Tulsa World: Gators to watch

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Gators to watch

OU will need to stay with Tim Tebow when he leaves the pocket because he can be a threat throwing the ball on the run or scrambling for yards. DAVE MARTIN/Associated Press

By GUERIN EMIG, World sports writer
Published: 1/8/2009 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 1/8/2009 3:40 AM

Tim Tebow

Position: Quarterback

Height: 6-3

Weight: 240

Class: Junior

Jersey number: 15

He's good: Dominique Franks' comments aside, the Sooners are high on the 2007 Heisman winner.

"I don't think like Dom thinks. I think Tim's a great player," defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. "He's a much different animal than the other guys we've seen. He brings a physical presence. He brings an emotional presence. He brings the ability to execute in all the key situations. He doesn't flinch, and that's what you love about him."

OU needs to: Stay with receivers when Tebow leaves the pocket. He's a terrific improvisational passer, with a strong arm that allows him to throw across his body. Most important, though, is to bow up when trying to bring Tebow down. That takes some doing. The Sooners have defended a bigger quarterback this season — Kansas State's Josh Freeman. The difference?

"He was just really a passer. He didn't have much running to him," said OU safety Lendy Holmes. "Tebow, they have designed (runs) for them, especially when they get in the red zone."

Percy Harvin

Position: Receiver/running back

Height: 5-11

Weight: 195

Class: Junior

Jersey number: 1

He's good: Allow fellow wide receiver Louis Murphy to explain: "His first 10 yards, it's the fastest 10 yards I've ever seen. And he keeps getting faster and faster as he runs."

Compounding OU's problem?

"You can put him in any position," Murphy said.

The Gators didn't have Harvin in their SEC championship. Now that he's 90 percent healthy tonight, Murphy said, makes "a world of difference."

OU needs to: Not get carried away with defending Harvin. Florida has the weapons to punish you for that.

"We can't just be focused on Percy," OU safety Holmes said. "They're all out there catching and running, the same as Percy. Percy is just doing a little more."

Brandon Spikes

Position: Middle linebacker

Height: 6-3

Weight: 245

Class: Junior

Jersey number: 51

He's good: He is considered the Tebow of the Gators' defense, a player who racks up stats but also sets the lead for the 10 players around him to follow.

"Whenever he plays big and he gets it going early, we get it going early," Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong said. "The energy he brings to our defense and our football team He has so much energy."

OU needs to: Win the battle against Florida's defensive line before worrying about Spikes.

"He's a great player that's made a bunch of plays every week," Wilson said. "But he's probably a product of the guys around him up front. They allow him, as a great player, to make so many plays."

Carlos Dunlap

Position: Defensive end

Height: 6-9

Weight: 290

Class: Sophomore

Jersey number: 8

He's good: He's huge is what he is, 6-6 and 290 pounds, with an 88-inch wingspan.

"He looks like a big guy on film, every bit of that," said OU left tackle Phil Loadholt.

"A freak of nature," right tackle Trent Williams said. "He's good coming off the ball, too.

That would explain his SEC-leading nine sacks.

OU needs to: Get big games out of Loadholt and Williams. They'll facing a serious challenge from Dunlap as well as fellow ends Jermaine Cunningham (six sacks) and Justin Trattou. Still, if they protect Bradford as they have all year, the Sooners will have the time to move the ball and score points.

Brandon James

Position: Kick returner/receiver

Height: 5-7

Weight: 186

Class: Junior

Jersey number: 25

He's good: That's particularly the case returning punts. James has brought back four for touchdowns in his career, and two this season.

"I think the best first step in college football (belongs to) Percy Harvin," Florida coach Urban Meyer said earlier this year. "The guy right behind him is Brandon James."

James also averages 24 yards on kickoff returns.

OU needs to: Fix its kick coverage problems once and for all.

"I guarantee we won't have a problem with it this game," Lewis said. "Everybody's fired up. They want to get on the field. You put that into the equation, with a bunch of athletes hauling down the field. We've got a bunch of dogs, as we call them, I don't think we'll have any problems with special teams." By GUERIN EMIG, World sports writer

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