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The greatest Gators ever by number: Nos. 51-55

On3 imageby: Keith Niebuhr07/09/25On3Keith
Florida Gators All-American O'Cyrus Torrence
Nick de la Torre / Gators Online

Who are the greatest Florida Gators football players ever by jersey number? Gators Online is taking a deep dive into UF history and offering our thoughts. Today, we look at Nos. 51 through 55. (NOTE: UF jersey records only go back to the early 1960s)

NO. 51: BRANDON SPIKES, LB (2006-09)

Also considered: David Little, LB (1978-1980)

Other notable: Bill Carr, C (1964-66); Ryan Kalich, OG (1995-99); Ventrell, LB Miller (2017-22); Robbie Moore, OL (1973-76)

The skinny: No. 51 truly has been a great number at UF. This was not as easy of a choice as many might think. Little was a First-Team AP All-American in 1980. The two other AP First-Team linebackers? Lawrence Taylor and Mike Singletary. That’s how good Little, an All-SEC performer three times, was. He’s also UF’s all-time leading tackler. But Spikes was a two-time AP All-American and member of two national championship teams. He made 39 starts and collected 307 total tackles, 31.5 for loss.

NO. 52: CHRIS BROMLEY, OL (1986-90)

Also considered: Jon Bostic, LB, (2009-11)

Other notable: Roger Pettee, LB (1963-64); Phil Pharr, LS (1978-1980); David Swain, C (1992-94); Dwayne Thomas, LB (1995-97)

The skinny: A solid guard for teams coached by Galen Hall and Steve Spurrier, Bromley was a Second-Team All-SEC choice in 1990 when the Gators finished first in the conference. Bostic also was Second-Team All-SEC. Bromley gets the nod because he started for a league champ, but you could really almost flip a coin between the two.

NO. 53: CHARLIE WILLIAMS, LB (1975-77) 

Also considered: Bruce Culpepper, OL (1960-62); Kim Helton, C (1967-69)

Other notable: Frank McCarthy, C (1982-86)

The skinny: One of the best Gators you might not have ever heard of, Williams made 409 career tackles, fourth on Florida’s all-time list. He had 153 stops as a senior, when he was Second-Team All-SEC. He played on three of Florida’s best pre-Spurrier era teams (1974, ’75 and ’76).

NO. 54: O’CYRUS TORRENCE, OT (2022)

Also considered: Mark Murray, DE (1986-90); Willie Rodgers, DE (1993-97).

Other notable: James Harrell, LB (1978); David Jorgensen, OL (1998-2002); Lex Smith, DL (1991-92)

The skinny: Although Torrence played just one season at UF and wasn’t on a good team, he’s the easy choice. A transfer from Louisiana, where he also played under Billy Napier, Torrence was a consensus All-American in 2022.

NO. 55: SCOT BRANTLEY, LB (1977-79)

Also considered: Channing Crowder, LB (2003-04); Ralph Ortega, LB (1972-74); Mike Pouncey, OL (2007-10)

Other notable: Willie Cohens, DE (1995-98)

The skinny: This number is loaded. Crowder, Ortega and Pouncey earned All-America recognition and any of them would have been great picks. But Brantley was an iconic Gators defender. Twice, he was First-Team All-SEC and he is second all time at UF with 467 tackles despite missing most of his senior season with injuries. Only two Gators ever had their numbers retired — Steve Spurrier and Brantley (the numbers were later unretired by Spurrier). Brantley is a true Florida legend. But to be sure, Crowder, Ortega and Pouncey are also.

The greatest Gators ever by number: 1-5
The greatest Gators ever by number: Nos. 6-10
The greatest Gators ever by number: Nos. 11-15
The greatest Gators ever by number: Nos. 16-20
The greatest Gators ever by number: Nos. 21-25
The greatest Gators ever by number: Nos. 26-30
The greatest Gators ever by number: Nos. 31-35
The greatest Gators ever by number: Nos. 36-40
The greatest Gators ever by number: Nos. 41-45
The greatest Gators ever by number: Nos. 46-50

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