Coaches always say that there is no substitute for speed. Many, like former Florida coach Urban Meyer, aspire to have the country's fastest team. With that in mind, who will be the fastest players in college football this fall? The answers are found in this week's Top 10 list. (Note: This list includes only players who are already enrolled in school.)
1. Jeff Demps, RB/WR, Florida Gators
The fastest man in college sports. Period. No football player has bigger sprint credentials than this Gator. Demps' home must be littered with NCAA hardware from all of his national titles in track. Earlier this month, he repeated as the 60-meter champ at the 2011 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Demps' documented track times are insane. He has had a productive football career as a home run threat for Meyer. Even though he has spent most of the spring with the Gators track team, not with new football coach Will Muschamp, who is shifting to a pro-style attack, Demps still should have an important role in the team's offense this year.
About a week ago, Muschamp shared with me his view on Demps' absence from spring ball. "He's a medal winner in track," Muschamp said. "I felt like it was fair to the University of Florida and our track team to let him run track. He's been involved in our meetings. He's been involved in the offseason work." Muschamp also said he expects Demps to have a sizable role in the new UF offense. "He will be a guy who we'll find ways to get the ball in space."