HOOVER, Ala. - Quarterback Chris Leak is the square peg. Urban Meyer's spread offense, by his own definition, is a round hole.

How well Florida can bend and squeeze and compromise that dilemma this fall will go a long way toward determining both Leak's collegiate legacy and the Gators' quest for an SEC football title.

As for those two unwritten fates, there is no conflict. They are one and the same.

"The only just criticism of Chris Leak right now,'' Meyer said Friday at SEC Media Days, "is that he has not won a championship.''

The last time the Gators went to (and won) the SEC championship game was 2000, when Leak was still a schoolboy, putting up freakish numbers at Independence High School in Charlotte, N.C.

In three seasons at Florida he has put up more big numbers. Only two active college quarterbacks - one is Notre Dame's Brady Quinn - have passed for more yards than Leak's 8,271.

If Leak matches last year's passing yards he'll surpass Danny Wuerffel as Florida's all-time leader. He enters the season ranked fourth, also trailing Rex Grossman and Shane Matthews.

But stats are for trivia, not trophy cases. Grossman and Matthews won SEC rings. Wuerffel won four.

"All of us seniors, we want to get a championship before we finish our career as Gators,'' Leak said Friday.

This will be Leak's best shot.

Florida will be more comfortable in its second year deploying Meyer's offense. The biggest offensive concern isn't Leak but replacing four starters in the line.

The defense should be very good up front. Meyer is understandably nervous about the lack of experience and depth at cornerback.

You'd think corners would fall off trees in talent-rich Florida but there is a void. Safety Reggie Nelson has moved to corner. Senior Reggie Lewis moved from receiver to corner last year and will be counted on to start this fall.

Fair or not, the brunt of getting Florida back to the title game will inevitably fall on Leak.

A classic pocket passer though only 6-feet tall, Leak is hardly the ideal triggerman for the scheme Meyer brought with him from an undefeated 2004 season at Utah.

In Meyer's offense, the quarterback must also be a willing and effective runner. Leak would have to be described as reluctant afoot.

With celebrated freshman Tim Tebow on campus, there is speculation Leak will be looking over his shoulder. Meyer, however, sounds like Leak's biggest defender.

"Chris Leak, in my opinion, had a very good year in the spread offense,'' Meyer said. "He won more games (nine) than he's ever won. His completion percentage was higher and he threw half as many interceptions.''

How much Tebow will play is Meyer's concern, not Leak's.

"My focus,'' said Leak, "is on how I can lead my team to a victory.''

Toward that end, Leak worked the Manning family quarterback camp this summer.

"I got to spend a lot time with Archie and Eli and Peyton,'' he said, "just learning how they grew as leaders and how they grew as players. They're a first-class family to learn from.''

As to whether Leak can make the spread click and, in fact, whether the spread can work in the SEC, period, will also depend on the Gators' other skill players.

Top receiver Chad Jackson is gone but Dallas Baker, Andre Caldwell and Jemalle Cornelius are appealing targets and freshman Percy Harvin is a burner.

"I had a dream of being the fastest team in America,'' said Meyer. "Big plays equal scores, so let's recruit some speed.''

Meyer is confident running backs DeShawn Wynn, Markus Manson and Kestahn Moore are finally on board with the work ethic he demands.

"A year ago it was as bad as I've ever seen,'' Meyer said. "It's completely different now.''

What's not different is that Leak will be seen as the catalyst.

If Florida wins a title he'll be hero. If not, he'll always be a curiosity, a guy that perhaps ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"It's our job,'' said Meyer, "to make him a square peg in a square hole.''

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276.