Stretching for Hope?

Florida is returning 11 starters on defense (as noted here, here, and here to cite only a few who have pointed this out). The many benefits are obvious. They are a mere shoo-in for sec champs and national champion favorties. Sounds awfully familar to a Buekeye team from a couple years back. Granted those Buckeyes didn't have near the defense Florida had last year, but they did have a much softer schedule. This begs the question, "if all these guys are so good, why aren't they in the NFL?" I know the NFL is a different game and scouts look at potential, playing styles, etc., but there has to be something to the fact that Florida is returning their entire defense. Maybe NFL teams don't see much more potential in those players. Maybe the same Gator defense from last year won't improve at all and will be facing improved offenses with better schemes that will give them a much better chance to do some damage to that vaunted defense in '09.