparison between Davis and Marshall:

Davis: 201 tackles - 20 for loss - 5.5 sacks - 1 INT

Can't find much on his college stats from the 80s but:

Marshall: 23 sacks - 58 tackles for loss - 4 INTs

http://floridagators.com/news/2008/9/10/14438.aspx

During his dozen NFL seasons, Marshall recorded 45 sacks and intercepted 23 passes, which he returned for 304 yards and three touchdowns. He also recovered 16 fumbles, returning them for 70 yards and one touchdown. Marshall is among the few players who have recorded 20 sacks and 20 interceptions in their career.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Jarrad Davis is one of the best all time IMO.

Luckily most people realize your opinions are silly as hell.

Spikes was a unanimous first team All American and a two time first team All-SEC player. Brandon Siler being in the way is the only reason it wasnt three years.

Spikes doing his porno film and smoking a pound of pot per week like all the other Meyerites certainly hurt his draft status though.

 

[MertzJay26]

Luckily most people realize your opinions are silly as hell.

You, a) loved Muschamp and b) still love LDR. Run along boy.

 

[MertzJay26]

highest rank draft picks? He is looking like a second rounder, no? Fantastic Gator and a really good linebacker. But I don't think on an elite talent level like Marshall.

Don't like to use the NFL draft as a barometer for one major reason: NFL draft position does not necessarily correlate to college production (see Tebow) nor NFL success rate (see Derrick Harvey). But since you did:

Wilbur Marshall – 11th pick
Ralph Ortega - 29th pick
Mike Peterson – 36th pick
Jarrad Davis - potential 40th pick
Johnny Rutledge - 51st pick
Brandon Spikes - 62nd pick

Here's a brief snapshot from Wikipedia on what Marshall did at the NFL level.

I just want him added to the list. Not saying he's #2, or even top 5. Just worthy of consideration that's all. Sheesh

 

[Swamp Donkey]

highest rank draft picks? He is looking like a second rounder, no?

I really dont think he will be after someone makes him run a forty.

 

[G8trwood]

Wilbur was definitely the man, but it is very difficult comparing the pass rush big play guys to the others. I fondly remember David Little, maybe because he was one of the few bright spots in those days (other than some huge late hits by Tony Lilly :) (Of course I do suffer memory loss from those days.) Just solid LB play on every down.

 

[Durty South Swamp]

You, a) loved Muschamp and b) still love LDR. Run along boy.

 

[MertzJay26]

I am also assuming gender... I've become a monster!

 

[Durty South Swamp]

I am also assuming gender... I've become a monster!

 

[Captain Sasquatch]

Marshall followed by Spikes.

 

[78]

Wilbur was definitely the man, but it is very difficult comparing the pass rush big play guys to the others. I fondly remember David Little, maybe because he was one of the few bright spots in those days (other than some huge late hits by Tony Lilly :) (Of course I do suffer memory loss from those days.) Just solid LB play on every down.

Point well taken, which is why I tried separating inside and outside guys in past polls. David Little is the perfect example why. His 1980 season, in which he played run stopper and established the UF career mark for tackles (which stills stands), was probably every bit as good as Marshall's '82 or '83 seasons, yet Marshall's is better remembered for what he did to Sean Salisbury one very hot September afternoon in '82.

 

[InstiGATOR1]

The answer is Wilbur Marshall. I see you listed Sammy Green (1972 - 1975 ) and rightly so. But the equal to Green from that same era were Ralph Ortega and Glen Cameron.

Right I was shocked that the list did not include Ortega and Cameron.