Ahmad Black vs. Matt Elam

[NJGator85]

..who had the better career at UF? And why?...

[MatthewM.]

Black by far.

[MJMGator]

Black by far.

Agreed...he has the ring to prove it.

[law98gator]

Rutledge, Kearse, Elam, Floyd, Big Money, all great kids who performed well, but if you leave UF without any rings, you'll always be an also ran.

[wuerffelball7]

Rutledge, Kearse, Elam, Floyd, Big Money, all great kids who performed well, but if you leave UF without any rings, you'll always be an also ran.

Sad, but true.

[CrocS]

Black was the better ball player and had the better career.

[GatorInKnox]

Elam's a far superior athlete but Black's rings win

[GatorTAG]

Black = Better ball hawk, better instincts, better tackler. Had the better college career.

Elam = More intimidating to receivers, runningbacks. Bigger hitter. Will have the better pro career.

[ReelGatorDoc]

ask Oklahoma

dang that was a great interception to finish them off. The look on Bradford's face was priceless.

both really solid GATORS

Elam packed more of a pop, but Black was always in the right place.

[Class of '78]

The better comparison to Elam.

[gatorade7]

Elam has better measurables and was more physical. Elam always was and perceived himself as the most talented guy on the field from day 1 in Gainesville.

Black was smaller and slower but his on field production (ball skills, coverage skills, assurredness of tackle) was superior to Elam. Black was all heart.
Black seemed to always have an attitude of being an underdog probably due to his lack of speed/size that seemed to drive him.

Both very different yet both great.

[UF_Cheme_Student]

Black had the better career. He was a major impact player on our 08 & 09 teams with his solid tackling and ball hawking skills. Then 2010 when we lost so many starters from the 2009 Defense, he put his stamp on the defense. Elam's great season this past year could not even touch what Black did that year.

2010 108Tackles(73 unassisted), 12 tackles for loss, 1 Qb Sack, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 5 passes deflected and 5 INTs

[usmcmfs]

Great Gators. Both played with heart and always left it all on the field.

Elam will likely have the better pro career. Each year his fundamentals and coverage skills get stronger. He played D in high school but was really focused as a running back. It's been great to see how his skills have developed each year in college.

Black was more polished where Elam was very raw coming in. Elam closed that gap each year. His aggressiveness and ability to hit will be the translate well to the pro game.

Both great Gators.

[-THE DUDE-]

Elam by far is the more gifted player but Black had the better career...will never forget that pick against Oklahoma and the look of disbelief on Bradford's face

[law98gator]

The better comparison to Elam.

I remember MM always been the heart of the defense. He was always leading and trying to fire up the D.

[The UF Guy]

^ I believe that was Lawrence Wright my friend. And HE was by far the emotional leader of the defense sans Bates.

[Gulfstream]

^ I believe that was Lawrence Wright my friend. And HE was by far the emotional leader of the defense sans Bates.

^This. That is definitely LW.

[murdamal86]

Black had the better "career" but Elam is the better player

[Class of '78]

Black had the better "career" but Elam is the better player

Their style of play differed, but it goes deeper than that. Although both players were intensely recruited by UF, one was expected to be a great college player, the other not so.

Ahmad Black squeezed every ounce of ability out of himself in his time at UF and displayed exceptional instinctive ability. Matt Elam is not to be questioned for his commitment, but he is bigger, stronger and much more naturally gifted than Black.

[g8trs99]

Rutledge, Kearse, Elam, Floyd, Big Money, all great kids who performed well, but if you leave UF without any rings, you'll always be an also ran.

Kearse and Rutledge have rings from '96 for sure.