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By MICK ELLIOTT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 5, 2009

FLORIDA DEFENSE

DE, 8, Carlos Dunlap (6-6, 290, So., North Charleston, S.C.)

* Scouting Report: Possesses a wing span of 88 inches. Leads SEC in quarterback sacks with nine. Tied his career-high with two quarterback sacks for a loss of 28 yards and a forced fumble against FSU. Had two blocked punts against Vandy.

* Did You Know: His mother is an elementary school principal.

NT, 90, Lawrence Marsh (6-5, 305, So., Augusta, Ga.

* Scouting Report: Started last 12 games after recording two sacks as reserve in season opener. Had four tackles in win over Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. Earned his way into Urban Meyer's Champions' Club for performance in victory over LSU.

* Did You Know: Participated in the American Legion Boys' State program as a junior, earned by participation in his local, county, and state government.

DT, 92, Terron Sanders (6-2, 300, So., Bradenton)

* Scouting Report: Played in 19 games as a Gator with all 11 starts coming during 2008. His 21 tackles in Florida's 13 games games are five times his season-total tackles (four) from 2007. Recovered fumble against Georgia. Was in Coach Meyer's Champions Club for his work on the defense that held Miami to just three points.

* Did You Know: Ran his own lawn care business in high school, cutting grass and trimming trees.

DE, 49, Jermaine Cunningham (6-3, 250, Jr., Stone Mountain, Ga.)

* Scouting Report: Ranked fifth on team in total tackles with 51. Tied for sixth in the SEC in sacks with six. Recorded key sack for 11-yard loss against Alabama in SEC title game. Honored as SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week after nine total tackles, including two for a loss of 10 yards, and a quarterback sack for a loss of 8 yards against Miami.

* Did You Know: Most memorable moment in his athletic career was making the game-winning sack against his high school's biggest rival.

SLB, 40, Brandon Hicks (6-2, 225, So., Jacksonville)

* Scouting Report: A key member on special teams and top reserve at all three linebacker spots, moved into starting lineup for five games. Best performance was against South Carolina, making early impact with QB pressure that produced interception that was returned for touchdown. Also recorded his first QB sack of the season and broke up two passes.

* Did You Know: Worked at a Gainesville Cold Stone Creamery during summer.

MLB, 51, Brandon Spikes (6-3, 245, Jr., Shelby, N.C.)

* Scouting Report: First-team All-SEC pick and undisputed leader of Gators defense. Selected as a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and a semifinalist for Lombardi Award. Leads team with 87 tackles, including eight for a loss of 27 yards. One of only five linebackers in the nation to have two interceptions returned for touchdowns.

* Did You Know: Wears No. 51 because former standout linebacker Dick Butkus wore 51 when he played for the Chicago Bears.

WLB, 41, Ryan Stamper (6-2, 232, Jr., Jacksonville)

* Scouting Report: Started 10 games, one at middle linebacker and nine at weak-side linebacker. Led the squad and set a career high with seven tackles at Vanderbilt. Team captain. Broke his thumb during the Hawaii game and is playing with a cast.

* Did You Know: Volunteered to learn all three linebacker positions in the Gators defense to make himself more versatile.

CB, 29, Janoris Jenkins (5-10, 185, Fr., Pahokee)

* Scouting Report: A true freshman cornerback who enrolled at Florida in January 2008 and has started 11 of 13 games. Had three interceptions, including one in the end zone against Tennessee. Had a career-high nine tackles against LSU. Leads the team with 11 passes defended on the season.

* Did You Know: As a child, hunted rabbits with his bare hands in sugar cane fields of hometown.

CB, 5, Joe Haden (5-11, 185, So., Fort Washington, Md.)

* Scouting Report: Starter at cornerback in every game this season on way to second-team All-SEC selection. Second on team with 77 tackles. Led team with eight tackles, six solo, in SEC Championship win over Alabama. Also recorded third interception of season. Returned interception against Georgia 88 yards, fourth longest in school history.

* Did You Know: As a high school quarterback, set Maryland public school record with 7,371 career passing yards and tied career record of 80 TD throws.

SS, 35, Ahmad Black (5-9, 190, So., Lakeland)

* Scouting Report: Converted from cornerback to safety during the summer of 2008 and started every game since. Second-team All-SEC pick. Leads UF with six interceptions, tied for fifth in the nation, including two returned for touchdowns. Ranks second in the country in interception return yards, 191 on the season (average 31.8).

* Did You Know: Has a tattoo on his left bicep that says, "Mama's Boy"

FS, 21, Major Wright (6-0, 200, So., Miramar)

* Scouting Report: Third on team with 57 tackles. Had three interceptions, including a 32-yard return for TD against Hawaii. Returned a blocked field goal 37 yards against Kentucky that set up TD. Takes pride on being big hitter.

* Did You Know: Can do a front flip – proven during the 2008 Gator Charity Challenge.

FLORIDA OFFENSE

WR, 1, Percy Harvin (5-11, 195, Jr., Virginia Beach, Va.)

* Scouting Report: First-team All-SEC selection has scored a touchdown in the past 14 games appeared, longest streak in nation. Missed two games with injuries, but ranks ninth in the SEC in receiving yards per game (54.1), first in scoring touchdowns with 16, and first in overall scoring. During three-year career, rushed for 1,730 yards on 185 carries (9.4 average) while recording 128 receptions for 1,880 yards receiving (14.7 average).

* Did You Know: Bench presses more than 400 pounds.

WR, 9, Louis Murphy (6-3, 205, Sr., St. Petersburg)

* Scouting Report: Deep threat who has 75 career catches for 1,201 yards (16.0 avg.) and 12 touchdowns. Extended streak of consecutive games with a reception to 26 in 31-20 victory over Alabama in SEC Championship win. Ranks first on the team in receptions (36), receiving yards (611) and second in receiving yards per game (47.0).

* Did You Know: A member of the Boy Scouts of America who is also an Eagle Scout. His final project is to plan and help construct a community center.

WR, 11, Riley Cooper (6-3, 215, Jr., Clearwater)

* Scouting Report: Ranks fifth on team in receiving yards with 233 and receptions with 16. Hauled in a key touchdown along with a season-high 51-yard reception that helped Florida beat Alabama in SEC title game. Highlight reel catch was a 43-yard, one-handed touchdown grab from Tim Tebow against The Citadel.

* Did You Know: In the summer of 2005, he starred as a center fielder for the Florida Bombers, a traveling team in Miami. Was selected in 2006 MLB draft.

LT, 75, Phil Trautwein (6-6, 310, Sr., Voorhees, N.J.)

* Scouting Report: First-team All-SEC selection. Graded out at 100 percent in Florida win over Kentucky and 97 percent vs. LSU. Recognized at CBS Student-Athlete of the Game against Georgia.

* Did You Know: Has a huge tattoo on his left arm from the national championship win in 2006, an idea shared with fellow offensive lineman Jim Tartt.

LG, 63, Jim Tartt (6-3, 315, Sr., Sopchoppy)

* Scouting Report: Admired by coaching staff and teammates for toughness and desire to play, overcoming chronic shoulder ailments (three operations) to play in seven games this year. Started all 13 in 2007 and was second-team all-SEC. Selected as a team captain.

* Did You Know: Passionate outdoorsman who loves hunting – often hosting barbeques at family farm to improve team bonding over alligator and other wildlife he has taken.

C, 56, Maurice Pouncey (6-5, 312, So., Lakeland)

* Scouting Report: Started 12 games as a freshman and all 13 this season. Graded out at "Champion'' level – week's highest praise by UF coaches – in eight games. Continually singled out by Urban Meyer for leadership role.

* Did You Know: Member of the 2006 Lakeland High 5A State Championship team, along with Ahmad Black, John Brown, Justin Burdette, twin brother Mike Pouncey, Chris Rainey, Steven Wilks and Paul Wilson

RG, 55, Mike Pouncey (6-5, 312, So., Lakeland)

* Scouting Report: Moved back to the offensive line at right guard after his stint on the defensive line in 2007. Named second-team All-SEC. Lining up next to identical twin brother at center, started every game of season. Graded out as "Champion'' in nine games. Just like brother, seen as team leader.

* Did You Know: Starred in a public service announcement for the Gear Up Buckle Up program with his brother, Maurice

RT, 77, Jason Watkins (6-6, 310, Sr., Lakeland)

* Scouting Report: Drew starting job at left tackle in all 13 games last season, helping the Gators rush for a season total of 2,602 yards and 39 touchdowns. Graded out a season-high 92 percent to garner Champions Club honors, while also being named one of UF's Offensive Players of the Game in the win over LSU. A team captain.

* Did You Know: Not much of a hunter, so loves to joke about Tartt's hunting exploits – but admits he never passes on an invitation to a Tartt cookout.

TE, 81, Aaron Hernandez (6-3, 255, So., Bristol, Conn.)

* Scouting Report: Forced into starting lineup when All-America candidate Cornelius Ingram went down with knee injury in preseason. Responded with 29 catches for 324 yards. His five touchdowns, topping the SEC for tight ends.

* Did You Know: Says worst pain ever experienced came when getting tattoo on stomach.

QB, 15, Tim Tebow (6-3, 240, Jr., Jacksonville)

* Scouting Report: After winning 2007 Heisman Trophy, finished third this year despite receiving most first-place votes. All-American of the Year second-straight time. Leads the Gators in total offense (236.8) average/game), rushing attempts (154) and is third on the squad with 564 rushing yards. …

* Did You Know: Can quote lines from movie "Dumb and Dumber.''

RB, 2, Jeff Demps (5-8, 176, Fr., Winter Garden)

* Scouting Report: He's fast. With 10.01 clocking in 100 meters, also showed football speed and toughness on way to ranking second on the team in rushing with 582 yards on 69 carries (8.4 average).

* Also caught 15 passes for 141 yards (9.4 average) and performed strongly on special teams. Five of seven rushing TDs this year have been 36 or more yards and three of seven have been 40 yards or longer.

* Did You Know: Lists his first goal at Florida to earn a degree and show others that nothing is impossible.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kick/Punt Returner, 25, Brandon James (5-7, 186, Jr., St. Augustine)

* Scouting Report: Named SEC special teams player of the year. Kick-return yardage of 687 second-highest single season in UF history. Also added 509 yards of punt returns. Ranks second in the NCAA for career punt returns for touchdowns (four).

* Did You Know: His father, Brian James, played football at Samford University from 1988 to 1992.

PK, 38, Jonathan Phillips (5-10, 210, Sr., Wellington)

* Scouting Report: Hit 11 of 12 field goals and 75 of 76 PATs. Seventy-five PATs set single-season school and SEC record. Only point-after miss was blocked in loss to Ole Miss. Ranks third in the SEC in scoring, first among kickers, with 108 total points.

* Did You Know: Although already accepted into Miami Law School before this season, he returned to win kicking job.

Punter, 17, Chas Henry (6-4, 215, So., Dallas, Ga.)

* Scouting Report: One of 10 punters in the nation chosen as a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award. Averaged 42.8 yards per punt with 13 of 41 kicks traveling 50 yards or longer. Twenty were inside the 20-yard line. Timely career-long 67-yard punt versus FSU.

* Did You Know: Played quarterback in high school.

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TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE

sec title game • sec championship game • lawn care business • lawrence marsh • quarterback sacks • elementary school principal • stone mountain ga • defensive lineman • carlos dunlap • trimming trees • american legion boys • wing span • champions club • quarterback sack • florida defense • athletic career • boys state • scouting report • memorable moment • urban meyer

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