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It was a breakthrough national championship, highlighted by the Fun' N' Gun offense, a Heisman-winning quarterback and a visor-wearing coach with swagger that stretched from Key West to Pensacola.
Florida football won its first national title 30 years ago, capping a 12-1 season in 1996 with a 52-20 win over rival Florida State in the Sugar Bowl.
Two of the three statues erected in front of The Swamp played a key role in the championship season. Heisman winner Steve Spurrier, in his sixth season as UF coach, guided a UF offense that lit up scoreboards like a pinball machine. With Spurrier calling the plays, the Florida Gators led the nation in total offense (503.9 ypg) while leading the SEC in scoring offense (47.0 ppg, an SEC record that still stands).
Starting quarterback Danny Wuerffel won the Heisman Trophy in the 1996 season, passing for 3,625 yards and 39 TDs.
Defensively, Florida transformed into a more aggressive, blitzing unit under first-year coordinator Bob Stoops. UF wound up ranking third in the conference in total defense (250.2 yards per game allowed) and third in turnovers forced (2.2 per game).
To honor the 30th anniversary of 1996 national title team, the Gainesville Sun will count down the top 30 players from the team in the coming weeks. Here's a look at No.15:
Why Jackson is No. 15: From nearby P.K. Yonge High in Gainesville, the 6-0, 210-pound Jackson starred both on offense and special teams as a redshirt sophomore on UF's 1996 national title. Jackson, the younger brother of UF receiver Willie Jackson, played in all 13 games at tailback and fullback for UF, rushing for 388 yards on 79 carries with a team-high 8 rushing TDs. On special teams, Jackson had two tackles and a blocked punt against South Carolina that was returned for a TD. Jackson went on to earn team captain and academic All-American honors for UF in 1998 before being taken in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers. In seven seasons with the 49ers, Jackson appeared in 100 games, recording 331 rushing yards, 351 receiving yards and 5 TDs.
No. 30: Cooper Carlisle
No. 29: Ryan Kalich
No. 28 Shea Showers
No. 27 Demtric Jackson
No. 26 Travis McGriff
No, 25 Tim Beauchamp
No. 24 Cameron Davis
No. 23 Tremayne Allen
No. 22 Jevon Kearse
No. 21 Tony George
No. 20 Zach Piller
No. 19 Mo Collins
No. 18 Johnny Rutledge
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football Top 30 players from 1996 | No. 15 Terry Jackson
Continue reading...
Florida football won its first national title 30 years ago, capping a 12-1 season in 1996 with a 52-20 win over rival Florida State in the Sugar Bowl.
Two of the three statues erected in front of The Swamp played a key role in the championship season. Heisman winner Steve Spurrier, in his sixth season as UF coach, guided a UF offense that lit up scoreboards like a pinball machine. With Spurrier calling the plays, the Florida Gators led the nation in total offense (503.9 ypg) while leading the SEC in scoring offense (47.0 ppg, an SEC record that still stands).
Starting quarterback Danny Wuerffel won the Heisman Trophy in the 1996 season, passing for 3,625 yards and 39 TDs.
Defensively, Florida transformed into a more aggressive, blitzing unit under first-year coordinator Bob Stoops. UF wound up ranking third in the conference in total defense (250.2 yards per game allowed) and third in turnovers forced (2.2 per game).
To honor the 30th anniversary of 1996 national title team, the Gainesville Sun will count down the top 30 players from the team in the coming weeks. Here's a look at No.15:
No. 15 Terry Jackson
Why Jackson is No. 15: From nearby P.K. Yonge High in Gainesville, the 6-0, 210-pound Jackson starred both on offense and special teams as a redshirt sophomore on UF's 1996 national title. Jackson, the younger brother of UF receiver Willie Jackson, played in all 13 games at tailback and fullback for UF, rushing for 388 yards on 79 carries with a team-high 8 rushing TDs. On special teams, Jackson had two tackles and a blocked punt against South Carolina that was returned for a TD. Jackson went on to earn team captain and academic All-American honors for UF in 1998 before being taken in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers. In seven seasons with the 49ers, Jackson appeared in 100 games, recording 331 rushing yards, 351 receiving yards and 5 TDs.
Florida football Top 30 player countdown from 1996 championship team
No. 30: Cooper Carlisle
No. 29: Ryan Kalich
No. 28 Shea Showers
No. 27 Demtric Jackson
No. 26 Travis McGriff
No, 25 Tim Beauchamp
No. 24 Cameron Davis
No. 23 Tremayne Allen
No. 22 Jevon Kearse
No. 21 Tony George
No. 20 Zach Piller
No. 19 Mo Collins
No. 18 Johnny Rutledge
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football Top 30 players from 1996 | No. 15 Terry Jackson
Continue reading...
