The younger guys never saw some of the greats I saw and I never saw some before them. My first game as a kid was 68 with Reeves and Alverez. Two more who never get ranked as high as they should in these fan votes. Larry Smith was another one, went on to play with the Rams. Dickey had some great RB'ss who never get listed or hardly ever.
Not sure there's ever been a better running back trio than James Jones, Neal Anderson and Lorenzo Hampton. All three had long, very productive NFL careers.
A really great story @candymanfromgc I knew the name but had no idea how accomplished he was …nor what he did post-football.
People forget how many RBs UF put in the NFL for a long time. The Nat Moore, Emmitt, Fred, Rhett, and the ones mentioned above. Seems like we are getting back to that place
Good call. James Jones was just before the others I mentioned, I think. John L was with Neal and Zo. Crazy talent in those backfields
Meh, everyone knows that elite football began in 1980. Everything behind this date is played by a bunch of Neanderthals. Um, you say that elite ball began in the 2000s? Get off my lawn!!!
A friend of mine who I played high school ball with played LB for Southern Miss. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks the same year John L. Williams was drafted. He said the first time he saw John L. he thought that Seattle wasted a draft pick. According to him, John L. was a little on the chubby side and didn't look the part of a RB. However, his opinion changed the first time they practiced and John L. really put on a show. My friend couldn't believe how well John L. moved and with power. My friend ended up being released by Seattle and ended up playing in the CFL while John L. had a great career in the NFL.
He was one of the most highly recruited HS players UF signed at the time and was so unselfish....he played FB at UF so Neal and Lo could play the TB position.
John L Williams, per my memory, was from Palatka. He was scheduled to fly to LA to visit Southern Cal, which at that time was a RB factory (Mike Garrett, Anthony Davis, Ricky Bell, OJ, Marcus Allen, et al). But unfortunately, Air Florida crashed in the river taking off from Washington DC to Fla. John L cancelled his visit which he said was due to the upcoming flight to LA as well as future ones vs a short drive from home to Gville. I think Steve Tannen is the only Gator to have blocked a punt and returned a pick for a TD in one game. He was, imho, the absolute best CB to ever don the O&B.
Al Davis and the Raiders will (well would have) remember John L. Williams. I remember a playoff game where he single handed beat the raider logo off their helmut.
