It's tough to judge the best freshman ever, but Chris Leak would be near the head of that list.
By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published December 27, 2003
[Times photo: Willie Allen Jr.]
It took four games for Chris Leak to gain the starting job, but he made up for lost time, winning six games, three against ranked teams.
About three weeks ago, ESPN college football analyst Mark May sat in the network's Connecticut studio and declared that Florida quarterback Chris Leak's freshman season was better than that of former Pittsburgh and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino's.
May is a former college teammate of Marino, but whether his statement was television hyperbole or an accurate assessment of Leak's talent and ability can only be debated in theory. After all, Marino played college ball more than two decades ago.
In reality, Leak wasn't the best freshman quarterback in the nation this season, at least not statistically. Houston's Kevin Kolb threw for 2,799 yards (201-for-306) with 23 touchdowns and just four interceptions in 12 regular-season games. Leak had 2,167 yards (168-for-279), 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Georgia Tech's Reggie Ball was third with 1,980 yards (177 of 340), 10 TDs and 11 INTs.
Leak did have the best winning percentage. He finished 6-2 as the starter. Ball was 7-5 and Kolb went 6-5.
All of those categories are debatable. What he accomplished for Florida is what can't be disputed.
It took four games to become the starter, but that didn't stop the 18-year-old from reaching milestones. He holds the UF record for touchdowns and passing yardage by a true freshman. He is second in the SEC in yards, completions and touchdowns for a true freshman. He had the top five passing games by a freshman in school history and is the program's only freshman to defeat three ranked opponents in consecutive games (UF won three games against Top 15 teams).
"Offenses are so complicated now, I'm just blown away when I see a first-year man who can go out and do anything but throw the ball to the other team," ESPN analyst and former college coach Bill Curry said. "Leak's season has been indescribable, better than I could imagine. He's one of the few players to secure an inordinate amount of hype and stepped on the field and was actually better than the hype."
Curry, who was an NFL center for two of the NFL's best quarterbacks, Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas, said it's impossible to judge quarterbacks from different eras such as Marino and Leak, particularly since the game is "so much more sophisticated" today.
So just how do you judge Leak's impact? It depends.
His teammates will tell you how his poise, maturity and confident demeanor have meant everything.
Coach Ron Zook said when he reviews game tape in the spring, he'll look for one particular thing.
"I think when we start going through cutups at the end of recruiting, I think what you judge is how he progressed," Zook said. "Did he reach a plateau, did he continue to improve? To me that's how you judge a guy's year, how he progressed."
During Florida's final media day of the season, the players spoke of the future with Leak. Based on the year he's had, they believe championships are inevitable.
Yet, that may not be the case.
In recent years, several quarterbacks have had phenomenal freshmen seasons and went on to have stellar careers - without ever winning a conference or national championship.
North Carolina State quarterback Philip Rivers threw for 3,054 yards and 25 touchdowns in his freshman season and ended his career second on the NCAA all-time passing list with 13,504 yards. But the Wolfpack never finished higher than fourth in the ACC and he finished his career in the Tangerine Bowl this week.
Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen holds the NCAA record for passing yardage by a freshman (3,687), but the Wildcats didn't win an SEC championship with him.
The Gators - who end the season Thursday against Iowa in the Outback Bowl - haven't won the league crown with Leak either. But they do have three more seasons.
Along that trail, Leak's legacy will continue to build and he'll find out just where he ultimately ranks among the greats.
Based on one season though, he appears on his way.
"I have, from a distance, watched his progress this year," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "Obviously he stepped up and has really done a fine job."
Curry concurs.
"In my opinion he had an outstanding season," Curry said. "I'm not trying to make him into Superman, but he reminds me of the great ones."
