UF coach Urban Meyer has always aimed to reload, not rebuild, before each season.
But with a full clip of talent already in hand, Meyer doesn't have much reloading to do, and his talented freshman class is more likely to watch and learn than contribute on the field.
This leaves the recruiting class of 2009 to deal with a tough transition from hearing nothing but promises and hype in high school to riding the pine in college.
It can be a humbling - sometimes humiliating - experience, and the key is keeping expectations at a reasonable level.
"It's kind of weird, but I didn't really come in thinking I was going to go in right away," said linebacker Jelani Jenkins, rated by Rivals.com as the nation's top outside linebacker out of Olney, Md. "I pretty much knew the whole recruiting thing was BS, so it isn't really a big deal. In my head, I knew that I was going to have to work for everything to gain respect because everyone here is a great player."
Jenkins added that his goals for the year are to learn the Gators' system and play a few times in meaningful games. For those who aren't as level-headed as Jenkins, advice is just a class away.
Second-year players like defensive tackle Omar Hunter have already been through the transition and are happy to help out their younger teammates.
Before Hunter arrived on campus, Meyer predicted he would have a Tim Tebow-like impact as a freshman. Instead, he battled injury, played in just three games and didn't record any statistics leading to a redshirt.
"It definitely weighed on me a lot," Hunter said. "Especially when you're hurt and you can't do anything about it."
None of this is to say the freshmen can't have an impact. The Gators lost veteran offensive linemen to the NFL but brought in five talented freshmen who will all be vying for playing time, and Jenkins, linebacker Jon Bostic and running back Mike Gillislee will probably see the field as well.
Receiver Andre Debose is surrounded by the most hype, as hopes abound that he can fill the dynamic role left behind by Percy Harvin. If Debose has injury problems or a slow start, he could get buried under the weight of enormous expectations, just as Hunter was.
"I talked to Debose one day last week about how he was recruited like me and not to let it get him down," Hunter said. "All that stuff is over with, so now it's time to come in and play."
