Local players abound in Florida-Florida State matchup

Benjamin, a red-shirt freshman, is second on the Seminoles with 479 receiving yards and four touchdowns, which are higher totals than any wide receiver on Florida’s roster. At 6-foot-5, 242 pounds, he presents a conundrum for opposing defenses.

“He can run for a guy that size,” UF defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said. “You generally say, ‘OK, is that the tight end? No, this is a receiver.’ He certainly had our attention.”

O’Leary, who won a state championship with Elam and Gators back-up quarterback Jacoby Brissett in 2009, is a sophomore with 16 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns.

Lonnie Pryor, a fullback from Okeechobee High School, is averaging 5.9 yards per carry and has scored six times for the Seminoles (10-1). Glades Central product Greg Dent, whom many schools considered too short (5-foot-11) and slow to play receiver, is proving them wrong with 23 catches for 308 yards and two touchdowns as a junior.

Defensive end Giorgio Newberry (Fort Pierce Central) and defensive back Keelin Smith (Treasure Coast) have played nearly every game as red-shirt freshmen.

At Florida, Bostic and Elam are at the center of a defense that has carried the Gators to a 10-1 record and the No. 4 position in the BCS standings. Bostic and Elam are tied for second on the team with 58 tackles. Elam, a junior who appears bound for the NFL Draft, has nine tackles for loss and three interceptions.

Bostic has been a rock for Florida throughout the coaching transition and is having the best season of his four-year career. He has three sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble.

“I don’t know if there’s a guy playing better inside linebacker in the country than Jon,” Gators coach Will Muschamp said. “He’s instinctive, tough. Everything we’ve asked him to do, he’s answered.”