Even though Florida freshman Trey Burton has been playing four positions all season, coach Urban Meyer and his staff were amazed anew this week when reviewing Burton's role in the offense.
In addition to serving as Florida's Wildcat quarterback, Burton plays tight end, fullback and slot receiver. His role at quarterback has expanded throughout the season - especially last week against Georgia, when he and John Brantley rotated constantly - and likely will continue in that direction Saturday at Vanderbilt.
"It should be illegal what we ask that kid to do," Meyer said. "It's just a marvel."
As Commodores coach Robbie Caldwell put it, "you find yourself hunting him everywhere."
The highlight of Burton's season was his school-record six touchdowns against Kentucky. In the 34-31 overtime win over Georgia, he rushed for a career-high 110 yards on 17 carries, scoring twice.
He cannot match those numbers every week, but Burton is on pace to produce one of the best freshman seasons in Florida history.
Through eight games, he has 237 rushing yards, 143 receiving yards, 68 passing yards and 11 touchdowns. He already has more freshman touchdowns than Gator greats Fred Taylor, Tony Green and Errict Rhett.
Burton is on track for statistics similar to what quarterback Tim Tebow posted in his freshman year, when his combined passing and rushing yards were 827 and he contributed to 13 scores (eight rushing, five passing).
"It means a lot," Burton said of his freshman achievements and accolades.
"Like I told you before, I'm real blessed and really thankful."
Meyer said it is unfair to compare Burton with Tebow, a two-time national champion and former Heisman Trophy winner, but said Burton's value is "very similar" to what Tebow gave Florida as a true freshman.
While Burton will not get near the gaudy freshman total yardage marks of players like Chris Leak, Danny Wuerrfel, Rex Grossman and Emmitt Smith, he could break the freshman touchdown record against Vanderbilt (2-6, 1-4 in the SEC).
Receiver Jabar Gaffney scored 14 touchdowns, all on receptions, as a red-shirt freshman to set the school record in 2000. Burton is on pace for at least 18 touchdowns this year.
He would need another game like the one he had against Kentucky to challenge the all-time freshman touchdown record. Marshall Faulk, who played in seven NFL Pro Bowls, scored 23 at San Diego State.
Wuerrfel factored in 23 touchdowns during his red-shirt freshman season, but only scored one of those himself.
Burton's breakout season has simultaneously encroached on and enhanced Brantley's first year as a starter. While Burton is taking snaps away from Brantley, a junior, they create uncertainty in opposing defenses when they are on the field at the same time, which benefits both.
"Anything that can help the team, I'm all for," said Brantley, who waited three years behind Tebow for his chance at this job.
Against Georgia, the Gators (5-3, 3-3) frequently lined up Brantley as a slot receiver and put Burton behind center, then switched them late in the play clock. Burton's initial presence as the lone man in the backfield prompted the Bulldogs to go to a run-oriented, man-to-man defense to contain the threat of an option run. When Brantley switched, it was too late to change defenses and it created "cleaner coverages" to throw into, offensive coordinator Steve Addazio said.
The result: Brantley had one of his best performances yet. Even though he failed for the fourth straight game to throw a touchdown pass, he completed 16 of 25 passes for 193 yards and gained 12.6 yards per completion, his second-highest average this year.
Addazio and Meyer hinted the quarterback rotation they used against Georgia, which also included tight end Jordan Reed in the Wildcat, should be in place the rest of the season.
Beyond that, though, is in question. Meyer said earlier this year the team probably needs to pick a permanent position for Burton, and if Brantley comes back for his senior season, he will want to put himself in position for the NFL Draft. That might jeopardize the symbiotic relationship, but Burton is optimistic they can make it work.
"Whatever we can do to win, him and I both have the same feeling," he said.
"We don't care if we play or if we don't play. As long as we win, we're happy. That's truly how both of us feel."
