HOOVER, Ala. - The Gators' offensive line is supposed to be one of the team's best units this year.
Strange, then, that Urban Meyer would describe the big men up front as UF's most underrated asset.
"[They're] not undervalued by the coaching staff," Meyer said. "You could probably put seven guys out there that you feel very comfortable with. … [The offensive line is] without question the most under-publicized."
At Southeastern Conference Media Days on Wednesday, fifth-year senior left tackle Phil Trautwein agreed that his group was overlooked.
"In magazines, we're not even up there for best offensive line," Trautwein said. "In my opinion, we are. And that's what's motivating us, making us better and driving us this whole offseason. We're ready to show people that we're the best.
"A lot of people didn't think [quarterback Tim Tebow] was going to win the Heisman. He wasn't on the list day one. We just have to show people we're going to be on that list at the end of the season."
The line certainly has the talent to perform.
The biggest boost is the return of Trautwein, who missed all of 2007 with a stress fracture in his right foot. Left guard Jim Tartt has a team-leading 29 starts. Mike Pouncey is moving to the offensive side of the ball next to his twin brother Maurkice at center. And flipping to right tackle is Jason Watkins, who started all 13 games on the left side in place of Trautwein last year.
With that group in front of him, Tebow might not see much pressure. The junior quarterback was sacked just 13 times last year, and the line should get better with the return of Trautwein.
Doctors initially told him that his stress fracture was just a sprained ankle, so he practiced on a stress fracture for two weeks.
After complaining that the injury was still nagging him, he finally had a CT scan to diagnose what truly ailed him. If doctors didn't catch the stress fracture when they did, he could have been walking with a limp for the rest of his life.
He had a bone spur removed from his ankle. He even traveled to Portland, Ore., to visit a Nike rehab complex where they made him special corrective cleats to get his feet realigned. But now, it's all good.
"Physically, I'm ready," Trautwein said. "I've been healthy ever since spring ball. …I'm stronger than I ever was."
The time off even renewed his desire to play the game.
"I feel like a freshman again because I haven't played in forever," Trautwein said. "Running out of the tunnel, being able to play in The Swamp is something that I've missed."
The offensive line should be fairly deep this season, with redshirt freshman James Wilson expected to see some time.
Wilson was rated the No. 1 offensive guard by Rivals.com coming into Gainesville but only dressed for four games last year because of knee surgeries. He asked to transfer from the team back in February, but reconsidered his decision a month later and remains a Gator.
"James is one of my good friends on the team," Trautwein said. "I was so upset when he was thinking about transferring, and I tried to talk to him about it. I think I kind of helped him make the right decision."
The two spent a lot of time together during the 2007 season, and Trautwein took on a bit of a mentor role.
"He asks me, 'Phil, am I doing this right?'" Trautwein said. "He even asks me, 'Can you do extra stuff with me?'"
The mix of young talent and experience on the offensive line and throughout the roster gives Trautwein high hopes for the Gators in his final season.
"We should win the SEC every year," Trautwein said. "That's our goal. …If something's your goal, and you don't get it, you can't be happy."
