Who are Florida’s five best linebackers in program history? We take a crack at the rankings:

5. Scot Brantley (1976-1979): Brantley edged out Mike Peterson for the No. 5 slot on our list. Brantley was a first-team All-SEC selection in both 1977 and 1978 (as well as All-American honorable mentions). His 1979 season was cut very short after he was diagnosed with a brain injury as a result of getting knocked out in the first home game of the season. The concussion that ended his career was one of several head injuries he sustained during his football career which includes eight years in the NFL. Despite the shortened senior season, Brantley is second all-time in tackles at the University of Florida (467). Brantley is the uncle to recent Florida quarterback John Brantley, IV (2010, 2011).

4. Jevon Kearse (1995-1998): While remembered as a defensive end in the NFL, Kearse began his career at Florida as a safety and eventually moved to linebacker. Near the end of his career at Florida, he began lining up at defensive end during pass rush situations. Kearse was named twice to the All-SEC team in 1997 and 1998. In 1998, he was named the AP’s SEC Defensive Player of the Year. In addition to making several All-American lists in 1998, Kearse was also a finalist for the Butkus Award, the Lombardi Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award. Kearse was known as “The Freak” for his quite remarkable physical abilities. At 6’5″ and 262 lbs, Kearse ran a 4.58 40-yard dash at the 1999 NFL Combine. He registered a 37-inch vertical leap as well. Kearse played 11 seasons in the NFL.

3. Brandon Spikes (2006-2009): The four year letterman was an anchor for Urban Meyer’s championship team in 2008. Additionally, Spikes backed up heralded linebacker Brandon Siler in 2006, appearing in nine games during Meyer’s first championship season. Spikes landed on the First Team All-SEC three times and was a consensus All-American twice (2008, 2009). Spikes was drafted in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.

2. Alonzo Johnson (1982-1985): The linebacker from Panama City was a two-time First Team All-SEC and two-time All-American selection in both 1984 and 1985. Johnson has also been named to several all-time lists by various publications including the the Florida Gators All-Century Team. Johnson was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006 as a “Gator Great.” Over his four year career as a Gator, he tallied up 335 tackles. Alonzo Johnson had a short career in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles.

1. Wilber Marshall (1980-1983): The star linebacker for Charley Pell’s Florida Gators teams in the early 1980s is one of the most heralded players in Florida football history. Marshall piled up 343 tackles, 58 tackles for a loss and 23 sacks. He was named three times to the First Team All-SEC team (1981, 1982, 1983) and was twice a consensus first-team All-American (1982, 1983). ABC Sports named Marshall the National Defensive Player of the Year in 1983. Marshall is a member of Florida’s Ring of Honor along with Gator legends Steve Spurrier, Jack Youngblood, Emmitt Smith and Danny Wuerffel.