Quantcast
Channel: Swamp Things - Gators Blog - Orlando Sentinel
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 10

Percy Harvin highlights Week 2 performances by Gators in the NFL

0
0

Percy Harvin’s first touch as a Florida Gator was a 3-yard hook-up with quarterback Chris Leak for a forgettable first down on the initial series of a 34-7 win against Southern Miss to open the 2006 season.

But Harvin’s next five touches – for 11, 13, 23, 15 and 17 yards – were good for four first downs and made it clear the 18-year-old was a special player, the most explosive I saw during the five seasons (2002-06) I covered the Gators for the Palm Beach Post.

Harvin, 24 and in his fourth season with the Vikings, continues to grow as an NFL player.

Per ESPN.com blogger Kevin Seifert, with an assist from Pro Football Focus, Harvin enters this week’s matchup against the 49ers with an NFL-high 148 yards after the catch, showing the strength, speed and toughness as a runner rare for a player listed at 184 pounds. Harvin, who occasionally lines up at running back, has been targeted 21 times by quarterback Christian Ponder and has 18 catches.

This past weekend, Harvin had one of the biggest weeks among the 23 former Gators active during Week 2 of the NFL season.

During a 23-20 loss at Indianapolis, Harvin caught 12 passes for 104 yards, with a long of 20, two rushes for 13 yards and two kickoff returns for 78 yards, including a long of 50.

But he was not the only former Gators player to shine.

- During Pittsburgh’s 27-10 thrashing of the Jets, three former Gators started on the offensive line for the Steelers – right tackle Marcus Gilbert, left tackle Max Starks and center Maurkice Pouncey.

The rest of the notable performances by former Gators came on the other side of the ball.

- Ray McDonald lined up at left defensive tackle for the 49ers and recorded two solo tackles, a sack for nine yards, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit during a 27-19 win against Detroit.

- During the Bears’ 23-10 loss to the Packers, Chicago strong safety Major Wright finished with six tackles, including one for loss.

- Free safety Reggie Nelson, the best Gators defender on the 2006 national title team, finished with six tackles for the Bengals during a 34-27 win against the Browns.

- Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes had a big day during a shocking 20-18 loss at home to the Cardinals, recording seven tackles, two quarterback hits and a forced fumble.

- Jaguars defensive end Jeremy Mincey, a personal favorite on Urban Meyer’s first team in 2005, made five solo tackles (one for loss) and broke up a pass to serve as a rare bright spot in Jacksonville’s 27-7 loss to Houston.


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 10

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images