The All American Football League will hold its inaugural draft on Saturday, and Team Florida already knows who it wants with its first-round pick.
Player spokesman Travis McGriff, a former UF wide receiver, said the team will likely select former Gators quarterback Eric Kresser with the fourth overall choice.
That prediction is somewhat of a head-scratcher, given the fact that the most recognizable player already on the roster is also a quarterback, Chris Leak.
Coach Shane Matthews, also a former UF quarterback, hopes Kresser and Leak can forge a training-camp battle for the starting job in March.
Kresser would come in with an edge since he played at UF under Matthews' offensive system, which mirrors Steve Spurrier's Fun 'N Gun.
"(Kresser) is one of the most talented quarterbacks ever to play here at Florida, one of the best pure passers I've ever seen," Matthews said. "He knows the system. With Chris being a talented quarterback as well, you need more than one."
The AAFL is a new six-team professional league based in college cities with the caveat of only taking players with college degrees, hoping to cash in on the nostalgia factor of the last 15 years of college football.
The draft is similar to the NFL's version in that it will be tediously long, lasting 50 rounds (eight picks per round) with a few minutes between picks for the first four rounds and two minutes per pick for the remaining rounds.
It begins at noon and a television broadcast will last until 3 p.m., though the draft is expected to go on past the broadcast window.
It will be televised on Cox Sports (Channel 67), according to the league's Web site.
The format is a snake draft where the team with the first pick in odd-numbered rounds has the last pick in even-numbered rounds.
In-state alums already on the team like Leak will technically be drafted as "protected players" in the middle rounds, leaving the early and late rounds for Florida to draft new players.
If Florida nabs Kresser, it could look for somebody the quarterback can hand off to in subsequent selections.
Elijah Williams, who played in Gainesville from 1994-97, is the top player with running back experience among about 20 athletes already on the team.
But Williams played defensive back in the NFL, so the team is looking for a stronger runner with some recent experience, too.
"If there's one giant priority, it might be that one," McGriff said. "That's where we might want some guys. Elijah, when he was here at Florida, was moved to defensive back his senior year. He was splitting time with Fred Taylor and really was a dynamic runner. He's perfect for our offense. But you need a big guy."
Florida seems pretty set at wide receiver with McGriff, Willie Jackson, Chris Doering and former Miami Hurricane Ryan Moore. Former Gator Reidel Anthony is the receivers coach.
But the biggest star at wideout is a former Seminole, the explosive Peter Warrick.
The team opens training camp in March, and the season opener is April 19 at Michigan.
The league will undoubtedly face an uphill battle to stay alive, but the most important thing for players like Warrick is being able to show their skills again.
"It's kind of a nice window for them to play, get some exposure, let NFL people watch them," McGriff said.
