UF alumni offers discount on Tebow's Patriots jersey
June, 18, 2013
Jun 18
5:15
PM ET
By
Michael DiRocco | ESPN.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Tim Tebow fans are starting to own quite a jersey collection. Since that can get expensive, Tebow's alma mater is trying to help out his fans.
In his first three seasons in the NFL, Tebow has played for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets. His latest stop is New England, and the University of Florida is offering a discount for any alumni association member who wants to add Tebow’s No. 5 Patriots jersey -- he can’t wear No. 15 because that’s QB Ryan Mallett’s number -- to their closet.
UF Alumni Association members can receive $10 off per single purchase of an official, adult-sized Tebow jersey from the Patriots’ Pro Shop. Alumni association members must log into the members’ only section of the UFAA website to get the redemption code.
The offer is only good until June 26, however. The school notified association members of the deal via email on Monday.
Danita D. Nias, the executive director and senior associate vice president of the UFAA, said a Patriots representative approached her group shortly after the club signed Tebow on June 11 and said the pro shop was receiving numerous requests for Tebow jerseys and wanted to know if the alumni association wanted to work with the team in any way.
Nias decided the best way would be by offering the discount to UFAA members.
"People love Tim Tebow. They love him," Nias said. "We have 92 Gator Clubs around the country and we just finished our football fling with Coach [Will] Muschamp. At each one, at every auction, every Tebow jersey was gone.
"Now we have another one to add to the mix."
Bill Greene/The Boston Globe/Getty ImagesThe media isn't alone in Tebowmania, something that the New England Patriots and Florida's alumni association recognize.
UF Alumni Association members can receive $10 off per single purchase of an official, adult-sized Tebow jersey from the Patriots’ Pro Shop. Alumni association members must log into the members’ only section of the UFAA website to get the redemption code.
The offer is only good until June 26, however. The school notified association members of the deal via email on Monday.
Danita D. Nias, the executive director and senior associate vice president of the UFAA, said a Patriots representative approached her group shortly after the club signed Tebow on June 11 and said the pro shop was receiving numerous requests for Tebow jerseys and wanted to know if the alumni association wanted to work with the team in any way.
Nias decided the best way would be by offering the discount to UFAA members.
"People love Tim Tebow. They love him," Nias said. "We have 92 Gator Clubs around the country and we just finished our football fling with Coach [Will] Muschamp. At each one, at every auction, every Tebow jersey was gone.
"Now we have another one to add to the mix."
Florida Gators Future Power Rankings 
June, 18, 2013
Jun 18
12:07
PM ET
By
Michael DiRocco | ESPN.com
The Florida Gators are coming off an 11-2 season that saw them bounce back from a 7-6 2011 campaign to contend for the SEC East title and reach the Sugar Bowl. But where are the Gators headed? In ESPN’s Future Power Rankings, UF is ranked No. 9. Here are things that could propel or derail the Gators:
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Florida adds defensive enforcer in Hayes
June, 18, 2013
Jun 18
10:50
AM ET
By
Reggie Rankin | ESPN.com
The Florida Gators are on the board in the Class of 2015 after receiving a pledge from ESPN 60 PF Kevarrius Hayes (Live Oak, Fla./Suwannee) Monday night. Hayes chose to play for Billy Donovan over interest from Alabama, Kansas State and Miami (Fla.), among others. Hayes recruiting was really starting to pick up of late but when the Gators stepped up with an offer, he knew it was time to pull the trigger on his decision.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- With 10 verbal commits including six in the ESPN 300, the Gators already have a top ten recruiting class. But the Gators have a serious chance to add several more players from the ESPN 300. Here's a look at 10 ESPN 300 prospects who are most likely to sign with Florida
1. DE Trent Harris (Orlando, Fla./Winter Park)
6-foot-2, 227 pounds
ESPN 300 ranking: 114
1. DE Trent Harris (Orlando, Fla./Winter Park)
6-foot-2, 227 pounds
ESPN 300 ranking: 114
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During the summer, GatorNation will analyze each of the scholarship players on the Florida roster -- excluding the Gators’ 2013 recruiting class -- in our Gator Breakdown series. Starting with No. 1 Quinton Dunbar, we will go through the roster numerically, finishing with No. 97 Brad Phillips.
No. 20 Marcus Maye
Redshirt freshman safety
No. 20 Marcus Maye
Redshirt freshman safety
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Class of 2015 power forward Kevarrius Hayes (Live Oak, Fla./Suwannee) put an early end to his recruitment on Monday with a verbal pledge to Florida. The news was first reported by www.scouthoops.com.
Hayes is ranked No. 58 in the recently released ESPN 60 for the Class of 2015. He is the first recruit for head coach Billy Donovan from that class.
Hayes is ranked No. 58 in the recently released ESPN 60 for the Class of 2015. He is the first recruit for head coach Billy Donovan from that class.
Danny Kanell counts down his top five newcomers who could be breakout players.
Gators lead for juco D-linemen after visit
June, 17, 2013
Jun 17
2:30
PM ET
By
Jeff Barlis | ESPN.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- When Abu Lamin and DaVonte Lambert heard they would be paired for an official visit to Florida this past weekend, they sought each other on social media and struck up the beginnings of a friendship. After all, the juco prospects have a lot in common.
They're from the South, they play on the defensive line and they're coveted prospects itching to prove themselves at college football's highest level.
"We've got a real strong bond now," Lamin said on Sunday as he headed home. "We've been with each other all weekend, we all went out together, so we're definitely close now."
They now have one more thing in common. After a weekend with the Gators, Lamin and Lambert each emerged with Florida as his top school.
They're from the South, they play on the defensive line and they're coveted prospects itching to prove themselves at college football's highest level.
"We've got a real strong bond now," Lamin said on Sunday as he headed home. "We've been with each other all weekend, we all went out together, so we're definitely close now."
They now have one more thing in common. After a weekend with the Gators, Lamin and Lambert each emerged with Florida as his top school.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The Gators finished with the No. 2 overall recruiting class in the country last year and are again off to a hot start for the 2014 cycle. Six of Florida's 10 verbal commitments are in the new ESPN 300 rankings.
Running back Dalvin Cook (No. 22), who rushed for 1,501 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior, continues to lead the way for Florida commits. Cook was previously committed to Clemson before making the switch to UF in early April.
Record-setting quarterback Will Grier dropped eight slots from No. 45 to No. 53, but will have a chance to improve his ranking with a strong performance at the Elite 11 camp at the end of the month.
Running back Dalvin Cook (No. 22), who rushed for 1,501 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior, continues to lead the way for Florida commits. Cook was previously committed to Clemson before making the switch to UF in early April.
Record-setting quarterback Will Grier dropped eight slots from No. 45 to No. 53, but will have a chance to improve his ranking with a strong performance at the Elite 11 camp at the end of the month.
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During the summer, GatorNation will analyze each of the scholarship players on the Florida roster -- excluding the Gators’ 2013 recruiting class -- in our Gator Breakdown series. Starting with No. 1 Quinton Dunbar, we will go through the roster numerically, finishing with No. 97 Brad Phillips.
No. 18 Kent Taylor
Sophomore tight end
No. 18 Kent Taylor
Sophomore tight end
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Gators fans grumbled through a disappointing month of May, suffering through a couple of decommitments as Florida's 2014 class dropped in ESPN's rankings from No. 2 to No. 10.
But after a week-long summer camp loaded with talent and chocked with big-name visits, UF has firmly regained recruiting momentum and the faith of those frustrated fans.
The first day of the camp set the tone as the Gators got a commitment from ESPN 150 athlete J.C. Jackson (Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee) less than a week after he decommitted from FSU. Three days later, Florida landed a pledge from DE Taven Bryan (Casper, Wyo./Natrona County).
But after a week-long summer camp loaded with talent and chocked with big-name visits, UF has firmly regained recruiting momentum and the faith of those frustrated fans.
The first day of the camp set the tone as the Gators got a commitment from ESPN 150 athlete J.C. Jackson (Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee) less than a week after he decommitted from FSU. Three days later, Florida landed a pledge from DE Taven Bryan (Casper, Wyo./Natrona County).
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- It's good enough news for a school when a coveted recruit such as Raekwon McMillan (Hinesville, Ga./Liberty County) shows up on campus for a visit. But the Florida Gators got a double dose of good news from the nation's No. 1-ranked inside linebacker during his unofficial visit on Saturday.
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As he makes unofficial visits around the country, ESPN 150 defensive back Jamal Adams (Lewisville, Texas/Hebron) is all about one thing -- finding the right fit.
Ask Adams about Florida, and the “fit” gets high praise. In fact, the heavily recruited safety gave his visit to Gainesville, Fla., a strong 10.
Ask Adams about Florida, and the “fit” gets high praise. In fact, the heavily recruited safety gave his visit to Gainesville, Fla., a strong 10.
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In-state defensive end earns Florida offer
June, 14, 2013
Jun 14
2:14
PM ET
By
Jeff Barlis | ESPN.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- While bigger-name prospects come and go on unofficial visits to Florida's summer camp, 2014 defensive end Justus Reed (Clearwater, Fla./Central Catholic) stood out on Thursday by actually participating.
Reed showed up for the afternoon session, warmed up with a couple hundred other campers and did position drills under the watchful eyes of Florida head coach Will Muschamp and defensive line coach Brad Lawing.
Reed showed up for the afternoon session, warmed up with a couple hundred other campers and did position drills under the watchful eyes of Florida head coach Will Muschamp and defensive line coach Brad Lawing.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Tight end DeAndre Goolsby (Derby, Kan./Derby) admits he's nowhere near ready to pick his college destination.
"I'm just kind of out there, looking," he says. "There's still a lot to see, so I'll wait that out."
With cautious curiosity, Goolsby visited Ohio State and Florida this week -- two big steps in his plan to narrow a sizable offer list to a handful of top teams before his senior season and make a decision by the end of the fall.
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound tight end was in Columbus, Ohio, on Monday.
"I'm just kind of out there, looking," he says. "There's still a lot to see, so I'll wait that out."
With cautious curiosity, Goolsby visited Ohio State and Florida this week -- two big steps in his plan to narrow a sizable offer list to a handful of top teams before his senior season and make a decision by the end of the fall.
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound tight end was in Columbus, Ohio, on Monday.
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ABOUT GATOR NATION
Michael DiRocco
Michael DiRocco came to ESPN.com in 2011 after spending 10 and a half years covering UF for the Florida Times-Union. He lives in Middleburg, Fla., with his wife and two sons. Email him at espndirocco@gmail.com.
Derek Tyson
Derek Tyson joined ESPN.com in 2011. He worked as a football and recruiting analyst for GatorCountry.com before joining ESPN. He currently resides in Gainesville, Fla. Email him at derektysonespn@gmail.com.