Now, Rivals.com has ranked both in its top 10 recruiting classes in the past decade.
About the 2007 class, with ranked 10th, this is what Rivals had to say:
10. Florida 2007
Coach: Urban Meyer
Class rank: 1st
Five-star signees: 4 (DT Torrey Davis, DE Carlos Dunlap, QB Cameron Newton, G James Wilson)
Buzz: Florida’s 2007 class might appear better on paper than it has been on the field. Some key signees failed to make an impression in Gainesville because of off-field issues, among them DTs John Brown and Torrey Davis and QB Cameron Newton. But there were numerous players who made an impact in Gainesville and helped the Gators win the 2008 national title, among them SS Ahmad Black, DE Carlos Dunlap, CB Joe Haden, P Chas Henry, TE Aaron Hernandez, FS Major Wright and the Pouncey twins, Maurkice and Mike Pouncey. A few players from the class, including QB John Brantley, RB Chris Rainey, G James Wilson, DT Jaye Howard and WR Deonte Thompson, remain on campus and are expected to play key roles this fall.
Not surprisingly, the 2006 class was on the other end of that list. It included future first-rounders Percy Harving and Tim Tebow and won two national championships with the school.
Here’s what Rivals had to say:
1. Florida 2006
Coach: Urban Meyer
Class rank: 2nd
Five-star signees: 4 (WR Percy Harvin, G/T Carl Johnson, LB Brandon Spikes, QB Tim Tebow)
Buzz: Florida’s 2006 class was led by QB Tim Tebow and WR Percy Harvin, but what makes this group stand out above the rest was the number of prospects who panned out: 16 members of the class were starters at one time. Beyond Tebow and Harvin, there were guys such as LBs Brandon Spikes, Dustin Doe and A.J. Jones, DE Jermaine Cunningham, T/G Marcus Gilbert, DTs Lawrence Marsh and Terron Sanders and WR Riley Cooper. The group helped Florida win two national championships, and Tebow won the 2007 Heisman as a sophomore and was a finalist as a junior and senior.
Be sure to check out the entire list. The SEC had more than any other conference with four, while the Big 12 had three (with two from Texas), the Big Ten had two (Ohio State twice) and the Pac 10 had one.
