GCMB Poll: Best UF Linebacker Trio

[Swamp Donkey]

I consider that ‘98 team one of Spurrier’s best teams to not win it all.

Drunk Doug.

 

[MissouriGator]

Spurrier didn't have a solid QB in 97, 98, or 99.
Put Grossman on any of those teams...

 

[soflagator]

Spurrier didn't have a solid QB in 97, 98, or 99.
Put a moderately trained chimpanzee on any of those teams...

Minor correction.

 

[MJMGator]

You have to vote 83 simply because of Wilber. He’s the best defensive player we’ve ever had IMO.

 

[78]

Mark Korff was the fourth backer in the 3-4 Joe Kines ran in '83. A corner blitz leads to a Marshall pick at 54:12 during a 53-14 rout of FSU. North end zone had yet to be constructed. No paint on either end zone, which makes the field look bland. Weird.

What a loaded UF backfield in the Power I -- Lorenzo Hampton, John L. Williams, Neal Anderson. PLUS the heartbreaker, Tom Peddie, at TE. Ricky Nattiel at wideout.

The Great Wall minus Crawford Ker was already in operation.

Mike Shanahan in his fourth season as OC. One helluva Florida team.

 

[YLGator]

77 was before my time, so I can't really comment on that group, but of the other three, 83 is the clear winner for me. Wilber and Alonzo were simply unblockable, there's a reason Wilber is in the ROR, he was legendary. Just ask USC. As for the other two groups, Petersen is one of my all-time favorites, but Kearse might very well be the most overrated gator of all time. He had tremendous athletic ability, but seemed to be behind the play constantly. Spikes is also and all-time great, but Stamper and Hicks were just good, solid players, neither were great.

 

[78]

Kearse was all about optics and, as it turned out, a DE in linebacker's clothing. Peterson was the best backer on the '98 team.

 

[YLGator]

Kearse was all about optics and, as it turned out, a DE in linebacker's clothing. Peterson was the best backer on the '98 team.

Couldn't agree more. Petersen was a stud from the first time he took the field as a freshman. Too bad we never moved Kearse to DE. That would have been fun to see.

 

[78]

Couldn't agree more. Petersen was a stud from the first time he took the field as a freshman. Too bad we never moved Kearse to DE. That would have been fun to see.

Alex Brown got in his way.

 

[78]

Had Brantley not missed the entire '79 season from a concussion in the season opener, we might be talking about that group instead of '77, which probably doesn't deserve mention here over Okee Joe's '73 group.

David Little was a junior in '79 and developing into one of the best linebackers in the country. He was a consensus All-American the following year.

Sadly, Little died in 2005 when he dropped a 250-pound barbell on his chest after suffering a cardiac flutter. The weight rolled onto his neck and suffocated him.

 

[YLGator]

Alex Brown got in his way.

An embarrassment of riches to say the least. We had NFL guys all over the place. Be nice to get back to that at some point.

 

[InstiGATOR1]

1973 Ralph Ortega, Glenn Cameron, and Slammin' Sammy Green

Exactly, I don't think it is particularly close and maybe the next best trio is Ortega, Cameron and Abbott in 1972. Ortega, Cameron and Green played together in 1973 and 1974.

A few facts from the 2018 UF media guide:

2018 Florida Football Media Guide (PDF) - Florida Gators

A. Green is still 3rd in UF career tackles and Ortega is 6th in UF career tackles still.

B. Green is listed as holding the single season tackle mark with 202 total tackles and Cameron is listed 3rd at 185 total tackles.

C. Cameron was the 14th overall pick in the 1975 NFL draft, Ortega was the 29th overall pick in the 1975 NFL draft and Green was the 29th pick in the 1976 NFL draft. (Abbott was a 6th round pick, 143rd overall, in the 1973 draft.)

D. Ortega led UF in total tackles in 1973, Cameron led UF in total tackles in 1974 and with Ortega and Cameron gone Green set the single season record to lead UF in total tackles in 1975.

I am sure that there are other facts to find out there with a bit more investigation, but I think even these make a pretty compelling case for this group.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

12 was just ok.

I'd argue that. I think being in the "Chump" era may make people less appreciative but they were an awesome group based on their individual physical attributes and the fact that Bostic and Jelani Jenkin's played all three positions and did them well. All three were great blitzer's and also very good against the run. All three 3 could drop into coverage and had tons of pass break up's and interceptions that year.
Go back and watch a replay of the 2012 Tamu game and how they shutdown one of the best CFB offenses in recent history.

 

[stephenPE]

I looked up the stats. I knew it had to be Brantley Little and WIlliams. They were literally tackling machines.
All time they ranked 1st 2nd and 4th. Sammy G. played with WIlliams one year. Scott is all time leader if
not injured.
1 David Little 475 1977 1978 1979 1980
2 Scot Brantley 467 1976 1977 1978 1979
3 Sammy Green 457 1972 1973 1974 1975
4 Charlie Williams 409 1974 1975 1976 1977
Florida Gators football statistical leaders - Wikipedia
case closed.

 

[MJMGator]

I looked up the stats. I knew it had to be Brantley Little and WIlliams. They were literally tackling machines.
All time they ranked 1st 2nd and 4th. Sammy G. played with WIlliams one year. Scott is all time leader if
not injured.
1 David Little 475 1977 1978 1979 1980
2 Scot Brantley 467 1976 1977 1978 1979
3 Sammy Green 457 1972 1973 1974 1975
4 Charlie Williams 409 1974 1975 1976 1977
Florida Gators football statistical leaders - Wikipedia
case closed.

That era was nothing but run plays. Stands to reason LBers of that era rang up the tackles. Great Gators nonetheless.

 

[78]

That era was nothing but run plays. Stands to reason LBers of that era rang up the tackles. Great Gators nonetheless.

Definitely not as much passing as now. LB, DL and OL stats are what they are. They only tell part of the story. Interpretation required.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Couldn't agree more. Petersen was a stud from the first time he took the field as a freshman. Too bad we never moved Kearse to DE. That would have been fun to see.

Kearse did NOT weigh much then. He came on as a SS at like 200 pounds.

He simply wasnt good enough vs run in college or big enough to play DE. He actually wasnt good enough vs run to play DE in NFL either.

 

[78]

Kearse did weigh much then. He came on camous as a SS like 200 pounds.

He simply wasnt good enough vs run in college or big enough to play DE. He actually wasnt good enough vs run to play DE in NFL either.

He was a special teams dude.

 

[Theologator]

1973 Ralph Ortega, Glenn Cameron, and Slammin' Sammy Green

That was a great trio. I remember Sammy Green with his big horse collar lining up at nose guard, too. He was the 2nd player ever drafted by the Seahawks.

I voted for 1998, but I’d rather have voted for 1996. Kearse, Peterson & Bates won a NC and were fantastic together. Peterson’s stuff of “Pooh Bear” Williams on 4th & 1 early in the 1997 Sugar Bowl set the tone for that most awesome game in Gator history.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

He was a special teams dude.

I remember seeing him get some spot playing time at the end of the year as a freshman and thinking "Wow the tackle cant even touch this guy."