SI Scouting Reports 1. Oklahoma 2. Miami 3. Tennessee 4. Texas 5. Florida State 6. Colorado 7. Washington State 8. Florida 9. Oregon 10. Georgia 11. Washington 12. Ohio State 13. LSU 14. Nebraska 15. Virginia Tech 16. Maryland 17. Marshall 18. South Carolina 19. Louisville 20. Michigan 21. USC 22. Texas A&M 23. Auburn 24. Illinois 25. Penn State ----------------- The Top 25 All the Rest: 26-117 Lower Division Rankings

8. Florida

The post-Spurrier era begins with an ultra-intense new coach but the same dedication to the Fun 'n' Gun offense

By Kelley King

The steady, experienced Grossman, 2001's top-rated quarterback, is the right person to run Zook's attack. Andy Lyons/Allsport Enemy Lines An opposing coach's view of the Gators " Rex Grossman throws the best deep ball in the country. He'll pull the trigger to the right guy every time.... The two games they lost, tailback Earnest Graham didn't play. He was injured most of the season with a sprained ankle.... Wideout Taylor Jacobs is physical when the ball is in the air.... They've got at least nine NFL players on that offense.... Todd Johnson is a star at free safety. When he is in position to make plays, he makes them. He's a sure tackler and has good hands."

One morning in April wide receiver Taylor Jacobs looked up from a weight bench and saw new Gators coach Ron Zook peering down at him. "He was asking me how many reps I'd done, and I called him out," says Jacobs, a senior. "So he brushes me aside, gets down on the bench in his starched shirt and khakis, and punches a bunch of reps. The guy is no joke."

The rest of the college football world might need some convincing. Although he has no head coaching experience beyond high school, the 48-year-old Zook was hired in January to succeed Steve Spurrier, who finally made the jump to the NFL after 12 years at Florida. Zook was an assistant under Spurrier from 1991 through '95 and spent the last two years as the New Orleans Saints' defensive coordinator.

Though Zook's high-energy approach is vastly different from Spurrier's aloof style, much about Florida's trademark wide-open offense will remain the same. "My idea is to build on this team's existing strengths," says Zook, "and that's throwing the football." Florida will continue to air it out with junior quarterback Rex Grossman, who led the nation in passing with 354.2 yards per game, and Jacobs (18.7 yards per catch).

Grossman's precise passing-his 170.8 efficiency rating was the best in the country-should help settle an inexperienced group of receivers, and senior Earnest Graham (650 rushing yards and nine TDs in 2001) can be used as something more than an accessory at tailback. A new multiple 4-3 defense, which first-year defensive coordinator John Thompson brought from Arkansas, features an aggressive secondary, led by two-time All-SEC free safety Todd Johnson.

The task of continuing Florida's high-flying success may be hefty, but Zook isn't about to buckle under the pressure. "I'm not another Steve Spurrier," says Zook, "but we're still going to be one of the most exciting teams in the nation, and we're still going to win a lot of games."

Issue date: August 12, 2002