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Five key players for Florida against FSU

By ANTONYA ENGLISH, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published November 30, 2002

• This is it • Gators more pathetic than hateable • FSU can't sink any deeper • Five worst moments in Florida's season • Five worst moments in FSU's season • Five key players for FSU against Florida • Divergent paths coming together

1. Rex Grossman: He hasn't been a Heisman candidate since throwing eight interceptions in two games, but he is still the leader of Florida's team. He has played much better the past four games, and generally the Gators go as Grossman goes. He currently has a career-long streak of 95 passes without an interception, and his 242 completions is the third-best single season effort in school history. If Grossman can find open receivers and exploit FSU's secondary, the Gators could score a ton of points.

2. Keiwan Ratliffe: As Florida's best cover man, his assignment most likely will be guarding FSU's best receiver, Anquan Boldin. Boldin has caught 54 passes for 846 yards and has 10 touchdowns. He has had three 100-yard receiving games this season and is one of FSU's biggest offensive threats. The Gators' pass defense is ranked third in the nation and Ratliffe is a key part of that group. How well he can keep Boldin, or any other receiver, in check will be key.

3. Taylor Jacobs: After missing the past three games with a sprained knee, Jacobs is returning for his final regular season game as a Gator, playing in the city where he went to high school. Before he was injured early in the Georgia game, he was the Gators' leading receiver and Grossman's go-to man. Since then, several players have stepped up, giving Grossman a variety of options. But with Carlos Perez out with a broken leg, Jacobs' return couldn't come at a better time. If he is fully recovered, the Grossman-to-Jacobs combination could be crucial.

4. Matt Leach: His struggles in the kicking game have been well documented, and this is one game where Leach can't afford to mess up. He is 6-of-12 on field goals and 27-of-32 on extra points. If the game is close, the Gators will need Leach to make those kicks. Missed extra points and field goals can be costly in big rivalry games such as this. Just ask Florida State, which lost to Miami on a last-second missed field goal.

5. Earnest Graham: To open up its passing game, Florida needs to run the ball. Graham is Florida's leading running back and is fourth in the SEC with 80 yards per game. He was injured in last season's FSU game on the controversial hit by Darnell Dockett. It's his final regular season game and he needs just one touchdown to take over sole possession of third place on Florida's career rushing touchdown list. A big game for him usually means a win for Florida.

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