Florida's All-Time Defensive Team

[78]

Reading about Fowler's exploits at the combine, it got me to thinking. We've had some tremendous defensive talent over the years, maybe even more than on offense. We did this a year or two ago. What would result if we did a reset on the all-time Florida defensive unit? What the hell, it's offseason. Here's my attempt.

DE (tied) Dante Fowler/Dominique Easley
DT Sharrif Floyd
DT Gerard Warren
DE Jack Youngblood (I doubt he could hang with Fowler or Easley, but he was a beast in his day)
OLB Wilber Marshall
MLB Scot Brantley (tough choice over Spikes)
OLB Jevon Kearse (this will probably be a controversial pick)
CB Janoris Jenkins
SS Matt Elam
FS Reggie Nelson
CB Joe Haden

Feel free to pick it apart. That's the fun in coming up with lists. No one agrees. :-)

 

[WobbleGator]

Jenkins should not be on the list. He did not finish his college career with UF. Plus Ratliff was better.

 

[78]

I don't see that as a defining criterion. While he was here, there was no one better.

 

[jaywalker72]

I can only go back to 1987, really, in terms of watching these guys live. I would have one of these three at the other DE: Huey Richardson, Kevin Carter or Alex Brown. Also, Louis Oliver needs to be in the defensive secondary and Lito Sheppard, too. Also, one of my favorites at LB was Tim Paulk -- was a beast.

 

[WobbleGator]

[QUOTE='78;n181910]I don't see that as a defining criterion. While he was here, there was no one better.[/QUOTE]

Not his Senior year.

 

[78]

Oliver was a beast, but Elam could do more IMO. Sheppard? I think we tend to lump his kick returns in with his secondary work. I'll take my two over him.

 

[78]

Not his Senior year.

What's the thread title?

 

[Leroy Jenkins]

I'd take VHIII over both Haden and Janoris Jenkins..if not for his size (NFL is going more to bigger CB's..and he's probably 5'10")..I think he'd be a top 5 pick in the draft next year..still probably goes top 15. :)

 

[jaywalker72]

Also Lawrence Wright for pre and post game motivation.

 

[-THE DUDE-]

Jenkins should not be on the list. He did not finish his college career with UF. Plus Ratliff was better.

VHIII is better than them all

 

[-THE DUDE-]

DE- Kevin Carter
DT- Gerrard Warren
DT- Sharrif Floyd
DE- Carlos Dunlap
LB- Mike Peterson
LB- Wilbur Marshall
LB- Brandon Spikes
CB- Vernon Hargreaves
CB- Joe Haden
SS- Lawrence Wright
FS- Reggie Nelson

 

[TheDouglas78]

[QUOTE='78;n181898]Reading about Fowler's exploits at the combine, it got me to thinking. We've had some tremendous defensive talent over the years, maybe even more than on offense. We did this a year or two ago. What would result if we did a reset on the all-time Florida defensive unit? What the hell, it's offseason. Here's my attempt.

DE (tied) Dante Fowler/Dominique Easley
DT Sharrif Floyd
DT Gerard Warren
DE Jack Youngblood (I doubt he could hang with Fowler or Easley, but he was a beast in his day)
OLB Wilber Marshall
MLB Scot Brantley (tough choice over Spikes)
OLB Jevon Kearse (this will probably be a controversial pick)
CB Janoris Jenkins
SS Matt Elam
FS Reggie Nelson
CB Joe Haden

Feel free to pick it apart. That's the fun in coming up with lists. No one agrees. :-) [/QUOTE]

No lover for some of the 90's players who were great. As great as Fowler or Easley, did either of them take over a game the way Alex Brown did in 1999? Or Kevin Carter did in the early 90's. How good Ellis Johnson was on the inside.

Corner you could have a lot of conversations of the best all time, with Weary, Haden, Jenkins, Sheppard, VH3, Ratiliff, etc..

Safety is also a hard position, we have had some great safeties. Lawerence Wright who was probably the best SS we have ever had. Elam, Oliver, and Nelson are just a few of the great safety play that was there.

I'm sure I forgot some names, but you could go through some of our rosters from the mid 80's teams, early 90's, that 1997 team was loaded, 2008 team was loaded, and over course the 2012 team. Maybe we should make this at least two deep chart.

 

[WobbleGator]

VHIII is better than them all

Agreed.

 

[Gatorbait25]

DT- Warren
DT- Chester
DE- Alex Brown
DE- Carter
LB- Kearse
LB- Spikes
LB- Marshall
CB- Haden
CB- Fred Weary
FS- Nelson
SS- L Wright

PR- Lito

 

[fischerwood]

Definitely L Wright, Kearse & Warren took too many plays off. especially Kearse in his senior year

 

[78]

Not to take away from Alex Brown, who also had a solid career for my Bears, but we're sometimes guilty of judging the body of work by the Tennessee game. That doesn't cut it for me. If you will recall correctly, too, there were serious motor questions that followed him to the NFL.

 

[jaywalker72]

One of the rare things on which Dooley and I agree is regarding Tim Paulk:
LB — Tim Paulk.
Paulk was such a disruptive player on Steve Spurrier's first two teams at UF, I thought he was a lock to be a pro. Shows what I know.

 

[Gatorbait25]

Definitely L Wright, Kearse & Warren took too many plays off. especially Kearse in his senior year

I could be mistaken, but I believe Kearse went pro after his Junior season.

 

[78]

I could be mistaken, but I believe Kearse went pro after his Junior season.

He did after flaunting his brand new BMW on campus prior to leaving.

 

[T REX]

DT- Warren
DT- Chester
DE- Alex Brown
DE- Carter
LB- Kearse
LB- Spikes
LB- Marshall
CB- Haden
CB- Fred Weary
FS- Nelson
SS- L Wright

PR- Lito

You beat me to the punch...Ed Chester was an All-American...a beast...a stud.