Preseason College Football Top 25 Countdown - #5 Florida

The college football season is less than two weeks away and as I try to pass the time between watching Little League World Series highlights and preseason NFL, I can't wait for the gridiron action to get started. So, if we can't watch college football, we're going to talk football. So let's continue the Preseason College Football Top 25 Countdown with the Top 10.

#5. Florida Gators - Okay, let's just admit it and get on with it. Despite all the shit I gave him while he was at Florida, Tim Tebow was one of the greatest college football players of all time and certainly the best Gator ever. But do they Gators need him to keep going? They sure don't. Despite the fatigue and health problems he showed last season, Urban Meyer is back to lead what should be another great Gator team and groom another good QB in John Brantley.

People certainly shouldn't forget how good Brantley was coming out of high school. He's the reason that the QB for one of the best offenses in the SEC (Cam Newton at Auburn) isn't still in Gainseville. The kid can play. What Florida might have to be concerned about offensively is the loss of its three of its top receivers (Riley Cooper, David Nelson and TE Aaron Hernandez) as well as first round draft pick and agent's best friend OG Maurkice Puncey. But this is Florida. With Meyer recruiting the Gators reload, not rebuild. Pouncey's brother Mike returns on the line, as does OT Xavier Nixon, and RB/WR hybrids Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey will be explosive at skill positions.

Defensively the Gators lose alot with Brandon Spikes and Joe Haden leaving for the NFL but in a few short weeks names like (Safety) Ahmad Black, (CB) Janoris Jenkins and (Linebacker) Brandon Hicks will be household. The schedule is always going to be tough with games against Florida State and South Florida, aside from the already tough SEC lineup but, aside from a road trip to defending national champion Alabama, the road lineup is cheese with a trip to rebuilding Tennessee and lowly Vandy. How the Gators respond after Bama will likely be the key to the season. Win or lose Florida will have to come out of the game ready to breeze through the rest of the season. The Gators could end up 11-1 but it could very well be an undefeated regular season.