Archive for July, 2009

Meet Your New Gator

Posted by Staff Writers on July 25th, 2009   1 Comment

Late Friday night, Urban Meyer met with the sensational prospect, Mack Brown. The elite running back gave Meyer some great news, telling the coach that he wants to be a Gator. With Mack Brown choosing Florida, the Georgia Bulldogs are on the losing end for the highly regarded prospect. The battle for Brown became a heated one, with Florida and Georgia both fighting to obtain Brown. Once again, Florida comes on out on top, and Georgia gets nothing.

So who is Mack Brown? He has been considered the best running back prospect this year out of Georgia, and was recruited heavily by both Florida and Georgia. He attended the Gators’ camp, “Friday Night Lights” yesterday, and following the camp, made his decision to join Florida. Brown (5-feet-11, 185 pounds) is a four-star prospect, and will certianly help the Gators in the future. Brown becomes the 16th player to commit to UF and the sixth player ranked in the Rivals 100.

Side Note: There have been many rumors that the Gators have received 5 other commitments yesterday, but none have been confirmed. Be sure to follow Gators Sports Nation for up-to-date coverage on the recruits.

Mack Brown

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Doe’s Arrest Makes It No. 25 Under Meyer

Posted by admin on July 25th, 2009   No Comment

Gators senior linebacker Dustin Doe has been suspended from the team and not only that but he is now the 25th Gator who has been arrested under coach Urban Meyer after driving under a suspended license on Thursday which is a first-degree misdemeanor.

Doe did not pay a traffic ticket on time so the result of that was receiving a suspended license. Meyer had some words to day about Doe’s suspension.

“Dustin had been suspended from team activities while resolving his parking ticket issues and driving with a suspended license.” “Those issues have not been taken care of and as a result, he will not be with us when we begin practice on Aug. 6.”

Dustin was also arrested back in 2007 for an alleged fight, but the chargers were dropped. When is this going to stop? Or will it ever? Why is all of this happening ever since Meyer took over? I am not sure but the number of arrests seem to climb their way up slowly and something needs to be done or said. That’s the last thing Florida needs to. Another talented team in 2009 coming up and which they also have a real good shot at another title they do not need to do anything stupid to keep them from reaching it.

Tebow and Spikes need to just gather the team around or something and have a long talk. Maybe they already have? I don’t know but they need to try and straighten everything out so this stops from happening. 25 players now under Meyer is just ridiculous, and I know some were silly arrests but still. They just need to be smarter.

dustin doe

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Previewing The Positions: Wide Receiver

Posted by Staff Writers on July 25th, 2009   No Comment

Now, we will take a look at the wideouts for the Gators. The 2009 receiving core will be without top playmaker Percy Harvin, along with Louis Murphy, which will defiantly hurt the receivers in 2009. But, like every good team does, the Gators receivers of 2009 will need to elevate their game to mitigate the loss of their top two wideouts from 2008. The Gators’ receivers have raw talent and playmaking ability, but none of them have showed it on the field…yet. Who will rise up to the challenge and be Tim Tebow’s go-to-guy in the 4th quarter?

The first WR we’ll take a look at is Deonte Thompson. The 6’0” wideout appeared in every game in 2008, and ranked fourth on the squad in receiving yards. In the upcoming season, he should improve upon his statistics, and with his track-and-field speed, he could be the deep threat in 2009. His best game against the Gamecocks, where he had a 46 yard TD reception, which was the longest catch of the night for the Gators. Thompson must enter the 2009 season with full confidence, as he will be Tebow’s first option in the early weeks of the season.

Next up is David Nelson. The 6’5” Senior had 5 TD’s on just 12 receptions in 2008, and was on the receiving end of Tebow’s jump pass in the BCS National Championship. After that play, we may see Nelson develop into Tebow’s 3rd down wideout, as he has already shown confidence in the big man. Nelson has also proven his value on the special teams, after recovering a crucial onside kick against Florida State on the road. For Nelson in 2009, he will look to have a great season to finish is career, and hopefully get another ring in his final season.

The next wideout to discuss is Riley Cooper. The two-sport athlete ( football/baseball ) has been a reliable option for the Gators in past seasons. Last season, he made a huge catch on a 3rd-and-12 in the BCS National Championship, and he also made the most important block on Jeff Demps’ 61 yard TD run against Kentucky. Cooper can block well, and has very good hands. He will not make spectacular plays, but he will always make the play, whether it’s a catch across the middle or a fade route in the end zone, he always seems to be able to haul it in.

Moving down the depth chart, we come across Carl Moore, T.J. Lawrence, and Andre Debose. The Senior Carl Moore appeared in every game last season, except the National Championship game. Moore average 13.1 yards per reception in 2008, and scored his first career TD in the SEC Championship Game against Alabama. T.J. Lawrence and Andre Debose both are Freshman, but could provide huge help in the receiver core. Both played in the Under Armour All-Star Game, and they both have received many honors in high school. Debose has a great burst of speed of the line, which could provide good help in the latter part of the season. Lawrence can use his basketball skills in the redzone, and he might see some balls thrown his way down in the end zone.

Going into 2009, the Gators receiving core is loaded with “potential”. There’s no spectacular playmaker on the roster as we have seen in the past with Percy Harvin, but all the receivers can provide a good set of hands to Tebow. None of the receivers may end up being Tebow’s go-to-guy, as it may be another member of the Gators. Who is this “other” member? Stay tuned for tomorrow’s next installment, as we take a look at the Tight End position. Florida Spring Football

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Gators Lead SEC Voting

Posted by Staff Writers on July 24th, 2009   No Comment

The defending National Champs have done everything a team can do. Today, some of the Gators’ players were honored in the Preseason All SEC Football Team. The Florida Gators certainly are filled with talent, and the voters backed that up today. With the votes completed and counted, the Gators have a league leading 12 members on the All SEC Football team.

The Gators had the most members by any SEC team on the 1st Team, with 8 players voted on. The list is headlined by Tim Tebow, who we all have heard about in recent days. We have also found out that it was former Gator coach Steve Spurrier who voted for Ole Miss QB Jevan Snead. Along with Tebow on the 1st Team offense are the Pouncey twins, Maurkice and Mike. The 1st Team Defense is headlined by Carlos Dunlap and Brandon Spikes. Defensive Back Joe Haden was also named on the 1st Team Defense. The Gators were also honored on special teams, with punter Chas Henry and Brandon James voted in on the 1st Team.

The 2nd Team Offense has just one Gator, this being Tight End Aaron Hernandez, who may have deserved to been on the 1st Team. The defense for the 2nd Team has two of the Gators’ defensive backs, Major Wright and Ahmad Black , along with defensive linemen Jermaine Cunningham.

Besides voting for the All SEC Team, the voters also cast their ballots for their prediction for the SEC standings. The 64 voters selected the Gators to play the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Football Championship in 2009, making Florida the first team to be unanimously selected to win the division since the league started divisional play in 1992.

Eastern Division

1.         Florida (64)                            64

2.         Georgia                                    133

3.         South Carolina                         217

4.         Tennessee                               258

5.         Vanderbilt                                317

6.         Kentucky                                  355

Western Division

1.         Alabama (33)                           109

2.         LSU (15)                                   145

3.         Ole Miss (16)                            149

4.         Arkansas                                  245

5.         Auburn                                     309

6.         Mississippi State                      387

With all these preseason awards for the Gators and their players, the only award that I want them to have is hoisting the National Championship again in 2009, and the 3rd time in Tim Tebow’s career.

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Previewing The Positions: Fullback

Posted by Staff Writers on July 24th, 2009   No Comment

After yesterday’s look in on the Florida’s rushing attack, it is time to take a peek at the men who help create the openings for the running attack. In Florida’s offense, the fullbacks are rarely incorporated, so it may seem to be a waste to even bother previewing the position, but 2009 could see more plays involving the fullbacks. The Gator’s have experimented with utilizing the I-Formation in 2009, which involves the presence of the fullbacks.

Before the Gators even took the field, starting fullback Steven Wilkes suffered a torn ACL that will most likely keep him on the sidelines all season. It’s a shame to see him injured, as he would have seen a bigger role in 2009, but we can just hope that he fully recovers for the 2010 season.

Coach Urban Meyer responds to the injury of Steven Wilkes:

“He’ll have surgery in about two weeks,” coach Urban Meyer said. “It’s a shame because he’s doing great. We maybe still hope he can play next year a little bit, and then he has two years left after that. He’s one of the most improved guys on the team.”

The next fullback in line is 6’1” T.J. Pridemore. He saw action in just one game last season, contributing on goal-line situations against Hawaii. Going into 2009, Pridemore will assume the role of starter, and the Florida coaches will exercise his blocking abilities throughout the season, primarily on the goal line.

T.J. Pridemore will not be handed the starters role, he will need to outperform Senior Rick Burgess. The 2008 transfer from Southern Illinois saw action in four games last season, and dressed in 11 of the 14 games in 2008. Burgess will have a good shot at starting in 2009, as long as he can prove that he is a solid blocker and can create openings for the running game.

The fullback preview will be the shortest of all the positions because of the lack of stats that these guys have. But the position itself could see a larger role in the offense next season, especially if the Gators incorporate the I-Formation in 2009.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s preview: The Wide Receivers

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Previewing the Positions: Running Back

Posted by Staff Writers on July 23rd, 2009   1 Comment
With the Quarterback position complete, we move to our next position: the Running Backs. Considered the best position on the roster, the Gators have an incredible amount of depth and speed in their backfield. We all know how Tim Tebow receives all the accolades, but the guys in the backfield certainly help him get through each and every game. The combination of Jeffery Demps, Chris Rainey, Emmanuel Moody, and Brandon James is one that is unstoppable. The SEC is known for its speed and quickness, and for the Gators’ backs, they’re the poster boys for the SEC’s speed. With the Gators running a spread offense, these backs are not always getting the ball on handoffs, instead they are asked to catch the ball out of the backfield and run the option. This makes them more lethal on offense because they have so many ways of getting these guys the ball, and all four men certainly deserve to get the ball.
First, the “starter” of the offense is Jeffery Demps. He is said to run a 4.46 forty yard dash, making him one of the fastest guys on the field. Demps, standing at 5’8” and 176 lbs, he fits best when running the option with Tim Tebow. At such a small size, he is incredibly difficult to catch, and has caused defenses headaches in his short time at Florida. Last season, Demps had 605 yards with 7 touchdowns on the ground, and averaged 7.8 yards a carry. He should be able to improve upon his freshman stats, and 2009 could see Demps being the best playmaker in the SEC.
Along with Demps, stands 5’9” Chris Rainey. He has yet to make a start for the Gators, but he has still made his impact on the field. In 2008, Rainey accumulated 652 yards with 4 touchdowns, while averaging 7.8 yards a touch in his career. Rainey provides the “home run threat” for the Gators. He continues to surprise us all, as he is able to rip off huge gains when running up the middle, even with his small stature. Rainey has been said to run a 4.42 forty yard dash, making him the quickest back with Demps.

Besides the two speedsters, is Emmanuel Moody. After transferring from USC, Moody provided a great amount of help in the backfield at the end of the season. Though he was fifth in rushing for the Gators in 2008, down the stretch he rushed for 344 yards in the last six games of the season. Moody is the tallest back, standing at 6’0” and 210 lbs, and he will look to utilize his versatility in 2009 with the help of Demps and Rainey. With only one rushing touchdown last season, Moody is looking to raise his level of play, and provide more of a rushing threat to go along with the Gators’ two speedsters.

Now, next on the depth chart is Brandon James. You will not usually see him in the backfield, but instead you will see him as the return man for the Gators. Arguably the best return man in the NCAA, James ranks first on UF’s single-season and career punt return yards chart, with 510 yards in 2008 and 1,127 career yards. With only 14 carries in 2008, James managed to score twice in very limited action.

As you can tell, all of the Gators’ backs need each other’s help. If Demps can utilize his speed and hit the outside , then Chris Rainey is able to get big holes up the middle and use his burst of speed to blow away from the secondary. When both guys have successful days, then Emmanuel Moody will see more action running the ball up the middle. For Brandon James, he is asked to do one thing: Take the ball all the way to the end zone. It seems that James has certainly listened to his coaches on that one, as he forces a lot of punters into kicking bad punts that are shanked out of bounds. The 2009 Gators’ rushing attack is arguably the best in the SEC, and possibly the entire NCAA. ft4images

 

 

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Previewing The Positions: Quarterback

Posted by Staff Writers on July 22nd, 2009   2 Comments

It’s almost here! The upcoming college football season is looming in the distance, and for us Gator fans, the season could not get here any faster. With the chance to defend the National Championship in the ’09-’10 season, we all cannot wait to see our Gators strap on the shoulder pads. But, like everyone else, we have to wait till September 5th when the Gators take on Charleston Southern. In the meantime, I will be doing a preview for all the positions leading up to the start of the season. The process is designed to ease the fans and give them an upcoming look at your 2009-10 Florida Gators. The series of articles will cover a single position in each article, and give an in-depth look at every player, like no other Gators site can do.

The first position that will be covered in this segment is, of course, the Quarterback. Yes, we all know who the Gators QB is, but you can never get too much Tebow. The 6’3”, 245 Senior is looking at the upcoming season as his launching pad. How so? First, Tim Tebow is looking to lead his Gators to back-to-back National Championships, which would be the school’s first back-to-back football championships. Second, Tim Tebow is trying to become a 2 time Heisman Trophy winner, only done by Archie Griffin. Third, Tim Tebow is trying to improve his draft stock among the NFL scouts. Yes, Tim Tebow’s time at Florida is coming to an end, and we all will miss him, but he has a chance to be a special player in the NFL. With his uncanny abilities, he will do anything to step on the field each and every Sunday. In college, Tebow is a legend, maybe even a god, but to the NFL, he is just another player. The NFL scouts are picking apart his passing game, saying he does not have the proper motion and that this will not translate into success in the NFL. So for the upcoming season, Tebow will attempt to change the scouts’ minds, and hopefully enter the NFL in the first day of the draft. Taking a look back at last season, it appeared that Tebow actually improved with his passing. Of course, he led his to team to the championship, but he also avoided costly turnovers, as he threw just 4 interceptions in 2008. With this said, Tebow will take 2009 as his last attempt to impress the scouts, and hopefully end the season and his career with 3 National Championships, and 2 Heismans.

Besides Tim Tebow, there are some other Quarterbacks on the roster. Redshirt Sophomore John Brantley may be the future Quarterback for the Gators. In the 2008 season, he went 18-for-28 for 235 yards and 3 touchdowns in limited action. In high school, he was heralded as one of the top three Quarterback prospects by Rivals.com, and was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2006. Behind Brantley, is 6’3” Freshman, Jordan Reed. Prior to Florida, he dominated the high school game. As a Junior, he completed 122-of-222 passes for 1,706 yards and 28 touchdowns, along with 8 rushing touchdowns. Reed was also a finalist for the Joe Montana High School Quarterback of the Year in 2008. Both of these players will see limited action in 2009, but come next season, these two will be battling for the starting role to lead the Gators and continue the success of their predecessor, Tim Tebow.

Going into 2009, Tim Tebow is the preseason Heisman favorite, and he is certainly capable of leading the Gators back to the championship. He is arguably the best college player in the game today, and with another successful season in 2009, he could enter the conversation of being the best player in the history of college football.

Be sure to check out the next position preview: the Running Backs.

Tim Tebow and John Brantley

 

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Boone Taking His Time With Decisions

Posted by admin on July 21st, 2009   No Comment

Ocala Trinity Catholic star Kadron Boone is well aware of how fast the Gators recruiting is filling up and he said that will not make him choose any quicker. He would rather choose the right school that he thinks the time is right.

A total of nine schools are out there with interest in Boone, who is a four star recruit, finishing last season with 57 receptions for 1,200 yards and tacking on 14 touchdowns for the Celtics.

“(Florida) was one of my first offers and that really shocked me,” Boone said. “They’re loading up pretty fast but I really like the way Urban Meyer is running things up there. The receivers coach (Billy Gonzales) and I get along really well and me and the quarterbacks coach, coach (Scot) Loeffler, have a great relationship, too.

“If it’s going to work out, it’s going to work out. If a school is trying to pressure me into committing and I’m not ready I have a problem with that. I’m going to commit when I feel comfortable with that place. I’m not going to rush into anything.”

The Friday Night Lights event will be taking place soon and it is a possibility that Boone will not attend due to a 7 on 7 event that is being help in Orlando. There has been word going around from place to place that Texas Tech has major interest in him and with their kind of offense, the spread, that is what Boone really likes because they throw the ball through the air a lot. There is really no way to tell what school that he is leaning towards to signing with but it is still open to several.

(Quotes gathered by Adam Gorney from Gator Bait.)

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