With yesterday’s preview of the Right Guards, we move on to the final spot on the line, Right Tackle. I’m sure you all are just waiting for Gators Sports Nation to move on to the defense, and it’s almost here. The Right Tackles for Florida are once again a solid part on the line, with good depth and a strong starter. Enough talk, it’s time to move on to the preview of the Right Tackles, and finish up GSN’s offense preview.

Starting at Right Tackle for the Gators is Marcus Gilbert. The 6’6″ tackle has appeared in 26 games, with 3 career starts. Last season, he started against Hawaii and Miami. Despite his lack of starts, Gilbert should be able to carry the load at Right Tackle this season. Besides playing at Right Tackle, Gilbert also contributed on special teams as a member of the field goal unit. In high school, Gilbert was a three sport athlete, involved in football, basketball, and track and field. Going into 2009, Gilbert has displayed his talent in the summer practices, showing that he can be an every down guy.

Behind Marcus Gilbert on the depth chart is David Young. Last season he saw action in just one game as a true freshman. Young should see a little more action in 2009, since Gilbert will be in his first year as the starter for UF. Also on the depth chart at Right Guard is Xavier Nixon, the freshman. Prior to Florida, Nixon received many honors and was named the best offensive linemen in the state.

That wraps it up for the Florida offense and offensive line, stay tuned for tomorrow’s look at the defense, one of the best in the nation, with all the starters returning from 2008.

In today’s preview, we will begin to look at the right side of the Florida Gators’ line. The starting Right Guard for the Gators is one of the best in the league, and stands next to his twin brother, Maurkice, each and every down. The Right Guards for Florida are very strong, and specialize in blocking for the run.

Starting at Right Guard for the Gators is Mike Pouncey. The 6’5″ guard is one of the best in the nation. In his career, Mike has seen action in 25 games, including 17 starts. He was a 2008 All-SEC selection and an AP All-SEC Honorable Mention. Mike had a great game in the season opener against Hawaii, were he was named the Offensive Linemen of the Game. Against Tennessee, Mike was named a UF Offensive Player of The Week. In the game against LSU, Mike had his best game of the season, and recorded four knockdowns. Pouncey is an amazing talent, and he showed this in his freshman year, when he made a quick change to defensive line against Vanderbilt because of too many injuries on the D line. In 2009, Mike will continue his dominance and bring home many more awards.

Behind the All-American Right Guard is redshirt freshman, Sam Robey. A versatile linemen, Robey can play either guard or center. He missed last season due to a knee injury he suffered. Robey had a ton of success while in high school, including three state championships and being co-named the state’s best player. Despite all his success prior to college, Robey needs to look past all that and begin to focus on carrying his previous success over to UF.

Going into 2009, the Gators seem to be solid at Right Guard. As we continue to finish up the offensive line, we notice that the Gators don’t have any weaknesses, which is not common in today’s game. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s preview of the Right Tackle, as we finish up the offensive line.  

Yesterday, Gators Sports Nation finished up the left side of the offensive line, and now we take a look at the man in the middle, the Center. Most people only see the Center as the man who gives the ball to the Quarterback, but he is also relied on to take on the oncoming defensive line. For Florida, the Center position is their strongest point on the line, with an All SEC starter leading the way.

The man in the middle for the Gators is 6’6″, 312lbs Maurkice Pouncey. He has started 26 games while at Florida, and received many accolades after the 2008 season. Pouncey was named to the AP All-SEC Honorable Mention and was on the All-Sophomore team. During the 2008 season, Pouncey was named SEC Offensive Linemen of the Week after his tremendous play against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Standing next to Pouncey at Right Guard is his twin brother, Mike. The two have worked well together, and both are superb blockers for UF.

Behind Maurkice Pouncey is Junior Corey Hobbs. The 6’4″ Hobbs has appeared in 11 games for the Gators. Last season, he played in eight games, including the season opener against Hawaii. Hobbs will most likely never get a start while at Florida, since he is in the same year as Maurkice Pouncey, but if Pouncey leaves early for the NFL Draft after 2009, Hobbs may be able to finally get the center spot to himself.

I know that the offensive line is not that interesting, but they are very important to the team. As we are all Florida fans, we need to realize that we are lucky to have such a great line, unlike other teams around the SEC. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s preview of the Right Guards, as we near the end of the offense, and begin our defensive preview.

Today, we will continue to discuss the left side of the line, with a look at the left guard position. The Left Guards in 2009 will have to fill in Jim Tartt’s shoes. There will be a new starter at guard, but he will not be lacking any experience, as he has seen action in a good amount of games in 2008. Who will be starting at Left Guard in the upcoming season for the Florida Gators? Continue on reading to find out.

Going into the new season, Sophomore James Wilson is set to begin his 2009 season as the starting Left Guard. Wilson has a good frame, standing at 6’5”, 320lbs. Prior to being a Florida Gator, he was ranked the #1 offensive guard and #2 ranked overall player coming out of high school. Just because this will be his first year officially being the starter, he has seen action in 10 career games, after red shirting as a freshman. Last season against the Citadel, Wilson had his best effort of the year, and was named the best linemen after the game as the Gators went on to destroy the Citadel. Besides football, Wilson has had past experience as a basketball player for his high school, and also being a state weightlifting qualifier in 2006.

Backing up James Wilson is Maurice Hurt. The red shirt Junior has seen action in 16 games, and started 1 game back in 2007. In his first game in 2008 against Kentucky, he helped the Gators’ rushing attack total 214 yards. In his only start, the Gators rushed for 246 yards against Ole Miss. It seems that when he plays, the Gators don’t miss a beat, which is a great thing to have with your backups. Coming out of high school, Hurt chose Florida over SEC schools Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State and Big 12 Oklahoma. Going into 2009, Hurt may not see a lot of action, at least as a starter, but he should be able to help relieve James Wilson occasionally and enter the games early in the season when Florida is crushing teams.

Florida’s situation at Left Guard is not one to worry about. James Wilson should be fine as a starter, as he has had great success in his high school days and I expect him to continue that success in 2009. It is great to have a reliable backup, and Maurice Hurt is certainly a reliable backup. He can enter games and give Wilson a break without the Gators worrying that he will mess up. Be sure to check out tomorrow’s preview of the Center position.

After covering all the “flashy” positions, it’s time to go in the trenches. We all have heard of the old saying, “ The game is won in the trenches.” , and that saying is so true. The Gators have had a solid line the past couple of seasons, which has resulted in the Gators being the best team in college football 3 times in the past 4 seasons. Gators Sports Nation will begin its’ preview of the trenches, starting with the Left Tackle. I’m sure not all of you really care too much, or have even bothered to learn more about the Gators’ line, but Gators Sports Nation will give you a closer look and I hope to give you a better understanding of the big guys up front.

The starting Left Tackle for the Gators is Junior Carl Johnson. Standing at 6’6”, 342lbs, Johnson is a strong tackle that has been solid in his career. Last season, he played in every game, and started 8 of the games, including the SEC Championship and National Championship. His season-best performance came against South Carolina, where he earned Champions’ Club honors. Despite his terrific play on the field, Johnson has been involved in off the field altercations. He was arrested and charged with violating a domestic violence restraining order. Hopefully Johnson can avoid any further punishment, and focus on dominating in 2009. As the biggest started on the line, Johnson is moving from Left Guard to Left Tackle, replacing Phil Trautwein.

Behind the big Carl Johnson, stands Matt Patchan. The 6’6” Sophomore is one of the more interesting players on the offensive line. Last season, he was a defensive tackle, and played in 11 of the games last season. In 2009, he will be flipping sides, and moving back to his old position on the offensive line. Coming out of high school, Patchan was a highly touted offensive line prospect. The decision to go back to his old position will be the best for himself, and also for the Florida Gators. As a backup, Patchan may not see a ton of action, but he can certainly learn from Carl Johnson, and prepare himself in case anything happens.

I know that these upcoming previews will not be as exciting as the past previews, but they are still an important part for the team. They may not be the spectacular, flashy playmakers that we all love, but they are the guys that give Tim Tebow and the rest of the Gators high powered offense the support and blocks to make all the exciting plays that we all love. Stay tuned to Gators Sports Nation for tomorrow’s preview of the Left Guards.

After taking a look at the Wide Receivers, we now turn to the Tight Ends. Led by Aaron Hernandez, the Tight End position will be the first option in the passing game. We all picture Tight Ends as the big blocking and occasional pass catching members of the team. But in recent history, the Tight End position has evolved into a more athletic position. We all know the NFL star Tight Ends, whether it’s Tony Gonzalez or Antonio Gates, but they have begun to change the Tight End position. Florida’s last Tight End, Cornelius Ingram, was more of a pass catching Tight End then a blocker, and his versatility made him a threat on offense for Florida. This season, the Tight End’s will need to provide receiving help for Tebow, and help alleviate the loss of Cornelius Ingram.

Arguably the best Tight End in the SEC, Aaron Hernandez displayed his skills last season after starter Cornelius Ingram tore his ACL. Going into this season, Hernandez will be Tebow’s main target, as he has shown that he can be a big playmaker at the Tight End position. Standing at 6’2”, he has great combination of size and athleticism. Linebackers will struggle to keep up with him, while Safeties will not be able to match up with his height. Hernandez is just another example of the new breed of Tight Ends that has grown in recent memory. With five touchdowns in 2008, Hernandez played a huge role in the BCS National Championship, leading the Gators in receiving with 5 catches for 57 yards. In 2009, Hernandez should provide a huge target for Tebow in the redzone, and may finish the season as one of the elite Tight Ends in the nation.

Behind Aaron Hernandez is Freshman Desmond Parks. Prior to Florida, Parks was a 2008 Second-Team All-State selection in South Carolina and had 12 touchdowns combined in his Junior and Senior years. He chose Florida over North Carolina, South Carolina and Clemson. Parks possesses great speed off of the line, and should cause many mismatches on the field. He will be behind one of the best Tight Ends in the nation, but he will see a good amount of action in 2009, especially in the early weeks when Florida puts up it’s normal 65 points on mid majors.

The Tight End Position for Florida will play a crucial role for the Gators in 2009. If Hernandez can live up to his potential in the upcoming season, and Desmond Parks can be a reliable option in 2009, Florida will be in good position to repeat as national champs, and make it three championships in Tebow’s career.

Tomorrow, Gators Sports Nation will take a look at the big guys up front, starting with Left Tackle.