Over in Rome, former Florida Gators swimmer Ryan Lochte won a gold medal in the 200 individual medley on Thursday in the 2009 FINA World Championships. Lochte broke Michael Phelps' world record in the process with a time of 1:54.10. Phelps' old world record was 1:54.23.
Lochte is a wild man. Check out the silver mouthpiece (grill, as the kids call it) Lochte wore on the medals stand.
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GAINESVILLE -- Football previews are in the works here at Gator Clause but before we begin breaking down positions, asking important questions and generally writing fun stuff that every wants to read, the editorial board here at Gator Clause figured it was a good time to assess the University of Florida football team's recruiting efforts. (What a ridiculously long sentence!)
The Gators already have 17 commitments for the class of 2010. According Rivals.com, UF's current group of non-binding oral commitments ranks No.2 nationally. (Texas is No.1.) With that in mind, it's time to reset the Gator Clause Recruiting Big Board and take a closer look at what positions still need to be filled. This blog published its first recruiting projections way back in April.
Five players have committed to Florida since then -- wide receivers Stephen Alli (Andover, N.H.) and Solomon Patton (Mobile, Ala.), running backs Mack Brown (Lithonia, Ga.) and Travon Vann (New Berlin, N.Y.) and defensive end Neiron Ball (Jackson, Ga.).
Florida will likely sign a full class of 25 recruits in 2010. That means the Gators only have eight slots available, assuming there aren't any de-commitments. With many of the Gators' top targets still uncommitted, UF's coaching staff will likely reevaluate its priorities next week before fall camp begins. With so many commitments already on board, the coaching staff has the luxury of being selective. UF coach Urban Meyer already passed on two receivers who wanted to commit, James Louis of Delray Beach Atlantic and Markeith Ambles of McDonough (Ga.) Henry County. Some people got a little upset when Meyer didn't except Louis' commitment. In Meyer's defense, don't hate the player. Hate the game.
Meyer didn't accept Louis' commitment because he's fairly certain that receiver Chris Dunkley of Pahokee is going to be a Gator next season. Another reason Meyer didn't accept Louis' commitment: Dunkley is fast but receiver Solomon Patton of Mobile Murphy might be faster. (People in Alabama tell me that Patton is the real deal and probably among one of the top four or five prospects in the state.)
James Louis is fast but it's more like Ohio State fast than Florida fast, if that makes any sense. Meyer and receivers coach Billy Gonzales are choosy about their receivers. Last year, the Gators never offered Duron Carter, the son of NFL great Cris Carter, because Duron apparently wasn't fast enough. Duron, like James Louis, went to Ohio State. (Of course, Duron is a legacy player at OSU).
All this talk of wide receivers, it only seems fitting that we start off our "Big Board!" with wide receivers. (Numbers indicate the players I think are most likely to sign with Florida come next February.)
THE BIG BOARD!
Gator Clause has narrowed down UF's TOP PRIORITIES to fill out the class of 2010. If Florida lands all of these recruits, then the Gators will undoubtedly have the top recruiting class in the nation next February.
WIDE RECEIVER 1. Chris Dunkley (5-10, 164) Pahokee TOP PRIORITY
+ A silent commitment to the Gators, if you ask me. Dunkley [PICTURED] recently said on his Facebook page that he is 70 percent sure he is going to be a Gator next season. Will Tennessee's Lane Kiffin swoop down at the last second and steal Dunkley from the Gators? Probably won't commit until National Signing Day.
2. Ivan McCartney (6-3, 180) Miramar TOP PRIORITY
+ McCartney is a big-body receiver with great hands. He impressed coaches at Friday Night Lights with his route-running ability. McCartney is a Florida, Miami, Florida State recruit who probably won't let anyone know where he's going until National Signing Day.
3. Solomon Patton (5-10, 170) Mobile (Ala.) Murphy COMMITTED
+ Patton apparently is about as fast as Chris Rainey. According to one account by a Mobile Press-Register reporter, Patton ran a 4.36 ... when he was a 15-year-old sophomore.
4. Stephen Alli (6-5, 208) Andover (N.H.) Proctor Academy COMMITTED
+ Another one of UF offensive coordinator Steve Addazio's northern kids. Addazio usually has a pretty good eye for talent. I don't know much about Alli other than he's tall, fast and dominates some tiny high school football division in New Hampshire.
Quinton Dunbar (6-3, 170) Miami Booker T. Washington LONG SHOT
+ We list Dunbar as a "longshot" simply because UF might not have anymore room (and Dunbar wants to be a package deal along with Booker T. defensive end Lynden Trail). With so many young and talented receivers at Miami and Florida at the saturation point, I'm guessing Dunbar goes to FSU. Personally, I'd make room for Dunbar at UF, go after him hard and cap the 2010 wide receivers at five.
Kadron Boone (6-1, 190) Ocala Trinity Catholic LONG SHOT
+ Will Florida hold a scholarship for Boone? UF might have too many receivers already if Dunkley is indeed a silent commitment.
Darius White (6-4, 205) of Fort Worth (Texas) Dunbar LONG SHOT
+ No way the top receiver in Texas leaves the Lone Star State.
OFFENSIVE LINE
5. Ian Silberman (6-4, 257) Fleming Island COMMITTED
+ Silberman has been committed to Florida since his sophomore season. He's a future stud if he can stay grounded.
6. Leon Orr (6-5, 320) New Port Richey Gulf COMMITTED (Could move to defensive tackle.)
+Orr's stock continues to rise. This is a big kid with quick feet. He ran a 4.83 40 at Friday Night Lights last week and one Rivals.com recruiting analyst recently compared Orr's measurable skills to those of former LSU star Glen Davis. 7. Brandon Linder (6-6, 280) Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas TOP PRIORITY
+ Linder [PICTURED] is a top priority of the utmost importance to UF, but it's hard to read kids from St. Thomas. Florida has had success in the past -- offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert and safety Major Wright are STA alums -- but other players (OT Sam Young, Notre Dame) have gone out of state. Expect Linder to decide on a school before National Signing Day but be prepared to wait.
8. Chaz Green (6-6, 290) Tampa Catholic TOP PRIORITY
+ Green seems to be leaning towards the Gators after Friday Night Lights. Orr and other commitments are helping recruit Green to UF.
Seantrel Henderson (6-8, 301) St. Paul (Mn.) Cretin-Durham Hall LONG SHOT
+ Henderson is the top-rated prospect in the nation and he'll likely take an official visit to UF. The Gators will have a tough time convincing this player to move so far south, however.
T.J. Leifheit (6-7, 300) Wilmington (N.C.) Hoggard LONG SHOT
+ Florida has had success in North Carolina, so I wouldn't rule out Leifheit making an official trip to Gainesville this fall. Southern Cal seems to be the leader. Leifheit has family in Los Angeles.
QUARTERBACK
9. Trey Burton (6-2, 203) Venice COMMITTED
+ Burton is a solid commitment and a quality dual-threat quarterback with above-average leadership skills. Burton has been recruiting several top priorities for the Gators, including Pahokee receiver Chris Dunkley.
RUNNING BACK 10. Mack Brown (5-11, 185) Lithonia (Ga.) Martin Luther King COMMITTED
+ Brown [PICTURED] was one of UF's top priorities for the class of 2010. He's super fast and will be asked to fill the "Percy Harvin position." Brown is rated the No.6 running back prospect in the nation by Rivals.com. Consider Brown a major haul for UF, which has hand trouble landing elite running back prospects in the past.
11. Travon Van (5-11, 200) New Berlin (N.Y.) Milford Academy COMMITTED
+ This guy could end up being the surprise of UF's 2010 recruiting class. He has great vision and his moves are incredible.
TIGHT END
12. Michael McFarland (6-6, 230) Tampa Blake COMMITTED
+ An excellent team player with an athletic body and quick feet. McFarland will fit in well at UF and will wind up being one of Meyer's favorite players.
13. Gerald Christian (6-3, 220) West Palm Beach Dwyer COMMITTED
+ Christian is an elite tight end in the mold of Aaron Hernandez. He catches everything, gives quarterbacks a large target and is a mismatch even for the best defenders.
DEFENSIVE END 14. Ronald Powell (6-4, 240) Moreno Valley (Cali.) Rancho Verde TOP PRIORITY
+ Powell [PICTURED] is the nation's top-rated defensive prospect, according to Rivals.com and Florida has a chance to lure him away from Southern Cal. Powell visited UF twice this summer for camps and will likely return for an official visit.
Owamagbe Odighizuwa (6-3, 234) Portland (Ore.) David Douglas LONG SHOT
+ The West Coast theme continues with Odighizuwa, who is rated as the nation's No.2 prospect at weakside defensive end. Odighizuwa is being recruited by Dan McCarney and will likely take an official visit to Gainesville this fall. Cal is probably the leader right now but Florida is a close second. When it comes down to it, I'd expect Odighizuwa to stay close to home.
15. Neiron Ball (6-4, 210) Jackson (Ga.) High COMMITTED
+ Ball committed to UF after Friday Night Lights. He's a speedy defender in the mold of UF sophomore William Green.
16. Corey Lemonier (6-5, 223) Hialeah TOP PRIORITY
+ Lemonier has offers from every major program in the country and he'll likely be The Miami Herald's top prospect in Miami-Dade County. Florida is near the top of the list but Lemonier is also considering Florida State, Illinois, Tennessee and Auburn. Lemonier says early playing time is important and that's something UF will have a hard time selling.
Lynden Trail (6-7, 220) Miami Booker T. Washington LONG SHOT
+ We're moving Trail to "long shot" status. Ball probably took his spot.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Louis Nix (6-2, 320) Jacksonville Raines LONG SHOT
+ UF is still after Nix even after his friend flashed the Miami 'U' sign at Friday Night Lights and was asked to leave. Nix is currently committed to Miami.
LINEBACKER
17. Gideon Ajagbe (6-2, 197) Coconut Grove Ransom Everglades COMMITTED
+ Prediction: Ajabge is going to be a star for UF. He has the perfect attitude to excel at the next level. He's always working to improve his game. A future team captain with excellent leadership skills, Ajagbe was a great pick-up for the Gators. 18. Jeff Luc (6-1, 230) Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast TOP PRIORITY
+ UF defensive coordinator Charlie Strong has been glued to Luc's hip for months. If Luc [PICUTRED] commits elsewhere (Miami?), then I'll be very surprised. Rated as the No.1 inside linebacker in the nation, Luc is the type of player coaches build a defense around. Ajabe of Coconut Grove Ransom Everglades has been recruiting Luc for UF.
Jordan Hicks (6-2, 210) West Chester, Ohio LONG SHOT
+ Hicks is rated as the No.1 outside linebacker in the nation by Rivals.com. He has narrowed his list to five schools and UF made the cut. That likely means Hicks will take an official visit to Gainesville this fall. Other schools in the mix are Alabama, Ohio State, Southern Cal and Texas. Talk about an impressive top five. Gotta assume that OSU is the leader.
Khairi Fortt (6-3, 230) Stamford, Conn. LONG SHOT
+ Fortt is the No.2 outside linebacker in the nation, according to Rivals.com. He's a long shot but Florida already has one Connecticut native on its roster (tight end Aaron Hernandez).
CORNERBACK 19. Demar Dorsey (6-1, 175) Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson COMMITTED
+ Dorsey [PICTURED] is one of the fastest kids in South Florida. He's committed to UF but the Gators should be prepared to battle other schools (Miami, Florida State, Tennessee) until the bitter end.
20. Victor Hampton (5-11, 170) Charlotte (N.C.) Independence COMMITTED
+ Hampton committed to the Gators without visiting the school. He's a solid verbal commitment but there's plenty of time for other schools to make a move.
21. Jaylen Watkins (6-1, 172) Cape Coral COMMITTED
+ Watkins was a star at Friday Night Lights. He's a tall cornerback with above-average speed for the position. Probably the most likely of the cornerbacks not to remain committed to UF.
22. Cody Riggs (5-8, 156) Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas TOP PRIORITY
+ Riggs named Florida his top school after Friday Night Lights. He had been favoring Georgia for months. The No.4-rated cornerback in the nation, according to Rivals.com.
Lamarcus Joyner (5-8, 166) Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas LONG SHOT
+ Don't close the door on Joyner just yet. The No.2-rated cornerback in the nation is a long shot but the Gators will be in his ear until National Signing Day.
SAFETY 23. Matt Elam (6-0, 205) West Palm Beach Dwyer COMMITTED
+ One of the top prospects in the nation, Elam [PICTURED] has a long-standing relationship with Meyer. Elam will take his visits this fall but should end up signing with Florida on National Signing Day.
24. Jonathan Dowling (6-3, 178) Bradenton Southeast COMMITTED
+ One of the most talented high school safeties in the state. Dowling is a solid commitment.
25. Jordan Haden (6-0, 198) Fort Washington (Md.) Friendly COMMITTED
+ The younger brother of UF cornerback Joe Haden.
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GAINESVILLE -- The University of Florida released its preseason football practice schedule on Thursday. Sorry, folks, it's not as fan friendly as years past.
Only the first two days of practice will be open to the public. Practice begins on Aug.6 at the football practice field. Fans can attend practices on Aug. 6-7, but there's a catch. Returning players practice from 6:10-8 a.m. on Aug. 6-7. Freshmen practice from 4:35-6 p.m. on Aug. 6-7. What does this mean for fans? Watching Tim Tebow throw a football before the first game of the season will not be easy.
After Aug.7 football practices will take place at the UVS practice fields and will be closed to the public and media.
Reminder: The third-annual Gator Clause "Doughnut" Fan Giveaway will take place at 6:10 a.m. on Aug.6 at the UF practice field. If you show up, you get free doughnuts.
Hmmmmm, free doughnuts!
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GAINESVILLE -- Several University of Florida football players and cheerleaders painted a large section of Gainesville's well-known 34th Street Graffiti Wall on Wednesday to promote Friday's second-annual Gator Charity Challenge.
If you went to school in Gainesville or have stayed at the Hilton for a football game, then you know about the 34th Street Graffiti Wall. It's a long concrete retaining wall near campus that doubles as an open canvas for UF students and Gainesville residents. On Wednesday, senior football players David Nelson, Joey Sorrentino and Cade Holliday whitewashed three sections of the wall and then put fellow football players and cheerleaders to work advertising the Gator Charity Challenge.
"I've driven past this wall hundreds of times and I never thought I'd be painting it," said Florida senior football player Dorian Munroe of Miami. "I feel proud that I'm leaving this university having painted this wall."
Munroe, who begins practicing for his senior season on Aug.6, graduates next Saturday and starts graduate school for sports management on Aug. 24.
Florida senior safety Dorian Munroe and UF cheerleader Ashley Morris paint the wall.
Florida senior Joey Sorrentino (left) and Munroe roll on the Gator orange.
Florida senior David Nelson speaks to a Gainesville television reporter about the Gator Charity Callenge.
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GAINESVILLE -- Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas senior Cody Riggs competed in Friday Night Lights last weekend and the cornerback left Ben Hill Griffin Stadium with a favorable impression of the Florida Gators.
Leaning heavily towards committing to the Georgia Bulldogs for months, Riggs told FlaVarsity.com on Monday that he now considers the Gators to be his top team.
"Their staff is great and showed they really want me at camp," Riggs said. "I got to talk to two of their players, who play in the secondary like me, in Major Wright, who is from my school, and Joe Haden. They had a lot of good things to say. I could see myself playing there."
Riggs is one of two highly rated cornerbacks at St. Thomas this season. The other is Lamarcus Joyner, who also participated in Friday Night Lights but is currently favoring Florida State.
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GAINESVILLE -- The recruits are rolling in now.
University of Florida football coach Urban Meyer received and accepted his 17th public commitment on Monday when Neiron Ball of Jackson (Ga.) High committed to the Gators. Ball (6-4, 200 pounds) ran a sub 4.5 in the 40-yard dash at Florida's Friday Night Lights. YOUTUBE LINK. He chose Florida over a host of schools including Auburn, UGA, Alabama, LSU and Oregon.
Ball's defensive statistics from 2008 are absurd. He had 104 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, 19 sacks and seven forced fumbles as a junior.
[PICTURED, A Ball-er.]
Ball is rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and his brother, Neland, plays for the Georgia Bulldogs. (Talk about a family torn.)
Ball is the Gators' first commitment for the class of 2010 to be projected as a defensive end in college. Florida has offered several other defensive ends, including two players from Miami-Dade, Corey Lemonier of Hialeah and Lynden Trail of Miami Booker T. Washington. Owamagbe Odighizuwa of Portland, Ore., rated as the No.2 defensive end in the nation, is also high on the Gators, according to reports. Another highly rated defensive end from the West Coast, Ronald Powell of Moreno Valley, Cali., is also being recruited by the Gators.
Continue reading "Speedy Georgia defensive end picks Florida Gators over UGA, Alabama and LSU" »
HOOVER, Ala. -- University of Florida linebacker Dustin Doe was arrested on Thursday night for driving with a suspended license -- again.
Doe was already in trouble with the law and Florida Gators coach Urban Meyer for driving with a suspended license. He was arrested in June and has a court date in August. The latest infraction occurred late Thursday night. Doe was booked into Alachua County Jail and released early Friday morning with a $1,000 bond.
[PICTURED, Has Dustin Doe kissed his chances at starting this season good-bye?]
Florida coach Urban Meyer said on Friday that Doe is suspended from the team until his legal issues are resolved. Practice begins Aug. 6 but Doe will not participate, according to Meyer. Doe was arrested for fighting in 2007 but those charges were dropped. Doe's current legal problems stem from an unpaid parking ticket. Doe paid the ticket but didn't pay the late fee.
"Dustin had been suspended from team activities while resolving his parking ticket issues and driving with a suspended license," Meyer said in a statement. "Those issues have not been taken care of and as a result, he will not be with us when we begin practice."
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HOOVER, Ala. -- Hey, Lane Kiffin, get out your notebook. This is how enrage Gator Nation.
Well, the final day of Southeastern Conference Media Days just got pretty interesting. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, considered the greatest Gator by many UF fans, is the SEC coach who didn't vote for UF quarterback Tim Tebow as the preseason All-SEC first-team quarterback.
"I take the blame," said Spurrier, who voted for Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead. "I take full responsibility."
Well, not really. Spurrier said on Friday morning that he left the voting process up to his sports information director.
"He said something about we already had 10 Gators and he didn't think it was a big deal," Spurrier said. "So I'll take the blame. I'll take full responsibility. I didn't look at that sheet."
[PICTURED Is Stephen Orr Spurrier still the greatest Gator?]
Spurrier told reporters on Friday that he contacted SEC associate commissioner Charles Bloom and changed his vote. So, technically, Tebow is now a unanimous selection. Spurrier also called Tebow and apologized.
"I screwed it up; I apologized," Spurrier said. "I messed it up by not looking at the ballot but that's the way it happened.
"I have great admiration for Tim Tebow. He and Danny Wuerffel are two of the finest young men to ever play this game and their Christian men who live the Christian life and don't just talk it."
So, Gators fans, is Steve Spurrier still the "Greatest Gator?" Do you immediately forgive Spurrier? Do you even care? Do you believe Spurrier? Is Spurrier dead to you?
I say give Spurrier the benefit of the doubt. He apologized and changed his vote. This kind of thing is fun for reporters like me to write about and for readers like you to comment upon but it's not really that big of a deal.
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HOOVER, Ala. -- The Southeastern Conference announced game times today for the University of Florida football team's first two games.
Florida will open the season with a home game against Charleston Southern at 7 p.m. on Sept. 5 (Fox Sports Net). UF hosts Troy at noon on Sept. 12. In the third week of the season, Florida begins its Southeastern Conference schedule with a home game against rival Tennessee at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 19.
--List of all SEC game times to date.
--UF quarterback Tim Tebow is on the cover of Sports Illustrated this week. Here's a link to the cover story.
Get faster updates and more news at http://twitter.com/GatorClause.
(This week's SI cover. Timmy's looking mean. He's ready for football to start.)
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GAINESVILLE -- The cover of Florida's 2009 media guide says it all: A big No.1 right on the cover.
The No.1, encrusted in jewels, is centered in the middle of Florida's 2008 national championship ring. That's the only thing on the cover. Just a big Florida Gators No.1 national championship ring. It's fitting because, well, everyone knows who's going to begin the year ranked No.1. Florida isn't shying away from the fact either.
The four major preseason football magazines -- Sporting News, Lindy's, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele's 2009 College Football Preview -- ranked Florida the preseason's top team. UF quarterback Tim Tebow is on the regional cover of all four publications. What's more, Tebow is the preseason favorite to win another Heisman Trophy.
Florida coach Urban Meyer knew this media blitz was coming. Back in the spring he declared that UF's offseason would be so demanding that his players wouldn't have the strength to pick up their preseason magazines and read about how good they're supposed to be. I was going to create a consensus preseason magazine college football poll, but then I did a Google search and found out there are about 100 or so similar consensus polls on the Internet. Here's the best consensus poll I found. If anyone knows of a better consensus poll, then let us know and paste the link in the comments field.
Here's a rundown of what you can find in three preseason mags (Athlon Sports, Phil Steele and Lindy's). You can either go drop $25 at the bookstore, or just read this:
ATHLON SPORTS SOUTHEASTERN 2009 PREVIEW
*One on one interview with UF quarterback Tim Tebow
*Florida's linebackers are the best in the nation, according to Athlon Sports.
*Predicts Florida will play Oklahoma in the BCS national championship.
*Names Tebow as a Heisman favorite: "He won a Heisman Trophy in 2007 and the BCS national championship in title in 2008 and 2006. Tebow could pull the double in 2009 and go down as the most decorated player in the history of college football."
*Tebow, UF defensive end Carlos Dunlap and UF linebacker Brandon Spikes are preseason All-Americans. *UF strong safety, UF cornerback Joe Haden and UF return specialist Brandon James are preseason second-team All-Americans.
*UF offensive guard Mike Pouncey is a preseason third-team All-American.
*Gators on Athlon Sports' first-team offense and defense: QB Tim Tebow, OG Mike Pouncey, LB Brandon Spikes, CB Joe Haden, SS Ahmad Black, RS Brandon James, P Chas Henry
*Gators on Athlon Sports' second-team offense and defense: TE Aaron Hernandez, C Maurkice Pouncey, ATH Chris Rainey, DE Jermaine Cunningham, FS Major Wright
*Gators on Athlon Sports' third-team offense and defense: DT Lawrence Marsh, CB Janoris Jenkins,
*Tebow and former WR Percy Harvin made Athlon Sports' SEC All-Decade team. Harvin made the team as an all-purpose athlete.
*Florida incoming freshmen Xavier Nixon (OL, No.15), Jelani Jenkins (LB, No.16), Andre Debose (WR, No.26), Gary Brown (DT, No.32), Nick Alajajian (OL, No.69) are among the Athlon Consensus 100, which is a compilation of the rankings of six major recruiting services.
*Florida's recruiting class of 2009, which only consisted of 16 players, is ranked No.9 in the nation. Here are Athlon's national rankings for Florida's top 2009 recruits: Xavier Nixon (No.15 overall, No.1 rated OL), Jelani Jenkins (No.16 overall, No.4 rated LB), Andre Debose (No.26 overall, No.3 rated WR), Gary Brown (No.32 overall, No.5 rated DT), Nick Alajajian (No.69 overall, No.10 rated OL), Jon Bostic (No.109 overall, No.11 rated LB), Jordan Reed (No.276 overall, No.25 rated QB), Mike Gillislee (No.257 overall, No.33 rated RB) *Gators among Athlon Sports' Top 20 Newcomers: OL Xavier Nixon (No.7), LB Jelani Jenkins (No.8), WR Andre Debose (No.14), DT Gary Brown (No.16)
*Florida's 2009 recruiting class (16 players) was ranked No.4 in the SEC by Athlon Sports. Ahead of the Gators were No.1 LSU, No.2 Alabama and No.3 Georgia.
[PICTURED: From left to right, Florida defenders Brandon Spikes, Carlos Dunlap, Dustin Doe and Ryan Stamper pose for Athlon Sports.]
*Athlon Sports on Florida's 2009 offense: "If Florida can figure out its offensive line and find a replacement for Percy Harvin, the offense should be the juggernaut it was last season. But -- this just in -- you don't replace Harvin. So, new offensive coordinator Steve Addazio will have to tweak the offense to figure out how to best utilize Tebow's skills.
*Athlon Sports named redshirt freshman center Sam Robey the Gators' "Rising Star."
*The Gators' key losses, according to Athlon Sports: OL Jason Watkins, OL Phil Trautwein, RB Kestahn Moore, WR Percy Harvin, WR Louis Murphy.
PHIL STEELE'S 2009 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
*Predicts Florida will defeat Texas in the BCS national championship. Phil Steele: "All nine sets of m y power ratings call for the Gators to go 12-0 during the regular season and while I went out on a limb last year calling for them to win the national title, they figure to be the consensus preseason No.1 this year."
*Predicts Florida will play Ole Miss in the SEC championship game.
*Predicts Tim Tebow will win the Heisman. *Gators on Phil Steele's All-America first team: QB Tim Tebow, KRS Brandon James, DE Carlos Dunlap, LB Brandon Spikes and CB Joe Haden.
*Gators on Phil Steele's All-America fourth team: C Maurkice Pouncey, PRS Brandon James
*Gators on Steele's All-SEC first team: QB Tim Tebow, OG Maurkice Pouncey, DE Carlos Dunlap, LB Brandon Spikes, CB Joe Haden, S Ahmad Black, KRS Brandon James
*Gators on Steele's All-SEC second team: WR Deonte Thompson, TE Aaron Hernandez, OG Mike Pouncey, P Chas Henry, PRS Brandon James
*Gators on Steele's All-SEC third team: DE Jermaine Cunningham, CB Janoris Jenkins
*Gators on Steele's All-SEC fourth team: WR Riley Cooper, S Major Wright
*Gators national player rankings by position, according to Phil Steele: Tim Tebow (No.2-rated QB), Chris Rainey (No.42 RB), Aaron Hernandez (No.8 TE), Carl Moore, (No.21 WR), Deonte Thompson (No.25 WR), Riley Cooper (No.36 WR), Maurkice Pouncey (No.4 C), Mike Pouncey (No.21 OG), James Wilson (No.22 OG), Jim Barrie (No.57 OG), Carl Johnson (No.13 OT), Carlos Dunlap (No.1 DE), Jermaine Cunningham (No.11 DE), Lawrence Marsh (No.12 DT), Brandon Spikes (No.1 ILB), Lorenzo Edwards (No.18 ILB), Lorenzo Edwards (No.28, OLB), Dustin Doe (No.35 OLB), A.J. Jones (No.47, OLB), Joe Haden (No.2 CB), Brandon James (No.1, KRS; No.5, PRS), Chas Henry (No.10, P), Major Wright (No.7 FS), Ahmad Black (No.8 SS).
*Gators individual units, ranked nationally by Phil Steele: QBs (No.1), RBs (No.8), WRs (No.10), OL (No.2), DLs (No.2), LBs (No.2), DBs (No.2), ST (No.2)
*Gators incoming freshmen national player rankings by position, according to Phil Steele: Xavier Nixon (No.1 OL), Jelani Jenkins (No.2 LB), Andre Debose (No.2 WR), DL Gary Brown (No.12 DL), Nick Alajajian (No.11 OL), Dee Finley (No.20 DB 2008), Jon Bostic (No.14 LB), Edwin Herbert (No.54 DL JUCO), Jordan Reed (No.25 QB), Mike Gillislee (No.46 RB), Josh Evans (No.54 DB), Kyle Koehne (No.59 OL), Jonotthan Harrison (No.65 OL), Jon Halapio (No.116 OL), Desmond Parks (No.45 TE), Kedric Johnson (No.172 DL).
LINDY'S SOUTHEASTERN 2009 PREVIEW
*Predicts UF will win the 2009 national title: "The Gators have the stuff to be one of the best teams of the decade, and the Tim Tebow era could end with him resting at the top of college football's most hallowed pinnacle.
*Lindy's predicted Florida to defeat LSU in the SEC championship game.
*UF quarterback Tim Tebow is Lindy's favorite to win the Heisman.
*Tebow is Lindy's 2009 Most Valuable Player.
*More honors for Tebow: SEC's most accurate passer, strongest passer and coolest player in the clutch.
*Lindy's named UF DE Jermaine Cunningham the SEC's best pass rusher.
*Lindy's Top 10 NFL talent, No.2 Tim Tebow: "Scouts eager to watch his smoother delivery this season." No.3 LB Brandon Spikes: "Do-it-all middle linebacker has all kinds of physical presence." No.10 DE Jermaine Cunningham: "Big-time pass rusher who relies on his speed." *Bob Tebow on his son's critics, who say Tim Tebow cannot play quarterback in the NFL: "That's hysterical, hilarious," Bob Tebow said. "All the quarterback problems they have in the NFL? He'll be a quarterback in the NFL. It's hard to even comment on it without saying something about the person's intelligence who is making that comment."
*An anonymous NFL scout on Tebow: "Do I think he can play quarterback in the next level? Yes. But it will take a couple of years of work to get him out of the bad habits that Florida's offense has instilled in him."
*Tebow on his critics: "Maybe if I changed the way I played a little bit, they would look at me a little differently. Maybe if I just threw the ball and didn't run and didn't hit people and didn't get excited, they would look at me a little differently. I just use that as motivation."
*Lindy's All-America first team: QB Tim Tebow and LB Brandon Spikes.
*Lindy's All-America second team: DL Jermaine Cunningham and DB Joe Haden.
*Lindy's All-SEC first team: QB Tim Tebow, DL Jermaine Cunningham, LB Brandon Spikes, CB Joe Haden and P Chas Henry
*Lindy's All-SEC second team: TE Aaron Hernandez, OG Mike Pouncey, OG Maurkice Pouncey, DE Carlos Dunlap, S Ahmad Black, S Major Wright, CB Janoris Jenkins and AP Brandon James.
*Quarterback national player ratings, No.1 Tim Tebow: "Anything less than a third title and second Heisman = disappointment?"
*Tight end national player ratings, No.5 Aaron Hernandez: "Ready for stardom after being an injury replacement last season."
*Offensive guard national player ratings, No.6 Mike and Maurkice Pouncey: "Why split them? Mike, Maurkice identical interior forces for the Gators."
*Defensive end national player ratings, No. 3 Jermaine Cunningham: "Any better bookends than Cunningham and Carlos Dunlap?" No.9 Carlos Dunlap: "The defensive Most Valuable Player of last season's national title game."
*Inside linebacker national player ratings, No.1 Brandon Spikes: "His return to the defense was as important as Tim Tebow's to the offense."
*Cornerback national player ratings, No.3 Joe Haden: "Superior speed and skill, and he can still learn more about coverage." No.6 Janoris Jenkins: "Coaches raved about his rapid growth during his freshman year as a starter."
*Safety national player ratings, No.7 Ahmad Black: "Recorded seven interceptions from his strong safety spot last season." No.10 Major Wright: "Nine tackles and a goal-line interception in BCS Championship Game."
*Punter national player ratings, No.4 Chas Henry: "Gators have the SEC's top punter, too? Hardly seems fair."
*Top all purpose national player ratings, No.3 Brandon James: "More than just a pure return specialist ... but he's NFL quality in that regard."
*National unit rankings, backfield: UF No.2, "Florida's top two rushers last season were a quarterback (Tim Tebow) and a receiver (Percy Harvin), but Meyer like his tailbacks enough in the spring to talk about playing some in the I-formation."
*National unit rankings, offensive line: UF No.6, "Having two new tackles isn't optimum, but spring juggling resulted in starting left guard Carl Johnson moving to left tackle, with center Maurkice Pouncey going to left guard. Twin Mike Pouncey is at right guard. All in all, not a bad way to be."
*National unit rankings, defensive line: UF No.1, "Florida has all its starting linemen back from a defense that stuffed Oklahoma, and at least three players have the look of high NFL Draft picks -- DE Carlos Dunlap, DE Jermaine Cunningham and junior tackle Lawrence Marsh."
*National unit rankings, linebackers: UF No.2, "Perfectly pleasing depth comes with ex-starters Dustin Doe and A.J. Jones, and coach Urban Meyer said in the spring he was further slicing up the position because redshirt freshman Brendan Beal and early enrolling freshman Jon Bostic just had to play."
*National unit rankings, defensive backs, UF No.1, "Florida's secondary is dominant. And young. Not a senior among the starters -- or most of the backups -- and it doesn't matter a bit."
*UF's unit rankings in the SEC: QBs No.1, WRs No.3, RBs No.2, OL No.2, DL No.1, DBs No.1, LBs No.2, ST No.1
*Lindy's on UF's chances of usurping the Miami Hurricanes of 2001 as the team of the decade: "Florida has the pieces -- Tim Tebow and a stout defense that returns intact -- to run through the SEC in dominating fashion. The Gators have the star power to eclipse 2001 Miami."
*Lindy's coach of the decade: Urban Meyer is currently No.2 (behind USC coach Pete Carroll) after winning 17 games in two seasons at Bowling Green, 22 games in two seasons at Utah (including an undefeated season) and winning two national titles at Florida. "Let's see ... if Meyer wins another national championship, the decade honor is his."
*Tebow is Lindy's All-Decade first-team quarterback.
*Lindy's lists UF's away game at LSU on Oct.10 as the nation's second best conference game of the season. "These schools have won the past three national championships, and it could be quite a treat if this is just a warm-up for a rematch in the SEC title game."
Lindy's lists UF's home game against Tennessee on Sept.19 as the nation's fifth best conference game of the season. "New UT coach Lane Kiffin popped off about Florida and untrue recruiting violations. How badly will the Gators turn around and pop the Vols in the mouth?"
*Lindy's projected the NFL draft order of the nation's top 50 seniors: No.8 Brandon Spikes, No.11 Tim Tebow and No.47 Jermaine Cunningham.
*Lindy's ranked UF's 2009 recruiting class No.11 nationally and No.5 in the SEC (behind Alabama, LSU, Georgia and Tennessee).
*Lindy's Top 20 incoming SEC recruits: No.6 LB Jelani Jenkins, No.10 WR Andre Debose, No.11 DT Gary Brown, No.17 OL Xavier Nixon.
-jo-
GAINESVILLE -- Former University of Florida linebacker Wilber Marshall will take his place alongside college football's greatest players tonight when he is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind.
Marshall, who is already in the Gators' hallowed Ring of Honor, set records at Florida for sacks and tackles for loss before playing 12 seasons in the NFL and winning two Super Bowls. Marshall is one of 16 college football legends who will be introduced tonight in South Bend, Ind. Other inductees include Lou Holtz, Jay Novacek, Thurman Thomas, Billy Cannon and Jim Donnan.
Marshall, who played for former UF coach Charley Pell from 1980-1983, still holds the school record for tackles for loss in a career (58). Recruited as a tight end, Marshall moved to linebacker after encouragement from Pell. The decision paid off for both Marshall and Pell. Marshall had 11 sacks (then a school record) in 1981, his sophomore season. A two-time All-American, Marshall finished his career with 343 tackles and 23 sacks.
-jo-
GAINESVILLE -- We here at Gator Clause demand full transparency. We want to know which Southeastern Conference football coach did not vote Florida quarterback Tim Tebow for first-team offense in the SEC football preseason all-conference football team? (sarcasm, people)
The league's preseason all-SEC teams were released today. While coaches voted in 16 UF players total and eight UF players to the first-team offense, defense and special teams, there is one minor problem. Tebow isn't a unanimous selection for first-team offense!
If ever there was a no-brainer in selecting an all-conference quarterback, then it would be selecting Tebow -- in his senior year, after winning a national championship and an SEC championship -- as the league's top quarterback this season. Tebow was such a shoe-in for first-team offense, you got to think that one coach didn't vote for Tebow just out of spite. (And you'd think coaches would be above all that.) Who's better in the SEC, I ask you? Jevan Snead of Ole Miss? Snead might be drafted higher than Tebow next year but for now Tebow is the best quarterback with the most experience in the SEC. He's the only quarterback with national title rings, for which he has two. He's the only quarterback with a Heisman Trophy.
People are talking about Tebow being one of the best players in the history of college football, but apparently one coach (or maybe more than one, who knows) doesn't think Tebow is the best quarterback in the SEC this season. Does anyone else find this bizarre or at least very intriguing?
Who could it be? Who is the Gator hater? Lane Kiffin at Tennessee? Everyone blames him for everything these days. He has never coached against Tebow, so maybe he doesn't fully respect the player and his abilities yet. Maybe Mark Richt at Georgia? Nah, got to believe Mark has plenty of respect for Tebow. Maybe it was Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt? Nope. It can't be Nutt because coaches aren't allowed to vote for their own players.
[PICTURED, A Gator hater?]
This much I know, we're going to get to the bottom of this. SEC Media Days are next week and I'll be asking every single coach if they voted Tebow to the first team.
Gators first-team players: Tebow, guard Mike Pouncey, center Maurkice Pouncey (although he might not play center this season), defensive end Carlos Dunlap, middle linebacker Brandon Spikes, cornerback Joe Haden, punter Chas Henry and return specialist Brandon James.
A few other things of interest...
GAINESVILLE -- UF quarterback Tim Tebow said last week that Tennessee strong safety Eric Berry was the best player in the Southeastern Conference. Now Berry is shooting back the compliments at Tebow.
"If he is Superman -- make that Batman, then I am Robin," Berry said. "That's a big compliment coming from him. He's a Heisman Trophy winner, has won national championships. What more can you say?"
What's this, you ask? Something other than disdain and verbal vomit coming from one of the warring factions of the UF-UT rivalry?
[PICTURED, A left cross from Eric Berry.]
Leave it to the players of Florida and Tennessee to show respect for one another. The coaches of either school are much too competitive for such triviality.
The SEC Media Days are next week and I guarantee you 10 grilled wings covered in Scooter sauce (if you've spent any amount of time in Gainesville, then you got that reference) that Tebow will be voted the preseason SEC offensive player of the year and Berry will be voted the preseason SEC defensive player of the year.
Tebow and Berry are well acquainted. As a freshman, Berry intercepted Tebow and returned it 96 yards for a touchdown. Last year, Tennessee's defense held UF to 243 yards of total offense (by far a season low for UF). Considering that statistic, some might question why the Golden Nugget out in Vegas set the early betting line for this season's UF-UT game so high. UF is going to be good and Tennessee has a new coach and a new defensive coordinator, but UF plus-27? I know Tennessee isn't expected to be much of anything this season other than a trusty dog every week, but a four-touchdown dog?
-jo-
By Mike McCall
I'm usually not a big fan of coaches' Twitter pages because they're either clearly not updated by the actual coach, or they contain absolutely no interesting information. Here's an exception.
FSU tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator James Coley's Twitter is pretty lively, to say the least. He's dropping rap lyrics, using CAPSLOCK and exclamation points without abandon and professing his love for Cuban coffee, which he may be drinking a little too much of.
And on July 4th, Coley made his feelings about Urban Meyer referring to the 'Noles as the "School Out West" loud and clear in a few back-to-back posts: "In 1967 Ernie
Terrell refused to call Muhammad Ali by his name - He insisted on
calling him Cassius Clay - During their bout Ali BARKED at Terrell "What's
my NAME!" with every blow he landed... Ali brutally BEAT him for 15
rounds... The Ultimate DISRESPECT is to not address an INDIVIDUAL by their name... "WHAT'S MY NAME!"
by The TEAM out WEST."
Here's a link to the Ali-Terrell fight: LINK
The only problem for Coley will be backing that talk up, since the 'Noles chances against UF still aren't looking too great. But how awesome would it be to see Bobby Bowden screaming across the field at Meyer, "What's my name?!" over and over again this year in The Swamp?
I have to applaud Coley for putting something interesting up there. His Twitter is much more entertaining than Meyer's, which hasn't been updated since June 25 and just gives lame accounts of where he is. Granted, Meyer isn't a big fan of this stuff and probably isn't the one controlling his, but if you're not going to do it right, just don't do it. Some of Coley's stuff about FSU dominance sounds delusional, but he's trying to get people excited about the program.
And as more athletes and coaches get on Twitter, we're bound to see more smack talk. We're going to need a term for this, how about "Trash Tweeting?"
Billy Donovan's Twitter is a good example of how coaches should use the site. It's well-rounded (he mentioned Roger Federer recently), offers interesting links and still throws in some Gators cheerleading. His is only a week old, but he's showing some enthusiasm for it, and it should be a good page to keep an eye on. For links to the other UF coaches' Twitters, go here.
Tennessee and UGA kickoff times set
The Gators' Sept. 19 showdown with Tennessee and Oct. 31 matchup against Georgia will both televised by CBS at 3:30. I was really hoping the Vols game would be a night game, but oh well. Also, there will be no smoking in The Swamp.
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