Nine Football Players Earn AP All-SEC Honors
Tuesday, December 5, 2000 | Football
Representing Florida on the AP All-SEC First Team were Gaffney, OT Kenyatta Walker (Meridian, Miss.), CB Lito Sheppard (Jacksonville, Fla.) and FS Todd Johnson (Sarasota, Fla.). The All-SEC second team included OT Mike Pearson (Seffner, Fla.), QB Rex Grossman (Bloomington, Ind.), PK Jeff Chandler (Jacksonville, Fla.), DE Alex Brown (White Springs, Fla.) and DT Gerard Warren (Raiford, Fla.).
Gaffney, who is the first freshman WR in UF history to garner first-team All-SEC honors, set NCAA freshman receiving records this year with his 1,184 yards and 14 touchdowns. His 71 catches set an SEC freshman record and was only four shy of the NCAA mark in that category.
Walker started 10 of 12 games this year for UF on the offensive line and has already been named third-team All-American this year.
Sheppard was a dangerous cover man and returner for the Gators this year. He led the SEC by averaging 14.0 yards per punt return, bringing two back for TDs. His six interceptions was one shy of the school record and ties Tim Wansley of Georgia for the most in the SEC this season.
Johnson was the only UF defensive player to start all 12 games this year. Johnson led UF with 102 tackles this year, 19 more than second-place Marquand Manuel's 83. His five INTs were second on the team to Sheppard.
Pearson started all 12 games this year for Florida and ranked third on the team by playing on 809 snaps this year.
Grossman ranked third in the nation with his 161.81 quarterback rating on the heels of his 61.8% completion percentage (131-for-212), 1,866 passing yards, 21 TDs and seven INTs. The 21 TDs, which led the SEC, was just one shy of tying Danny Wuerffel's SEC freshman record.
Chandler became the school's all-time leading scorer this year and still has one year of eligibility to go. Chandler's 265 career points and 48 career field goals broke school records during the course of the season.
Brown started all but one game at DE this year and placed fifth on the team with 56 total tackles and led the Gators with 41.5 "Big Plays," 7.5 sacks and tied Warren for the team lead with his 11.5 total tackles for loss.
Warren was third on the team, and first for defensive linemen, with his 76 tackles this year. He led the Gators with 23 forced hurries and posted 4.5 sacks and 36.5 "Big Plays," both second on the team. His 11.5 total tackles for loss tied Brown for the team lead.
