GAINESVILLE -- When opposing offenses view films of Florida's defense, Pat Moorer practically leaps off the screen at them. He is a menacing presence, a linebacker with certain star quality.

But has anyone else noticed? Does anyone know Moorer is out there every Saturday, making things happen from his inside linebacking position?

Even Moorer has wondered.

"For some reason I don't get much attention. It's been like this my whole career," said the 6-foot-1, 225-pound senior from Pensacola. "It happened at Escambia High School, and now it's happened here at Florida.

"I really don't know what it is. I just go out there and take care of what I'm supposed to take care of. I don't sit around anymore thinking about why I don't get any recognition."

For the past three seasons, Moorer has been one of the Gators' steadiest defensive performers. Some of his achievements have almost screamed for attention. But none has come.

Moorer joined UF as a walk-on in 1986 and became the first true freshman starter on defense since Alonzo Johnson in 1981.

In his first start, against Auburn, he had a team-high 10 tackles. In his second college game, he intercepted a pass from Miami's Vinny Testaverde and returned it 18 yards to set up a UF touchdown.

As a sophomore, he finished fifth on the team in tackles despite missing three games with a knee injury, and last year he's was UF's leader in total tackles and solo stops.

Through three games this season, he has a team-leading 30 tackles, a sack and two interceptions.

But he remains the unknown defender.

"I'm not going to worry about it," Moorer said. "If you're thinking about stuff like that, it's going to distract you and make you play bad. I don't want that to happen. This is a real important year for me.

"I want to stay around the football at all times and come up with some big plays. It doesn't matter if I get any recognition in the press. Pro scouts aren't going to believe what they read anyway. They're going to believe what they see. I think they'll notice me."

Moorer's identity problem in high school can be traced to teammate Emmitt Smith, who led Escambia to back-to-back state titles. At UF, Moorer has found himself surrounded by high-profile defensive players, from Clifford Charlton and Jarvis Williams, to Trace Armstrong and Louis Oliver.

While Moorer is relatively unknown, he is not unappreciated by his teammates.

"When teams come at us up the middle, you know Pat Moorer is going to be there," strong safety Ephesians Bartley said. "He's someone you don't ever have to worry about."

-- Will White, UF's lonesome safety, has returned to the team this week and may play against Mississippi State Saturday.

White is the last of five players who had been suspended before the season to be reinstated.

"I was very lonely last week," said White, who missed three games for his involvement in a fraternity fight last spring. "I saw Huey Richardson and Tim Paulk get on the bus to go (to the Memphis State game), and I wanted to get on too."

-- Emmitt Smith has rushed for a combined 337 yards and five touchdowns against Mississippi State the past two years.

But he expects the yards to come grudgingly Saturday night in Tampa Stadium.

"I'm not looking for a big game this week," said Smith, who rushed for 182 yards against Memphis State. "I'm looking for a tough, close game. There won't be a lot of long runs."

The Bulldogs have allowed 137.7 yards a game rushing, and 284.3 yards a game overall.

-- Bartley, who has made the switch from outside linebacker to strong safety, isn't worried about getting beat deep in pass coverage.

"The only thing that scares me (about the new position) is dropping the ball," he said. "I don't think I'm going to be able to catch the ball. If I have a chance for an interception, I'm going to try to take the guy's head off instead."