88 days to kickoff (Counting Down with Gator Greats)

F is the correct answer!!!

 

With 78 days 'til kickoff, why not celebrate another great OL big man in Kenyatta Walker (1997-2000)?
Walker was a three-year starter who was a freshman All-American in 1998, a second-team All-SEC pick in '99
and a first-team all-league selection in 2000. He left early for the NFL draft and was a first-round pick in 2001.

 

With 77 days to go we honor Guy Dennis. (1966-68)
Dooley: In 1968, he was named All-American at guard and was the offensive team captain that year.
Just a quick, fierce and agile blocker. And a good man who still lives in Gainesville.




And OL great Crawford Ker (1983-84)
Dooley: Ker was another member of the “Great Wall,” the third to make this list. And “Big Daddy” is the only walk-on.
He did that at Arizona Western and Florida signed him for two wonderful years at right tackle.



RHONDY WESTON (1985-88)
Weston has been forgotten because of Trace Armstrong as they played at the same time, but as a sophomore in 1986 he finished with 96 tackles, including 15 tackles against Georgia. As a junior in 1987 he finished with 54 tackles, 14 tackles-for-loss, and six sacks and was an All-SEC selection. As a senior Weston had 10 sacks, which still stands as the most by a defensive tackle in school history. He was second-team All-SEC that year.

Also OL great Max Starks (2000-03)
During his time as a Gator, he played for both Steve Spurrier and Zon Zook and won a Southeastern Conference (SEC) championship ring (2000) and blocked for record-setting Gators quarterbacks Rex Grossman (2000–2002) and Chris Leak (2003). As a senior, Starks was a team captain and first-team All-SEC selection.

 

With 75 days 'till kickoff we celebrate Lomas Brown (1981-84), arguably the greatest Florida OL ever.
Dooley: He was Florida’s first Jacobs winner and an All-American in 1984. His powerful blocking style opened holes
for some of the best to ever play for the Gators, and his left side protection was unmatched. He is the only Gator
O-lineman in the College Football Hall of Fame. His longevity in the NFL is unmatched.



And OL great Donnie Young (1993-96).
Young was a Jacobs winner who protected Danny W. and was key in bringing in our first Natty.



And OL great Shannon Snell (2000-03)
Now, he is a BBQ pitmaster, but in his day, Snell was an All-American. The day was 2003 and he did it while playing for Ron Zook.
He was another of those guys who was incredibly durable and hard to get out of the lineup with 36 starts during his career.
Snell was a Sporting News first-team All-American in 2003.

 

No celebration is complete without the great Jack Youngblood (1968-70) with 74 days to go.
Arguably one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history.



Plus the late great OL Jeff Zimmerman (1983-86)
Per Dooley: He was an All-American twice — the only Gator offensive lineman in history who can say that. He was a big part of “The Great Wall of Florida.” I mean big,
with a listed weight of 320 pounds back in the day when guards were going 275. I don’t know this, but I think he might have been Florida’s first 300-pound starter.




And OL great Jason Odom (1992-95)
Dooley used to joke with Jason about the Jacob Award because he was the only two-time winner from Florida, and he never received anything for it. There was no trophy, not even a certificate. Anyway, after struggling as a true freshman (but still helping UF get to the SEC title game), he was a dominant force for the next three seasons of championship football.

 

And now our great OL David Williams (1984-88) with 73 days to go.
Pat Dooley: Many of the players on my best OL list were not only physical, but they were also durable.
Williams never came out of a game and was a semifinalist for the Outland Trophy. He started every game
and blocked first for the great 1985 team and then for Emmitt Smith on his way to being All-SEC twice.



And defensive great Sharif Floyd (2010-12).
Floyd was an All-American as a junior after recording 13 tackles for a loss. He also blocked three field goals as a Gator and finished with 115 career tackles.

 

With 71 days to go we honor one defensive great and two more OL greats.

Tony McCoy (1987-91)
Quick and physical, McCoy helped Florida win its first SEC title and was an All-SEC performer.
Picture Dominique Easley but he played longer and healthier and therefore more productive overall. He was so quick off the snap that nobody could handle him up front.
He finished his career with 17.0 sacks and was All-SEC on the first officially recognized SEC Championship team for the Gators.




And OL great Mike Pearson (1999-01).
Says Pat Dooley: We often think about how the 2001 Florida team was one of the best ever and Pearson was a big reason.
The left tackle protected Rex Grossman and plowed the field for a bevy of backs. He was an All-American in 2001 and twice
was first team on the All-SEC. squad.



And great OL Jeff Mitchell (1992-96).
Mitchell was the starting center for 3 straight years, including the 1996 national title season. Unfortunately, an injury ended his season early and he didn’t get a chance to play in the Sugar Bowl. In 1995, Mitchell was selected to the All-SEC 1st-team.

 

Yes, it all starts with the OL, and that's why with @70 days to go we honor Cooper Carlisle (1995-99).
As only a redshirt freshman, Carlisle was responsible for protecting Danny Wuerffel’s blindside during the 1996 national championship season.
He did a remarkable job as the Gators won it all and Wuerffel took home the Heisman Trophy. Carlisle was an All-American as a senior.

 

With 69 days until kickoff we honor defensive lineman turned OL Dan Fike (1979-82).
Fike starred at Pensacola Pine Forest before signing with the Gators as a defensive lineman in 1979. He played extensively as a true freshman defensive tackle, including making four starts, on a team that went 0-10-1, then was moved to left tackle during spring drills in 1980. Fike was a three-year starter at left tackle and earned All-SEC acclaim after his senior.
Perhaps an even better NFL player with Cleveland.



We also honor Zack Piller (1996-98).
Piller was a sophomore letterman on the 1996 Gators squad that defeated the in-state rival Florida State Seminoles in the Sugar Bowl to win the national championship.
As a senior team captain in 1998, he was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection

 

I'm following 2 lists by Pat Dooley and 247. Trying to fit in the Top 10 from both but can't find pictures of some of the older guys (like Dan Fike).
Interesting story about the Bromley brothers. I read the older one (Chris) was actually the better OL but Phil was just on the better team FWIW.

Pat Dooley's Top Gator OL all-time (from his 2022 article):
1) Lomas Brown
2) Maurkice Pouncey
3) Jason Odom
4) David Williams
5) Cal Dixon
6) Mike Pearson
7) Burton Lawless
8) Jeff Zimmerman
9) Shannon Snell
10) Guy Dennis
11) Crawford Ker
12a) Jeff Mitchell
12b) Donnie Young

 

Love Tony McCoy.
When we upset FSU at their place, a bunch of us in the endzone ran out on their field to thank our players.
Remember hugging Lo Hampton and Tony McCoy most of all. FSU turned on their sprinklers and we started dancing on their logo.
See the post #56 just above on where Dooley has Donnie Young.