exclusive look at Gator Athletics - Gator Boosters, Inc.

Gator Boosters members’
exclusive look at Gator Athletics
Vo l u m e I V, I s s u e 2 1 • F e b r u a r y 5 , 2 0 0 9
In This Issue...
Football Signing Class...........1
Football Endowment..............2
Gator Softball Preview..........2
WBBall vs. Tennessee............3
Gator Goodies........................3
Awards Corner......................4
Quick Hits.............................4
Sports Report.........................5
Signee Bios.............................6
Editors: Sean Cartell
Suzanna Ollove
Booster
Liaison: Paul Vosilla
GatorBytes Email:
GatorBytes@gators.uaa.ufl.edu
GatorBytes is a joint publication
between Gator Booster,
Inc. and the University
Athletic Association
Communications department
Florida Announces 2009 Football Signing Class ...
The BCS Champion University of Florida
football team on Wednesday announced its 2009
signing class.
The 16-member 2009 signing class was named
the nation’s No. 5 signing class by ESPN.com and
the No. 10 signing class according to Rivals.com.
“It’s a great day for Florida football,” Florida
head coach Urban Meyer said. “We have some
real quality young people that are going to join
our program. We’ve done a great job recruiting.
Our staff has done phenomenal. We had a few
obstacles, even when you win a National Championship.
However, the ones that we brought in are
tremendous.
“We addressed what we look for in a player,”
Meyer continued We are very proud of the guys
that we brought in here. Number one, we look for
high character people and then, competitors.”
The complete signing class is listed below.
2009 University of Florida Football Signees
Nick Alajajian OL 6-4 280 Naples/Naples
Jon Bostic LB 6-2 225 Wellington/Palm Beach Central
Gary Brown DT 6-4 275 Greensboro/West Gadsden
Andre Debose WR 5-11 176 Sanford/Seminole
Josh Evans DB 6-2 185 Irvington, N.J./Irvington
Dee Finley S 6-1 193 Auburn, Ala./Auburn/Milford
Mike Gillislee RB 6-0 190 DeLand/DeLand
Jon Halapio OG 6-4 300 St. Petersburg/St. Petersburg
Catholic
Jonotthan Harrison OL 6-3 279 Groveland/South Lake
Edwin Herbert DT 6-3 295 Fairfield, Calif./Armijo
(City College of San Francisco)
Jelani Jenkins LB 6-1 200 Olney, Md./Our Lady
Good Counsel
Kedric Johnson DE 6-4 215 Palmetto/Palmetto
Kyle Koehne OL 6-6 300 Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral
Xavier Nixon OT 6-6 285 Fayetteville, N.C./Jack Britt
Desmond Parks TE 6-6 215 Greer, S.C./Greer
Jordan Reed QB 6-3 225 New London, Conn./New
London

GATOR • VOL. IV ISS. 21 • FEBRUARY 5, 2009
Getting Underway
Florida Softball
Dear Gator Booster:
2008 Football National Championship Endowment ...
It’s great to be a Florida Gator. It never gets old celebrating a national championship and it’s safe
to say our third is just as sweet as the first. Coach Meyer and his players showed an incredible
amount of professionalism this season and ended it with a fantastic win over Oklahoma.
We want to permanently recognize this awesome feat by creating the “2008 Football National
Championship Endowment”. This endowment will forever recognize what this group of
student-athletes has done for the Gator Nation and will put us one step closer to permanently
funding our Athletic Education Fund.
Gator Boosters has opened the “2008 Football National Championship Endowment” fund that
will honor the incredible accomplishments of this football team. We are asking you and all
Gator fans to please consider making a contribution at the level you find comfortable. Gifts for
scholarship endowment will be given two (2) points per $100.00 and will be receipted at 80%.
If you do not want points for your gift, it will be receipted at 100%.
Florida softball All-America
pitcher Stacey Nelson.
The No. 1/1 University of
Florida softball team begins its
2009 campaign THIS FRIDAY
when it plays host to Baylor in the
first game of a three-game series at
Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The Gators finished the 2008
season ranked third in the ESPN.
com/USA Softball poll, the highest
final ranking in program history.
They also recorded the school’s
first-ever number-one ranking by
both USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.
com/USA Softball polls. They finished
the season tying for third at
the Women’s College World Series
and setting an NCAA record with
70 wins. The players and team
also rewrote much of the Florida
record book.
Head Coach Tim Walton
returns eight of nine starters from
last year’s historic team, including
five All-Americans who were just
named to the Preseason All-SEC
team.
Friday * 6 p.m.
Saturday * 1 p.m.
Sunday * 12 p.m.
2
Please join us in recognizing this terrific accomplishment by contributing to the “2008 Football
National Championship Endowment.”
Sincerely,
Jeremy N. Foley John James Stumpy Harris
Director of Athletics Executive Director Honorary Chair
2008 Football
National Championship
Endowment
Name______________________________________________________________________
Address____________________________________________________________________
City___________________________State______________________Zip_______________
Phone________________________E-Mail________________________________________
Gift Amount_____________________ Please make checks payable to the UF Foundation
Credit Card # __________________________________Expiration Date ________________
Name on Credit Card_______________________Signature___________________________
Endowments are now eligible to receive two (2) points for every $100 of giving. If you elect to receive
points, please note that it will be receipted at 80/20.
Please indicate YES__________or NO___________ on points.
Booster ID # ___________________(Points will be applied to this account).
The University of Florida Foundation is a 501 (c) organization. All payments will qualify as a charitable
contribution, deductibility subject to normal IRS limitations. Thank you for your continued support!

GATOR • VOL. IV ISS. 21 • FEBRUARY 5, 2009
Women’s Basketball Hosts Tradition-Rich Lady Vols Sunday ...
The No. 11 Florida women’s basketball team
needs your help to “Pack the House” on Sunday at
5 p.m., when the Gators play host to the traditionrich
No. 12 Tennessee Lady Vols in the Stephen C.
O’Connell Center.
Please note the time change to 5 p.m. EST, which
will accomodate a national-television broadcast by
espn2.
Florida, which boasts a 20-2 overall record and a
first-place tie in the Southeastern Conference, has
won 13 consecutive home games at the Stephen C.
O’Connell Center.
The Gators are looking to break the school’s attendance
record of 12,222 that attended a Florida-Tennessee
game on Feb. 11, 2001 (pictured
below).
All fans are encouraged to wear
blue to Sunday’s game.
Free admission coupons to the game, which is presented
by Publix and DISH Network, are available
at participating Wendy’s locations.
The first 1,000 fans to pass through the turnstiles
receive Gator Women’s Basketball stadium cups
courtesy of GRU and it’s also UF Sutdents Clean
Out the Closet Day. The first 500 UF students with
a valid student ID receive leftover t-shirts from the
marketing closet.
Admission is $5 for reserved seats; $4 for adult
general admission; $2 for youth 17 and under and
free for UF students.
goodies
Softball vs. Baylor
Friday, February 6 • 6 p.m.
• Schedule Magnet Giveaway – The
first 500 fans will receive 2009 Gator
Softball Schedule Magnets courtesy
of Gatorade
• Winner, Winner, Dancer’s Dinner
– A song will be played between
innings and fans will be asked to
dance. The marketing staff and Alberta
will select a winner to receive
dinner from Ballyhoos.
• Gator Softball Trivia – At an inning
break, one fan will be selected
to answer a multiple choice softball
trivia question. If they guess correctly
they will win a Gator Softball
prize pack!
• UF Faculty & Staff Appreciation
– UF Faculty & Staff members that
show their Gator1 ID will receive a
coupon for a free hotdog!
Gator Boosters Day at Women’s Basketball
Florida vs. Tennessee
Feb. 8, 2009 * 5 p.m. * O’Connell Center
One Membership Card = One Free Admission
Come Support Your Gators As They
Pack The House Against Tennessee
Softball vs. Baylor
Saturday, February 7 • 1 p.m.
• Campus USA Credit Union Day
• Gator T-shirt Giveaway – The first
500 fans will receive Gator Softball
t-shirts!
• Dollar Dog Day – Hotdogs and
other select concession items available
for $1.
• Gator Softball Bingo – The first
250 fans receive a Bingo card and
can mark off squares as the plays
happen during the game.
W Bball vs. Tennessee
Sunday, February 8 • 5 p.m.
• GRU Stadium Cup Giveaway – The
first 1,000 fans will receive stadium
cups courtesy of GRU.
• Blue Out – All fans are encouraged
to wear blue to the game!
• Wendy’s Free Admission Coupons
– Fans can pick up free general admission
coupons at participating
Gainesville Wendys locations.
• Gator Booster Day III – All Gator
Boosters will be admitted free
with their Gator Booster card. There
will be a pre-game reception with a
member of the coaching staff.
3

GATOR • VOL. IV ISS. 21 • FEBRUARY 5, 2009
Awards Corner... Quick Hits ...
SEC Track and Field
Weekly Awards
Gray Horn
Freshman Heptathlete
SEC Male Freshman of the Week
Mariam Kevkhishvili
Junior Thrower
SEC Female Field Athlete of the
Week
SEC Swimming and
Diving Weekly Awards
Jemma Lowe
Freshman Free/Fly
SEC Female Swimmer of the
Week
Anna-Liisa Pold
Freshman Back/IM
SEC Female Freshman of the
Week
Kara Salamone
Junior Diver
SEC Female Diver of the Week
CVU.com Stellar Spikers
(Volleyball)
Kelly Murphy
Freshman setter/right-side
Honorable Mention
Alltel
4
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BASEBALL
The University of Florida baseball program
recently announced that the annual
Gator Baseball Alumni Weekend will
be held April 24-26 in Gainesville. The
event will be held in conjunction with
the Gators’ home series against Eastern
Division rival South Carolina.
MEN’S
BASKETBALL
UF has won 15 consecutive home
games dating back to last year, the
fourth longest home winning streak of
the Billy Donovan era.
WOMEN’S
BASKETBALL
Amanda Butler became just the second
Gator head coach to guide the team to
20 wins in their second season with the
program (Debbie Yow was the other).
CROSS COUNTRY
Junior Justin Taylor earned Florida top-
10 in the 2008 season with a 24:03 finish
on the five-mile course at the Notre
Dame Invitational. The Gator men tied
for sixth as Taylor crossed the finishline
15th overall and second for the Gators.
FOOTBALL
The football team is busy preparing for
National Signing Day next Wednesday,
Feb. 4. Once again, the Gators are
looking to reload with another top-15
recruiting class under Coach Urban
Meyer.
MEN’S GOLF
The 12th-ranked University of Florida
men’s golf team turned in a solid performance
on Monday at the Golden
Ocala Collegiate. despite the rainy conditions.
In the 36-hole event, the Gators
shot 558 (-18) to finish 26 strokes ahead
of second-place North Florida.
WOMEN’S GOLF
The Gators open their 2009 spring
season Feb. 9-11 when they travel to
Palos Verdes, Calif., to compete in the
Northrop Grumman Invitational hosted
by Ohio State University.
GYMNASTICS
Melanie Sinclair earned her third career
10.0 for the uneven bars last Friday versus
Kentucky. She is one of four Gators
to earn the perfect mark on the bars and
the only one to earn the mark on multiple
occasions. No. 8 Florida travels to
Baton Rouge, La., to meet No. 11 LSU
on Friday, Feb. 6. LSU is the fourth top-
15 opponent for UF this season.
LACROSSE
Both of Florida’s assistant coaches will
be in Prague, Czech Republic, next
June for the 2009 Federation of International
Lacrosse World Cup. Erica
LaGrow was named to the 18-member
team following last weekend’s U.S.
Lacrosse Champion Challenge in Lake
Buena Vista, Fla. UF’s other assistant
coach, Jenny Ulehla, is an assistant
coach for the U.S. National Team and
will be with the 2009 Women’s World
Cup next June in Prague.
SOCCER
Senior Megan Kerns is a 2008 Soccer-
Buzz.com All-American. She led UF in
2008 with 35 points, 13 goals and five
game-winning goals and shared first in
assists (9). Two Gators appear on SoccerBuzz.com
Freshman All-America
teams. Tahnai Annis is part of the SoccerBuzz.com
Freshman All-America
second team, while Jazmyne Avant appears
on the third team.
SOFTBALL
Florida opens its season at home for the
first time in five years. The last time the
Gators began their season in the friendly
confines of Katie Seashole Pressly
Stadium was on Feb. 6, 2004, when
they defeated Appalachian State, 10-0,
in the first game of the GRU Classic.
The three-game home series against
Baylor also marks the first time since
2003 UF has not started the season with
a tournament.
MEN’S SWIMMING
& DIVING
Both Florida swimming and diving
programs sent their seniors out in winning
fashion Saturday afternoon from
the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. The
No. 8 men topped Indian River, 128-
83, in the Orange and Blue’s last home
dual meet of the 2008-09 season. Prior
to the start of the swimming and diving
action, seniors Bradley Ally, Jeana
Bartell, Laurabeth Guenthner, Cody
Kauffman, Aaron Leech, Eric Shrestha,
Jos Smith, Kelsy Smith, Rachel Sowers,
Whitney Stern, Scott Thompson,
Rex Tullius and Lindsay Woodward
were honored.
WOMEN’S SWIMMING
& DIVING
Three University of Florida women’s
swimmers and divers swept the final
week of swim & dive conference
awards Tuesday. Freshmen Anna-Liisa
Pold and Jemma Lowe joined junior
diver Kara Salamone with the weekly
accolade. Lowe was named the SEC
Female Swimmer of the Week. Pold
garnered SEC Female Freshman of
the Week, while Salamone reeled in
SEC Female Diver of the Week for the
second time this season, the first being
Nov. 11. The honor for the trio comes
after the No. 5 Lady Gators defeated the
seventh-ranked Tennessee Volunteers,
174-125, in the last SEC dual meet of
the season for both teams Jan. 30.
MEN’S TENNIS
The No. 7 Gators defeated No. 48 Arizona
and No. 15 Texas A&M this past
weekend in the opening rounds of the
ITA National Team Indoor Championships
at Linder Stadium. Florida advances
to the round of 16 in Chicago,
Ill., on Feb. 13-16.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
The Gators opened their season last
week winning four home matches, including
the first two rounds of the ITA
National Team Indoor Championships
that advanced Florida to the Round of
16 held in Madison, Wisc. The wins extended
UF’s regular-season home win
streak to 69 consecutive. The team’s
victory over Stetson on January 27th
improved the Gators’ all-time record
vs. other teams from the state of Florida
to 182-32.
TRACK & FIELD
Freshman Gray Horn recorded the
third-highest heptathlon score in school
history and the best opening day (four
events) score by a freshman in program
history. He finished with a score of
5.384 and was named the SEC Male
Freshman of the Week for his efforts.
VOLLEYBALL
Six Florida volleyball players were
named to the Southeastern Conference
Academic Honor Roll for the Fall
2008 season. That total ties for the most
SEC Academic Honor Roll selections
in school history with the 2001, 2003,
2006 and 2007 teams.
DAZZLERS
The University of Florida Dazzlers will
be hosting dance clinics for aspiring
dancers of all ages. The Junior Dazzlers
Clinic, which is open to children
in grades one through eight, will be Saturday,
Feb. 7 from 10 a.m. to noon and
the High School and Collegiate Clinic
will be on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 8:30
a.m. to noon. Both clinics will be held
at the Florida Gym in Gainesville, Fla.
Log on to GatorZone.com for more information.

The Sports Report ...
GATOR • VOL. IV ISS. 21 • FEBRUARY 5, 2009
Records & Rankings
SPORT ALL SEC RANK
Men’s Basketball 19-4 6-2 RV/RV
Women’s Basketball 20-2 6-1 11/13
Gymnastics 3-1 2-1 8
Men’s Swim/Diving 8-2 4-1 8
Women’s Swim/Diving 8-2 4-1 5
Men’s Track and Field -- -- 4
Women’s Track and Field -- -- 17
Coming Up in Gator
Nation...
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5
W Bball at Alabama • 7 p.m.
(GRN)
M Tennis vs. UCF • 3 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6
SB vs. Baylor • 6 p.m.
(GVO/WRUF)
Gymnastics at LSU • 8 p.m.
(GVO)
MEN’S BASKETBALL: Sophomore guard Nick Calathes scored 22 points, sophomore forward Alex
Tyus added 19 and Florida held on in the closing minutes to beat South Carolina with a 97-93 victory
on Tuesday night in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Florida won for the 13th time in its past 15
games, snapped South Carolina’s four-game winning streak -- and with help from Mississippi State --
took over sole possession in the Eastern Division. The Bulldogs upset Kentucky 66-57 earlier Tuesday.
The Gators will hit the road next week, traveling to Kentucky for a 9 p.m. tip on Tuesday (Feb. 10).
They will head to Athens to take on the Georgia Bulldogs at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: The Gators enter the week sporting a modest five-game win streak,
which is tied for the second-longest win streak in SEC play in program history, one shy of the school
mark. Florida also is 6-1 in conference action, tied for the best seven-game SEC record in Gator history.
Last week, the Gators recorded their 20th win of the season, the 10th time UF has reached the
10-win plateau and the first time since 2005-06. Florida enters Sunday’s game against Tennessee riding
a 13-game home winning streak, the fourth-longest in program history.
GYMNASTICS: Melanie Sinclair knew it was going to be a good day when she woke up this morning.
That feeling turned out to be prophetic as the All-American’s 10.0 on the uneven bars led the No.
5 University of Florida gymnastics team to a 195.925-193.85 win Friday over Kentucky in front of a
crowd of 8,019 for the Third Annual Gators Link to Pink meet. Florida travels to No. 10 LSU Friday
to face its fourth top-10 opponent of the 2009 season.
TRACK AND FIELD: The University of Florida track and field teams captured seven events, notching
10 NCAA provisional-qualifying marks and one automatic-qualifying mark to highlight the Gators’
participation in the SEC/Big 12 Showdown last weekend at the Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium on
TAKE YOUR GATOR NATION PRIDE
EVERYWHERE YOU GO!
the campus of Texas A&M University.
Gray Horn and Mariam
Kevkhishvili each earned weekly
honors from the Southeastern
Conference, the league offices
in Birmingham, Ala., announced
Tuesday afternoon. Horn was
named the Male Freshman of
the Week, while Kevkhishvili
was named the Female Field
Athlete of the Week for the second
consecutive week.
SATURDAY, FEBRUAR Y 7
Softball vs. Baylor • 1 p.m.,
(GVO/WRUF)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8
SB vs. Baylor • 12 p.m. (GVO)
W Tennis at UNC • 1 p.m.
WBball vs. Tennessee • 5 p.m.
(ESPN2/GRN)
Last Week’s Results...
FRIDAY, JANUARY 30
Gym def .Kentucky, 195.925-
193.85
M Tennis def. Arizona, 5-2
M S&D def. Tennessee, 159.5-
140.5
W S&D def. Tennessee, 174-125
SATURDAY, JANUARY 31
M Tennis def. TAMU, 6-1
W Tennis def. Okla. State, 4-0
M Bball lost to Tennessee, 63-79
M S&D def. IRCC, 128-83
W S&D def. IRCC/FGCU, 87-20,
84-28
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1
W Tennis def. W. Michigan, 7-0
W Bball def. Arkansas, 94-78
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3
M Bball def. So. Carolina, 97-93
http://www.ufalumni.ufl.edu/chase
5

GATOR • VOL. IV ISS. 21 • FEBRUARY 5, 2009
Football Signees Bios ...
Nick Alajajian
A true freshman who enrolled at UF in January of 2009...
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Participant in the U.S. Army
All-American Bowl...Ranked as the fourth-best offensive
tackle in the 2009 class by Rivals.com and ranked as a
five-star recruit by Scout.com...Helped lead Naples High
School to a 16-0 record and 2007 Class 3A State Championship...Gave
up only one sack in the entire 2007
season...Three-year starter for Naples...Missed six games
in his senior season due to an ankle injury... Received
Marco Island YMCAâ€s Male High School Athlete of
the Year in 2008...Selected to MaxPreps 1st All-American
Team...Claims biggest strengths are his footwork and
agility...Chose Florida over FSU, Miami and Georgia...
Coached by Bill Kramer.
Jon Bostic
A true freshman who enrolled at UF in January of 2009...
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Selected to the U.S. Army All-
American Bowl...Ranked as the fifth-best Inside Linebacker
prospect according to Rivals.com...Had over 100
tackles in his junior season...His father, Jon Bostic Sr.,
played three seasons for the Detroit Lions in the NFL...
Selected UF over Miami, LSU, FSU and Clemson...
Coached by Rodney Harris...In 2008, he rushed the ball
75 times for 458 yards and six touchdowns...Member
of the ESPNU Top 150...Claims greatest strengths are
his speed and aggressiveness... Helped lead Palm Beach
Central to the eighth-best defense in Palm Beach County.
Gary Brown
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: A menacing defender who
committed to Florida as a junior... Amassed over 40
sacks over his final two seasons... Selected as an Under
Armour All-American in 2008... Was an FSWA All-State
First-Team 1A selection as a junior and senior... Ranked
as the second-best defensive tackle in the country by
ESPN.com and Scout.com... Had 26 sacks and 114
tackles (84 solo) with 20 for a loss as a junior... Was a
member of the track & field team while also playing
pitcher and first base for the West Gadsden baseball
team... Coached by Antonio Bradwell... Chose Florida
over Florida State, Miami, Arkansas and Notre Dame.
Andre Debose
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Led Sanford to the Class 6A title
over Miami-Northwestern by catching the game-winning
touchdown in the final seconds....Accumulated more
than 2,000 yards at wide receiver, running back and
quarterback...Rushed for 1,332 yards on 117 carries and
scored 12 touchdowns...As a part-time quarterback, he
completed 25 of 44 pass attempts for 353 yards and four
touchdowns...Returned 10 punts for 236 yards and 14
kicks for 497 yards...Caught 27 passes for 664 yards and
six touchdowns...Ranked No. 30 nationally in the ESPN
150....Played in ESPN/Under Armour All-Star Game,
catching a 90-yard TD pass... Named First-Team 2008
EA Sports All-America Team...Named to the Orlando
Sentinel’s All-Southern Team...Ranked sixth out of 120
top recruits by Mobile’s Press Register Super Southeast...
Ranked second as a five-star wide receiver and the
top receiver after a catch by Rivals.com...Finished his
junior season with 712 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing;
204 yards and one touchdown passing; and had 18
catches for 270 yards receiving... State track champion
as a member of Sanford Seminole Track & Field team.
Josh Evans
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Rushed for 1,403 yards and 14
touchdowns and completed 123 of 190 pass attempts
for 1,856 yards and 18 touchdowns in his career at
Irvington... Also recorded 78 tackles and seven interceptions
on defense during his senior year... Named the
Star-Ledger Essex County Player of the Year and a was
a first-team all-state selection as a senior... Led his high
school track team to the Group 3 Track co-state championship
title competing in hurdles, relay and high jump...
Chose Florida over Oklahoma, Pittsburgh and Purdue...
Coached by Darnell Grant.
6
Dee Finley
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Attended Prep School at the Milford
Academy for a year in 2008...Coached by Bill Chaplick at Milford...
Participant in the Under Armour High School All-American
Game in 2008... USA Today second-team All-American...
Class 6A all-state selection in Alabama... Amassed 70 tackles
and seven interceptions as a senior for Auburn... Registered
50 tackles, picked off eight passes and returned three back for
touchdowns as junior... Credited with seven pass breakups in
his junior season... Also brought back a punt return for a score...
Reeled in nine passes for 98 yards and touchdown as a receiver...
Hauled in three touchdowns as sophomore on just seven receptions
for 70 yards... Racked up 50 tackles and interception as a
sophomore... Four-star recruit by Rivals.com and rated as the
fifth-best safety prospect. No. 10 in the ESPN 150 and the top
safety prospect... Coached in high school by Tim Carter.
Mike Gillislee
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Rushed for 1,149 yards on 227 carries
for a 5.1-yard average...Ran for over 900 yards as a sophomore
and over 1,200 yards as a junior...Carried 28 times for 200 yards
(7.1 average) and scored the game-winning two-point conversion
in DeLand’s 29-28 win over Mandarin... Considered South
Carolina, Auburn, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State, among others...
Also played slot receiver at DeLand for head coach Kevin
Pettis... Ranked the No. 7 running back by Rivals.com and was
tabbed the No. 8 all-purpose back by the organization.
Jon Halapio
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Played all five positions on the offensive
line... Named First-Team All-Pinellas County as a senior as was
referred to “an immovable object on the line” by the St. Petersburg
Times... Also played on defensive line for St. Petersburg
Catholic... Played in the Pinellas County All-Star Game... Aims
to lower his 40-yard dash time from 5.1 to 4.9 before he arrives
in Gainesville... Has a vertical jump of 26-1/2 inches... Bench
presses 340 pounds and squats 515 pounds... Was named the Offensive
Lineman Most Valuable Player at the Gainesville NIKE
Camp... Has a 3.0 GPA... Chose to play for the Gators over
Colorado and Notre Dame...Coached by Tod Creneti.
Jonotthan Harrison
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Participated in offense/defense All-
American Bowl... Before choosing Florida, he also considered
Miami, FSU and Boston College... Participated in the Offense-
Defense All-American Bowl... High school teammate of current
Gator Jeff Demps... Versatile athlete that can play any of the five
offensive line positions... Selected as the Offense-Defense All-
American Bowl Offensive Lineman of the Year... Selected to the
Orlando Sentinelâ€s All-Central Florida First Team... Rated as
a Four-Star Offensive Guard Prospect by Rivals.com... Coached
by Walter Banks.
Edwin Herbert
A junior college player who enrolled at UF in January of 2009...
Can bench press 465 pounds... A four-star tackle and the No. 26
overall JUCO prospect according to Rivals.com... PRIOR TO
FLORIDA: Competed at the City College of San Francisco for
two seasons... Recorded 36 tackles last fall for coach George
Rush... Totaled 48 tackles, three tackles for loss and six sacks
in the 2007 campaign... Chose the Gators over North Carolina
State, Arkansas and Tennessee... Was originally slated to play
for Army coming out of Armijo High School...Coached by Mike
Singer in high school.
Jelani Jenkins
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Earned first-team Washington-Post
All-Met honors and was first-team all-state in Maryland...Played
in the Under Armour All-America Game...Highest-rated outside
linebacker by Rivals.com and the 10th-best player overall... Selected
as a first-team 2008 EA Sports All-American...Named the
Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year in both 2007 and 2008...
Rushed for 22 touchdowns on 87 carries during his senior season
and made 70 tackles on defense...First player in the 71-year history
of the District’s Pigskin Club to earn both Defensive Player
of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors... Will travel
to Los Angeles later in February as one of five national finalists
for the Watkins Award, the high school equivalent of the Heisman
Trophy...Registered 60 tackles, four sacks, an interception,
a forced fumble and recovered two fumbles as a junior on defense....Rushed
for 791 yards and 16 touchdowns that season....
A standout sprinter in track, he has recorded a 4.4 40-yard dash...
Chose Florida over Notre Dame, Penn State, Southern Cal
and Stanford...Coached by Bob Milloy... His GPA is above
perfect 4.0, owing to extra credit to Advanced Placement
in the classroom... His parents devised a three-page matrix
of their son’s college choices, breaking down schools by
such categories as world academic ranking, graduation
rates, diversity and number of NFL draft picks in the past
five years.
Kedric Johnson
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Recorded 41 tackles, 24.5 sacks, 27
quarterback hurries, four pass breakups and an interception
for a touchdown during his senior season...Finished his
junior season with 40 tackles and 19 sacks, giving him 43.5
sacks his junior and senior seasons combined... Awarded
the Bradenton Herald Co-Player of the Year... A first-team
all-state selection as a junior...Owns a 4.69 40-yard dash,
bench max is 255 pounds and has a 35-inch vertical...
Coached by Bob Bowling.
Kyle Koehne
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: A two-year starter at right tackle
who shifted to left tackle his senior year at Indianapolis
Cathedral... Received first-team all-state honors by the Associated
Press and Indiana high school coaches...Led Indianapolis
Cathedral to the 2008 Class 4A state championship,
its second championship in the last three seasons... Named
the Indiana Player of the Year by the Indianapolis Star...
Graded out at 82 percent his senior season... Benches 320
pounds, squats 420 pounds, has a 24-inch vertical jump and
runs the 40-yard dash in 5.3 seconds... Earned Scout.com
All-Combine honors after a successful performance at the
U.S. Army Combine... Named the 2008 Indianapolis Player
of the Year... Garnered 2008 All-City and All-Marion
County high school football honor teams... A Class 4A allstate
selection as a junior... Coached by Rick Streiff.
Xavier Nixon
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Named the High School Maxwell
Award winner among offensive linemen... Named firstteam
all-state on the offensive line... In addition to his time
on offensive line, collected 50 tackles while playing on
defense... Led Jack Britt to the Class 4-AA state championship
game... Played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl...
Selected as a First- Team 2008 EA Sports All-American...
Named a U.S. Army All-American Bowl Player of the
Year finalist... Chosen as the Cape Fear Region Player of
the Year... Named to Parade Magazineâ€s High School
All-American team... The North Carolina ESPN Rise
Gatorade Football Player of the Year... A 2007 AP all-state
selection... Both parents are in the U.S. Military and have
served in the Middle East... Father has been stationed in
Afghanistan, but was approved for leave to see Nixon commit
to the Gators at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in
Orlando, Fla...Coached by Richard Bailey.
Desmond Parks
A true freshman who enrolled at UF in January of 2009...
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: 2008 second-team all-state selection...Had
30 catches for 450 yards and seven touchdowns
as a junior... Recorded 29 catches for 403 yards and five
touchdowns as a senior... Participated in the Offense-
Defense All-American Bowl... Chose Florida over North
Carolina, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Clemson, and Duke...
Member of the ESPNU Top 150... Coached by Will Young.
Jordan Reed
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: As a junior, he completed 122-of-
222 passes for 1,706 yards and 28 touchdowns... Threw
only two interceptions... Also rushed for 370 yards and
eight touchdowns... Three-year starter for the New London
Whalers...Known for his great size and incredible arm
strength...Led New London to an undefeated regular season
in 2007...Chose Florida over Connecticut, Oregon, Boston
College and Maryland...Coached by Jack Cochrane...
Ranked by Rivals as the 10th-best dual-threat quarterback
and the second-best prospect from the state of Connecticut...Member
of the ESPNU Top 150...Finalist for the 2008
Joe Montana High School Quarterback of the Year.