Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- One of the main reasons Florida's passing offense has struggled since 2009 is the lack of production -- or a playmaker -- at receiver.

If the Gators' 2013 passing offense is going to be better than the unit that ranked 114^th nationally last season, the receivers must be significantly better. Redshirt junior Quinton Dunbar, redshirt senior Andre Debose, and senior Trey Burton are the most experienced receivers and should be UF's go-to playmakers, but each have limitations.

Dunbar has 50 career catches, but he hasn't developed into the downfield threat the Gators have needed. Debose (29 career catches) has been that at times, but his career has been marred by inconsistency and work-ethic issues. Burton (69 career catches) has so many roles that it's hard for him to excel at one, and he's more of a short-yardage, possession receiver.

Sophomores Latroy Pittman and Raphael Andrades each caught two passes last season and were used more as blockers than receivers.

That means UF will be depending on two or more of the five signees to make a substantial impact. Demarcus Robinson is the most likely, as he enrolled in January and participated in spring practice. But either Ahmad Fulwood, Alvin Bailey, Marqui Hawkins or Chris Thompson will have to produce, too.

But even having only one of those freshmen become a reliable and productive part of the offense might be asking too much. It's hard for true freshman receivers to make an impact -- as the past 23 years have shown.

Florida hasn't had much luck with freshman receivers, especially when it comes to being anything more than someone who gets mop-up work.

The Gators have signed 61 receivers from 1990-2012, but only 20 played as true freshmen -- and only 19 caught passes. Of those 19, only four caught more than seven passes: Reidel Anthony, Ike Hilliard, Andre Caldwell and Percy Harvin. Anthony, Hilliard and Harvin all became first-round NFL draft picks and Caldwell was a third-round pick.

Here's more proof that it takes an especially gifted player to make an impact as a freshman: Twelve the 16 receivers who played as true freshmen from 1990-2009 went on to become draft picks.

Is there an incoming receiver who can make an impact in 2013? There's no way to know right now until September, but based on the last two-plus decades, it's unlikely.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida’s return to a BCS bowl comes against some familiar faces.

When No. 3 UF (11-1) plays Louisville (10-2) in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2, the Gators will be facing three former coaches and three former players -- including former defensive coordinator Charlie Strong, who is finishing his third season as head coach of the Cardinals.

Florida will be making its ninth appearance in the Sugar Bowl and first since 2010. The Gators are 3-5 in their previous appearances, with victories over West Virginia (1994), Florida State (1997) and Cincinnati (2010).

The Gators have reached a bowl game in 22 consecutive seasons, which is the longest active streak in the SEC.

UF is 2-0 against Louisville, winning 13-0 in 1980 and 31-17 in 1992.

Strong was UF’s defensive coordinator twice, from 2003-09 and from 1991-94, and he had two other stints in Gainesville (1988-89 and 1983-84). Strong was a huge part of UF’s two national titles under coach Urban Meyer. UF smothered Ohio State in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game, holding the Buckeyes to just 82 yards in a 41-14 victory. In the 2008 title game, Strong’s defense held Oklahoma, which averaged 54.0 points per game and had scored a Football Bowl Subdivision record 702 points, to just 14 points.

In addition, two other former UF coaches are members of Strong’s staff: running backs coach/special teams coordinator Kenny Carter and defensive coordinator Vance Bedford. Both were members of Meyer’s staff in 2008-09.

The Cardinals also have three former UF players on the roster. WR Robert Clark and TE Gerald Christian left UF in October 2011 before transferring to Louisville. CB Adrian Bushell left for Cedar Valley junior college following the 2009 season and transferred to Louisville in 2011.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Safety Josh Shaw and defensive end Lynden Trail are leaving the Florida program, which brings the total number of players to leave the program since coach Will Muschamp was hired to 11.

Shaw is a redshirt freshman who has played in 11 games in his career. He missed the Furman game earlier this month because he went home to Palmdale, Calif., to be with his ailing grandfather.

"I enjoyed my time at Florida but I feel like I need to be closer to my family right now," Shaw said in a statement. "This is not a football decision, this is a family decision. I need to be with my family."

Trail is a redshirt freshman from Miami who has yet to play in a game.

"We wish Lynden and Josh the best of luck in the future and we certainly appreciate their contributions to the football program," UF coach Will Muschamp said in a statement.

Florida now has 70 players on scholarship, which includes the four walk-ons awarded scholarships before the season began. The Gators will lose nine scholarship seniors and redshirt junior offensive lineman David Young, who decided to forgo his senior season, which means the Gators will go into the off-season with 60 players on scholarship -- well below the NCAA maximum of 85.

Of the 11 players who have left the program since Muschamp's hiring, only cornerback Janoris Jenkins was anything more than a little-used reserve. Muschamp dismissed Jenkins, who is a potential first-round NFL Draft pick, after his third arrest in 23 months (two for marijuana). He is now at North Alabama.

In addition to Trail and Shaw, three other players have left the program this season: redshirt sophomore linebacker Dee Finley, sophomore receiver Robert Clark and sophomore tight end Gerald Christian.

The other five players who left the program did so between January and the start of the 2011 season: running back Mike Blakely, receiver Chris Dunkley, tight end Michael McFarland, defensive end Chris Martin and receiver Javares McRoy.