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DEL.ICIO.USBios on every Florida signee
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Bios on Florida’s class of 2008, as compiled by the Gators’ sports communications office:
Brendan Beal
Linebacker
6-3 ● 223 ● Freshman, H.S.
Bangor, Pa. ● Liberty
A true freshman linebacker who enrolled at Florida in January of 2008…
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Parade All-American…AP Class AAAA first-team all-state selection as a senior…Participant in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl…USA Today High School first-team Defensive All-American…Gatorade Pennsylvania High School Player of the Year…Selected to the All-EasternPAFootball.com Big School team…Led Liberty with 148 tackles (18 for a loss) while forcing eight fumbles and collecting 10 sacks in his senior year…First-team AP Class AAAA Pennsylvania all-state first-team selection as a senior…Picked up 151 tackles and 11 sacks as a junior while picking off two passes…Racked up a career-high 17 tackles against Easton…Garnered 121 tackles among six sacks and an interception as a sophomore at Roxbury High School…Ranked as the second-best inside linebacker prospect by Rivals.com…Member of the ESPN 150 class…Four-star recruit by Rivals.com and earned five-star billing from Scout.com…PERSONAL: Born Brendan Michael Beal on Oct. 12, 1989…Son of Craig and Bettina Beal…Has two sisters, Kailee and Amanda…Lists fishing, basketball, quading and spending time with friends among his hobbies…Aspires to work on Wall Street in financial investing.
Jeremy Brown
Cornerback
5-10 ● 163 ● Freshman, H.S.
Orlando ● Boone
A true freshman cornerback who enrolled at Florida in January of 2008…
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Helped lead Boone to the Florida Class 6A title game…First-team Class 6A all-state selection as a senior…Selected to participate in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl…Hauled in an 80-yard touchdown reception in Boone’s win over Apopka and picked off two passes against Sarasota…Intercepted eight passes his senior year…Two-way standout as a junior, picking off seven passes while registering 13 receptions for 213 yards and six touchdowns…Member of the ESPN 150 class…Four-star prospect by Rivals.com…Chose Florida over Georgia, Auburn and LSU…PERSONAL: Born Jeremy Terrell Brown on Jan. 16, 1990…Son of Terrell Brown and Cheryl Alston…Has two sisters, Georgiana and Jasmine…Hobbies include traveling and working out…Intends to major in business and sports management.
Adrian Bushell
Defensive Back
5-10 ● 183 ● Freshman, H.S.
DeSoto, Texas ● DeSoto
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Triple threat in his one year at DeSoto, playing defensive back, running back and wide receiver…Recorded 51 tackles and two interceptions in his senior season…Ranked as one of the top-100 Texas prospects in the Waco Tribune Herald…Registered over 500 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns on the ground…Accumulated roughly 300 yards receiving and seven touchdowns through the air…Played at Miami (Fla.) Pace as a junior…At Pace, he had 1,500 all-purpose yards, 1,100 rushing and 400 yards receiving…Scored two touchdowns in the spring game at his new high school…Also ran relay events and hurdles on the DeSoto High School track team…Rivals.com four-star prospect and No. 15 athlete in the country…21st-rated Texas prospect according to Rivals.com…Coached by Dave Meadows…PERSONAL: Born Adrian Antione Bushell on Jan. 19, 1990…Son of Covyonne Edmonds…Has two sisters, Arial and Alexis, and a brother, Kaleem.
Jeffrey Demps
Athlete
5-8 ● 176 ● Freshman, H.S.
Okahumpka ● South Lake
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Considered one of the nation’s fastest recruits…Second-team Class 4A all-state selection at running back as a senior…Gained 1,401 yards on the ground along with 16 touchdowns on 157 carries his senior year…Rushed for 21 scores and 1,761 yards on 170 touches in junior campaign…Second-team all-state Class 3A selection…Plans to be on the UF men’s track team running sprints…Ran the 100-meter dash at the Florida state final, the fastest time recorded at that event at 10.37 seconds…Clocked a 10.25 at the AAU Junior Olympics, the second-fastest time ever in the state and the fastest clocking recorded by a high school senior this year…Finished 13th nationally with a 21.04 time in the 200-meter dash…No. 4 athlete and ranked 53rd in the ESPN 150…Earned four-star billing by Rivals.com and part of the Rivals.com250…Listed as the sixth-best all-purpose back by Rivals.com…Coached by Walter Banks…PERSONAL: Born Jeffrey B. Demps on Jan. 8, 1990…Son of Jeffrey and Marilyn Demps.
Troy Epps
Defensive Tackle
6-0 ● 285 ● Junior Transfer
Union, S.C. ● Union/Coffeyville C.C.
A junior defensive tackle who enrolled at Florida in January of 2008…
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: A junior college All-American who was a force in the middle of the line for Coffeyville’s vaunted program for two years…NJCAA All-American (Region VI) honoree and selected as the region’s No. 9 player by the conference…Named first-team All-Jayhawk Conference at defensive tackle…Forced five fumbles and harassed offenses into five sacks and 17 tackles for a loss (62 total tackles) as a sophomore…Garnered first-team all-conference honors in his freshman year at Coffeyville…Registered 63 tackles, including 16 for a loss and five sacks in his debut season…Also blocked three kicks on special teams…Listed as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com…PREP: A four-year standout at Union High School for Class AAA in South Carolina…PERSONAL: Born Dec. 3, 1986…Attended the same JUCO as former Florida All-American safety and first-round Jacksonville Jaguars’ Reggie Nelson…Son of Ms. Jimmie Sue Epps.
Dee Finley
Safety
6-2 ● 200 ● Freshman, H.S.
Auburn, Ala. ● Auburn
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Participant in the Under Armour High School All-American Game…USA Today second-team All-American…Class 6A all-state selection in Alabama…Amassed 70 tackles and seven interceptions as a senior for Auburn…Registered 50 tackles, picked off eight passes and returned three back for touchdowns as a junior…Credited with seven pass breakups in his junior season…Also brought back a punt return for a score…Reled in nine passes for 98 yards and a touchdown as a receiver…Hauled in three touchdowns as a sophomore on just seven receptions for 70 yards…Racked up 50 tackles and an interception as a sophomore…Four-star recruit by Rivals.com and rated as the fifth-best safety prospect…No. 10 in the ESPN 150 and the top safety prospect…Coached in high school by Tim Carter…PERSONAL: Born Darnavious Artez Finley on Feb. 24, 1989.
William Green
Defensive End
6-4 ● 215 ● Freshman, H.S.
Hoover, Ala. ● Spain Park
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Parade All-American…One of 12 members on the Alabama Sports Writers’ Association Super 12 football team as a senior…First team all-state selection in his final prep season…Competed in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl as the only player from Alabama…Also participated in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic in Mobile, Ala., where he recorded six tackles…Senior awards included ASWA Super 12 Defensive Lineman, Super All-Metro Birmingham News, Alabama Class 6A nominee for Lineman of the Year, ASWA 6A All-State First Team, Orlando 2007 All-Southern Football Team (Alabama) Linebacker…Had 114 tackles, four sacks and one fumble recovery as a senior during Spain Park’s 6A Championship runner-up season, the school’s deepest playoff run in school history…Led a defense that allowed only 12.9 points per game…Tallied 54 tackles, 18 tackles-for-loss and eight sacks as a junior…Four-star athlete on Rivals.com…Rated as the seventh-best outside linebacker nationally by Rivals.com…ESPN 150 member…Number-four prospect in the Alabama top 30 of 2008…Rivals 100 member…Coached by John Grass…PERSONAL: Born William Alfred Green on April 28, 1990…Son of Otis and Cynthia Green.
Frankie Hammond, Jr.
Wide Receiver
6-0 ● 170 ● Freshman, H.S.
Hollywood ● Hallandale
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Third-team Class 4A all-state selection as a senior…Ended his senior season with 46 receptions for 880 yards and 10 touchdowns…Averaged almost 20 yards per catch (19.1)…Returned two punts for touchdowns…Hauled in seven catches for 95 yards during his junior year…Also was a long-jumper for the Hallandale track and field team with a personal-best jump of 6-10…Four-star prospect by Rivals.com…Rated the 26th-best wideout on Rivals.com…Three-star recruit on Scout.com…Coached by Dameon Jones…PERSONAL: Born Frankie Elwood Hammond Jr. on Feb. 17, 1990…Son of Frankie and Nida Hammond…Has a brother, Joshua, and sister, Franishia.
Will Hill
Safety
6-2 ● 203 ● Freshman, H.S.
West Orange, N.J. ● St. Peters Preparatory School
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Parade All-American…Competed at the ESPNU Under Armour High School All-American Game, where he returned an interception for 62 yards…First-team all-state selection as a senior…USA Today first-team All-American…Two-time New Jersey Star-Ledger Offensive Player of the Year…Three-time AP New Jersey first-team all-state selection…Multidimensional threat for St. Peters Preparatory School, serving as a three-year starter at quarterback, safety and a returner on special teams…Recorded three interceptions, made 36 tackles and broke up three passes during senior campaign…Gained 960 yards on the ground while tossing for 947 yards and accounting for 26 touchdowns (19 passing, seven rushing)…Led the Marauders to a 34-2 record in three years, including a 12-0 mark and the NJSIAA Non-Public Group 4 Championship as a sophomore…Responsible for 3,817 all-purpose yards and accounted for 34 touchdowns as a junior…Rushed for 682 yards (11.7 yards per carry) and 13 touchdowns as a junior while throwing for 758 yards and 11 scores…Picked off three passes as a junior and brought back to kickoffs for touchdowns…Returned an interception for a touchdown the first time he touched the ball in 2004…Five-star athlete by Rivals.com…Ranked as the top athlete in the class of 2008 by Rivals.com…No. 2 in the ESPN 150…Listed as the fifth-best player available by Scout.com and the top-ranked safety…Committed to Florida at the ESPN Zone in New York City…Coached by Rich Hansen…PERSONAL: Born Willie Hill III on March 7, 1990…Son of Will Jr. and Grace Hill.
Omarius Hines
Wide Receiver
6-1 ● 205 ● Freshman, H.S.
Corsicana, Texas ● Corsicana
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Honorable mention Texas Class 4A all-state selection…Compiled over 1,000 all-purpose yards rushing and receiving as a senior…Registered 824 yards on 38 receptions, averaging over 21 yards per catch, and had 13 touchdowns…Also rushed for 330 yards and six touchdowns…Caught 62 passes for 1,262 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior…Earned first-team all-state and first-team all-district honors as a junior…Four-star prospect by Rivals.com…Ranked the No. 21 wideout in the country according to Rivals.com…Also played basketball and ran cross-country for Coriscana…Coached by Dave Henigan…PERSONAL: Born Omarius D. Hines on Dec. 18, 1989…Son of Marcus and Lisa Hines.
Omar Hunter
Defensive Tackle
6-0 ● 322 ● Freshman, H.S.
Buford, Ga. ● Buford
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Parade All-American…First-team Class AA all-state selection as a senior…Played in the Under Armour High School All-American Game…Ranked as the strongest player in the Under Armour All-Star Awards… Helped lead Buford to an undefeated season and a state title his senior year…Georgia Sports Writers’ Association Class AA choice….Registered 93 tackles and seven sacks as a senior…Had 85 tackles, six sacks, a fumble recovery and 13 tackles for a loss as a junior…No. 37 in the ESPN 150 and ranked as the No. 2 defensive tackle in the position rankings…Rivals.com five-star recruit and No. 2 defensive tackle nationally…Received five-star billing and rated the second-best defensive tackle in the nation by Scout.com…Teammate of Florida recruit T.J. Pridemore at Buford…Coached by Jess Simpson…PERSONAL: Born Omar Divine Hunter on Dec. 27, 1989…Son of Keith and Lisa Hunter.
Janoris Jenkins
Cornerback
5-10 ● 177 ● Freshman, H.S.
Pahokee ● Pahokee
A true freshman cornerback who enrolled at Florida in January of 2008…
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Parade All-American…First-team Class 2B all-state selection as a senior…Competed at the ESPNU Under Armour High School All-American Game for the Red squad…Participated in the Burger King All-American Varsity Skills Challenge in the hands’ competition…Two-way star collected six interceptions and recorded over 80 tackles as a senior while rushing for 18 yards and gaining over 1,000 yards…Helped lead Pahokee to a Florida Class 2B state title as a junior and senior…Team also won state title as a freshmen…Played in four straight state championship games…Registered 49 tackles and rushed for 698 yards on offense with six touchdowns during his junior season…Four-star recruit by Rivals.com and ranked as the seventh-best cornerback prospect…Ranked the No. 4 corner in the ESPN 150…PERSONAL: Born Janoris Jenkins on Oct. 29, 1988…Son of William Jenkins and Denise Dent.
Byran Jones
Offfensive/Defensive Line
6-3 ● 305 ● Freshman, H.S.
Jacksonville ● Nathan Bedford Forrest
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: First-team Class 4A all-state selection on the offensive line…Played in the annual Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Game…Offensive Line MVP and Voted Captain of the Scout.com Combine in Jacksonville…Started the annual North/South All-Star game featuring the state of Florida’s best players…Named by Scout.com to the All-Florida Combine team…Rated 44th-best in-state prospect by Rivals.com…Coached by Dennis Clemons…PERSONAL: Born Byran Rashad Jones on Nov. 30, 1989…Son of Phoebe Allen…Went to the same high school as UF linebacker Brandon Hicks.
T.J. Lawrence
Wide Receiver
6-0 ● 185 ● Freshman, H.S.
Lakeland ● Lakeland Kathleen
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Competed at the Under Armour All-American Game, where he set up the game-winning score with a 14-yard reception…First-team all-state Class 3A selection by the Florida Sports Writers Association as a senior…Caught 12 touchdowns and amassed over 800 yards as a senior…Earned first-team all-county and first-team all-district honors as a junior…Caught 50 passes for 1,245 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior produced 40 tackles, two sacks and five interceptions on defense…Earned third-team all-state honors as a sophomore as a defensive back in a group that included Florida secondary players Wondy Pierre-Louis and Bryan Thomas in 2005…Also played both ways as a sophomore, totaling five touchdowns and recording four interceptions in the secondary…No. 21 in the Rivals.com Florida top 100 and No. 49 overall…All-around athlete who also played basketball and baseball at Lakeland Kathleen…Member of the ESPN 150…Coached by Irving Strickland…PERSONAL: Born Antonio Lawrence on Feb. 5, 1989…Son of Wanda Burnett.
Lerentee McCray
Linebacker
6-2 ● 205 ● Freshman, H.S.
Ocala ● Dunnellon
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Participated in the U.S. Army All-American Game and had three tackles…First-team Class 3A all-state selection at linebacker…Recognized as the top athlete with the best closing speed following the All-Star Game in San Antonio…Played in the North/South All-Star Game…Named to the Florida All-Combine team in Jacksonville…Averaged 17 tackles per game as a senior…Collected 118 tackles and nine sacks his senior year while rushing for over 500 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns…Earned 11 sacks and 97 tackles as a junior…Versatile athlete who played wide receiver, special teams and linebacker for Dunnellon…Four-star prospect by Rivals.com…No. 10 outside linebacker nationally by Rivals.com…Ranked in the ESPN 150 class…Coached by Frank Beasley…PERSONAL: Born Lerentee Zavonne McCray on Aug. 26, 1990…Son of Sybil McCray.
Carl Moore
Wide Receiver
6-3 ● 220 ● Junior Transfer
Roseville, Calif. ● Cordova/Sierra C.C.
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: One of the most highly-coveted junior college players in the class of 2008 praised for his combination of size, strength and speed…Racked up 1,068 yards on 73 receptions with 16 touchdowns during his sophomore campaign at Sierra…Tied for fourth in total points scored and rated sixth across the California junior college system in receptions (73) as a sophomore…Helped lead Sierra to a second-ranked billing towards the end of the year and played in the NorCal Junior College Championship Game against the City of College of San Francisco…Reeled in 61 catches for 960 yards and seven touchdowns as a freshman with a long of 65…Averaged 15.7 yards per reception in his first year at Sierra…Five-star prospect by Rivals.com and ranked as the No. 2 junior-college player…Also rated as a five-star recruit by Scout.com…PREP: Hauled in 21 catches for 410 yards and five touchdowns in just three games during his senior year at Cordova High School…PERSONAL: Born Sept. 19, 1988…Son of Jackie Moore.
Earl Okine
Defensive End
6-5 ● 250 ● Freshman, H.S.
Gainesville ● Gainesville
A true freshman defensive lineman who enrolled at Florida in January of 2008…
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Third-team Class 5A all-state selection as a senior…Competed at the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in Miami, where he garnered Defensive MVP honors with 3.5 sacks (three tackles for loss)…Turned in 3.5 sacks at the Florida Athletic Coaches Association North-South Game…Collected 102 tackles with 12 sacks his senior year and caught 15 passes as a tight end…Had 86 tackles, 50 solo, during junior season…Third-team all-state selection and first-team all-area honoree as a junior…Also played basketball for the Hurricanes and lifts weights competitively…Coached in high school by Eddy Moore…PERSONAL: Born Earl James Okine on Jan. 4, 1990…Son of James and Grace Okine.
Matt Patchan
Offensive Lineman
6-6 ● 260 ● Freshman, H.S.
Tampa ● Armwood
A true freshman lineman who enrolled at Florida in Jan. 2008…
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: USA Today first-team All-American…Selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl…First-team Class 4A all-state offensive line selection as a senior…Honored on the Florida Football Magazine’s 2007 Post-Season Florida Phenoms team…Racked up over 50 pancake blocks and did not allow a sack his junior season en route to Class 4A all-state first-team honors…On the defensive side, registered 99 tackles (27 for loss), eight sacks, forced four fumbles and recovered four…St. Petersburg Times First Team All-Suncoast selection as a junior…Five-star recruit by Rivals.com and No. 11 overall nationally…No. 4 offensive tackle and five-star prospect by Scout.com…Ranked in the ESPN 150…MVP of the Scout.com combine in March of 2007…Played both ways at Armwood, starring at left tackle and defensive end…Transfer from Freedom High School in Tampa…Coached in high school by Sean Callahan…PERSONAL: Born Matthew D. Patchan…Son of Matt and Deanne Patchan…Father, Matt Sr., played football at Miami (1984-87) and in the NFL…Admires former Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Reggie White and Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Joe Thomas.
T.J. Pridemore
Fullback/Linebacker
6-0 ● 236 ● Freshman, H.S.
Gainesville, Ga. ● Buford
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Projected to help Florida at H-back as well as see time at linebacker…First-team Class AA all-state selection as a senior…Helped lead Class AA Buford to a 15-0 undefeated season and a state title his senior year…Compiled 115 tackles as a junior with three sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 13 games…Atlanta Journal-Constitution all-state first-team selection as a junior…Helped guide Buford to a 12-1 record as a junior and advance to the State Elite 8…Rivals.com three-star prospect…Teammate in high school with fellow signee, defensive lineman Omar Hunter…Coached by Jess Simpson…PERSONAL: Born Tyler James Pridemore on Jan. 15, 1990…Son of Tommy and Leigh Pridemore…Father, Tom, played collegiately at West Virginia and spent eight years in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons.
Sam Robey
Offensive Line
6-4 ● 275 ● Freshman, H.S.
Louisville, Ky. ● Trinity
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Versatile athlete along the line who projects to play either guard or center collegiately…Three-time first team all-state honoree who helped lead Trinity to three-consecutive state titles…Anchored a line for an offense that averaged over 40 points and over 450 yards of offense as a senior…Collected seven tackles in an overtime victory in the Class 6A state final over St. Xavier…Honored as a co-winner for the Paul Hornung Award, sponsored by the Louisville Quarterback Club, presented to the state’s top high school players…Two-year starter and two-time Kentucky High School all-state first-team selection…Also played defense for Trinity and helped the Shamrocks win a Class 4A state title as a junior …Rivals.com three-star recruit and No. 8 in the Kentucky Top 10…Three-star prospect by Scout.com…Coached by Bob Beatty…PERSONAL: Born Samuel Frederick Robey on Aug. 19, 1989…Son of Rick and Bonnie Robey…Father, Rick, was an All-American basketball player for Kentucky, where he won a national championship in 1978 and played in the NBA with the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns.
Caleb Sturgis
Kicker
5-10 ● 182 ● Freshman, H.S.
St. Augustine ● St. Augustine
A true freshman kicker who enrolled at Florida in January of 2008…
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Played in the Under-Armour High School All-American Game…First-team Class 3A all-state honoree at placekicker…Offensive Player of the Week in the Jacksonville area by the Florida Times-Union after connecting on 32, 37 and a 50-yard field goals…Booted field goals of 42, 40 and 46 yards against Ponte Vedra Beach (Nease)…Made 8-of-16 field goal attempts in junior year, but six misses were beyond 56 yards…Made 54 of 57 point-after attempts…Named one of the most outstanding kickers by One-On-One Kicking…Averaged over 70 yards on kickoff distance at the kicking expo with Mike McCabe and kicked a long field goal of 55 yards…Also played forward on St. Augustine’s soccer squad and competed for Julington Creek…Two-star recruit by Rivals.com and earned three-star status by Scout.com…Scout.com’s No. 3 kicker nationally…Coached by Joey Wiles…PERSONAL: Born Caleb James Sturgis on Aug. 9, 1989…Son of Smiley and Karen Sturgis…Went to the same high school as Gator teammates Brandon James and Jacques Rickerson…Has three brothers and two sisters…Intends to major in business and sports management.
David Young
Offensive Lineman
6-6 ● 290 ● Freshman, H.S.
Edwardsville, Ill. ● Edwardsville
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Three-year varsity starter on both sides of the ball for the Tigers….120 pancake blocks, no sacks allowed since sophomore season with no holding penalties…Listed third according to St. Louis Dispatch Super 30 recruits….Three-time All area selection…An all-conference selection as a sophomore and unanimous all-area and all-conference selection as a junior…Received his first scholarship offer as a sophomore….Coached by Tim Dougherty…PERSONAL: Son of Shantel Watts.
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