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Sport: College SportsCountry: United StatesCategory: Scores & Results

Florida Gators countdowns top players from 1996 national championship team

2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 9, 2026, 8:01 AM

Last updated Aug 9, 2026

Florida Gators countdowns top players from 1996 national championship team
Summary

The Gainesville Sun continues its countdown of the top 30 players from the Florida Gators' 1996 national championship team. Ed Chester is ranked No. 8 for his impactful performance on the defensive line that season. At 6-foot-4 and 273 pounds, Chester recorded 44 tackles, six sacks, and earned first-team All-SEC honors. His career was cut short due to a knee injury during his senior year, but he had secured a $1 million insurance policy beforehand. This retrospective celebrates the 30th anniversary of the team's title win, and the countdown will feature each honoree leading up to the top player.

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Status Watch
  • •Gators won their first national title in 1996.
  • •Chester recorded 44 tackles and six sacks in that season.
  • •He earned first-team All-SEC honors as a sophomore.
  • •Chester's career ended due to a knee injury in 1998.
  • •The countdown honors the 30th anniversary of the 1996 championship.
Latest Updates
  • 8:01 AMYahoo Sports — Florida football Top 30 players countdown from 1996 | No. 7 James Bates
  • 8:03 AMYahoo Sports — Florida football Top 30 players countdown from 1996 | No. 8 Ed Chester
What they're saying
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The Gainesville Sun is counting down the top 30 players from the 1996 Florida Gators national championship football team. Here's No. 7.

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The Gainesville Sun is counting down the top 30 players from the 1996 Florida Gators national championship football team. Here's No. 8.

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