Ranking the Top-5 Florida Gator Quarterbacks of All-Time
No. 2 Danny Wuerffel (1993-1996)
Danny Wuerffel was integral to the success of Steve Spurrier’s Florida teams in the early and mid-1990’s. As a starter, he went 45-6-1 and won the second Heisman in school history during his senior year in 1996. Wuerffel was an SEC champion in every season throughout his four-year career as a Gator. He finished his collegiate career with 10,875 passing yards, 110 passing touchdowns and a 60.5 completion percentage.
Wuerffel posted a 2-2 record in bowl games. Both the bowl games he won were the Sugar Bowl and he won them as a freshman and a senior. The first Sugar Bowl victory in 1994 was a rout as the underdog Gators defeated the No. 2 West Virginia Mountaineers 41-7.
The second Sugar Bowl victory in 1997 has to be by far the sweetest of Wuerffel’s victories as the No. 3 Gators defeated the No. 1 ranked Florida State Seminoles 52-20 to claim the university’s first ever National Championship. Wuerffel threw for three touchdowns and rushed for one touchdown in this game.
Besides his Heisman in 1996, some of Wuerffel’s other achievement include:
- Sammy Baugh Trophy in 1995
- SEC Player of the Year in 1995
- Two Davey O’Brien Awards in 1995 and 1996
- Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in 1996
- Quarterback of the Year Award in 1996
- SEC Player of the Year in 1996
- Walter Camp Player of the Year Award in 1996
- College Football Hall of Fame Inductee in 2013
- Inducted into the Florida Ring of Honor along with Steve Spurrier and Emmitt Smith in 2006
After an outstanding career at Florida, Wuerffel’s NFL career went the same way as Spurrier’s. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. He played in New Orleans for three seasons and then served for a few other teams before retiring shortly thereafter.
In 2000, he won MVP of the World Bowl while playing overseas for NFL Europa after leading the Rhein Fire to a 13-10 victory over the Scottish Claymores. After that, Wuerffel ended his playing days for good.
Next: No. 1 Tim Tebow