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Jaguars Make Big Move To Grab Gators' Harvey

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By JENNA MARINA

Tribune correspondent

Published: April 27, 2008

GAINESVILLE - Kim Harvey always has described her son as calm, cool, collected and quiet.

Even on the eve of possibly the most important day of his career, Derrick Harvey stayed true to his nature.

The defensive end from the University of Florida said he had no problems sleeping Friday - "I was knocked out" - and wasn't nervous before he heard his name called as the eighth overall pick in the NFL draft Saturday.

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Harvey after a trade with Baltimore that included Jacksonville's first-round pick (No. 26), a pair of third-round picks and a fourth-rounder.

Harvey tuned in to the draft from his parents' home in Maryland, and he was just as surprised as everyone else watching on television.

It wasn't long before Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio was on the other end of the phone.

"I told him, 'I'm glad to be a Jacksonville Jaguar. I'm ready to come in and work hard and learn the plays,'" Harvey said. "He said, 'OK, cool.' He's ready for me to come down."

The Jaguars could use some help on their defensive line after trading three-time Pro Bowl selection Marcus Stroud to Buffalo and losing Bobby McCray to free agency.

"I'm going to just compete for a starting job," Harvey said. "I'm going to listen to my D-line coach and learn from the veterans."

Jacksonville defensive line coach Ted Monachino already has spent quality time with Harvey, when the two executed defensive line drills at Florida's Pro Day last month.

"He's a competitor. He's a snap-to-whistle, bottom-of-his-shoes-to-top-of-his-headgear kind of guy, and I think that jumps out at you," Monachino said. "His arrow is going up in a big way.

"I think he's going to be a good player for a long, long time."

The 6-foot-4, 270-pounder will join a former Gators teammate, Jaguars safety Reggie Nelson, who called Harvey on Saturday evening to congratulate him.

Harvey, the only UF player selected Saturday, plans to be in Jacksonville later in the week after he makes a pit stop in Gainesville to pack his belongings.

As for his first purchase as an NFL player, he wants to buy a car for his mother. His mother and stepfather put 40,000 miles on their car in the past 11/2 years driving from Maryland to Gainesville to attend their son's games.

Harvey isn't sure what kind of car he will buy for his mother, but he knows she won't be racking up any more miles during all-night road trips to Florida.

"She'll probably fly now," he said, and you could almost hear the smile on his face.

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