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Best Florida football players: Modern-era Mount Rushmore – From Emmitt Smith to Tim Tebow

By Cody Williams

GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 06: Tim Tebow is inducted into the Ring of Honor during the game between the Florida Gators and the LSU Tigersat Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 06: Tim Tebow is inducted into the Ring of Honor during the game between the Florida Gators and the LSU Tigersat Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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Before going on to the Dallas Cowboys where he would win three Super Bowls and end up as the league’s all-time rushing yards leader, Emmitt Smith was suiting up in Gainesville. And as you’d expect, the running back was dominating college competition like an eventual perennial NFL Pro Bowler should.

Though Smith never finished higher than seventh in Heisman Trophy voting in his illustrious career, that shouldn’t lessen the impact he had on the Gators offense in his time. He rushed for over 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns in his first season as the starter in Florida and, after missing two games in 1988, he finished his career in the 1989 campaign with 1,599 yards and 14 touchdowns along with 207 receiving yards and an additional score.

Smith’s 14 touchdowns in the 1989 season are tied for the second-most in school history, surpassed only by a certain quarterback, while his yardage totals as a junior and freshman are the two highest single-season rushing totals in Florida football history.

Even with only playing three seasons and just nine games as a sophomore as well, Smith is the second-leading career rusher in football history with 3,928 yards and ranks second in career rushing touchdowns as well with 36. He’s, bar-none, the greatest running back to ever put on the orange and blue.

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