Life is slow right now in the SEC for all sports. Students are either taking summer classes or taking a break at home. So with that it’s time for reflection and appreciation of some of the all time gator greats. The quick list today will cover Florida’s greatest special team members of the last twenty years in my humble opinion.

Kicker: Jeff Chandler (1997-2001)

Jeff was one of the few kickers in Gator history that there was never a worry when he took the field to convert three. A Lou Graze semifinalist in ‘99 and 2000, Second team All- American in 1999…. The most impressive award has to be team MVP in 1999, did I mention HE WAS A KICKER! Jeff went onto to play three years in the NFL. Judd Davis is the only kicker I can think of that even comes close to Jeff’s performance over the course of a career at Florida.

Runner ups: Judd Davis and Matt Leach, Matt just because of making a huge field goal in the 2003 Florida Georgia game to give Florida the game winning field goal in a 16-13 upset of the dawgs.

Punter: Shayne Edge (1991-1994)

Shayne gets the edge here for one, running a fake punt and converting it against Alabama in a SEC Championship game and two, for being selected to the Florida Football 100th anniversary team.

Runner up: Eric Wilbur

Kickoff Specialist : Matt Piotrowicz (2000-2004)

Tell me you didn’t love to see this guy toe kickoffs with his squared off shoe. The Lou Groza imitator… if that wasn’t enough… would then sprint down the field and be in on the actual coverage recording 38 tackles in his career. This guy was just fun to watch.

Long snapper/Gunner: James Smith (2004-2008)

Weather it was recovering an errant lateral against South Carolina and coming within an inch of returning it for a touchdown, causing huge hits, recovering muffed punts, or being incredibly consistent on Special teams, James Smith wins this be a long shot in my opinion.

Kickoff and Punt Returners: Jacquez Green, Bo Carroll, Jack Jackson, and Brandon James

Jacquez Green (1995-1997)

Who couldn’t remember “Quezze” for his huge catch in the 1997 Florida-FSU game, considered one of the best games ever played in the swamp, the reason he’s on this least though is for the speed he possessed and oh yeah, his back-to-back touchdown punt returns against Kentucky. Pinned in on the second on a sideline, Green switch fields, broke through a two foot hole between blockers and entered the end zone exhausted. Green has a decent stint in the NFL and will always come up as one of Spurriers greatest wideouts.

Bo Carroll (1997-2000)

Bo was a track stud, his records and wins there surpass his impressive career at Florida. Bo is the last player to return a kickoff for a touchdown, against Arkansas, 94 yards. Bo averaged 11.29 yards every time he touched the ball! Take that Percy Harvin. Finishing his career with 2,756 all purpose yards.

Jack Jackson (1992-1994)

Jack Jackson was one of my favorite players to watch growing up. I could only imagine what career he might have had if he didn’t injured his neck in his first year with the Bears. Jackson finished his career with 1019 return yards.

Brandon James (2006-present)

On punt returns and kickoffs Florida fans have always taken the time to take a breath, get a drink, or hit the bathroom… that all changed the day Brandon James started taking kickoffs and punts, the diminutive player with phone booth spaced moves make special teams the most exciting part of the game. 3089 career return yards which ranks fourth in SEC history… with still one more year to go doesn’t hurt either. I predict 2009 as the year James finally gets a kickoff return for a touchdown that isn’t called back.

By: C. Brian Suggs