SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. ? Florida coach Urban Meyer posed for countless pictures with four different national championship trophies Tuesday, smiling for every shot.

When the moderator asked photographers, “Is everybody good?” Meyer responded, “Awful.”

There’s little doubt Meyer would rather have been somewhere else, most likely recruiting and getting ready for next season. Believe it or not, he’s got a big job ahead.

The Gators could lose as many as 17 starters from their championship team, including six underclassmen and 10 defensive starters. Meyer, of course, hopes to use Florida’s 41-14 drubbing of Ohio State to boost recruiting and reload for another title run.

If he were a recruit, Meyer said, “I know where I would want to go. Am I allowed to say that for recruiting? Say that again. Print that. I know where I would want to go. Our guys have a lot of fun playing.

“What’s the future look like? I think it looks really good. That’s part of the reason why our staff went to Florida, because you can recruit the best players in the country at that place.”

Meyer plans to sign 27 recruits next month, including 10 who were expected to enroll in classes Monday and go through spring practice.

Many of the freshmen could play next season, too, especially with so many losses.

Quarterback Chris Leak, receivers Jemalle Cornelius and Dallas Baker, center Steve Rissler, running back DeShawn Wynn and fullback Billy Latsko are seniors. So are defensive linemen Steven Harris, Ray McDonald and Joe Cohen, linebackers Earl Everett and Brian Crum and cornerback Reggie Lewis. Even punter Eric Wilbur and place-kicker Chris Hetland are gone.

Then there are the juniors.

Defensive end Jarvis Moss, safety Reggie Nelson, receiver Andre Caldwell and cornerback Ryan Smith are expected to jump to the NFL. Linebacker Brandon Siler and defensive end Derrick Harvey also might join them in the draft.

Moss, Nelson, Smith, Caldwell and Siler already sent paperwork to the NFL’s advisory council, which gives underclassmen an idea where they might get drafted if they leave school early.

Florida's Jermaine McCollum, left, and Kenneth Tookes celebrate the Gators' national college football championship. Florida defeated Ohio State, 41-14, Monday night in Glendale, Ariz.

“I want to break the news to my coaches before I say anything,” Moss said following the blowout.

Added Smith: “I can’t talk about that until I speak to my coaches.”

Meyer said Tuesday he had a feeling who might stay and who might leave.

“Our feeling is if it is for the right reasons, God bless you, go get it, we are supporting you,” he said. “The one thing about Florida guys from here on out will be very well-educated decisions about whether they go out or not.”

Underclassmen have until Monday to apply for the draft.

In the meantime, the Gators will continue celebrating their second football national championship and second title in nine months. The men’s basketball team won its first championship in April.

Now, Florida is the first program to hold titles in both sports at the same time.

The football team flew back to Gainesville on Tuesday, and selected players were honored at halftime of Florida’s basketball game against Arkansas. Quarterback Chris Leak also was to appear on the as a guest on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno.

A championship celebration was scheduled for Saturday inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Although Meyer surely will enjoy the festivities, he might also catch himself thinking about his rebuilding task for next season. He already envisions offensive changes that include quarterback Tim Tebow running more option-style plays and Percy Harvin having an expanded role.

“It is Tim Tebow’s team as of right now,” Meyer said. “It is Tim Tebow’s team and a lot of these young players will have to pick up the slack.”

Leak, for one, believes they’re ready.

“We expect these guys to be right back in this position next year,” Leak said. “That’s what you expect out of the Gator team every season, to compete for an SEC and national title. That (would be) a great thing to be able to get here two years in a row because not too many teams are able to do that.

“They’re a very young and talented group. They have a lot of success ahead of them. They’re learning now how to prepare for these big games.”