GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Coach Ron Zook's redeeming virtue in three disappointing seasons at the University of Florida was recruiting.

His game management might have been dreadful. His teams might have lacked discipline. But one recruiting service after another praised his ability to deliver blue-chip recruits.

He was better on signing day than game day. He was Mr. February.

Zook and February are both long gone. And as another Tennessee-Florida matchup draws near, something else is also missing.

Where's the wealth of talent Zook supposedly recruited?

Chris Leak is a good quarterback, but he's not as good as former Gator Rex Grossman. DeShawn Wynn, Florida's premier running back, is known more for his potential than his production. As productive as Florida's wide receivers have been in their first two games, they probably aren't any better than former Florida coach Steve Spurrier's best threesome of Ike Hilliard, Reidel Anthony and Jacquez Green.

Florida's offensive line is OK but not dominant. The defense looks solid, but there's no Jevon Kearse or Alex Brown.

Bottom line: Zook's recruiting was overrated.

You could argue that the talent would be more apparent if Florida hadn't lost linebacker Channing Crowder and running back Ciatrick Fason to the pros a year early. But those losses also accentuate this team's shortcomings.

Brandon Siler and Earl Everett are promising linebackers, but look behind them. Junior Brian Crum, who backs up Siler, played tight end last season. Senior Billy Latsko, who backs up Everett, played fullback the last two years.

Sure, Zook signed more than his share of high school All-Americans. But he didn't recruit as well for need.

Contrast that with Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, who built a 13-0 team in 2004 without a single top-five recruiting class. Tuberville succeeded by recruiting players who fit his system.

Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer has made a career of recruiting the best players in the country, but he doesn't just sign the best players available. The depth of talent on his roster reflects a thoroughness in recruiting that few coaches can match. He rarely has a glaring shortcoming on his depth chart.

Fulmer's thoroughness extends to the kicking game as well. He usually replaces one heralded kicker with another one.

Never mind how many high school All-Americans Zook signed. When you compare the talent he assembled with Fulmer's, he finishes second.

The Gators might have the edge at quarterback and wide receiver, but where else?

The Vols have more talent in both lines. As well as Florida has played defensively in its first two games, how many of its defenders would start for UT? My guess: no more than three or four.

Maybe new coach Urban Meyer can make up for that. He doesn't seem to need February. He has done just fine with hand-me-down players

He was 8-3 in his first season at Bowling Green and 9-3 in his second. He was 10-2 in his first season at Utah, and 13-0 in his second.

He hasn't proved he can build or maintain a program. He has proved he can improve a program. Fast.

No wonder Florida hired the guy. It had a coach who could get the players. So it made sense to replace him with a coach who could get the players going in the right direction.

You know the equation: talent plus coaching equals championship.

But if the Gators win a championship this season, their success will be more a testament to Meyer's coaching than Zook's recruiting.