Ike Hilliard Named 2011 SEC Football Legend
Thursday, November 3, 2011 | Football
Former Gator wide receiver Ike Hilliard will represent the University of Florida as a member of the 2011 Southeastern Conference Football Legends Class, the SEC announced on Thursday.
Each Southeastern Conference legend will be honored at the SEC Legends Dinner in Atlanta, Ga., which will be presented by AT&T on Friday, Dec. 2. Hilliard will also attend the “Weekend of Champions” festivities, which culminates with the SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome on Saturday, Dec. 3.
Hilliard finished his college career with 126 catches for 2,214 yards, currently seventh-best in school history, and 29 touchdowns, tied for second-best at Florida and tied for the third-best total in SEC history. He tallied a TD/catch ratio of 4.34 (29 TD/126 catches) which ranks second in Gator history. Hilliard was also a member of Florida's 1996 National Championship team and of the 1994, 1995 and 1996 Gator SEC Championship teams. He earned first-team All-American and All-SEC status in 1996.
Hilliard was selected in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He went on to play 12 NFL seasons, recording 546 career receptions for 6,397 yards, an 11.7 yard per catch average and 35 touchdowns. A Patterson, La., native, Hilliard played his first eight seasons with the Giants and finished his NFL playing career playing four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a “Gator Great” in 2009 and is currently the assistant wide receivers coach for the Miami Dolphins.
Other 2011 SEC Legends include: Dennis Homan (Alabama), Leotis Harris (Arkansas), JD “Buddy” McClinton (Auburn), Boss Bailey (Georgia), Rodger Bird (Kentucky), George Bevan (LSU), Deuce McAllister (Ole Miss), Tom Neville (Mississippi State), Brandon Bennett (South Carolina), Bobby Majors (Tennessee) and Corey Harris (Vanderbilt).
SEC FOOTBALL LEGENDS FROM FLORIDA (1994-2011)
1994 – Neal Anderson, Running Back, 1982-85
1995 – Jack Youngblood, Defensive End, 1966, 1969-70
1996 – Nat Moore, Running Back, 1972-73
1997 – Carlos Alvarez, Wide Receiver, 1969-71
1998 – Glenn Cameron, Linebacker, 1972-74
1999 – Kerwin Bell, Quarterback, 1984-87
2000 – John Reaves, Quarterback, 1969-71
2001 – Huey Richardson, Defensive End, 1987-90
2002 – Brad Culpepper, Defensive Tackle, 1988-91
2003 – Larry Smith, Running Back, 1966-68
2004 – Lomas Brown, Offensive Tackle, 1981-84
2005 – Trace Armstrong, Defensive Lineman, 1988
2006 – Louis Oliver, Defensive Back, 1985-88
2007 – Ralph Ortega, Linebacker, 1972-74
2008 – Errict Rhett, Running Back, 1991-93
2009 – Reidel Anthony, Wide Receiver, 1994-96
2010– Kevin Carter, Defensive End, 1991-94
2011–Ike Hilliard, Wide Receiver, 1994-96
