Because, simply, the state of Florida kicks butt in college football.
Because Florida, Florida State and Miami remain perennial powerhouses.
Because South Florida will join the Big East, continuing its rise to prominence. Because Central Florida will enter Conference USA with coach George O'Leary.
Because Florida Atlantic is ready for the jump to Division I-A and the Sun Belt Conference after reaching the semifinals of the I-AA playoffs. (Imagine that, playoffs in college football. . . .)
Because Bethune-Cookman made the 16-team I-AA playoffs again; because Florida A&M is poised to move from I-AA to I-A; because Florida International will do the same and join the Sun Belt in 2006.
For all of those reasons the St. Petersburg Times created the All-Florida team.
The Sunshine State is a fountain of talented college football players. It is a hotbed for the sport and expanding rapidly. A platform for recognizing the best collegians in Florida was overdue.
The inaugural All-Florida team features 48 players: 12 on offense and defense on first and second teams, including an offensive (FSU's Craphonso Thorpe) and defensive (Miami's Sean Taylor) player of the year.
The Hurricanes, who beat the Gators and Seminoles, have the most players (seven first team, six second), followed by FSU (seven, four), Florida (six, five) and USF (two, four). By limiting it to 48, many tough cuts were made. And selecting the defensive player of the year was extremely difficult.
Which is why an All-Florida team has such merit. It is a measure of distinction because college football in the state is so good - and getting better.
Offensive Player of the Year
Craphonso Thorpe, WR, Florida State
Defensive Player of the Year
Sean Taylor, S, Miami
ALL-FLORIDA TEAM
First team OFFENSE
Chris Leak
SCHOOL: Florida.
POSITION: Quarterback.
HT./WT.: 6-1, 205.
CLASS: Fr.
OF NOTE: After rotating with Ingle Martin for four games, Leak took over full time and lived up to the enormous hype, completing 168 of 270 passes (60.2 percent) for 2,167 yards with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Jarrett Payton
SCHOOL: Miami.
POSITION: Running back.
HT./WT.: 6-2, 210.
CLASS: Sr.
OF NOTE: Stepped in when Frank Gore was injured and led the state's I-A rushers with 854 yards. The son of NFL Hall of Famer Walter Payton, he averaged 5.4 yards per carry and scored eight touchdowns.
Ciatrick Fason
SCHOOL: Florida.
POSITION: Running back.
HT./WT.: 6-0, 211.
CLASS: So.
OF NOTE: After scarcely playing the first month of the season, Fason nearly quit, then was elevated into a prominent role and exploded, averaging 7.0 yards per carry (80 carries, 560 yards) plus three touchdown catches.
Craphonso Thorpe
SCHOOL: Florida State.
POSITION: Wide receiver.
HT./WT.: 6-2, 185.
CLASS: Jr.
OF NOTE: Emerged after two seasons as a backup to stars such as Javon Walker and Anquan Boldin to lead FSU with 51 catches for 995 yards (19.5 avg.) and 11 touchdowns despite missing season finale.
P.K. Sam
SCHOOL: Florida State.
POSITION: Wide receiver.
HT./WT.: 6-3, 195.
CLASS: Jr.
OF NOTE: Teamed with Thorpe to create perhaps the nation's most talented receiving duo. Caught 49 passes for 725 yards (14.8 avg.) with five touchdowns, including the unforgettable game-winner vs. Florida.
Ben Troupe
SCHOOL: Florida.
POSITION: Tight end.
HT./WT.: 6-4, 262.
CLASS: Sr.
OF NOTE: Nudges out equally talented Kellen Winslow Jr. for this honor based on more receiving yards (638 to 557) and touchdowns (5 to 1). For years UF fans clamored to get him the ball, and this season Leak obliged.
Alex Barron
SCHOOL: Florida State.
POSITION: Offensive line.
HT./WT.: 6-6, 315.
CLASS: Jr.
OF NOTE: Associated Press and Football Writers Association of America first-team All-American, the lone Seminole chosen. Prime NFL prospect continues long line of outstanding FSU tackles.
Vernon Carey
SCHOOL: Miami.
POSITION: Offensive line.
HT./WT.: 6-5, 355.
CLASS: Sr.
OF NOTE: Massive tackle led strong line that was most effective in big moments: Pass protection led to comeback over Florida, while run blocking vs. FSU led to 'Canes upset win in Tallahassee and romp at Pitt.
Mike Degory
SCHOOL: Florida.
POSITION: Offensive line.
HT./WT.: 6-5, 309.
CLASS: So.
OF NOTE: Center graded out as UF's top offensive lineman in more than half of team's games, protected Leak and plowed holes for running game in big road wins over LSU and Arkansas and vs. Georgia in Jacksonville.
Ray Willis
SCHOOL: Florida State.
POSITION: Offensive line.
HT./WT.: 6-6, 295.
CLASS: So.
OF NOTE: He and Barron kept FSU's line effective when injuries struck the interior. Helped FSU's top three running backs combine to average almost 5 yards per carry and provided deluxe pass protection.
Eric Winston
SCHOOL: Miami.
POSITION: Offensive line.
HT./WT.: 6-7, 290.
YEAR: So.
OF NOTE: Converted tight end developed into an All-Big East player this fall. Helped Miami go 22-3 the past two seasons despite transitions at quarterback, running back and wide receiver from 2002 to '03.
Jon Peattie
SCHOOL: Miami.
POSITION: Kicker.
HT./WT.: 6-3, 200.
CLASS: Fr.
OF NOTE: First-team freshman All-American by the Sporting News, Countryside graduate made five field goals vs. West Virginia, including the game winner, and made three of four in the slop at Tallahassee.
First team DEFENSE
Steve Baggs
SCHOOL: Bethune-Cookman.
POSITION: End.
HT./WT.: 6-2, 241.
CLASS: Sr.
OF NOTE: Brace yourself for these numbers: Baggs made 36 tackles for loss (36!) and had 15 sacks and 6 forced fumbles in 12 games. Not surprisingly, he was named MEAC defensive player of the year.
Eric Moore
SCHOOL: Florida State.
POSITION: End.
HT./WT.: 6-4, 247.
CLASS: Jr.
OF NOTE: Erstwhile blue-chip prep prospect blossomed with more playing time at end this season. Led FSU with 7.5 sacks and was second to Darnell Dockett in tackles for loss (12) and quarterback hurries (15).
Darnell Dockett
SCHOOL: Florida State.
POSITION: End.
HT./WT.: 6-4, 280.
CLASS: Sr.
OF NOTE: Capped productive career with his best season, earning ACC defensive player of the year honors for notching 52 tackles and team-highs of 17 tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hurries.
Vince Wilfork
SCHOOL: Miami.
POSITION: Tackle.
HT./WT.: 6-2, 344.
CLASS: Jr.
OF NOTE: Overcame family tragedy to emerge as a major disruptive force on the interior. Surprisingly nimble, he led Miami linemen with 57 tackles, 9.5 for loss and 20 quarterback hurries, and had six sacks.
Jonathan Vilma
SCHOOL: Miami.
POSITION: Linebacker.
HT./WT.: 6-2, 223.
CLASS: Sr.
OF NOTE: For the past three years he always has seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Smart and fast, he led the 'Canes with 118 tackles and 11 tackles for loss, and recovered two fumbles.
Maurice Jones
SCHOOL: South Florida.
POSITION: Linebacker.
HT./WT.: 6-2, 240.
CLASS: Sr.
OF NOTE: Three-year starter was centerpiece of defense that ranked second nationally behind Oklahoma in yards allowed per play (4.1). Led the Bulls with 116 tackles and had 13 tackles for loss.
Channing Crowder
SCHOOL: Florida.
POSITION: Linebacker.
HT./WT.: 6-2, 236.
CLASS: Fr.
OF NOTE: Did not enroll in 2002 so he was a true freshman; time off sure didn't hamper his game. Furiously covers sideline-to-sideline and delivers big hits. Missed two games but led UF with 91 tackles.
Keiwan Ratliff
SCHOOL: Florida.
POSITION: Cornerback.
HT./WT.: 5-10, 178.
CLASS: Sr.
OF NOTE: Dream season for SEC defensive player of the year. Had nine interceptions for 182 yards and two touchdowns, plus fumble-return scores vs. Miami and FSU. Averaged 11.2 yards on punt returns.
Stanford Samuels
SCHOOL: Florida State.
POSITION: Cornerback.
HT./WT.: 5-10, 186.
CLASS: Sr.
OF NOTE: Was the Seminoles' best defender in pass coverage, registering a team-high 11 passes defensed and two picks. Monster shot on Miami's Roscoe Parrish was perhaps the hit of the year.
Sean Taylor
SCHOOL: Miami.
POSITION: Safety.
HT./WT.: 6-3, 230.
CLASS: Jr.
OF NOTE: Near-identical statistics to Ratliff. A mammoth free safety, Taylor's top-shelf coverage and run-stuffing instincts allowed him to make nine interceptions as well as seven tackles for loss.
J.R. Reed
SCHOOL: South Florida.
POSITION: Safety.
HT./WT.: 5-11, 200.
CLASS: Sr.
OF NOTE: Tampa product set school records for interceptions in a game (3), season (7) and career (18) while leading the nation in kickoff returns and making 100 tackles, second-most to Jones.
Matt Prater
SCHOOL: Central Florida.
POSITION: Punter.
HT./WT.: 5-11, 175.
CLASS: So.
OF NOTE: Led the nation and set a school and Mid-American Conference single-season record with a 47.9 gross average per punt. Also UCF's kicker, he was a gleaming bright spot in a horrible season for the Knights.
Second team OFFENSE
QB: Jared Allen, Jr., Florida Atlantic (6-3, 202).
RB: Greg Jones, Sr., Florida State (6-1, 255).
RB: Leon Washington, So., Florida State (5-9, 199).
WR: Ryan Moore, Fr., Miami (6-3, 205).
WR/TE: Anthony Crissinger-Hill, So., Florida Atlantic (6-3, 205).
TE: Kellen Winslow Jr., Jr., Miami (6-5, 250).
OL: Chris Myers, Jr., Miami (6-5, 287).
OL: Shannon Snell, Sr., Florida (6-4, 310).
OL: Derrick Sarosi, Jr., South Florida (6-6, 295).
OL: Max Starks, Sr., Florida (6-7, 349).
OL: Alex Herron, Jr., South Florida (6-3, 280).
K: Xavier Beitia, Jr., Florida State (5-10, 210).
Second team DEFENSE
DE: Baraka Atkins, Fr., Miami (6-4, 255).
DT: Ray McDonald, Fr., Florida (6-3, 252).
DT: Lee Roy Selmon Jr., Jr., South Florida (5-11, 285).
DE: Tim Jones, Jr., South Florida (6-3, 255).
LB: Michael Boulware, Sr., Florida State (6-3, 222).
