It seems like months ago that Florida played Miami in Orlando to kick off the 150th season of college football.

The Gators won a slopfest that August night and have won every game since, extending the longest active winning streak in the SEC to 8 games in the process.

Despite a perfect 4-0 record, the Gators have plenty of areas where they can improve on the football field. The Gators are committing too many turnovers (9 in the first 4 games) and have yet to flex their muscle in the run game behind a new, inexperienced offensive line. Nevertheless, the defense has been stout, the wide receivers are as good as advertised and a few new faces have emerged to give the Gators a nice mix of veterans and youth as they move into the most difficult section of the schedule come October.

Here, SDS looks at the 10 best Gators players through one month of football.

The ratings focus heavily on production to date and value to the team, which means despite their potential ceiling or past impact, a few big time names might be lower than they’ll end up come November. That’s OK — and in many ways a good thing — as Florida continues to upgrade the talent on the roster and build better depth under Dan Mullen.

10. Marco Wilson, CB

An injury to consensus preseason All-American CJ Henderson early in Florida’s 2nd game put an immense amount of pressure on Wilson, coming off an ACL injury, to produce and lead.

Wilson has been up for the challenge. At Kentucky, he held his own in matchups against All-SEC WR Lynn Bowden and the physical freak that is Ahmad Wagner, while playing physical football in run support. Last weekend against Tennessee, he largely negated the influence of Tennessee speedster Marquez Callaway and picked up a vital interception with the game still in the balance early in the 2nd quarter.

Henderson will return soon — but Wilson gives Florida another lockdown corner.

9. Kyree Campbell, DT

Florida’s run defense appears much improved from the unit that was gashed in losses to Missouri, Kentucky and Georgia a season ago.

Improved depth and fundamental football at linebacker is part of that formula, but Florida has also received excellent play from the defensive tackle position.

Kyree Campbell has been instrumental in this process, grading out as Florida’s best DT per Stats Solution. Campbell has held his own at the point of attack against the run, allowing Florida’s revamped linebacker corps to clean things up. Campbell also has 14 tackles through 4 games with 3 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble — proving he’s doing more than just slowing opposing offensive linemen — he’s making plays in his own right.

8. Lamical Perine, RB

Florida’s do-everything running back hasn’t had much running room behind an inexperienced offensive line going through some growing pains. But Perine, a preseason All-SEC selection, has kept grinding anyway, grading out as easily Florida’s best pass-blocking running back, per Stats Solutions, and scoring a team-high 4 touchdowns (3 rushing, 1 receiving). With 250 yards, Perine leads the Gators in total offense and those numbers should improve as the line grows and matures.

7. Kyle Trask, QB

Yes, he’s only started 1 game.

But what he did in relief in Lexington matters.

It’s tough for teams to lose their starting quarterback and a team leader all in one play. It’s even harder to do it down double digits on the road. Kyle Trask stepped into that moment in a tremendous SEC environment and pulled his team out of the fire. 

A week later, making his first start since a JV game in 9th grade, Trask built on that by throwing for nearly 300 yards in a 34-3 rout of Tennessee.

This young man was loyal to the school that recruited him. Now, as a graduate of a top 10 public university, he gets to focus mostly on football, where his ability to make good reads and accurate throws gives Florida hope that all its lofty goals are still in front of them.

6. Nick Buchanan, C

One of the only returning starters on the line, Buchanan has been terrific, grading out as Florida’s best OL through the first month. He’s also taken on extra responsibility, calling checks and blitzes at the line of scrimmage for an otherwise largely inexperienced unit and now, for a new starting quarterback. This is by far the most important of Florida’s hog mollies up front.

5. Van Jefferson, WR

An elite route runner with terrific hands, Jefferson clearly has a quality rapport with new QB Kyle Trask, as 9 of his team-high 16 receptions have come off Trask targets. The Ole Miss transfer is one of Florida’s most complete receivers, a threat vertically and the guy the Gators can rely on to get open when they need a play on 3rd down. His early season performance is all the more impressive given that he’s usually matched up with the opponent’s best corner.

4. Shawn Davis, Safety

One of the young season’s most pleasant surprises, the Miami native has made a huge jump as a junior, playing with an understanding of the scheme and confidence that allows him to do what he does best: play fast and physical.

Florida’s had a great deal of secondary attrition due to transfers, injuries and suspensions — but Davis has been a rock steady force, leading the Gators secondary in tackles (14) and adding 2 huge interceptions and a forced fumble.

3. Joshua Hammond, WR

Hammond has made the most of his 11 touches this season.

In addition to being having the best set of hands on the team and being one of Florida’s best perimeter run blockers, the senior has shown a penchant for the big moment.

Against Miami, Hammond broke free in the 4th quarter for a 65-yard reception that set up Florida’s winning touchdown.

Against Kentucky, Hammond iced the game with a 76-yard jaunt off an end around play where he showed afterburners many folks didn’t know he had.

Hammond’s NFL stock is soaring, and he’s been the big play guy in a wide receiver and tight ends corps that has an embarrassment of explosive riches.

2. David Reese, LB

The preseason All-SEC selection has always been a little underappreciated in Gainesville, mainly because he lacks the high-end sideline to sideline speed of recent All-American Gators middle linebackers like Antonio Morrison and Jarrad Davis.

But not being as fast as those guys is hardly a crime, considering what Reese does offer. A 4-year contributor and 3-year starter, Reese is a wrecking ball of a run-stopping, tackling linebacker with character and leadership off the charts, and his 16-tackle performance against Kentucky, which included a game-saving play on 4th-and-1 in the 4th quarter, helped him win National Defensive Player of the Week already this season.

1. Jon Greenard, Buck DE/LB

In a word: unblockable.

The Louisville transfer is a big reason Florida is tied for the 1st in the nation in sacks (20). Greenard has a team-leading 3.5 sacks and leads the team in QB pressures and pass breakups. He’s also 2nd on the team in tackles for loss (4) and 3rd in tackles (16).

The past 2 games, he has done it while drawing double-team help due to the loss of All-SEC DE Jabari Zuniga to injury.

It will be interesting to see how Greenard holds up as the competition grows fiercer, but with Zuniga set to return, Florida appears to have an All-SEC caliber tandem on the edge as they move into the meat of the schedule.