Ranking the Top-5 Wide Receivers in Gator Football History
No. 1 Carlos Alvarez (1969-1971)
Taking the top spot as my greatest Florida Gator receiver of all-time is Carlos Alvarez. As a member of a group of players nicknamed the “Super Sophs”, Alvarez helped lead the Gators to a 9-1-1 record and a victory in the 1969 Gator Bowl.
The 1969 season had been regarded as one of the best in Florida football history until the glory years of the 1990’s surpassed it.
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Alvarez played at Florida for just three years because back then freshmen played on their own “frosh team” instead of with the actual football team. In those three years, however, Alvarez was a monster as he totaled 172 receptions for 19 touchdowns and 2,563 receiving yards.
Alvarez excelled both on and off the field as his accolades include:
- First-team All-SEC in 1969
- Consensus All-American in 1969
- First-team Academic All-American in 1969
- Second-team Academic All-American in 1970 and 1971
- UF record holder for career receiving yards (2,563)
- UF Hall of Fame inductee in 1986
- Academic All-American Hall of Fame inductee in 1991
- College Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2011
- Member of Florida Gators All-Century Team
Alvarez was given a shot to play in the NFL when the Dallas Cowboys drafted him 390th overall in the 1972 NFL Draft, but he turned the contract down because of persisting knee injuries.
*All stats accredited to Gatorzone.com, College Football @ Sports-Reference.com, & NFL.com