According to Rivals.com, Florida finished third in the overall class rankings, behind Texas and Alabama. ESPN had Florida sitting in the fourth spot. But to be honest, all of this ranking stuff means nothing unless you are the 2007 class of the Florida Gators who had Aaron Hernandez, Joe Haden, Major Wright, Both Pouncy boys and someone that goes by the name of Cameron Newton. That class was ridiculous and very few can compare. Nonetheless, let’s get serious for a second about these rankings. If you really do some research you would be shocked. Some of these recruits never pan out especially the five star ones. They have huge ego issues and have to enter a place where somebody else is in charge. These recruits go from being seniors and on top of their high school to the bottom rung of the ladder. They are freshmen all over again. They now have to compete with the best of the best, especially if it is one of these top programs (that is why they are going there right?). Some of them keep thinking they will get by on shear talent and don’t work hard at all. They usually transfer or go home after the first season. Some of them have actually already peaked in high school and don’t have much room to grow. And some of them just don’t ever do anything except suck the lifeblood out of the program and poison the locker room. They ride the bench all year long. You also can’t forget the ones that leave early, because they are just too good. I would rather have a four year starter that peaks as a senior than a freshman wonder kid that leaves after one year. So you really can’t put to much stock into these rankings.

On to our class. The Gators had a total of 17 signed letters of intent on Wednesday and had six early recruits who had already enrolled at Florida for spring Classes. That brings the total to 23. Not bad for Muschamp’s first real recruiting season. 12 out of the 23 are listed as either a Tight End, Offensive Tackle, Defensive End, or Defensive Tackle. I love to see a reload at the line of scrimmage. God knows we need it. The remaining 11 are made up of 4 Defensive Backs, 2 Wide Receivers, 2 Linebackers, 1 Quarterback (watch out Driskel and Brissett), 1 Kicker, and 1 Running Back.

Lets go right into the running back. His name is Matt Jones and his new nickname is “Beast”. He is 6-3, 210 pounds and runs a 4.7 in the 40 yard dash. He’s like a young Brandon Jacobs form the NY Giants. I can’t wait to see what he can do. Goodbye Scat-back. Hello Freight Train/Bullet Train. We have 2 monster tight ends in Kent Taylor (6-5, 225 lbs) and Colin Thompson (6-5, 255 lbs). We have a total of five defensive ends, which is headlined by Jonathan Bullard (6-4, 255 lbs) and Dante Fowler Jr. (6-3, 232 lbs). Fowler was a wonderful surprise. He committed to that Tallahassee School over a year ago. It is nice to see that some of these recruits do the right thing. Included in that group is Bryan Cox Jr. (6-3, 240 lbs), the son of Former Miami Dolphin, Bryan Cox. As for our offensive line, I personally don’t think we could have done any better. We landed 2 of the top 5 recruits in the nation. D.J. Humphries (6-5, 265 lbs) enrolled at Florida for Spring classes in order to get a step up for this upcoming season. Jessamen Dunker, aka “Goliath”, is 6-6 and weighs close to 320 lbs. He is a giant and is only going to get bigger and stronger. Out of the four defensive backs, Marcus Maye (6-1, 195 lbs) and Brian Poole (5-11, 187 lbs) will look to make an impact early. Both of these recruits were at the top of their class in the nation for their position. Our 2 linebackers are Antonio Morrison (6-3, 220 lbs) and Jeremi Powell (6-2, 200 lbs). They will probably need a year or two underneath their belts in order to get stronger and faster although Antonio seems a little farther ahead. Everything changes though once they step onto the practice field. We received a very nice surprise on signing day with the pickup of wide receiver, Raphael Andrades (6-0, 190 lbs, 4.5sec 40 yard dash). He was coached by former Gator Jacquez Green. The other wide receiver in the group is Latroy Pittman (6-1, 190 lbs). Our one kicker is Austin Harden (?-?, ??? lbs) and to be honest, they shouldn’t even list his height and weight. They should list the size of his leg, girth, and field goal statistics. Some of the smallest guys have been the best kickers. Just ask Jason Elam. Rounding out the group are three solid defensive tackles and a quarterback. The tackles are Damien Jacobs (6-4, 290 lbs), JaFar Mann (6-4, 275 lbs) and Dante Phillips (6-6, 268 lbs). Phillips was ranked as the number 9 defensive tackle in the nation. The quarterback is a late commitment, being that he had always planned on attending Penn State in the fall (we all know what happened there). Instead, he flipped his decision once the Gators hired offensive coordinator, Brent Pease. His name is Skyler Mornhinweg (6-3, 215 lbs). He isn’t terribly polished and needs some work, but has great size, is athletic and has a nice arm.

And that does it. The class of 2012. Finally its over. Finally we can get back to real tangible business like…next years class. It never ends in college football. You finish with one recruiting class and you are already on to the next. Its the nature of the beast. Just look at the Gators who received two verbal commitments for the 2013 signing class on National Signing Day of the 2012 class. Recruiting is what gives a program a great start. However its the coaches and administration that really molds them into the players they will become. Good thing for us we have one of th emost talented young coaches in the nation in Will Muschamp. Looking forward to this upcoming season.

If you have been following this year’s recruiting class, you already know that Muschamp and friends seem to be doing a pretty decent job. So far, Florida has 21 total commitments, including two 5-Star Athletes, and eleven 4-Star Commitments. The Gators are currently ranked #4 in overall recruiting by Rivals.com and ESPN, #5 on Scout.com, and #6 on 24/7sports.com. By way of pure outside observation, the Gators have a real shot at sitting pretty in the number one spot at the end of signing day. It is rumored that Will Muschamp has even gone as far as traveling to Valdosta to attend church with a top recruit, attempting to sway him the way of the Gator. If this tenacity is truly a reflection of Muschamp’s resolve, and not fairytales perpetrated by overzealous sports journalists, Gator fans should have high hopes for seasons to come.

Size and depth seemed to be the major issues with last year’s team. Fortunately, these issues seem to be acknowledged by this year’s recruiting class. Some of the current signings that Gator fans can get fired-up about are: 5-star recruit D.J. Humphries (Offensive Tackle: 6’5, 265Lbs)(Pictured Below) who never allowed a sack in high school; and 5-Star commit Jonathan Bullard (Defensive End: 6’4, 290lbs) may give fans some fodder for excitement. Expect to see 4-star recruit Matt Jones (Running Back: 6’3, 225 Lbs.) in to supplement Florida’s ground game. Tight-Ends Kent Taylor (6’5, 220 Lbs.) and Colin Thompson (6’5, 225Lbs.) should make up for some of the Gator’s size issues. Offensive Tackle Jessamen Dunker, (6’6, 315Lbs.), highly touted for his footwork and run blocking ability may just end up making some waves. At wide receiver, recruit Latroy Pittman (6’1, 190Lbs.) fits perfectly into Will Muschamp’s attempt at implementing a pro-style offense into the University of Florida playbook. A defensive coach all the way, Muschamp has a couple of solid Linebackers as recruits, Jeremy Powell (6’2, 200Lbs.) and Antonio Morrison (6’3, 220Lbs.). Staying on the defensive side of the ball, 4-star Safeties Marcus Maye (6’1. 196 Lbs.), Rhaheim Ledbetter (5’11, 190 Lbs.) and 3-star commit Willie Bailey (6’1, 165 Lbs.) will strengthen the Gator Secondary.

So, if Muschamp manages to nab the number one spot for college football recruiting on Wednesday, or even maintain a spot in the top five, the upcoming class of Gator athletes has the potential to do amazing things. However, talent is wasted if not properly developed. In simple closing, great coaching will be key to the Gator’s success or failure in the next few years. Hopefully, for the sake of the Gator Nation, fans, and athletes, a great recruiting season is only the beginning.

Following an 0-3 stretch behind Kyle Orton that left the Broncos 1-4 early in the season, Tim Tebow finally got his chance to start at QB for the Broncos. What followed was in-arguably the biggest story of this past NFL season, as the intriguing young quarterback rattled off a 7-1 stretch, complete with multiple 4th quarter comebacks and 3 overtime wins. While much of this success can be attributed to a somewhat weak schedule and inspired play from the Denver defense, there is simply no denying that Tim Tebow played a large role in turning this team around.

Toward the end of the season, the magic started to wear off a bit, as the Broncos lost their last 3 games to finish at 8-8. However, that was good enough to slip into the playoffs, where the Broncos hosted the heavily favored Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round. With one last dose of magic, Tim Tebow and the Broncos defeated the Steelers and advanced to go to New England, where their season finally came to an end at the hand of the Patriots, who went on to advance to the Super Bowl. So, now that it’s all over, what can we surmise about Tim Tebow’s professional capabilities?

Strangely enough, Tebow now stands as arguably the most overrated and underrated player in the NFL. Those who praise him as the next big thing and a remarkable quarterback are probably taking things a bit too far, while those who discount his enthralling season as luck are probably underselling him. No matter what, Tim Tebow is exciting for fans, and surely had many visiting directstartv.com to update their NFL packages just to watch him. Additionally, whether he has the sustainability and talent necessary for a long career or not, Tim Tebow is a class act and a winner – for at least a few more years, he will be well worth keeping track of, and he may yet become a star.

The stars aligned, or perhaps maligned depending on how you look at, when Gator starting signal caller John Brantley was sacked deep in Alabama territory by Courtney Upshaw.  Here is where fate raised its fickle head and decided to make an appearance that Saturday night in Gainesville.  If you recall, the play prior to the one in which Brantley was injured, it appeared that the Gators turned the ball over, only to have that call overturned on the field.  Had Alabama recovered the apparent fumble Johnny Brantley would not have even been on the field.  One could hear a collective gasp, as Brantley lay injured on the field.  On the sideline, two young men were about to have the opportunity that they came to Florida for.  The only question to be answered was, is this the night that the next great Florida quarterback rallies his team from behind to victory against the vaunted Alabama “D”?  We all know the answer to that question now; but at the time, you could almost sense and feel that 93,000 fans in attendance were about to witness something magical.

Jeff Driskel, enter stage left.  The moment that he trotted onto the field for the next series, I was struck by the fact that this young man, all of 18, was on the largest stage of his young career at Florida.  His eyes looked large, and spooky.  Almost like two full moons, shoved into that orange helmet.  I had often heard of the deer in the headlight look, but never seen it; until that moment.   Anyone who watched the game could tell he was overwhelmed.  And in fairness to Jeff, which one of us wouldn’t have been?  He played as well as could’ve been expected.  To be honest, I think had he been able to take the field immediately, instead of waiting for half time to be over, things may have been different.  This young man had to wait and ponder, wonder, and contemplate all of what he was about to have to go out and face, and it showed.  He went on to complete 2 of 6 passes for a total of 14 yards.  In the process, it appeared that he tweaked his ankle, although he continued to play for the remainder of the night.

His next start was slated for the following Saturday against L.S.U., once again putting him in a precarious situation.  Following warm-ups at Death Valley, it was announced that Jacoby Brissett would be the starter for the game, and since that point Jeff Driskel has been as non-existent at quarterback as Joe Shmucatelly.  Jacoby Brissett came in and although he was not a factor in the game.  One could look into his face and see that this kid had “it”.  The occasion wasn’t bigger than him.  He looked confident, and you could see leadership.  A silent confidence exudes Brissett, which is something I didn’t see when watching Driskel.

Here we are, the season is over and we are waiting for March to arrive so we can see what Brent Pease has in store for this Florida program.  I for one am waiting to see what Driskel will do.  How will he respond?  Watching him from the sidelines following the apparent demotion to #3 on the depth chart, I also observed something disconcerting as a Gator fan.  He appeared to shrink, and shy away from his teammates.  There were few times that he appeared to be listening in during timeouts and quarterback meetings with Charlie Weis.  It will be interesting to see how this “wunderkid” responds during spring football, which is just around the corner.  Only time will tell, what will become of this young man.  I however, wouldn’t be surprised if he has a bad spring, to see this young man transfer.  For now, we just wait and will see what level of maturity he develops as a young man, and a player.

In order for Denver to emerge victorious from this squabble on Saturday, they must, and I repeat, must prevent turnovers. In fact, the Denver is 0-5 in games where they have committed more than three turnovers. On the contrast, the team is actually 5-1 when committing 1 or less. Not committing turnovers seems like a no-brainer.  But during the December 15^th meeting of these two teams during the regular season, Denver turnovers resulted in 13 Patriot points and a 41-23 loss. The end result was a 3-game slide that nearly cost the Broncos a berth in the playoffs. In a stunning twist of fate, an Oakland Raider loss allowed the Broncos to march onward, and now we have a rematch.

If Tom Brady and New England want to win this Saturday night scuffle they may just have their work cut out for them. The Patriots last victory came from beating Buffalo 49-21. Having lost in their last 3 playoff attempts, just like Denver, the Patriots are out to prove something. Tom Brady’s pass-attack is the cornerstone of the Patriots offense and its success is certainly enhanced by the assistance of former Gator turned New England tight-end, Aaron Hernandez. Noticeably, the Patriots seem to fare better when they at least attempt to mix in the run. The teams rush attack has been so effective that in games where they rushed at least 27 times, their record is 7-0. Perhaps the team’s biggest weakness is the Patriots defense, which has been relatively inconsistent throughout the year. Pass defense, especially long pass defense seems to be their most overwhelming issue. In regard to the Broncos, as stated previously, it’s not a one man show; simply eliminating Tim Tebow’s effectiveness will not guarantee victory. But, considering Tebow, his unpredictable playing style, and his versatility are very difficult to prepare for, not to mention his innate leadership ability and absolute desire to win. Strangely enough… Vegas has the Broncos as a 13.5 point favorite, should be interesting.

The game itself is on January 21, 2012. It’s an all-star football matchup for NFL draft-eligible collegiate players with ties to the state of Florida. It pits coaches Bobby Bowden vs Howard Schnellenberger.

What other events does The Battle of Florida put on?
The Battle of Florida will host a slew of events and entertainment in the week leading up to the game, beginning on January 15. Think Celebrity BBQ, a cheerleading competition, NFL Beach Football, The Taste of Florida, and so much more. For a complete list of events and information, click here.

What is the date and time for this year’s The Battle of Florida?
The Battle of Florida will take place on January 21, 2012. Kickoff is at 8:00pm EST.

What network will televise The Battle of Florida?
The game will be broadcast nationwide by Fox College Sports

Who plays in The Battle of Florida?
Players must be NFL draft eligible and have either been born in Florida or have played high school or college football in Florida. Florida is the greatest football state in the country, and it’s high time that these men be let loose to battle it out for the title.

Who coaches The Battle of Florida?
The two head coaches for the game will be Bobby Bowden coaching the North team and Howard Shnellenberger coaching the South. Click here to read more about these two legendary coaches.

Assistant coaches will be made up of NFL coaches, former NFL players, and collegiate coaches.

How can I purchase tickets?
Tickets can be purchased now on The Battle of Florida’s Ticketmaster page. Beginning in November, tickets will be available for purchase at the FAU ticket office in Boca Raton as well as at selected local outlets.

When do tickets go on sale?
Tickets go on sale October 10, 2011

Where can I get souvenirs?
Souvenirs will be available online, at the BOF office, and at the game.