Chris Leak

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Chris Leak (born May 3, 1985) is a quarterback at the University of Florida. Leak is 6-0 and 207 lbs.

Leak was one of the top players in the 2003 recruiting class. He chose to attend the University of Florida over top programs such as University of Texas, Tennessee, Florida State, Iowa, Notre Dame, USC and North Carolina State.

In high school, Leak starred for Independence High School, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was succeeded by Joe Cox, who is currently a starting quarterback with the University of Georgia.

[edit] College career

Chris began his career at Florida as a freshman, seeing playing time in the first few games, and took over as the starter in the game against Kentucky. Leak finished his freshman year with a Southeastern Conference record for a freshman going 6-3 as a starter including wins over the eventual National Champion, LSU and rival, Georgia. Chris was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and Rivals.com’s Freshman All American Team.

In his sophomore year, Chris blossomed into one of the top quarterbacks in College Football. He started all of Florida’s games, including a memorable school record tying six touchdown performance against South Carolina. However, following a disappointing 7-5 season, head coach Ron Zook was fired. In December of that year, Urban Meyer, one of the hottest coaches in college football, was brought on to install his innovative “Spread Option” offense.

Heading into his junior season, Leak was touted as a possible Heisman Trophy candidate. Chris won his first three games, including a big win over SEC East rival Tennessee, but has struggled in the option portion of the offense. Leak has improved dramatically so far in 2006, and is once again being considered for the Heisman.

[edit] Criticism

Leak's statistics have generally been solid for the Gators. He has completed almost 61 percent of his passes, and has thrown only 29 interceptions in nearly three years as a starter. Leak is also on pace to break many passing records set at Florida by Danny Wuerffel.

Nonetheless, he is not without rather vocal critics among Gator fans, mostly due to his lack of scrambling ability and sliding short of defenders instead of taking a hit to gain extra yardage. Considering Urban Meyer's spread option offense requires more running from the quarterback spot than Leak inititially signed up for under former coach Ron Zook and former offensive coordinator Ed Zaunbrecher, this has led to questions of his ability to run Meyer's offense. The 2006 season has seen Leak grow into the offense and begin to produce big results. Against Alabama, he had a career-long run of 45 yards on a designed carry.

One reason that Chris Leak may not win the 2006 Heisman is a player on his own team. Backup QB Tim Tebow has seen a fair share of playing time, and has stolen more than a little bit of Leak's thunder. There are some that feel that Leak cannot win the Heisman playing in a two-QB system. Supporters of Leak's Heisman chances point out that while Tebow has had some big plays, the set of plays designed for him are quite small, and that Tebow is most successful in short yardage and goal line sets that Leak has to get the offense to. On November 11th, 2006, Leak threw for 254 yards against South Carolina which gave him more yards passing than any other quarterback in Florida history.

Preceded by: Ingle Martin

Florida Gator Quarterbacks (2003-current)

Succeeded by: Incumbent

Florida Gators Quarterbacks
Bell • Berlin • Brindise • Dean • Dickey • Douglas • Dunn • Gaffney • Gailey • Grossman • Johnson • Leak • Libertore • Matthews • Palmer • Peace • Reaves • Shannon • Spurrier • Sullivan • Tebow • Wuerffel