Top 10 Best Florida College Football Players of All Time

The University of Florida has been playing football since 1906. In all of that time, they have taken home three national championships (1996, 2006, 2008). Throughout the years, they have had some incredibly talented players. Listed below are the ten greatest football players in UF program history.

Who Are the Best University of Florida Football Players of All Time?

1. Tim Tebow
2. Danny Wuerffel
3. Emmitt Smith
4. Steve Spurrier
5. Alex Brown
6. Wilbur Marshall
7. Jack Youngblood
8. Errict Rhett
9. Jack Jackson
10. Percy Harvin

1. Tim Tebow

• 2007 Heisman Trophy Winner
• Three-time All-American selection
• Two-time SEC Offensive Player of the Year

A quarterback who led the team to two National Championships, Tim Tebow is certainly the greatest player in Florida history. Tebow was a four-year starter for the Gators from 2006-2009. In that time, he made three All-American teams (2007-2009), won two SEC Offensive Player of the Year Awards (2008, 2009), won two Maxwell Awards (2008, 2009), was a three-time First Team All-SEC member (2007-2009), and won the 2007 Heisman Trophy.

On Florida’s all-time passing list, Tebow comes in at number four in passing yards (9,285) and number three in passing touchdowns (88). He also was an outstanding runner, and despite playing quarterback, he still ranks sixth in team history in rushing yards (2,947) and first in rushing touchdowns (57).

Overall, while Tebow was leading the team, Florida went a combined 48-7, winning the National Title in 2006 and 2008. After his outstanding college career, the Denver Broncos took Tebow with the 25th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. His NFL career did not quite match his college one, but his time with the Gators will not soon be forgotten.

2. Danny Wuerffel

• Two-time SEC Player of the Year
• Two-time First Team All-American selection
• Two-time First Team All-SEC selection

The second straight quarterback to make this list is Danny Wuerffel. Like Tebow, Wuerffel was a four-year starter for Florida from 1993-1996. He won two SEC Offensive Player of the Year Awards (1995, 1996), made two All-SEC First Teams (1995, 1996), was a two-time All-American (1995, 1996), won Davey O’Brien Awards (1995, 1996), and won the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, and Walter Camp Award in 1996.

When looking at his numbers, Wuerffel has the most passing touchdowns (114) and the second most passing yards (10,875) in Gator history. During his four years as a starter, he led Florida to an overall record of 45-6-1, capping off his career with a National Championship victory in 1996. Wuerffel then went on to be a fourth-round pick in the 1997 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. He bounced around to a few teams in the NFL, but his college career is one of the more memorable ones in Florida history.

3. Emmitt Smith

• 1989 SEC Most Valuable Player
• Three-time First Team All-SEC selection
• 1989 All-American selection

The greatest running back in Florida history is a future NFL great, Emmitt Smith. Smith was a three-year member of the Gator backfield from 1987-1989 prior to heading off to the NFL. He made the All-SEC First team all three years he was in school, won the 1989 SEC Most Valuable Player award, was a 1989 All-American selection, and is a member of the Florida Football Ring of Honor.

As for Smith’s career numbers, he currently sits in second place in both rushing yards (3,928) and rushing touchdowns (36) on Florida’s all-time lists. His three years with the team saw Florida go 20-16, winning the All-American Bowl in 1988. After forgoing his senior season, the Dallas Cowboys drafted Smith with the 17th overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft. He went on to be one of the best running backs in NFL history, helping the Cowboys win three Super Bowl titles (1993, 1994, 1996).

4. Steve Spurrier

• 1966 Heisman Trophy winner
• 1966 SEC Player of the Year
• Two-time First Team All-American selection

The third quarterback in the top four on this list is the legendary Steve Spurrier. Spurrier played three years for the team from 1964-1966 (he was not eligible as a freshman in 1963, as freshmen were not allowed to play at the varsity level at this time). He was a two-time First Team All-American selection (1965, 1966), won the 1966 SEC Player of the Year, won the 1966 UPI Player of the Year award, and won the 1966 Heisman Trophy.

Even though he was only able to play three seasons with the team, Spurrier still comes in at 11th in passing yards with 4,848 and 12th in passing touchdowns with 36. As the leader, Spurrier led the Gators to an overall record of 23-9, capping off his career with a victory in the 1966 Orange Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers then took Spurrier with the third overall pick in the 1967 NFL Draft. He had a nice career in the NFL, but he really made a name for himself as a college coach since his playing days ended. 

5. Alex Brown

• 2001 SEC Defensive Player of the Year
• Three-time First Team All-SEC selection
• Two-time First Team All-American selection

The first defensive player to make this list is defensive lineman Alex Brown. Brown was a four-year member of the team in the late 1990s-early 2000s from 1998-2001. He capped off his career by winning the 2001 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and he also was a three-time First Team All-SEC Selection (1999-2001) and a two-time First Team All-American (1999, 2001).

Brown was a terrific rusher of the passer during his college days, racking up 33 sacks while at Florida, the most in school history. Brown’s tenure with the team saw Florida go 39-11 overall, winning two Orange Bowls in 1998 and 2001. After the second of those Orange Bowls, Brown entered the NFL Draft, and he went on to be a fourth-round pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2002 Draft. He had a nice eight-year run in the NFL, and he is a member of Florida’s Ring of Honor.

6. Wilber Marshall

• Two-time First Team All-American selection
• Florida Ring of Honor member
• Florida Athletic Hall of Fame member

The second straight defensive player who kicks off the second half of this list is Wilber Marshall. Marshall was a linebacker during the early 1980s for the Gators from 1980-1983. He was a First Team All-American on two occasions in 1982 and 1983, and he later was inducted into Florida’s Ring of Honor and the Florida’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

When it comes to his career numbers with the team, Marshall has the ninth most tackles (343) and the fifth most sacks (23) in program history. During the early 1980s, with Marshall on the team, Florida had an overall record of 32-15-1. In the 1984 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears took Marshall with the 11th overall pick. He won two Super Bowls (1986, 1992) in the NFL with the Bears and Washington Redskins (now Commanders), respectively. As for his college career, he was honored by being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

7. Jack Youngblood

• 1970 First Team All-American
• 1970 First Team All-SEC
• 1970 Outland Trophy Winner

Like Alex Brown, Jack Youngblood played defensive end for the Gators. Youngblood played during the late 1960s from 1968 until 1970. In 1970, he was a First Team All-American, made the First Team All-SEC, and won the Outland Trophy. He also is a member of Florida’s Ring of Honor.

During his junior season, Youngblood recorded a single season school record 14 sacks, five of which came in one game against Florida’s archrival Florida State. While he was leading the defense, the Gators had an overall record of 22-8-2, winning the Gator Bowl in 1969. He then went on to be the 20th overall pick in the 1970 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. His NFL career was just as impressive as his college one, twice leading the NFL in sacks, and he is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

8. Errict Rhett

• 1993 First Team All-American
• Two-time First Team All-SEC selection
• Florida Athletics Hall of Fame member

The second running back to make this list is Errict Rhett. Rhett was actually a member of Florida’s team for five years from 1989-1993, although he only played in two games in 1989 and ended up redshirting. When he finally got his shot, he went on to be a two-time First Team All-SEC member (1991, 1993) and was a First Team All-American in 1993.

Rhett racked up 4,173 rushing yards while at Florida, the most in school history, and scored 34 rushing touchdowns, good enough for third in program history. In the four years where he was a member of the team from 1990-1993, the Gators went 39-10, winning the Gator Bowl in 1992 and the Sugar Bowl in 1993. After his senior year in 1993, Rhett entered the 1994 NFL Draft, and he was eventually selected in the second round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Florida eventually honored Rhett by inducting him into their Athletics Hall of Fame. 

9. Jack Jackson

• 1994 SEC Player of the Year Award
• 1994 First Team All-SEC selection
• 1994 First Team All-American

The first of two straight wide receivers to close out this list is Jack Jackson. Jackson was a three-year player for the Gators from 1992-1994 before heading to the NFL after his junior season. He made that decision after a terrific junior season in 1994, where he was named SEC Player of the Year, made First Team All-SEC, and was selected as a First Team All-American.

His career numbers with the Gators include having the second most touchdowns (29) and the fifth most receiving yards (2,266) in Florida history. During his run with the team in the early 1990s, Florida had a record of 30-8-1, winning back-to-back Bowl games in 1992 (Gator Bowl) and 1993 (Sugar Bowl). In the 1995 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears drafted Jackson in the fourth round. He may not have had the NFL career that he would have liked, but his 1994 season with Florida is still one for the ages.

10. Percy Harvin

• 2008 First Team All-American
• 2006 National Champion
• 2008 National Champion

The final member of Florida’s top ten players is another wide receiver, Percy Harvin. Harvin played three seasons with Florida from 2006-2008 before he left to start his NFL journey. While Tim​​ Tebow deservedly got most of the attention during this time in Gator history, Harvin was a key player on some great teams. In 2008, he was nationally honored by being selected as a First Team All-American.

Harvin was a factor in both the running game and the passing game. He ranks 17th in receiving yards (1,929), 27th in receiving touchdowns (13), 22nd in rushing yards (1,852), and 14th in rushing touchdowns (19). From 2006-2008, the Gators went 35-6, winning the National Title in 2006 and 2008. After entering his name in the 2009 NFL Draft, Harvin was drafted 22nd overall by the Minnesota Vikings. He eventually won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in 2014, so he is a champion at the college and pro levels.

Honorable Mentions

• Carlos Alcaraz
• Wes Chandler
• Cris Collinsworth
• Rex Grossman
• David Little
• Kyle Pitts
• John Reaves
• Huey Richardson
• Fred Taylor
• Fred Weary

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