Two Florida Gators juniors came home from The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards in Orlando, FL, Thursday evening with awards; unfortunately, four other players were not as lucky. Center Maurkice Pouncey was awarded the 2009 Rimington Trophy (best collegiate center) and tight end Aaron Hernandez was honored with the 2009 John Mackey Award (best collegiate tight end). Each was the first Gators player in history to take home his respective award.

Senior quarterback Tim Tebow, who was up for the 2009 Davey O’Brien Award (best collegiate quarterback) and 2009 Maxwell Award (best all-around player), was defeated for both by Texas Longhorns QB Colt McCoy. Tebow took home the O’Brien Award in 2007 and is a two-time winner of the Maxwell Award (2007, 2008). Senior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes lost the 2009 Chuck Bednarik Award (best defensive player) to Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh; junior cornerback Joe Haden was defeated by Tennessee Volunteers safety Eric Berry for the 2009 Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back); and Georgia Bulldogs punter Drew Butler won the 2009 Ray Guy Award (best collegiate punter) over junior Chas Henry. 2009 Heisman Trophy ceremony is on Saturday at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Brandon Spikes, Chas Henry, Chuck Bednarik Award, Colt McCoy, Davey O'Brien Award, Drew Butler, Eric Berry, Georgia Bulldogs, Heisman Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award, Joe Haden, John Mackey Award, Maurkice Pouncey, Maxwell Award, Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Ray Guy Award, Rimington Trophy, Tennessee Volunteers, Texas Longhorns, Tim Tebow

Lisa Webster, the mother of Florida Gators junior offensive linemen and twin brothers Mike and Maurkice Pouncey, told Gator Country on Wednesday that her boys will likely return to the University of Florida for their senior seasons unless they are graded by scouts as worthy of a selection in the first two rounds of the 2010 NFL Draft.

“They’re staying put unless they hear first or second round,” Webster said. “That would change everything. They know they have my blessing to go if it’s in the first or second round. For that kind of money, they’re set for life if they invest it right and they can always go back to school to finish up school in the offseason, but if it’s third round … well, I’d just as soon they stay in school. They’re both going to be close to graduating in the summer. The NFL will still be there and they’ll have their education.”

More on this story including the opinion of a local sports agent after the jump…
Continue Reading » Pounceys’ mom: 1st, 2nd round or no NFL Draft

Tags: Ahmad Black, Bruce Black, Draft, John Brantley, Lisa Webster, Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Pouncey, NFL, Steve Addazio, University of Florida, Urban Meyer

Bruce Black, the father of Florida Gators junior strong safety Ahmad Black, has told the Gainesville Sun that the chances his son will declare for the 2010 NFL Draft are 90 percent. Why? Black says head coach Urban Meyer does not respect his son.

“I would let Ahmad stay if they would show him some respect,” he said. “I don’t think coach Urban Meyer respects my son. If he did, Ahmad would have started the first game instead of Will Hill. Coach Meyer favors certain players, and Ahmad isn’t one of them.”

Black also gave his thoughts about some of the other third-year players from Lakeland High School and what their plans are for 2010. “The Pounceys are definitely going to the NFL,” he said. “Chris Rainey says he’s coming out, but I’ve advised him to stay. He’s a little too small right now, but he wants to come out.”

Tags: Ahmad Black, Bruce Black, Chris Rainey, Draft, Lakeland, Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Pouncey, NFL, Urban Meyer

Nine Florida Gators football players were named to the 2009 All-SEC team as voted by the league’s head coaches. Senior quarterback Tim Tebow was Florida’s only unanimous selection. Joining him on the first-team offense are juniors tight end Aaron Hernandez, offensive guard Mike Pouncey and center Maurkice Pouncey. For the defense, senior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes and juniors cornerback Joe Haden and Carlos Dunlap received first-team honors. Seniors DE Jermaine Cunningham and LB Ryan Stamper earned spots on the second team. The Gators tied the Alabama Crimson Tide who also had a league-high nine All-SEC selections.

Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Alabama Crimson Tide, All-SEC, Brandon Spikes, Carlos Dunlap, Charlie Strong, Jermaine Cunningham, Joe Haden, Louisville Cardinals, Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Pouncey, Ryan Stamper, Tim Tebow, Tom Juric

The Associated Press released its 2009 All-SEC team lists on Monday and, to no one’s surprise, 11 Florida Gators football players made the cut.

Senior quarterback Tim Tebow, junior guard Mike Pouncey, junior center Maurkice Pouncey, junior tight end Aaron Hernandez, junior cornerback Joe Haden and junior defensive end Carlos Dunlap were all awarded first-team honors while senior wide receiver Riley Cooper, senior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes, senior DE Jermaine Cunningham and junior punter Chas Henry were placed on the second team. Junior strong safety Ahmad Black received an honorable mention.

Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Ahmad Black, All-SEC, Brandon Spikes, Carlos Dunlap, Chas Henry, Jermaine Cunningham, Joe Haden, Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Pouncey, Riley Cooper, Tim Tebow

Senior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes ran an interception back 41 yards for a touchdown, senior quarterback Tim Tebow took off on a career-long 55-yard touchdown run and there was still 9:18 left in the first quarter. That was how Saturday started for the No. 1 Florida Gators (11-0, 8-0 SEC), who defeated the Florida International Golden Panthers (3-8, 3-4 Sunbelt) 62-3 in a game that was a showcase for the Gators’ record-breaking senior class and lengthened the longest winning streak in school history and currently in the nation to 21 consecutive victories.

Running onto Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for the second-to-last time in their Florida careers, the group ended the game as the winningest all-time Southeastern Conference senior class with a record of 46-5. Tebow would take seven caries for 102 total yards on the ground while accounting for 215 more with two touchdowns through the air on 17-for-25 passing. It was the fifth time in his career that Tebow rushed for more than 100 yards. Redshirt sophomore QB John Brantley took over for Tebow early in the third quarter, compiling 146 yards passing and three touchdowns as well as 23 yards on three carries.

Redshirt sophomore running back Chris Rainey had a monster game of his own, carrying four times for 30 yards and a touchdown while also reeling in three receptions for 61 yards and a score. Both of Rainey’s touchdowns came in the second quarter, putting the Gators up 28-0 with 9:41 left in the first half. Fellow redshirt sophomore wide receiver Deonte Thompson led the Gators in both receptions (5 – career high) and receiving yards (66). Nine Florida players had receptions on Saturday, seven with more than one including seniors Riley Cooper (48 yards, touchdown), redshirt David Nelson (45 yards) and Brandon James (15 yards) as well as redshirt freshmen Omarius Hines (50 yards, touchdown) and Frankie Hammond, Jr. (38 yards, touchdown).

Defensively for the Gators, redshirt sophomore Jaye Howard recorded a team-high seven tackles, senior linebackers Ryan Stamper and Dustin Doe each recorded a sack and redshirt junior defensive tackle Lawrence Marsh split another with Howard. Spikes’ interception at 13:10 in the first quarter was the sole turnover of the game for either team. Florida’s defense held FIU to only 189 total offensive yards (most of which came against the second and third units), while only allowing the Golden Panthers to convert 4-of-15 third-down attempts.

Sophomore kicker Caleb Sturgis continued to struggle, missing his fourth consecutive field goal attempt – this time a 53-yarder. Sturgis, however, made all eight of his extra points while redshirt senior Jonathan Phillips had his sole attempt blocked in the fourth quarter. James was silent in the return game, bringing back two kickoffs for 53 yards and four punts for 25 yards. Coverage teams allowed FIU an average of 24.9 yards per return on seven chances.

Florida finishes its 2009 regular season against the in-state rival Florida State Seminoles on Nov. 28 at 3:30 p.m. The Gators will wear special Nike Pro Combat jerseys for the game, which will feature an appearance from ESPN College GameDay and is also the last in The Swamp for the 2009 senior class.

Game Notes:
- Junior tight end Aaron Hernandez missed the first quarter on a coach’s decision. Head coach Urban Meyer would not elaborate.
- Redshirt junior linebacker A.J. Jones injured his MCL during the game. He is out for FSU, after that to be determined.
- Redshirt junior left guard Carl Johnson (ankle) and junior center Maurkice Pouncey (bone bruise) were both injured in the game but will most likely be able to play next week.

Tags: A.J. Jones, Aaron Hernandez, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Brandon James, Brandon Spikes, Caleb Sturgis, Carl Johnson, Chris Rainey, College GameDay, David Nelson, Deonte Thompson, Dustin Doe, ESPN, Florida Field, Florida International Golden Panthers, Frankie Hammond, Jaye Howard, John Brantley, Jonathan Phillips, Lawrence Marsh, Maurkice Pouncey, Omarius Hines, Riley Cooper, Ryan Stamper, SEC, The Swamp, Tim Tebow

1 » Both the Florida Gators and Alabama Crimson Tide have two games to play before their inevitable showdown in the Southeastern Conference Championship game in December. While head coaches Urban Meyer and Nick Saban both emphatically claim that they are worried about their upcoming opponents (FIU and Chattanooga this week, respectively) and are not looking ahead, Chris Low of ESPN.com thinks otherwise. “Who genuinely believes that Alabama and Florida are doing any extensive planning for their opponents this week?” he ponders.

2 » Senior quarterback Tim Tebow continues to pile up the award nominations. On Wednesday, he was named one of five finalists for the 2009 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Given to the top senior college quarterback in the nation, the Golden Arm Award has never been able to be awarded to Tebow, who has won a Heisman Trophy and two Maxwell Awards while Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) took home the other Heisman in the same time span. Tebow also remains in contention as one of 15 finalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.

3 » OGGOA has been singing the praises of juniors defensive end Carlos Dunlap and cornerback Joe Haden as well as senior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes in regard to their 2010 NFL Draft status. Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel points out that the Gators could lose a plethora juniors in addition to their senior class, should some of them choose to declare. Prominent names on that list (aside from Dunlap and Haden) are tight end Aaron Hernandez, offensive linemen Maurkice and Mike Pouncey, Marcus Gilbert and Carl Johnson, safety Major Wright, defensive lineman Justin Trattou and running backs Chris Rainey and Emmanuel Moody. The majority of the aforementioned players will most likely not declare, in our opinion.

4 » Florida basketball (1-0) returns to the court Wednesday night at 7 p.m. against the Georgia Southern Eagles (1-1) at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. The game will air live on FOX Sports Florida – check your local listings for availability. All game and broadcast information is always available on OGGOA‘s Basketball page.

Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Alabama Crimson Tide, Brandon Spikes, Carl Johnson, Carlos Dunlap, Chris Rainey, Draft, Emmanuel Moody, Golden Arm Award, Heisman Trophy, Joe Haden, Justin Trattou, Lawrence Marsh, Major Wright, Marcus Gilbert, Maurkice Pouncey, Maxwell Award, Mike Pouncey, NFL, Nick Saban, Sam Bradford, SEC Championship, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award

This week, OGGOA asked you to participate in three polls, the first two which determined who you believed were the most NFL-ready Florida Gators and the third to choose the Most Valuable Player in the Gators game last weekend against the South Carolina Gamecocks. A total of 464 combined votes were registered and the results are in:

DT Justin Trattou (51%, 82 votes)

CB Joe Haden (38%, 60 votes)

DE Jermaine Cunningham (6%, 10 votes)

WR Riley Cooper (5%, 8 votes)

This was Trattou’s first time nominated for an OGGOA MVP award, and he obviously came away with the title due to his 53-yard interception return on Saturday. For possibly the first time since OGGOA has started these MVP polls, I happen to disagree with your decision. Haden easily had the most impressive game coming away with an interception of his own, two forced fumbles, a sack, a pass deflection and 11 total tackles (10 solo). If that is not an MVP performance, I do not know what is.

Which Florida Gators offensive player has the greatest potential for NFL success?
TE Aaron Hernandez (58%, 87 votes)
OL Pouncey Bros. (20%, 30 votes)
QB Tim Tebow (14%, 22 votes)
RB Emmanuel Moody (8%, 12 votes)

Which Florida Gators defensive player has the greatest potential for NFL success?
LB Brandon Spikes (43%, 65 votes)
DE Carlos Dunlap (32%, 49 votes)
CB Joe Haden (22%, 34 votes)
DE Jermaine Cunningham (3%, 5 votes)

Reviewing your prior two polls, I was pleasantly surprised to see fair judgment of Tebow’s NFL prospects. As someone who, just last season, staunchly defended his ability to play quarterback on the next level, I am starting to come around to the more conventional wisdom of experts like ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. who think Tebow will indeed play in the league, but not as a full-time signal caller. Looking at your choice on defense, the fact that Spikes, Dunlap and Haden are all within 10% of each other proves that this defensive unit really is stacked. All three will be first round picks in 2010 as long as Haden comes to the expected conclusion that declaring is the right thing to do for him. The only thing that may come into play would be a desire to play with his brother Jordan, a four-star 2010 cornerback commitment.

Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Brandon Spikes, Carlos Dunlap, Draft, Emmanuel Moody, Jermaine Cunningham, Joe Haden, Justin Trattou, Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Pouncey, MVP, NFL, poll, Riley Cooper, Tim Tebow