Position U: Where do the Florida Gators rank?
It’s a point of pride for college football fans across the country. How well does your team recruit, develop, and produce players at any given position? It has led to both the Florida Gators and LSU Tigers boasting the moniker ‘DBU’ (defensive back university).
Fans will tout the greats from their university as a claim to being the best school at a certain position. ESPN put those claims to the test in this article, which breaks down which schools dominate at individual positions.
Which schools produce the best quarterbacks? Who is the real DBU?
The Gators aren’t DBU?
Not according to this ESPN article. Ohio State, not Florida or LSU, is the best at recruiting, developing, and producing defensive backs.
The Buckeyes cling to the top spot by just a fraction of a point over LSU. For all the Position U discussions, this might be the most fun debate. Derek Stingley Jr was the third overall selection in this year’s draft, moving LSU up the rankings. The Tigers have seen eight DBs selected in the first three rounds of the past six drafts. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, have had a whopping 31 All-Big Ten DBs since 1998, but just one DB has been drafted in the past two years. Even beyond the top two teams, there’s plenty more intrigue down the rankings, as Florida, Miami, and Florida State rank 4-5-6, respectively, making for some nice in-state hostilities.
The top 5
1. Ohio State
2. LSU
3. Alabama
4. Florida
5. Miami
Florida is in the top 5 in other categories
Florida, according to ESPN, has recruited the quarterback position better than any school in the country since 2006. Still, they had the Gators ranked just 11th best in the country in their “QBU” rankings.
Florida came in No. 4 as “TEU.”
“The Canes have had 13 tight ends drafted since 2000, including first-rounders Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey, Kellen Winslow, Greg Olsen, and David Njoku. Will Mallory could be the next breakout star this season, or perhaps blue-chip 2022 signee Jaleel Skinner bursts onto the scene. Regardless, Miami’s position as Tight End U isn’t in doubt for the foreseeable future.”
The top 5
1. Miami
2. Iowa
3. Stanford
4. Florida
