Power of Caring
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4. Florida

As Elijah Williams, schoolboy All-America, walked through the halls of Milton (Fla.) High five years ago, choices, choices, choices swirled through his head. North Carolina or Florida? Tar Heel or Gator? Tobacco or oranges?

"I finally decided Florida had two things I wanted," says Williams. "First, Errict Rhett was graduating, so I had a chance of coming in at running back right away and playing. And second, no one wore number 25. It was mine."

Funny how things change. Though Williams, now a senior, has been the Gators' top rusher for two seasons (671 yards last year), he is moving to left cornerback, where, in the pass-happy, let's-give-Florida-a-taste-of-its-own-medicine SEC, everyone could have his number. "I'm gonna be target number 1—no doubt," says Williams, who was a part-time defensive back in high school. "But it's a challenge I like. It's just another way to compete."

With safety Lawrence Wright and cornerback Anthone Lott lost to graduation, the 5'10", 182-pound Williams has become more essential to the defending national champions' defense than to their offense, which is well-stocked with talented runners. "Our job is to get the best players on the field," says coach Steve Spurrier.

Though the Gators lost Heisman winner Danny Wuerffel to graduation, they have Doug Johnson, already established as a championship-caliber clipboard holder, ready to take over at quarterback. Johnson has the arm—he was a second-round pick of baseball's expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays last year as a third baseman—and should thrive under Spurrier's quarterback-friendly system. That is, unless no one knows how to catch.

ALSO

Florida team page 1997 schedule

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Florida's top two receivers last season, All-Americas Reidel Anthony and Ike Hilliard, are gone, having opted for NFL riches. The Gators will turn to Jacquez Green (33 catches, 626 yards in '96), a bona fide deep threat who, for the first time, will have to carry a heavy load. Spurrier is also looking for contributions from at least two of the team's five freshman receivers.

Unlike its receiving corps, Florida's backfield is experienced—and deep enough not to miss Williams. It includes tailbacks Fred Taylor (629 yards, five touchdowns last fall) and Eugene McCaslin (290 yards, four touchdowns), as well as versatile fullback Terry Jackson (388 yards, eight touchdowns). A promising omen, if you believe in such things (which Spurrier does), is the presence of freshman fullback Rod Frazier, the kid brother of a former option-running, number 15-wearing, two-time-national-championship-winning Nebraska Cornhusker named Tommy.
—Jeff Pearlman

TELLING STAT
70 Consecutive weeks, dating back to January 1993, that the Gators have been ranked in the Top 10, the longest such streak in Division I-A.
TWO GAMES TO WATCH
SEPT. 20 VS. TENNESSEE Florida has won five of the last six meetings and couldn't care less if Peyton Manning is back. NOV. 22 VS. FLORIDA STATE The Gators will likely have more in their six-shooter than the Seminoles. As usual, state bragging rights will be riding on the outcome—and so might a national title.
RETURNING LEADERS
Passing	Doug Johnson, Soph.	12 comp., 27 att., 171 yds., 2 TDs
Rushing	Fred Taylor, Sr.	629 yds., 5 TDs
Receiving	Jacquez Green, Jr.	33 catches, 626 yds., 9 TDs
Tackles	LB Johnny Rutledge, Jr.	108
Sacks	DE Tim Beauchamp, Jr.	7
Interceptions	CB Fred Weary, Sr.	5