Backfield is back intact

<p><B>Note:</B> <i>This is the first in a series breaking down the Florida football team by position. Next up is a look at the secondary on July 26.</i></p><p><B>The upside</B></p><p>Tim Tebow is back. That’s about as big an upside as you can get in college football. Sophomore John Brantley flourished in the second half of the spring and could see considerable playing time behind Tebow as he prepares to take over the offense next season. The Gators still don’t have a dominant, every-down tailback, but they have a great deal of speed and playmaking ability after the emergence of Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey last season. Demps and Rainey gave the offense something it had been lacking in previous seasons — a home run threat from the position (other than wide receiver Percy Harvin). Demps is maybe the fastest player in college football, and he showed last season that he’s not just a track guy. He’ll get the first shot at assuming the Harvin role in the offense. He’ll be lining up at tailback and as a slot receiver. With the Gators expected to line up some in the I-formation (with Tebow under center), the fullback position will be more prominent in the offense. Rick Burgess, a walk-on, had a big spring and has a chance to contribute.</p><p><B>The downside</B></p><p>UF is three-deep at tailback, but is that deep enough in the rugged SEC? Rainey and Emmanuel Moody have had injury issues in the past, and Demps and Rainey are a little bit undersized. Moody has the speed and ability to be a big-timer, but we’ve still yet to see that consistently shine through on Saturdays.</p><p><B>Young guy to watch</B></p><p>True freshman Andre Debose will be listed as a wide receiver on the roster, but he’s going to be spending a lot of time in the backfield trying to help fill the Percy Harvin role in the offense. He has an impressive high school highlight tape, where he shows some of the speed and sharp cutting ability that remind some (including UF coach Urban Meyer) of Harvin.</p><B>DEPTH CHART</B><br /> <br /> <B>Quarterback</B><br /> 15-Tim Tebow<br /> 12-John Brantley<br /> -- Jordan Reed<br /> <br /> <B>Tailback</B><br /> 2-Jeff Demps<br /> 3-Chris Rainey<br /> 21-Emmanuel Moody<br /> 20-Christopher Scott<br /> -- Mike Gillislee<br /> <br /> <B>Fullback</B><br /> 48-Rick Burgess<br /> 45-T.J. Pridemore<br /> 42-Steven Wilks