University of florida Gator Football
2009 Spring Guide
2009 FLORIDA FOOTBALL
- Florida is one of four teams to be ranked in the preseason top-10 of the AP Poll in each of the last four years (2005, 06, 07, 08). LSU, Oklahoma and USC are the others. - The 2009 Florida football team enters the season with 19 returning starters on offense and defense. The entire two-deep depth chart returns from a defense that led the nation in interceptions, ranked fourth in scoring defense and finished ninth in the nation in total defense. - The SEC’s top-ranked offense from 2008 returns 100 percent of its passing yards and 75 percent of its rushing yards. Quarterback Tim Tebow returns as the team’s leading passer (2,746 yards in ‘08) and rusher (673 yards in ‘08). - Tim Tebow ranks in the top five nationally among returning quarterbacks in eight statistical categories: passer rating (2nd), yards per attempt (2nd), touchdown percentage (2nd), interception percentage (2nd), yards per completion (3rd), completion percentage (5th), rushing yards (4th) and rushing TDs (1st). Tebow ranks first among all players, regardless of position, in rushing touchdowns. He ranks 7th in touchdown passes among returning players. - Brandon James ranks first in the nation in total return yards among all players returning in 2009. He is second in the nation with four punt return touchdowns and second in punt return yards. He ranks third in punt return average and sixth in kick return yards among returners. - The 2009 group of linebackers will be one of the most experienced in the country. Out of a possible 77 starts at the three linebacker positions the past two years, every start was made by a linebacker that returns in 2009. Brandon Spikes has made 27 career starts, A.J. Jones has 18, Dustin Doe has 16, Ryan Stamper has 12 and Brandon Hicks has 6. - The loss of offensive tackles Phil Trautwein and Jason Watkins will lead to some reshuffling along the offensive line. While Maurkice and Mike Pouncey are expected retain their starting roles, both tackle positions and the left guard position are open for competition. Matt Patchan, who came to UF as an offensive lineman and played defensive tackle last season, returns to the offensive line. Other returning players expected to compete for playing time on the offensive line include Marcus Gilbert, Corey Hobbs, Maurice Hurt, Sam Robey, James Wilson and David Young.
DATE Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 10 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7 Nov. 14 Nov. 21 Nov. 28 OPPONENT Charleston Southern Troy Tennessee Kentucky LSU Arkansas Mississippi State Georgia Vanderbilt South Carolina Florida International Florida State
Communications Department (352) 375-4683, ext. 6100 Steve McClain, Assoc. AD stevem@gators.uaa.ufl.edu John Hines, Asst. SID johnh@gators.uaa.ufl.edu Denver Parler, Asst. SID denverp@gators.uaa.ufl.edu Dan Apple, Intern daniela@gators.uaa.ufl.edu Kate Manly, Intern katem@gators.uaa.ufl.edu Kelly Reynolds, Intern kellyr@gators.uaa.ufl.edu
TENTATIVE SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
March/April 2009
SUN. MON. TUES. WED. Florida’s Pro Scout Day 10:30 a.m.
THURS.
FRI.
SAT.
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
CP
26
27
CPI
28
NA
3:25-5:55 pm Practice
3:25-5:55 pm Practice
10:10 a.m. 12:40 p.m. Practice
29
30
CPI
31
1
CPI
2
3
NA
4
P
3:45-6:15 pm Practice
3:25-5:55 pm Practice
3:25-5:55 pm Practice
10:10 a.m. 12:40 p.m. Practice
5
6
CPI
7
8
CPI
9
10
NA
11
CPI
3:45-6:15 pm Practice
3:25-5:55 pm Practice
2:45-5:05 pm Practice
10:10 a.m. 12:40 p.m. Practice
12
13
CPI
14
15
CPI
16
17
NA
18
I
2009 SCHEDULE
SITE Gainesville Gainesville Gainesville Lexington Baton Rouge Gainesville Starkville Jacksonville Gainesville Columbia Gainesville Gainesville
SERIES RECORD First Meeting 1-0, UF 19-19, tie 41-17, UF 29-23-3, UF 7-1, UF 32-18-2, UF 38-46-2, UGA 32-9-2, UF 22-4-3, UF First Meeting 32-19-2, UF
3:45-6:15 pm Practice
3:25-5:55 pm Practice
3:25-5:55 pm Practice
Orange & Blue Game
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
74th Annual NFL Draft Begins
CP
CPI
All Coaches and Players Available
P
Players Available
All Coaches and Players Available except Incoming Freshman Incoming Freshman Available Post Game No Availability Check GatorZone.com daily for updated practice schedule.
I NA
What’S neW With the GatorS...
NEw COACHES Scot Loeffler QUARTERBACKS PLAYER UPDATES
SPRING INJURY UPDATES: LIMITED: Carlos Dunlap (abdomen strain), Terron Sanders (left calf), William Steinmann (left knee), Jim Barrie (Right knee), Brandon Beal (Left knee), Marquis Hannah (Left knee), Zack O’Quinn (Right shoulder), Carl Johnson (Right knee), Glenn Watson (right knee), James Wilson (feet) OUT: Brandon Antwine (right knee), Brandon Hicks (Right shoulder), Chris Pintado (Right Shoulder), Mike Pouncey (left shoulder), Omarius Hines (Thighs), Brandon James (Right foot), Joey Sorrentino (Left knee), Cody Worton (Left wrist, Left knee) POSITION CHANGES: New Pos. Vincent Brown RB John Fairbanks LS Marquis Hannah RB Matt Patchan OL Scott Peek LB Joey Sorrentino WR Justin Williams WR LETTERwINNERS: Returning Offense: 20 Defense: 30 Specialty: 3 Total: 53
Loeffler spent the 2008 season coaching the quarterbacks for the Detroit Lions. Previously, he held the same position for the Michigan Wolverines for six seasons. In those six seasons, his quarterbacks threw for 142 touchdowns and just 44 interceptions. Loeffler was instrumental in developing Chad Henne, who became the school’s career leader in passing yards (9,715), touchdowns (87), completions (828) and attempts (1,387). Loeffler played quarterback for the Wolverines from 1993-96, and was a student assistant for the team for one season after a shoulder injury cut his playing career short. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Michigan in 1998. As a grad assistant, he helped coach Tom Brady (NFL MVP and two-time Super Bowl MVP) and Brian Griese (NFL Pro Bowler). In 2000, he moved on to Central Michigan as the Chippewas’ quarterbacks coach for two years. He returned to Michigan as the quarterbacks coach in 2002. A native of Barberton, Ohio, Loeffler graduated from Michigan with a degree in history and political science in 1998. He also earned the Michigan Athletic Academic Achievement award during the 1997-98 academic year.
Old Pos. CB DL DB DL DB DB S
Brian white TIGHT ENDS
A 23-year coaching veteran and former winner of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division I Assistant Coach of the Year, White has tutored a Heisman Trophy Winner, coached in 12 bowl games and served on coaching staffs that have won a national title and two league championships. During White’s11-year tenure at Wisconsin, he mentored 1999 Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne, 2001 NFL firstround draft choice Michael Bennett, 2001 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Anthony Davis and 2006 Capital One Bowl Most Valuable Player Brian Calhoun. In 2004, White was named the AFCA Division I Assistant Coach of the Year. White was most recently the special teams’ coordinator and oversaw tight ends at the University of Washington. In addition, he was the offensive coordinator and tight ends’ coach at Syracuse University in 2006-07. White earned his B.A. in history from Harvard in 1986, where he was a two-year starting quarterback for the Crimson. He later earned an M.A. in communications from Fordham in 1987 and an M.B.A from Notre Dame in 1990. White and his wife, Salli, have a daughter, Cassidy, and a son, Jackson.
Lost 10 4 4 18
SEC NATIONAL CHAMPIONS SINCE 1933 (LEAGUE’S INCEPTION) School Outright Split Florida 3 0 3 Alabama 2 5 7 LSU 2 1 3 Tennessee 2 0 1 Georgia 1 0 1 Arkansas 0 1 1 Ole Miss 0 1 1 Auburn 0 1 1
Total
Name
*Nick Alajajian OL 6-4 *Jon Bostic LB 6-2 Gary Brown DT 6-4 Andre Debose WR 5-11 Josh Evans DB 6-2 *Dee Finley S 6-1 Mike Gillislee RB 6-0 Jon Halapio OG 6-4 *Jonotthan Harrison OL 6-3 Edwin Herbert DT 6-3 Jelani Jenkins LB 6-1 Kedric Johnson DE 6-4 Kyle Koehne OL 6-6 Xavier Nixon OT 6-6 *Desmond Parks TE 6-6 Jordan Reed QB 6-3 * Enrolled at Florida in January 2009
2009 FLORIDA FOOTBALL
Pos.
Ht.
2009 RECRUITING CLASS
280 225 275 176 185 193 190 300 279 295 200 215 300 285 215 225
wt.
Hometown/High School (Previous School)
NATIONAL TITLES SINCE 1996: Florida 3 (2008, 2006, 1996) LSU 2 (2007, 2003*) USC 2 (2004, 2003*) Seven schools tied with 1 *LSU was BCS Champion, USC was voted No. 1 in AP and FWAA polls
Naples/Naples Wellington/Palm Beach Central Greensboro/West Gadsden Sanford/Seminole Irvington, N.J./Irvington Auburn, Ala./Auburn/Milford Academy DeLand/DeLand St. Petersburg/St. Petersburg Catholic Groveland/South Lake Fairfield, Calif./Armijo (City College of San Francisco) Olney, Md./Our Lady Good Counsel Palmetto/Palmetto Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral Fayetteville, N.C./Jack Britt Greer, S.C./Greer New London, Conn./New London
DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS
- The chart below shows the Gators made the third-largest improvement nationally last year in scoring defense: Team 2007 (Rank) 2008 (Rank) 1. Navy 36.4 (108) 22.0 (40) 2. No. Illinois 30.8 (86) 18.0 (14) 3. Florida 25.5 (46) 12.9 (5) Diff. 14.4 12.8 12.6
The chart below shows other improvements the Gator defense made from 2007 to 2008: 2007 2008 Pass Defense 258.5 (98) 179.9 (20) Pass Eff. Defense 128.7 (71) 96.7 (3) Total Defense 361.8 (41) 285.3 (9) Interceptions 11 (T74) 26 (T1)
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2009 SEASON OUTLOOK
Offense Starters Returning: 64% (7 of 11) Riley Cooper (WR), Jeff Demps (ATH), Aaron Hernandez (TE), Carl Johnson (OL), Maurkice Pouncey (OL), Mike Pouncey (OL), Tim Tebow (QB) Defense Starters Returning: 100% (11 of 11) Ahmad Black (S), Jermaine Cunningham (DE), Joe Haden (CB), Janoris Jenkins (CB), A.J. Jones (LB), Lawrence Marsh (DT), Terron Sanders (DT), Brandon Spikes (LB), Ryan Stamper (LB), Justin Trattou (DE), Major Wright (S) Starters Lost: 18% (4 of 22) Percy Harvin (WR), Louis Murphy (WR), Phil Trautwein (OL), Jason Watkins (OL)
Pct. of Rushing Yards Returning: 74.6% (2414 of 3236) T. Tebow ......................................................... 673 C. Rainey ........................................................ 652 J. Demps ........................................................ 605 E. Moody ........................................................ 417 Pct. of Passing Yards Returning: 99.5% (2981 of 2995) T. Tebow ....................................................... 2746 J. Brantley....................................................... 235 Pct. of Receiving Yards Returning: 53.3% (1596 of 2995) A. Hernandez.................................................. 381 D. Thompson .................................................. 269 R. Cooper ....................................................... 261 D. Nelson ........................................................ 228 C. Moore ......................................................... 184 J. Demps ........................................................ 141 Pct. of Receptions Returning: 59.2% (125 of 211) A. Hernandez.................................................... 34 D. Thompson .................................................... 18 R. Cooper ......................................................... 18 J. Demps .......................................................... 15 C. Moore ........................................................... 14 D. Nelson .......................................................... 12 B. James............................................................11
THE PLAN TO wIN - 2008 REVIEw No. 1 - PLAY GREAT DEFENSE (national rankings) Interceptions vs. top-25 teams (1st, 14) Interceptions (T-1st, 26) Scoring defense (4th, 12.9) Total defense (9th, 285.3) Rushing defense (15th, 105.4) Passing defense (20th, 179.86) - Florida’s first-team defense did not allow a touchdown in five of the last eight games and only gave up five total over the stretch (two rushing). - School-record five interceptions returned for touchdowns last year tied with Missouri and Boston College for first nationally. The NCAA record is seven by Tennessee (1971). In addition, UF had at least one interception in 13 of 14 games in 2008. UF scored seven non-offensive touchdowns (5 defense, 2 special teams) during the season and the UF defense and special teams gave the Gator offense the ball inside the opponent 35-yard line an additional 16 times. - Florida outscored opponents, 143-13, in the first quarter over the last nine games and 167-20 on the year. - UF allowed just five first-half touchdowns all season and outscored opponents, 328-58, before the half. The Gators also forced opponents to punt 45 times in the first half in 2008. - In nine of 14 games, UF did not allow its opponents’ offense to score a touchdown in at least one half (Hawaii, Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Florida State, first; Miami, Kentucky, South Carolina entire game). - The Gators allowed only nine rushing touchdowns on the season (T-10th nationally) and 12 passing (T-13 nationally). - UF’s 26 interceptions were 14 more than the team had a year ago and are the most in school history. The previous mark was 24, set during the 2000 season. The record started being kept in 1977. - UF’s school-record 527 interception return yards ranked second nationally and UF’s 304 against top-25 teams led the nation. No. 2 - TURNOVERS - Florida’s +22 turnover margin was second nationally and set a school record. The previous season best was +19 in 2002. - UF was the last team in the nation to turn the ball over in 2008. - UF did not turn the ball over in six of 14 games in 2008. - 13 turnovers tied for the fourth-lowest total in the nation. - The Gators threw only five interceptions, tied for the fewest in the nation. No. 3 - SCORE IN THE RED ZONE - UF finished the season third nationally in red zone defense and tied for eighth nationally in red zone offense. - The Gators scored on 62-of-68 (.912) trips inside the red zone, with 51 touchdowns and 11 field goals, and were perfect in eight of 14 games. Florida was 4-of-4 in the red zone against Oklahoma, scoring three touchdowns and kicking one field goal. UF was 5-of-6 (4 TD, 1 FG) versus Alabama and ran out the clock inside of the 20 to end the game. No. 4 - wIN THE KICKING GAME - UF blocked nine kicks: five punts, three FG and one extra point to match the school record of nine set in 1995. The five punts matched 2006 for the most under Coach Meyer for UF. Seven of UF’s 16 blocked punts under Coach Meyer have come on its opponents’ opening drive of the game. - Only seven of Florida’s 14 opponents this year started a drive in UF territory. Overall, UF started 40 drives in opponent territory and the Gators scored on 28 of those. - UF averaged 14.1 yards per punt return (ninth nationally). - Punt return defense allowed 5.6 yards per return (20th nationally). - Florida punted only 44 times last season (T-11th lowest nationally). UF HEAD COACH URBAN MEYER - Florida head coach Urban Meyer led the Gators to 13 victories last season, tying the school record set in 2006. In his four years with the program, Meyer has combined to go 44-9 (.830). - Urban Meyer finished the 2008 season as the second-winningest active coach in college football, with an 83-17 (.830) career record, among individuals who have been a head coach for at least five full seasons. - By guiding the Gators to their 24-14 win over Oklahoma, Urban Meyer improved his UF record against ranked teams to 17-5 (.773). In 2008, Meyer and the Gators were 6-0 against ranked teams, the only team in the nation to win six games against ranked teams. It is the only team in UF history to go undefeated against ranked teams. -Florida has been ranked in the AP, Coaches’ and BCS polls each week since Urban Meyer’s arrival in Gainesville, which is a streak of 65-straight AP and Coaches’ polls.
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Pct. of Sacks Returning: 100% (34 of 34) Carlos Dunlap .................................................. 9.5 Jermaine Cunningham .................................... 6.0 Lawrence Marsh .............................................. 3.0 Brandon Spikes ............................................... 2.0 Brandon Hicks ................................................. 2.0 Duke Lemmens ............................................... 2.0 Pct. of Interceptions Returning: 96.1% (25 of 26) Ahmad Black ...................................................... 7 Major Wright ....................................................... 4 Brandon Spikes .................................................. 4 Janoris Jenkins ................................................... 3 Joe Haden .......................................................... 3
2009 FLORIDA FOOTBALL
2008 Football reVieW...
FLORIDA FOOTBALL 2008 - With its 24-14 win over top-ranked Oklahoma in the 2009 FedEx BCS National Championship Game, the University of Florida football team won its third national title in school history, and the second in the last three years. The Gators also won their second Southeastern Conference Championship in the past three seasons and the eighth in program history with a 31-20 defeat of No. 1 Alabama on Dec. 6 in Atlanta. Florida finished the season with a 13-1 overall record and was 7-1 in SEC play. - Florida finished the 2008 season with a 13-1 record, equalling the single-season school record for victories set in 2006. UF’s 13 wins on the year tied them with five other schools for the SEC single-season record. - The Gators’ 2008 schedule was ranked the second-toughest in the nation according to the NCAA. Both of Florida’s previous national championships (1996, 2006) came when UF played the nation’s toughest schedule.
2008 TEAM STATS
- UF finished the season ranked first in the final USA Today Coaches’ Poll, marking the 19th2008 UF INDIVIDUAL LEADERS consecutive season that the Gators have been included in the final version of that ranking. G Att. Net Avg. TD That streak is the longest in the nation, followed by Texas’ 12-straight seasons. During that Rushing Tebow 14 176 673 3.8 12 streak, Florida has finished in the top-10 on 10 occasions. Harvin 12 70 660 9.4 10 Rainey 14 84 652 7.8 4 - Florida finished the 2008 season with the highest-scoring offense in school and SEC history, Demps 14 78 605 7.8 7 totaling 611 points. Florida now has the top three highest-scoring offenses in SEC history Moody 10 58 417 7.2 1 (1996, 2007, 2008), two of which came under Coach Meyer. Moore, K. 14 29 142 4.9 4 2008 RESULTS Date w/L A30 W S6 W S20 W S27 L O4 W O11 W O25 W N1 W N8 W N15 W N22 W N29 W D6 W J8 W Opponent Hawaii Miami (Fla.) Tennessee Ole Miss Arkansas LSU Kentucky Georgia Vanderbilt South Carolina The Citadel Florida State Alabama Oklahoma Result 56-10 26-3 30-6 30-31 38-7 51-21 63-5 49-10 42-14 56-6 70-19 45-15 31-20 24-14 Site (Attendance) Gainesville (90,575) Gainesville (90,833) Knoxville (106,138) Gainesville (90,106) Fayetteville (70,072) Gainesville (90,684) Gainesville (90,589) Jacksonville (84,649) Nashville (39,773) Gainesville (90,646) Gainesville (90,374) Tallahassee (83,237) Atlanta (75,892) Miami (78,468)
Passing
Florida Category Opponents 213.9.............Passing Offense ............. 179.9 231.1.............Rushing Offense............. 105.4 445.1............... Total Offense ............... 285.3 43.6............... Scoring Offense ............... 12.9 179.9............ Passing Defense ............ 213.9 105.4............ Rushing Defense ............ 231.1 285.3............... Total Defense ............... 445.1 12.9...............Scoring Defense ............... 43.6 306................. 1st Downs For ................. 234 .516............... 3rd Down Conv. ............... .328 .688............... 4th Down Conv. ............... .333 34-217 .......... Sacks By-Yards ...........16-104 102-839 .........Penalties-Yards ...........87-702 19-8 ................ Fumbles-Lost .................16-9 30:06........... Avg. Time of Poss. ........... 29:54
YPG
48.1 55.5 46.6 43.2 41.7 10.1
Tebow Brantley
192-298-4 64.4 2746 30 196.1 18-28-1 64.3 235 5 26.1 12 14 13 14 14 14 13 13
G Rec. Yds.
C-A-Int.
Pct.
Yds.
TD
YPG
Receiving
Harvin Murphy Hernandez Thompson Cooper Demps Moore, C. Nelson
Defense
40 38 34 18 18 15 14 12
644 655 381 269 261 141 184 228
Avg. TD
16.1 17.2 11.2 14.9 14.5 9.4 13.1 19.0
7 7 5 3 3 1 1 5
YPG
53.7 46.8 29.3 19.2 18.6 10.1 14.2 17.5 . 1 . . . . 2 1 1 1 . . . . . 1 .
Brandon Antwine FedEx Orange Bowl Courage Award Nominee Disney Sports Spirit Award Nominee
2008 HONORS
CollegeFootballNews.com All-Freshman Honorable Mention – RB Carlos Dunlap 2009 FedEx BCS National Championship Defensive MVP AP Second-Team All-SEC – DE CollegeFootballNews.com Second-Team All-Sophomore Selection – DE Javier Estopinan ARA Sportsmanship Award Finalist 2008 Team Captain 2008 UF Football Leadership Committee Joe Haden Second-Team All-SEC Selection (Coaches’) – DB AP Second-Team All-SEC – DB Phil Steele Second-Team All-SEC – DB CollegeFootballNews.com All-Sophomore Selection – CB SEC Defensive Player of the Week: 11/3 (Georgia) Percy Harvin Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List 2008 AFCA Coaches’ All-America Team selection (Specialist) Walter Camp Second-Team All-American AP Second-Team All-American – All-Purpose Sports Illustrated Second-Team All-American – All-Purpose
Ahmad Black Second-Team All-SEC Selection (Coaches’) – DB Sports Illustrated All-American Honorable Mention – DB AP Honorable Mention All-SEC – S CollegeFootballNews.com Second-Team All-Sophomore Selection – S Jermaine Cunningham Bronko Nagurski Watch List Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Pre-Season Candidate AP Second-Team All-SEC – DE Phil Steele First-Team All-SEC – DE SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (11/17 – South Carolina) SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (9/8 – Miami) 2008 Team Captain Jeff Demps SEC All-Freshman Selection – RB CBSSports.com Midseason Freshman All-American selection SEC Freshman of the Week (10/6 – Arkansas) SEC Special Teams Player of the Week (10/27 – Kentucky) 2009 FLORIDA FOOTBALL
Spikes Haden Wright Black Cunningham Hill Stamper Dunlap Jenkins, Ja. Jones, AJ Hicks Doe Marsh Edwards Trattou Sanders Anderson
Returns
UT-AT-TT TFL QBS INT FF FR
52-41-93 8.0 2.0 61-26-87 0.5 0.5 36-30-66 . . 27-32-59 0.5 . 23-29-52 10.0 6.0 29-19-48 1.5 . 20-25-45 3.0 1.0 21-18-39 13.5 9.5 27-12-39 1.0 1.0 14-21-35 2.5 . 19-15-34 2.5 2.0 16-14-30 2.5 0.5 14-14-28 5.5 3.0 18-9-27 . . 17-10-27 4.0 1.5 8-13-21 4.0 . 15-6-21 1.0 . 37 510 13.8 44 1908
Yds.
4 3 4 7 . 2 . . 3 . . 1 . . . . .
. 1 . . 3 . . 1 . 1 . . . . . . .
James Henry
PR Yds. Avg. No.
KR Yds. Avg.
32 738 23.1 67
Punting
Avg.
43.4
Lg. FC i20
10 21
Field Goals FGM-FGA FG Pct. PAT Lg. Blk.
Phillips Sturgis
12-13
92.3
78-79 40 0
TB OB
Kickoff
No.
90
5733
Yds.
Avg.
63.7
12
8
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First-Team All-SEC Selection (Coaches’) – WR AP First-Team All-SEC – All-Purpose AP Second-Team All-SEC – Wide Receiver Phil Steele First-Team All-SEC – WR Phil Steele Second-Team All-American – WR 2008 Rivals.com First-Team All-American All-America Player of the Week (Week 12 – South Carolina) SEC Offensive Player of the Week (11/17 – South Carolina)
2008 HONORS (continued)
Chas Henry Ray Guy Award Semifinalist Atlanta Area Council Boy Scouts of America Peach of an Athlete Nominee Second Team All-SEC Selection (Coaches’) – Punter Aaron Hernandez CollegeFootballNews.com All-Sophomore Honorable Mention – TE Brandon Hicks The Bobby Bowden Award Nominee (presented by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes) will Hill SEC All-Freshman Selection – DB CollegeFootballNews.com Second-Team All-Freshman – S Brandon James First-Team All-SEC Selection (Coaches’) – Special Teams SEC Special Teams Player of the Year AP Honorable Mention All-SEC – All-purpose FWAA All-American – Special Teams Sports Illustrated All-American Honorable Mention – KR Pro Football Weekly All-American Honorable Mention – Return Specialist The Sporting News’ First-Team All-American – Punt Return 2008 Rivals.com First-Team All-American Phil Steele First-Team All-SEC – Punt Return Phil Steele First-Team All-American – PR The Sporting News’ Midseason All-American Team selection Named as one of The Sporting News’ 20 most indispensable players (10/8) SEC Special Teams Player of the Week (9/1 – Hawaii) SEC Special Teams Player of the Week (9/22 – Tennessee) Janoris Jenkins FWAA Freshman All-American - CB Sporting News’ Freshman All-American – CB SEC All-Freshman Selection – DB CollegeFootballNews.com All-Freshman Selection – CB Louis Murphy The Under Armour Senior Bowl Invitee Jonathan Phillips Lou Groza Award Semifinalist AP Honorable Mention All-SEC – K Maurkice Pouncey AP Honorable Mention All-SEC – C SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week: 10/6 (Arkansas) CollegeFootballNews.com All-Sophomore Selection – C 2008 UF Football Leadership Committee Mike Pouncey Second-Team All-SEC Selection (Coaches’) – OL AP Honorable Mention All-SEC – OL CollegeFootballNews.com All-Sophomore Selection – OG Chris Rainey SEC All-Freshman Selection – RB CollegeFootballNews.com All-Freshman Honorable Mention – RB James Smith Draddy Trophy Semifinalist / NFF Scholar-Athlete Awards 2008 Rudy Award Nominee CBS Scholar-Athlete of the Game (LSU) First-team Academic All-District Honors from ESPN The Magazine 2008 Team Captain 2008 UF Football Leadership Committee Brandon Spikes Bronko Nagurski Finalist Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalist Lombardi Award Semifinalist 2009 FLORIDA FOOTBALL
Lott Trophy Quarterfinalist Butkus Award Watch List Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year 2008 AFCA Coaches’ All-America Team selection (Linebacker) Walter Camp First-Team All-American Sports Illustrated First-Team All-American – LB First Team All-SEC Selection (Coaches’) – LB AP First-Team All-SEC – LB FWAA All-American – LB The Sporting News’ First-Team All-American – LB Pro Football Weekly All-American Honorable Mention – LB AP First-Team All-American – LB Phil Steele First-Team All-SEC – LB Phil Steele First-Team All-American – LB 2008 Rivals.com First Team All-American SEC Defensive Player of the Week (10/13 – LSU) The Sporting News’ SEC Defensive MVP 2008 Team Captain 2008 UF Football Leadership Committee Jim Tartt 2008 Team Captain 2008 UF Football Leadership Committee Tim Tebow Maxwell Award Winner Heisman Trophy Finalist Wuerffel Trophy Winner Manning Award Winner Ben Hill Griffin Award Winner Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Spirit Award Davey O’Brien Award Semifinalist Wooden Cup Finalist Walter Camp Player of the Year Finalist U.S. Sports Academy Male Athlete of the Year Finalist Sullivan Award Winner 2009 FedEx BCS National Championship Offensive MVP SEC Offensive Player of the Year SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year First-Team All-SEC Selection (Coaches’) – QB AP Offensive Player of the Year AP First-Team All-SEC – QB AP Third-Team All-American – QB Sports Illustrated All-American Honorable Mention – QB Pro Football Weekly All-American Honorable Mention – QB Phil Steele Second-Team All-American – QB ESPY Award Winner: Best Male College Athlete First-team Academic All-District Honors from ESPN The Magazine ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American of the Year ESPN The Magazine First-Team Academic All-American SEC Offensive Player of the Week (11/10 – Vanderbilt) U.S. Army All-American Bowl College Player of the Week (11/3 – Georgia) 2008 Rivals.com Third-Team All-American The Sporting News’ SEC Offensive MVP The Sporting News’ Second-Team All-American – QB AT&T All-American Player of the Year Nominee 2008 Team Captain 2008 UF Football Leadership Committee Offensive Player of the Year (Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook) Phil Trautwein Brooks Irvine Memorial Football Club College Player of the Year Touchdown Club of Southern New Jersey Division I Player of the Year CBS Scholar-Athlete of the Game (Georgia) First Team All-SEC Selection (Coaches’) – OL AP First-Team All-SEC – OL Sports Illustrated Second-Team All-American – OL Phil Steele Second-Team All-SEC – OL 2008 Rivals.com Third Team All-American 2008 Team Captain 2008 UF Football Leadership Committee Jason watkins AP Honorable Mention All-SEC – OL The Under Armour Senior Bowl Invitee Major wright CollegeFootballNews.com All-Sophomore Honorable Mention – DB 2008 UF Football Leadership Committee WWW.GATORZONE.COM
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA PROGRAM GOALS
GRADUATION AND ACADEMICS • 67 players have graduated in the last four years • 107 student-athletes named to SEC Academic Honor Roll the last four years, including a league-record 37 in 2008 • More than 32 percent of football scholarship players earned a 3.0 GPA in the Fall of 2008.
TEAM GPA’S UNDER MEYER Spring 2005 2.58 Fall 2005 2.65 Spring 2006 2.70 Fall 2006 2.72 Spring 2007 2.77 Fall 2007 2.81 Spring 2008 2.86 Fall 2008 2.70
CHAMPIONSHIPS • Two National Championships. • Two SEC Championships • Only school since 1956 to win two outright titles in three years
NFL • Fourteen Gators have been selected in the NFL Draft, including a nation’s best nine in 2007. • Had three number one draft picks in the last three years • Overall, 31 Gators have signed NFL contracts in the last four years • Eighteen players signed NFL contracts after the 2006 National Championship team. Most ever in school history.
SUCCESS OF RECENT SENIORS • Two National Championships and two SEC Championships • 44-9 record. Best in the SEC and second best ever in school history • 24-8 mark in SEC action, tops in the SEC • 12-1 against rivals • 25-2 record at home in The Swamp, second best four-year stretch ever • Nation’s toughest schedule in 2006, third toughest in 2007 and second toughest in 2008
2009 FLORIDA FOOTBALL
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