Gator Country

Ahmad Black is off with this interception against Georgia in 2008. / Gator Country file photo by Tim Casey

Saturday is the final time these young men and women will be running from the South End Zone tunnel to play on Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, or as we have come to know it, “THE SWAMP ... Only Gators get out alive.”

So, Gator Nation, let’s put our hands together and give them all a round of well-deserved applause for what they all have accomplished as Florida Gators. Feel free to thank them individually or thank them as a team for the enjoyment and the accomplishments they have brought to you as champions on the field, in the classroom and in the community.

From the equipment staff … KEVIN CATTANI.

From the training staff … RAQUEL SERRA … JENNA JOHNSON … VANESSA GOMEZ … CHANTELLE GREEN … YURI JEAN-BAPTISTE … ASHLEY McDANIEL.

And from the football team, let’s salute …

From Folkston, Ga., Charlton County High School, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound wide receiver … No. 7 … JUSTIN WILLIAMS …

From Rancho Cordova, Calif., Cordova High School and Sierra Community College, a 6-foot-4, 217-pound wide receiver … No. 9 … CARL MOORE …

From Tampa, Fla., Middleton High School, a 6-foot-1, 226-pound linebacker … No. 16 … A.J. JONES …

From Dallas, Ga., East Paulding High School, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound punter and placekicker … No. 17 … CHAS HENRY …

From Coppell, Texas, Coppell High School via USC, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound running back … No. 21 … EMMANUEL MOODY …

From Orlando, Fla., Edgewater High School, a 6-foot-1, 240-pound linebacker … No. 26 … LORENZO EDWARDS …

From Lakeland, Fla., Lakeland High School, a 5-foot-9, 190-pound strong safety … No. 35 … AHMAD BLACK …

From Jacksonville, Fla., Forrest High School, a 6-foot-2, 228-pound linebacker … No. 40 … BRANDON HICKS …

From Gainesville, Fla., P.K. Yonge High School, a 5-foot-10, 210-pound safety … No. 41 … MIGUEL CARODINE …

From Westlake Village, Calif., Oaks Christian Academy, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive end … No. 44 … DUKE LEMMENS …

From Garland, Texas, Garland High School, a 6-foot, 290-pound defensive tackle … No. 47 … BRANDON ANTWINE …

From Lakeland, Fla., Lakeland High School, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound offensive center … No. 55 … MIKE POUNCEY …

From Durham, N.C., Southern High School, a 6-foot-5, 355-pound offensive guard … No. 57 … CARL JOHNSON …

From Eureka, Mo., Eureka High School and Sante Fe Community College, a 6-foot-1, 266-pound defensive end … No. 57 … SAMUEL JOHNSON …

From Celebration, Fla., and Corona Del Mar High School, a 6-foot-4, 284-pound long-snapping specialist … No. 59 … JOHN FAIRBANKS …

From Valrico, Fla., Newsome High School, a 5-foot-11, 263-pound defensive tackle … No. 61 … GARY BEEMER …

From Pensacola, Fla., Escambia High School, a 6-foot-2, 299-pound defensive tackle … No. 65 … GLEN WATSON …

From Jacksonville, Fla., Bishop John J. Snyder High School, a 6-foot-4, 275-pound defensive tackle … No. 70 … SHAWN SCHMIEDER …

From Milledgeville, Ga., Baldwin High School, a 6-foot-3, 320-pound offensive guard and tackle … No. 74 … MAURICE HURT …

From Fort Lauderdale, Fla., St. Thomas Aquinas High School, a 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive tackle … No. 76 … MARCUS GILBERT …

From Augusta, Ga., Josey High School, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound nose tackle … No. 90 … LAWRENCE MARSH …

From Bradenton, Fla., Southeast High School, a 6-foot-1, 309-pound defensive tackle … No. 92 … TERRON SANDERS …

From Ramsey, N.J., Don Bosco Prep, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound defensive end … No. 94 … JUSTIN TRATTOU …

Let’s salute them all:

A remarkable group, some of whom have two national championship rings ... all of them will have University of Florida diplomas

So, give it up, Gator Nation and thank them.

More Football | RSS