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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.16:
Why McGrew is No. 16: From nearby Mayo, the 6-foot-1, 312-pound McGrew has a breakout redshirt freshman season for UF in 1996, finishing with 39 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and1 fumble recovery. McGrew started 11 of 13 games at defensive tackle, earning Sporting News Freshman All-America honors. He went on to earn first-team All-SEC honors for UF in 1998 before being taken in the first round (24th overall) by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1999 NFL draft. A torn triceps muscle derailed McGrew's NFL career as he played four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars before finishing his pro career on Washington's practice squad in 2004.
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. 16 Reggie McGrew
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.16:
No. 16 Reggie McGrew
Why McGrew is No. 16: From nearby Mayo, the 6-foot-1, 312-pound McGrew has a breakout redshirt freshman season for UF in 1996, finishing with 39 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and1 fumble recovery. McGrew started 11 of 13 games at defensive tackle, earning Sporting News Freshman All-America honors. He went on to earn first-team All-SEC honors for UF in 1998 before being taken in the first round (24th overall) by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1999 NFL draft. A torn triceps muscle derailed McGrew's NFL career as he played four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars before finishing his pro career on Washington's practice squad in 2004.
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. 16 Reggie McGrew
Continue reading...
