Last time Florida fans saw Channing Crowder, he was registering a team-high eight tackles in the Gators' 37-17 loss to Iowa in the Outback Bowl. That was one of five games last season in which Crowder led the team in tackles. Not too shabby for a first-year player.

Despite missing two games last season, Crowder finished second on the team with 106 tackles. He ranked first nationally among freshmen with 9.6 tackles per game.

The trick now is for Crowder, who was named the SEC's Freshman Defensive Player of the Year by the Sporting News, to help lead a green Florida defense that loses its entire secondary.

The strength of the young defense looks to be Crowder and his fellow linebackers. As of now, the likely starting trio is Crowder, sophomore Earl Everett and senior Travis Harris.

Everett had an outstanding freshman campaign, though it may have been overlooked because of Crowder's amazing exploits. Harris spent his first three years in Gainesville at linebacker before moving to defensive end last spring. He was a solid defensive end in 2003, registering 3.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss, but he wanted to return to strongside linebacker.

"I think we can be some of the best in the nation," Crowder said. "I can hold down the middle, Travis Harris has moved back to SAM. By him playing defensive end, that helps him with up-and-back, over-and-under sets. He's really strong. Earl is a way better athlete than I am. He's just amazing to watch. He's gained about 10 or 12 pounds in the offseason. If he can move with that weight, he's going to be pretty amazing. Me, him and Travis are starting right now."

Also in the mix at linebacker are sophomore Taurean Charles and senior Todd McCullough. Charles had only five sacks in 10 games as a redshirt freshman and never was able to fully bounce back from a 2003 spring suspension for disciplinary reasons. McCullough will not participate in any contact work this spring because he is still recovering from shoulder surgery he had prior to last season's Ole Miss game. He hurt his shoulder against Miami and played in only three games.

"If Taurean has to jump in or Todd has to jump in," said Crowder, "I think they can pull their own weight."

Crowder's weight has gone up about 10 pounds in the past two months.

"I'm about 245," he said. "I played at 235 last year. Everybody's getting stronger."

Getting stronger – and better – are Crowder's goals for this season.

"It's all about team unity," he said. "We have a lot of great athletes. If we get together in the spring and take it through summer workouts and get everybody on the same level and take it into camp, we'll be amazing."

In a sign of the team unity Crowder discussed, the Florida players came out for their initial spring practice with jerseys bearing the word "team" where last names usually appear.

"Right now we're not playing anybody," Crowder explained. "It's just about getting the team better. We're playing each other. Me beating up you and you beating up me is making the team better, and it's all about making the team better.

"Coach Zook always talks about (being a) team – how personal goals don't mean anything. And that's how I feel. All the accolades in the world don't mean anything if you lose games."

If Florida hopes to avoid losing five games for the third straight season, Crowder must continue to be a bundle of energy and a force to be reckoned with. And his young defensive mates must follow his example. Crowder thinks they can.

"I was here last spring, and we look a lot better (this year)," he said. "Everybody's young; there are not many senior leaders. Everybody's on the same level. We're trying to get together and win games. That's what it's all about. All the X's and O's don't mean much when you get down to it. When you've got more points than the other team, you win."