With only four senior starters, Florida a young team

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The television commentators were quick to characterize the Florida-Miami game two weeks ago as a match-up between an established football powerhouse in Florida and a young, rebuilding team in Miami.

That was a little misleading.

Miami is rebuilding in Randy Shannon’s second year as head coach. And young players, including two freshman quarterbacks, play pivotal roles.

But there’s a misconception about Florida, due in part to its lofty national ranking. The fourth-ranked Gators also rely heavily on young players, particularly on a defense that has no senior starters.

“That wasn’t a young (Miami) football team on defense,” Florida coach Urban Meyer said. “They’re much more mature than we were.”

In fact, Florida is a sophomore-dominant team, a fact that should be downright disturbing to the rest of the SEC.

Florida starts seven sophomores on defense and three on offense. Its also starts a redshirt freshman on offense.

Four of Florida’s 22 starters are seniors. Vanderbilt is the only other SEC team with as few senior starters.

You would expect junior All-SEC middle linebacker Brandon Spikes to go pro after this season. But everybody else on defense should be back.

Freshman Will Power: Will Hill, one of the stars of the most recent Florida recruiting class, is listed as the backup strong safety on Florida’s depth chart.

“He’s getting better by the day,” said Ahmad Black, Florida’s starting strong safety. “He came in all wide-eyed. Everything is slowing down for him.”

Defensive tackle Matt Patchan is the only other true freshman listed as high as second team on Florida’s depth chart.

No Reggie: When a sportswriter tried to compare Wright to former Florida safety Reggie Nelson, Meyer would have no part of it.

“Watch how you say that name (Nelson) around here,” Meyer said. “Major Wright is a sophomore. We can have that conversation in a couple of years.”

Nelson starred on Florida’s national championship team two years ago. Wright is one of the SEC’s hardest hitters but doesn’t yet have Nelson’s coverage skills.

Extra Points: The Gators haven’t been shut out in 244 consecutive games, the third-longest streak in the nation. . . . Florida is 6-for-6 in executing fake punts under Meyer.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.