Posts Tagged ‘tim tebow’

2009 Florida Gators Football Kicks Off

Posted by admin on March 27th, 2009   3 Comments

By: Brandon Kendrick

After coming off of a championship season last year, many sports analyst are predicting that the Gators will win another one this year. With the return of quarterback Tim Tebow and the entire defense, including defensive captain Brandon Spikes, the Florida Gators football team looks better than ever. Let’s take a look at this year’s spring roster.

Offense

Quarterback Tim Tebow

Quarterback:
No problem here at quarterback. Tim Tebow will be anchoring the Gators offense for his final year. Urban Meyer may try using back-up John Brantley in the two quarterback system that he ran back in 2006.

Running Back/Fullback:
The Gators lost Kestahn Moore due to graduation but, with the return of speedsters Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey and the powerful bruiser Emmanuel Moody, the Gators should have a top 10 ranked backfield once again. Fullbacks haven’t been used too much since the departure of Billy Latsko back in 2006. The players that will be battling for a starting job at fullback are:

42 Steven Wilks FB 6-1 230 RSO
48 Rick Burgess FB 6-1 230 SR
45 T.J. Pridemore FB 6-1 241 SO

Wide Receiver:

With the losses of Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy, the Gators will be looking for replacements at the wide receiver position. Although there is plenty of depth, there is a lack of game experience between the receivers. Battling for starting spots and playing time are the following:

83 David Nelson WR 6-5 212 RSR
11 Riley Cooper WR 6-3 215 SR
16 Carl Moore WR 6-3 225 SR
22 Cade Holliday WR 5-11 194 RSR
39 Joey Sorrentino WR 5-7 175 RSR
7 Justin Williams WR 6-0 205 RJR
3 Brandon Frazier WR 6-3 216 RJR
6 Deonte Thompson WR 6-0 201 RSO
88 Paul Wilson WR 6-0 191 RSO
85 Frankie Hammond, Jr. WR 6-0 175 SO
82 Omarius Hines WR 6-0 204 RFR
18 T.J. Lawrence WR 6-1 196 RFR

Deonte Thompson, David Nelson, and Riley Cooper will most likely be the starters, considering the fact that they’re the most experienced and proven receivers on the team. It will be interesting to see the other receivers battle this spring.

Offensive Line:
The Pouncey twins will be the leaders of the offensive line. Florida lost three starters from last year but shouldn’t have a problem finding replacements. There is plenty of depth at this position. As planned, it will be excellent if Matt Patchan, James Wilson, and David Young develop.

Tight End:
There are only two scholarship tight ends on the roster, junior Aaron Hernandez and freshman Desmond Parks. The other tight end is a walk-on, Christopher Coleman. Urban Meyer’s spread offense can be ran with one tight end but the other tight ends still need to be able to contribute, especially if Hernandez gets injured or fatigued during a game. Coleman dressed for four games last season and only saw playing time against The Citadel. While working with the scout team last year, he showed that he does possess some receiving skills. Desmond Parks, a three star recruit, is an early freshman enrollee that has the speed and catching ability that the Gators look for in a tight end. He will definitely get a lot of reps this spring.

Defense
Defense

Defensive Line:
The Gators are pretty thin at defensive tackle. With the departures of Torrey Davis and John Brown, and the injury to Brandon Antwine, there’s not much depth and experience left after Lawrence Marsh. Troy Epps and Omar Hunter are both coming off of injuries and the new junior college transfer Edwin Herbert needs time to physically develop. Jaye Howard, who was recruited two years ago to play defensive end at UF, has grown into a full-time defensive tackle. He and Epps both had in-game experience last season. At defensive end, the Gators are set. The monster, Carlos Dunlap, and Jermaine Cunningham should both have exceptional years.

Linebacker:
This is one of the strongest positions on the Gators football team this year. There were no losses from last year. All of the linebackers return, including the leader, Brandon Spikes. The Gators are two deep at this position on the depth chart. The potential starters are Brandon Spikes(MLB), Ryan Stamper(OLB), and A.J. Jones or Dustin Doe(OLB). Expect Brandon Hicks to battle for a starting outside linebacker position as well.

Cornerback/Safety:
Joe Haden, Janoris Jenkins….enough said. These guys will be the starters once again this year. It’s a lot that’s expected from them this year. Haden is a third year starter and is a possible candidate for the All-American team. Jenkins had an excellent freshman year last season. The scary thing is, he only can get better from now on, as he is entering his sophomore year. The back-ups are very experienced. Wondy Pierre-Louis and Markihe Anderson have both been on the team for three years and have contributed to the team each year. Junior Moses Jenkins, redshirt freshman Jeremy Brown, and redshirt freshman Adrian Bushnell will compete for playing time this year, most likely on the special teams. At the safety position, the Gators are returning Ahmad Black, Major Wright, Will Hill, and Dorian Munroe. Black and Wright will most likely be the starters again. Hill, Munroe, and incoming prep school transfer, Dee Finley, will be battling for playing time.

Special Teams
Brandon James

Kicker/Punter:
Caleb Sturgis and Jonathan Phillips both returned from last year. Caleb Sturgis will most likely handle the kick-off duties while Jonathan Phillips will be the field goal kicker, the same as last year. Also coming back from last year’s team is the punter, Chas Henry. Last year, he averaged forty three yards per punt.

Kick Return/Punt Return:
Back deep for the Gators will be return specialist Brandon James. James is so fun to watch. He’s one of the best returners, if not the best returner in the NCAA. I dare any opposing team to kick it to Brandon James. Meyer might also throw speedsters Chris Rainey and/or Jeff Demps back there as well. Boy, oh boy!….one question, what teams will be able to stop the Gators special teams? The answer: NONE.

Florida Gators

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The Toughest Decision

Posted by admin on February 21st, 2009   No Comment

By: Mark Stainton

Three juniors at the University of Florida had a decision to make after the Gators beat Oklahoma for the National Championship. One junior was a lifetime Gator fan, and loved the university too much to
seriously consider leaving early. It also helped that ‘experts’ didn’t think he would be drafted high. He stayed. The other junior was a sure first-rounder and a guy that is as explosive as you might ever see
in college football. He left. The third junior had the real decision. He was told he would be drafted somewhere in between the other two juniors. He probably wouldn’t go first round, but he wouldn’t drop past the third. He loved UF and playing for these fans and coaches and playing with this group of players, but he had some other concerns on his mind.

Brandon Spikes brother is in prison. Breyon Middlebrooks was sentenced to life without parole after being found guilty of murdering a man in a drug deal gone bad. Spike’s believes his brother is innocent and it would be proven if he could just get his brother some better lawyers. Enter the N.F.L. With the money he would be making as a professional, Spikes could no doubt get some better lawyers for his
brother. Brandon didn’t have the usual decision of making nothing while being a king in the college football world for one more year versus making millions while starting at the bottom of the totem pole as a pro. His decision was about family. His decision was tougher than just about any college junior had to make.

Spikes can improve his draft stock and be a sure first-rounder in the 2010 draft while also helping return one of the best Gator defenses in the history of their program. Once Brandon decided he would return for his senior year, he said he felt like it was the right choice to come back. It is widely rumored that Spikes and Tebow agreed to come to the same school during the recruiting process, so it is fitting they will end their careers together as seniors for the Gators. The two players have been two of the best leaders in the history of the program, and I have little doubt they have big things in store for their senior years. Spike’s brother will have to wait one more year for those lawyers, but help is coming soon. Brandon always looks out for his family, as well as his family of Gators. I am sure all of Gator Nation was excited to hear Spikes was returning, but not everyone realized the sacrifices he was making to do so.

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Reflections On Signing Day

Posted by admin on February 5th, 2009   No Comment

Kenny Sharpless

This year’s version of Signing Day produced a lot of mixed emotions amongst the Gator Nation. There were some great catches as well as some losses to some bitter rivals. I try to focus on the positives but some the recruits lost this year stung really bad, worse however, was the way in which the Gators lost commitments. The two big Signing Day switches involving Nu’keese Richardson and Marsalis Teague were a bit different in my opinion however. Marsalis I feel had more reason to switch and was something I could have seen coming. When a college choice sets in for a kid his age it can be scary and the distance factor seemed to have a profound effect on him. His state school came calling and in the end that was enough to sway him to the Volunteers.

Nu’keese Richardson’s story is more complicated however. As a fan it is hard enough for us to understand how anyone who ever thought of playing for the Gators could fathom ever suiting up for Tennessee, but when you factor in that he is from the state of Florida it is even more unimaginable. On top of that it appears as if he has known Lane Kiffin for no longer than a week, but all of the sudden is prepared to sign the next four years of his life away to him and Tennessee. This is frustrating to us fans but maybe Nu’keese really did see some things at UT that blew him away and I wish him well there (except for one Saturday every September for the next 4 years). My only complaint with Richardson’s situation is the way it was handled and Coach Kiffins behavior following the switch. There have been reports that Richardson was instructed to keep his switch a secret and Kiffin is ruffling more feathers in the SEC by accusing Coach Meyer of recruiting violations. Kiffin has no respect and apparently no knowledge of what the UF-UT rivalry or lack thereof has been like lately.

Other than these two potholes the rest of Signing Day was smooth for the Gators. We got a stud linebacker in 5-Star recruit Jelani Jenkins from suburban Washington D.C.. He is young for his age (only 16) but has a frame that should fill out quite nicely. That leaves us with an excellent linebacking class with him and Jon Bostic who is already on campus. Another highlight was getting Andre Debose. We needed a dynamic playmaker after the departure of Percy Harvin and even though Debose does not seem to like the comparisons to Harvin, they are unavoidable. His versatility and speed are perfect for our offense and it was good to hold off FSU for his signature. I thought overall though small on numbers our class covered most of our needs. We have 5 superb offensive linemen which we needed after the departure of our two starting tackles. On the other side of the ball Gary Brown is another stud defensive tackle and here’s hoping his freshman season turns out better than our past two stud recruits, Omar Hunter and Torrey Davis’ freshman seasons. An often overlooked recruit is Jordan Reed the quarterback out of Connecticut but he is an important recruit because it would simply not be ideal to head into the season with Tebow and Brantley as our only two quarterbacks. Simultaneously Reed has experienced players ahead of him so that he has time to sit, develop, and learn.

Perhaps we did not get another top-5 ranked recruiting class, but I feel that this year’s recruiting effort was just as effective as the past couple of years relative to what was needed. As fans we have a tendency to want to get every 5 star possible, and it is easy to forget that we have 8 starters returning on offense and our whole two-deep returning for the defense. This year’s class accomplished it’s goal which was simply to make sure we have depth not so much for this year as for 2 years from now and on. We have a couple of players that hopefully will have immediate impacts, and we all know how Urban loves to stick athletic freshman on special teams. So overall, it was another great day in Gator Nation, and as always it is great to be a Florida Gator.

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Tebow Removes Sling At Halftime

Posted by admin on January 22nd, 2009   2 Comments

Tim Tebow appeared at the Gator mens basketball game against Arkansas and gave a speech along with his teammates. Tim showed up with his right shoulder in a sling from the injury he sustained last season from taking a beating and he also aggravated it quit a bit later in this years successful championship season. Tebow had a bone spur removed from his non-throwing shoulder.

At the end of his speech, he alerted the fans to not be worried because he will be fine. Tebow then ripped off the sling and left with it hanging in his left hand. He is quite some character isn’t he? Does he love to play tricks on Gator nation or what? After the act he put on in the Swamp about him returning for his senior year and now ripping off his sling. Tebow will come off quick recovery from this surgery and should be back and throwing within a couple of weeks. Check the video out below.


Tim Tebow removes his sling from Alligator Online on Vimeo.

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Tebow Undergoes Surgery On Non-Throwing Shoulder

Posted by admin on January 14th, 2009   1 Comment

By: Brandon
admin@gatorsportsnation.com

Quarterback Tim Tebow has had his arthroscopic surgery done on his right shoulder the day after he told Gator Nation that he is returning for his senior year at Florida. Tebow needed a bone spur removed and all of the chronic inflammation that was built up and which he had hurt back in the 2007 season.

Doctors have told media and Urban Meyer that the surgery went real well and Tebow should most likely be throwing again in the next few weeks and should return to full health. He hurt his shoulder a little more than half way through the season last year and it has been giving him a little trouble late this year, but good thing he is getting it taking care of now and also letting it give time to recover. Tebow fought through the pain in the National championship game against Oklahoma and never gave a sign of it hurting. Tebow still threw for 231 yards and rushing for over 100 yards. Despite throwing the interceptions, he made it up with the 2 touchdowns he threw which led Florida past the Sooners 24-14.

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Three-peat For Tebow?

Posted by admin on January 11th, 2009   No Comment

The Florida Gators celebrated their second National championship in three years today in front of a large crowd of Gator fans today at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Coach Urban Meyer and the rest of the Gators gave a few words to the fans prior to unveiling the 2008 National championship banner to go along with the other 2 National championships from 1996 and 2006. But the best news that the fans came to hear followed.

After recognizing the seniors and coaching staff, Tim Tebow came up on stage and spoke a few words. As Tebow wrapped up his speech, he was walking to leave the stage until he turned around with the microphone and said: “Oh, by the way let’s do it again. I’m coming back.” The breaking news had delighted the fans in such a big way. This was the news we all have been waiting to hear and we are glad he chose to stay for his senior season. Wide Receiver Percy Harvin was leaning towards into returning for his final season as a Gator as well. Brandon Spikes has yet to decide his decision. Some people are comparing this decision with the four basketball players that chose to come back to win another National championship, rather than jump to the NBA. Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, Taurean Green, and Al Horford all were in this same position when they decided to come back instead. This is good news for Gator Nation with a young defense and a Tebow-led offense returning. So what do you think Gator fans, a Three-peat?

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Gators Bounce past Ole Miss 78-68, Special Arrival From Tim Tebow

Posted by admin on January 11th, 2009   No Comment

Tebow and Urban Meyer at tonights game.

By: Brandon
admin@gatorsportsnation.com

The Florida Gators found a way to win against the Ole Miss Rebels after terrible shooting and rebounding in the second half. From the first minute of the game and until halftime the Gators played aggressive, shot the ball well and hit the boards. By the look of the score and the runs Florida had made, it looked like there was no game. The Gators were up by 21 points at one time but the Rebels fought back to trail 75-68 with about 2 minutes remaining in the second half but still came up short handed. After the game I was next to Chandler Parsons and I heard him tell a fan that they should of rebounded much better than they did. Ole Miss were getting put backs after put backs, offensive rebounds right after another. I am sure coach Donovan has a tough drill they will be going at in the next practice for their lack of rebounding preformed tonight.

Ole Miss guard David Huertas returned to Gainesville tonight for the first time since he has transferred after the Gators won the Championship in 2006. Huertas visited the Gators in the locker room after the game as well as Billy Donovan to say a few words.
(more…)

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Tebows heisman loss may help Florida

Posted by admin on December 14th, 2008   No Comment

In New york, Tim Tebow did NOT win the Heisman. Yes, I repeat Tim Tebow did NOT win the Heisman. Most of you are probably shocked right? Well don’t be. This is more of a good thing for Tebow and the Gators. Yes it was great how he won it last year and became the first Sophomore ever to win the Heisman and of course 2 years in a car would have been unbelievable. But the chances of Florida winning another BCS Championship in Miami may be high.

Sam Bradford will be the one being hammered with questions from reporters everyday, taking pictures for the papers and fans, and maybe the Heisman jinx will carry onto him. Did you know that four if the last five winners have lost their bowl games? (Ocala Star-Banner) And one of the names is Tim Tebow. After winning the Heisman last year, Tebow and the Gators could not capitalize against Michigan. And I don’t think all the Florida fans wouldn’t mind if Bradford joined in and became five out of six.

“Why get over it? Use it”, Tebow said. I’ll be motivated enough. I think it’s more motivating for my teammates. They’re a little bit excited. Tebow also said he has already gotten a ton of text messages but he could not share with the media. He also told reporters that “Probably along the lines of, We’ll showthat guy who should have won the Heisman.” (Ocala Star-Banner)

Florida will face Heisman winner Sam Bradford and the rest of the Sooners on January 8th in Miami.

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