1 » The month of February is half over and Florida Gators basketball fans are concerned about where their team will be playing in the end of March. Will it earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three seasons or join some other traditional college basketball powerhouses in the NIT? While ESPN‘s Joe Lunardi has left the Gators out of his most recent bracketology, Seth Davis of Sports Illustrated believes Florida still has a legitimate shot. Davis lists the Gators as a 12-seed and predicts an upset over 5-seed Wake Forest. “Despite recent struggles, Florida looks like a team capable of making the tournament — and staging a first-round upset,” Davis writes.

2 » With the 2010 NFL Draft coming up and plenty of Florida players in contention for top picks, The Houston Chronicle’s Lance Zierlein looked at how former Gators have fared in the league since 2001. The results are less spectacular than Florida fans would hope, though the team has certainly had its share of impact players.

3 » One former Gators star on the verge of a bleak NFL career is Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Derrick Harvey. Though he has struggled thus far in Jacksonville and only compiled two sacks in 2009, Harvey is a favorite of new Jaguars assistant coach Joe Cullen. “Our pick was going to be Derrick Harvey if he was available,” Cullen recounted about the 2007 draft to The Florida Times-Union. “We did a lot of research on him, put him through a great one-on-one workout after Florida’s pro day. The qualities we saw in Derrick are still there. He’s explosive, strong. He’s going to be a powerful rusher. With more repetition and work, that can come out of him.”

4 » Looking back at college football recruiting classes from 2007, SI’s Andy Staples reaffirms that the Gators had the best class in the nation. “This class provided the raw materials for a championship,” Staples writes. “It’s interesting to note that this class could produce as many as four 2010 first-round draft picks.”

Tags: Derrick Harvey, Draft, Jacksonville Jaguars, Joe Cullen, NCAA Tournament, NFL, NIT

1 » Picking seventh in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns are likely looking to upgrade their secondary with either a safety or cornerback. Assuming Tennessee Volunteers S Eric Berry is off the board, the Browns are expected to target Florida Gators CB Joe Haden with their first-round selection. Seriously lacking defensive backs and a starting quarterback, the Browns could go either way to start the draft, but Haden may be as can’t-miss as it gets at that spot and could even start from day one.

2 » Head basketball coach Billy Donovan mentioned that the University of Florida will be honoring the 2000 NCAA Championship runner-up Gators team with a video and posters during Saturday’s home game against the Xavier Musketeers. “[There are] too many guys still playing/coaching to get them [all] back,” Donovan said. “[I] hope people remember what a special team that was.” The game will air live at 6 p.m. on ESPN.

Tags: Billy Donovan, Cleveland Browns, Draft, Eric Berry, Joe Haden, NCAA Championship, NFL, Tennessee Volunteers, University of Florida, Xavier Musketeers

1 » The 2009 NFL Playoffs may have begun with seven but only one former Florida Gators player has made it to Super Bowl XLIV at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, FL. That man is New Orleans Saints defensive end Bobby McCray, who did not have a dominating regular season but has had quite an impact on his team’s first two playoff games. Making it a point to hit both Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner and Minnesota Vikings QB Brett Favre hard, McCray knocked each out of the game for a short period of time. Now he will turn his focus on NFL MVP and Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning. Keep an eye on No. 93 throughout the game on Sunday.

2 » All of the pre-2010 NFL Draft attention has been focused on former Gators QB Tim Tebow (wide receiver Riley Cooper has received a little, too), but linebacker Brandon Spikes is preparing for the biggest job interview of his career, too. Staying quiet while training and working out after a sub-par (for him) season, Spikes is doing whatever he can to impress scouts at the NFL Scouting Combine from Feb. 24 to March 2. “I’m anxious to get started,” Spikes told Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel. “Hopefully, I can go to the league and grab it by the neck.” Speaking about the future at Florida, Spikes was optimistic. “Those younger players know what we started and the legacy we have here. They just want to keep it going. I say it all the time to my younger group, the linebacker corps, those guys are talented. The sky’s the limit for those guys. If they continue to work and buy into the program, they’ll have the same success.”

Read how Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey and Frankie Hammond fared in track and field action and how gymnastics and tennis performed this weekend after the jump!
Continue Reading » SIX BITS: McCray in Super Bowl, weekend wrap-up

Tags: Alabama Crimson Tide, Alexandre Lacroix, Antoine Benneteau, Bobby McCray, Brandon Spikes, Chris Rainey, combine, Draft, field, Florida Atlantic Owls, Frankie Hammond, George Washington Colonials, gymnastics, Indianapolis Colts, Jeff Demps, Linder Stadium, Mariam Kevkhishvili, N.C. State Wolfpack, NCAA, New Orleans Saints, NFL, Peyton Manning, Playoffs, Rector Field House, Ring Tennis Complex, Shara Proctor, Sun Life Stadium, Super Bowl XLIV, tennis, Tim Tebow, track, Virginia Tech Elite Meet

ONLY GATORS Get Out Alive has learned that 10 former Florida Gators players have been officially invited to participate in the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine (National Invitational Camp) in Indianapolis, IN, at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The event, which is held for six days from Feb. 24 to March 2, consists of more than 300 players being put through a series of drills, tests and interviews while more than 600 NFL personnel in attendance including coaching staffs, executives, player personnel and medical staff look on and evaluate each of them. It amounts to the final job interview these athletes will participate in before the 2010 NFL Draft commences on April 22.

The 10 former Gators student-athletes participating in the combine include:

Seniors
Quarterback Tim Tebow – Group: 05; Camp: QB19
Wide receiver Riley Cooper – Group: 04; Camp: WO12
Wide receiver Brandon James – Group: 04; Camp: WO19
Linebacker Brandon Spikes = Group: 09; Camp: LB30
Defensive end Jermaine Cunningham – Group: 07; Camp: DL09

Juniors
Cornerback Joe Haden – Group: 10; Camp: DB20
Defensive end Carlos Dunlap – Group: 07; Camp: DL13
Safety Major Wright – Group 11; Camp DB58
Tight end Aaron Hernandez – Group: 03; Camp: TE13
Center Maurkice Pouncey – Group: 02; Camp: OL33

Read about each player’s day-to-day schedule in Indianapolis after the jump!
Continue Reading » Ten Gators invited to 2010 NFL Scouting Combine

Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Brandon James, Brandon Spikes, Carlos Dunlap, combine, Draft, Jermaine Cunningham, Joe Haden, Lucas Oil Stadium, Major Wright, Maurkice Pouncey, NFL, Riley Cooper, Tim Tebow

Coverage of practices for the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl this week focused squarely on former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow. However, as expected, the game itself was lackluster for both Tebow and wide receiver Riley Cooper.

The Miami Dolphins coaching staff including head coach Tony Sparano and quarterbacks coach David Lee coached Tebow up all week but only left him in the game for two series in the first half before benching him. They would allow him to re-enter for a few series with 3:45 remaining in the third quarter.

Tebow went three-for-six for 23 yards passing along with one rush for three yards in his first appearance. His second time in the huddle, Tebow completed five-of-six for 27 yards with a seven-yard rush; however, he did fumble the ball on a nice strip by the North. Three of his four incompletions resulted from dropped receptions.

Cooper, on the other hand, saw action the entire first half but only registered two catches for 36 yards. His most impressive was on a 25-yard crossing route before halftime.

For all of the criticism surrounding Tebow this week, he was flawless from under center and made some “NFL throws” including a touch pass and cross-body screen passes.

“During the week I feel I got a lot better and worked on a lot of things,” Tebow said. “The stuff that people know I can do, I didn’t have to come out there and do that. I just came out here and worked on the things I needed to, and I enjoyed it. I feel like I improved every day. I came out here with a purpose, to get better, and I feel like I did that.”

The North team defeated the South 31-13. North QB Dan LeFevour led the way with 97 yards and two touchdowns (one rush) while WR Mardy Gilyard complied 102 yards and a TD on five receptions.

Next up for the duo (along and other former Gators) are preparation workouts and tests for the 2010 NFL Combine which will be held for six days from Feb. 27 to March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. Players are put through a series of drills, tests and interviews while more than 600 NFL personnel in attendance including head coaches, general managers and scouts look on and evaluate each of them. OGGOA will feature full coverage throughout the event.

Tags: combine, Dan LeFevour, David Lee, Draft, Lucas Oil Stadium, Mardy Gilyard, Miami Dolphins, NFL, Riley Cooper, Senior Bowl, Tim Tebow, Tony Sparano, Under Armour

Analysts, commentators and NFL Draft experts have been critical of former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow‘s release for the last year, and the evaluations have been even tougher over the last week. But what is it exactly that is wrong with Tebow’s release? Fans have heard that it is “too low” and “too slow. ESPN‘s Todd McShay recently had this to say in his Tebow progress report: “[It] takes [him] entirely too long getting the ball out. It will be difficult to succeed in the NFL with the elongated, three-quarters delivery he has shown during his career at Florida.”

During the 2010 Sugar Bowl against the Cincinnati Bearcats, color man and former Baltimore Ravens head coach Brian Billick broke down Tebow’s throwing motion.

What is even more interesting is the fact that Tebow’s arm action did not always look like this. Back in high school, he kept the ball up near his shoulder and had a more “professional” follow-through. Take a look at his release over time. (h/t SmartFootball)

The positive? If he’s done it before, he can likely do it again.

Tags: Brian Billick, Cincinnati Bearcats, Draft, NFL, Senior Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Tim Tebow

Former Florida Gators defensive end Carlos Dunlap entered a plea of no contest to driving under the influence in a Gainesville courthouse Friday. Dunlap, who was arrested in the early morning of Dec. 1, was given the minimum mandatory sentence for a first-time DUI offender.

His license was suspended for six months, he must complete 50 hours of community service, serve a year of probation, pay approximately $1,000 in fines and court fees and participate in a victim’s impact panel, Spencer Mann with the State Attorney’s Office told The Gainesville Sun.

Dunlap, who was found asleep at the wheel of his vehicle while it was in-gear and stopped at a traffic light, was suspended by head coach Urban Meyer for the 2009 SEC Championship. Meyer, athletic director Jeremy Foley and University of Florida president Bernie Machen mutually agreed to reinstate him for the 2010 Sugar Bowl.

After the conclusion of the season, Dunlap, 20, decided to forgo his final year of college eligibility and declare for the 2010 NFL Draft. He is projected to be a first-round pick.

Tags: Bernie Machen, Carlos Dunlap, Draft, Jeremy Foley, NFL, SEC Championship, Sugar Bowl, University of Florida, Urban Meyer

1 » While former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow is dealing with strict evaluations from seemingly every direction, one person at the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl who is squarely in Tebow’s corner is Miami Dolphins and South team head coach Tony Sparano. “I thought it was outstanding, I really did,” Sparano said of Tebow’s work ethic. “In the meeting room he’s been super, spending extra time. He’s been great to coach. One of the nice things with him is, you’ve got somebody lining up in the wrong spot, he’s got it, he can get them lined up right. He sees somebody maybe not run the right route or in the wrong place, he’s got it. This whole thing has really slowed down for him. He has great command for what we’re trying to do.”

2 » Also on Tebow’s side, not surprisingly, is his high school coach at Nease, Craig Howard. “He’s the most scrutinized quarterback I’ve ever seen,” Howard told The Gainesville Sun’s John Patton. “It seems like so many people want to pick out what they find to be wrong with him. […] There is more to a quarterback than throwing motion and whether he plays primarily out of a shotgun or under center. […] He was the most dominant high school quarterback I have ever seen. [...] When he was being recruited, multiple coaches told me he cannot play the way he did at Nease in the SEC. How right were they? It’s the same deal now. […] It’s the same thing I told Urban Meyer. You aren’t just getting a quarterback, you are getting a guy who will change your program. He will change you. He made me a better coach. I wanted to be a better coach because I didn’t want to let him down.”

Two more BITS on Tim Tebow (documentary, mock draft) after the jump!
Continue Reading » FOUR BITS: Former QB Tim Tebow’s NFL future

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Bill Heavener, Chase Heavener, Craig Howard, Draft, Miami Dolphins, Nease, NFL, Senior Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Tim Tebow, Tony Sparano, Under Armour