Joey Johnston

By the time he’s done, senior quarterback Chris Leak should own every significant passing record at Florida. You’d never know it. Strangely, even while already winning 28 of his 40 starts, Leak hasn’t completely won over his Gators fan base.

Your early Heisman Trophy ballot probably includes Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith. It should. Smith has been spectacular for the nation’s No. 1-ranked team. It probably includes Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn. It’s difficult to ignore the flashy numbers, along with the preseason hype.

Leak’s numbers — on a career-best pace of 14 touchdown passes, four interceptions and 64.6 completion percentage through five games — barely make a sound.

But if the Gators (5-0) are still unbeaten after Halloween — that would mean victories against the ridiculous SEC gauntlet of LSU, Auburn and Georgia — the chant should ring long and loud.

Leak for Heisman!

Why not?

Seemingly, he has been in college forever, arriving as Ron Zook’s prized recruit, enduring in the awkward transition to Urban Meyer’s offense and finally maturing into the leader of today. Still, there are Gators fans who can’t wait until tomorrow.

Because that means Tim Tebow will be the quarterback.

How strange is this? Leak is playing the best football of his college career, leading an unbeaten team, winning in Knoxville, beating Alabama and exorcising the demons from last season’s dreadful performance in Tuscaloosa.

But fans save their biggest cheers for Leak’s backup.

The dual-quarterback rotation has worked perfectly so far for Meyer, who brings in Tebow, a rugged freshman runner in the spread option, in selected situations. The egos are in check. Fastballs and change-ups. Who knows what’s coming next?

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One minute against Alabama, there’s Leak taking off after finding no one open, racing away from the defense on a career-long 45-yard run, then hopping up and uncharacteristically baring his emotions for the crowd. The next, there was Tebow in the game, bulling in from the 2-yard line to finish a 95-yard scoring drive.

Later, there was Leak, again with the option to run. But this time, he saw something, adjusting the play and delivering a 16-yard touchdown pass to Andre Caldwell.

“Chris is playing so well,” Meyer said.

Last season’s 21-17 loss at LSU — in which Leak was practically devoid of weapons after some injuries — might have been the lowest point. Leak looked terribly uncomfortable, unlike the freshman quarterback who handed LSU its only loss in 2003. That’s when Meyer revised the offense and played more to Leak’s strengths.

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“Was he put in a tough situation? Sure,” Meyer said. “A quarterback who has a lack of firepower and who isn’t being protected is in a tough situation. [Beating Alabama] is an indication of how far Chris has come.”

Leak is one classy kid. When the Gators struggled in the first half against Kentucky, there were boos from the stands. Meyer even asked some assistants what was going on. He thought a late flag had been dropped.

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