Florida Football: Top 10 quarterback-receiver duos in Gators history

Nov 25, 2006; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida Gators quarterback (12) Chris Leak throws a pass during the first quarter against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © Jason Parkhurst
Nov 25, 2006; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida Gators quarterback (12) Chris Leak throws a pass during the first quarter against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © Jason Parkhurst /
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UNKNOWN DATE, 1969; Carlos Alvarez (#45), American football All-American wide receiver for the Florida Gators, face down playing football in 1969. Mandatory Credit: Foster Marshall, Jr./Florida Times-Union-USA TODAY NETWORK
UNKNOWN DATE, 1969; Carlos Alvarez (#45), American football All-American wide receiver for the Florida Gators, face down playing football in 1969. Mandatory Credit: Foster Marshall, Jr./Florida Times-Union-USA TODAY NETWORK /

Florida Football QB/REC Duo No. 4: John Reaves and Carlos Alvarez

  • John Reaves: 1969 – 1971 (7,549 career yards passing, 54 touchdowns)
  • Carlos Alvarez: 1969 – 1971 (2,563 career yards receiving, 19 touchdowns)

Despite being the all-time leading receiver at Florida, Carlos Alvarez always feels like an afterthought when coming up with the greatest players to ever don the Gator uniform.

But during his freshman campaign in Gainesville, Alvarez teamed up with fellow freshman John Reaves to catch 1,329 yards, almost 600 more yards than the next closest player in the SEC. He also had 22 more receptions than the next closest.

Reaves wound up with 24 passing touchdowns on the season, eight more than the next closest in the SEC.

Florida went 9-1-1 that season and finished 14th in the AP poll, its highest finish ever at the time.

The duo would play two more years together, and while their numbers were still solid, they couldn’t match the sky-high numbers of 1969.