It
was also announced that junior defensive end Derrick Harvey, sophomore wide receiver Percy Harvin, junior
tight end Cornelius Ingram, sophomore return
specialist Brandon James, senior offensive lineman
Carlton Medder and junior offensive lineman Jim Tartt were selected to the Coaches' All-SEC second team.
Florida's six second-team selections were the highest amount in the
conference and equal the program’s mark for most second-team
accolades, matching the 2002 and 2006 campaigns. The Gators' eight
all-league picks were tied for the second-most in the SEC, trailing the
10 honorees from LSU.
The Gators’ leading tackler in 2007, Spikes has amassed 188 total
tackles (74 solo), 14.0 tackles for loss, a sack and half and seven
passes defended on the season. He ranks second in the conference in
total tackles, behind fellow All-SEC First-Teamer Wesley Woodyard (124).
Spikes had 10 or more tackles in half of the Gators’ games in 2007,
keeping 10 of Florida’s 12 opponents under 100-yards rushing. Spikes
collected his first career two fumble recoveries and forced fumble, to
go along with a team-high 13 solo tackles, in the win at South Carolina.
He took down career-high 14 Commodores in the win over Vanderbilt. This
year’s selection marks his first career nod to the Coaches’ All-SEC
first team.
Tebow, a three-time SEC Offensive Player of the Week in 2007, became
the only player in college football history to achieve 20-20 marks for
rushing and passing touchdowns in a single season with 22 and 29 scores,
respectively. He is also the all-time SEC single-season rushing
touchdown leader (22) and set career highs in completions (25) and yards
(338) against FAU. Tebow leads the SEC in total offense, completion
percentage, touchdowns and passing efficiency. He has rushed for at
least one touchdown and thrown for a touchdown in 13-consecutive games,
UF’s longest string and the longest current active streak nationally.
Tebow leads Florida in rushing with 838 yards on 194 carries for a 4.3
average. In addition, he already has the most yards rushing by a Florida
quarterback in a career with 1,218 yards.
Harvey, Florida’s sacks leader in 2007, has 34 tackles, 6.5 sacks,
and five pass deflections this season. He recorded eight sacks in his
last 11 games. Harvey enjoyed a career night against Auburn, totaling
six tackles (four solo, two assisted), including three tackles for a
loss of 16 yards and two sacks for a loss of 15 yards. In the Vanderbilt
contest, Harvey was credited with a breakup that led to an interception
and eventual Gator touchdown. The Greenbelt, Md., native has been a
member of the second-team in each of the last two seasons.
Harvin was the first player in UF history to have 100-yards receiving
and 100-yards rushing in the same with his efforts against Vanderbilt,
rushing for 113 yards and while amassing 110-yards receiving. He
collected a career-high 157 yards on the ground against Florida State on
a personal-best 16 carries. He is the only underclassman to rank in the
top seven in catches per game in the SEC. His 8.6 yards per carry is
tops among receivers in the nation. Harvin holds the top two spots in UF
history in rushing yards by a wide receiver in a single season (442,
428) and is the all-time UF single-season leader in combined receiving
and rushing yards for a wide receiver (781 receiving, 599 rushing). The
honor is Harvin’s second from the league after earning the nod for
Freshman of the Year in 2006.
Ingram nabbed his first all-conference honor of his career after
leading Florida with seven touchdown receptions. In his first year at
his new position, he had 33 receptions and 491 yards and averaged 14.9
yards per catch. Ingram was an integral part of the passing attack
against Florida State, tying with Harvin to lead the team with five
receptions versus the Seminoles and had his first-multi-score game
against Florida Atlantic with two touchdowns grabs in the contest. He
also had a big day against Troy, hauling in a personal-best seven
catches for 105 yards and a score.
James earned his second career all-conference honor as a returner in as
many seasons with the Gators. Leading the nation with seven returns over
50 yards, James averaged 28.2 yards on his 29 kickoff returns and 20.7
yards in 11 punt returns. His 817 kickoff return yards serves as the
best single-season mark in school history, led by his career-long
61-yard return at Kentucky. James had 19 returns of 20 yards or more,
highlighted by his 83-yard punt return for a touchdown in the Gators’
win over Tennessee. The return equaled the fifth-longest in school
history, matching George Grandy’s 83-yard run against Tulane in 1966.
Leading Florida’s offensive line in 2007, Medder and Tartt earned the
initial Coaches’ All-SEC honors of their careers after starting all 12
games and paving the way for a UF offense that has averaged 454.8 yards
per contest. The duo helped block for 197.7 rushing yards per game,
including 37 touchdowns on the ground, and allowed no sacks against
seven of the Gators’ 12 opponents. Medder, a fifth year senior, worked
his way from the sideline to special teams to becoming a two-year
starter during his career, starting in 26-straight games. Third on the
team with a total of 28 starts for his career and first among
non-seniors, Tartt hasn’t missed a start in 17 games.
Ninth-ranked Florida (9-3) will take to the field again on Jan. 1,
2008, when it will meet Michigan (8-4) in the Capital One Bowl at 1 p.m.
in Orlando. The game will be televised nationally by ABC Sports. The
Gators (9-3) will be making their 17th-straight bowl appearance, which
ranks first in the SEC and third in the country.
Courtesy UF Sports Information
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