Thirteen Gators Earn Postseason Honors

Thirteen Gators Earn Postseason Honors

Thursday, December 17, 2015 | Football

Hargreaves named consensus First Team All-American

By: Dan Apple

GAINESVILLE -- After finishing the regular season with 10 wins, a total of 13 Florida football players have earned postseason honors from various media outlets over the past two weeks. On Thursday, junior cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III was named a Consensus First Team All-American after being selected to all five teams that the NCAA considers for recognition.

With Hargreaves earning First Team recognition this season, he will be honored with an All-America Brick outside the Heavener Football Complex -- his second after having a brick installed in 2014 for earning First Team honors from the Sporting News.

Hargreaves is the first Gator to earn unanimous All-America honors since Gator Great cornerback Joe Haden in 2009. Punter Chas Henry, in 2010, is the last UF player to be named a Consensus All-American, earning First Team honors from the Associated Press, Sporting News and Walter Camp.

The following is a recap of the postseason honors garnered by the Gators following the 2015 season.

Head Coach Jim McElwain

In just his first season as head coach, Jim McElwain led Florida to the Southeastern Conference East Division title, becoming the third first-year head coach in the SEC to reach the SEC Championship game, joining LSU's Les Miles (2005) and Auburn's Gus Malzhan (2013). With a 10-2 regular season record and 7-1 mark in the SEC, McElwain was voted the SEC Coach of the Year by his peers and was also named the league's Coach of the Year by the Associated Press and Athlon Sports. He is one of six finalists for the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Year.

"McElwain made an immediate impact in his first season in Gainesville, guiding Florida to its first trip to the SEC Championship since 2009," wrote Steve Lassan of Athlon Sports. "The Gators finished the regular season at 10-3, which included a 27-3 victory over rival Georgia, a 38-10 win over Ole Miss and a last-minute 28-27 escape against Tennessee. McElwain still has work to do on offense, but the Gators were strong on defense, and the overall direction of this program is trending up headed into the bowl season."

Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III

In addition to being named First Team All-America, Hargreaves was one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive back. Although he didn't win, his list of honors was special following his junior season.

"This guy, the way that he plays his position – for some reason they kept throwing at him. I know the main reason is they had some help on the other side so they had to try and throw against somebody. He had four picks this year. An unbelievable athlete with receiver-like hands," said Randy Cross of CBS Sports.

Jim Thorpe Award Finalist (1 of 3)
Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalist (1 of 20)
Walter Camp First Team All-America (CB)
AFCA First Team All-America (CB)
AP First Team All-America (CB)
FWAA First Team All-America (CB)
Sporting News First Team All-America (CB)
CBSSports.com First Team All-America (CB)
SI.com Second Team All-America Team (CB)
Phil Steele First Team All-America (DB)
Coaches First Team All-SEC (DB)
AP First Team All-SEC (CB)
ESPN.com First Team All-SEC (DB)
Athlon First Team All-SEC (CB)
Phil Steele First Team All-SEC (DB)
PFF Second Team All-SEC (CB)
GridIron Now Second Team All-SEC (CB)

Defensive Lineman Jonathan Bullard

By all accounts, defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard had an outstanding senior year. He decided to return for his final season and in hopes of improving his draft stock, and the results have been outstanding -- with some projections having him listed as a first-round prospect.

"This guy is unbelievable," said Jason Taylor, a former NFL defensive lineman and current CBS Sports analyst. "Disruptive is the term I use. His anticipation of the snap, his get-off, his burst is unparalleled in my opinion. He can play the three-technique, which is the fancy name for playing over the guard, or five-technique which defines his location over the tackle. Wherever he was, he was in people's grills, including Alabama's offensive line in the Championship game."

Bullard has racked up 63 tackles on the season. He is the first player since Alex Brown in 1999 to notch 17.5 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 sacks in the same season.

Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalist (1 of 20)
CBSSports.com First Team All-America Team (DL)
PFF First Team All-America (DL)
Sporting News Second Team All-America (DL)
Phil Steele Fourth Team All-America (DL)
SI.com Honorable Mention All-America (DL)
Coaches First Team All-SEC (DL)
AP First Team All-SEC (DL)
ESPN.com First Team All-SEC (DL)
Athlon First Team All-SEC (DL)
PFF First Team All-SEC (DL)
Phil Steele First Team All-SEC (DL)
GridIron Now First Team All-SEC (DL)

Wide Receiver/Punt Returner Antonio Callaway

Freshman phenom Antonio Callaway burst onto the scene with a game-winning 63-yard touchdown catch against Tennessee in Week Four. After that, he became the Gators' biggest playmaker, averaging 20.1 yards per catch and leading the team with 603 receiving yards. He was also dynamic in the punt return game, scoring two touchdowns and averaging 15.5 yards on 28 returns. His 435 total punt return yards rank second in school history to only Brandon James' 2008 season (510 yards, 37 returns, 13.8 avg.).

He was named a First Team All-American by CBSSports.com as a punt returner while also earning multiple All-Freshman honors.

CBSSports.com First Team All-America Team (PR)
Phil Steele Third Team All-America (PR)
ESPN.com Freshman All-America (AP)
Sporting News Freshman All-America (WR)
PFF All-Freshman First Team (R)
SI.com Honorable Mention All-America (R)
PFF First Team All-SEC (R)
GridIron Now Second Team All-SEC (PR)
Phil Steele Second Team All-SEC (PR)
GridIron Now Freshman All-SEC (WR)

Safety Marcus Maye

One of the most improved players on the 2015 roster had to be Marcus Maye. He was consistently among Pro Football Focus' weekly Dream Team and graded out as the second-best safety in the country. According to PFF's film grades, Maye's +11.9 coverage grade ranked fifth among safeties while his +10.2 run grade ranks eighth as he brings one of the best all-around skill sets to the position.

Maye's grades earned him a spot on the PFF All-America team and he also earned recognition from USA Today as a First Team selection at safety. Maye ranks fourth on the team with 73 tackles and also has four forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions.

USA Today First-Team All-America (S)
PFF First Team All-American (S)
SI.com Honorable Mention All-America (DB)
PFF First Team All-SEC (S)
GridIron Now First Team All-SEC (S)
Athlon Second Team All-SEC (S)
Phil Steele Second Team All-SEC (DB)

Linebacker Antonio Morrison

After a devasting knee injury in the 2015 Birmingham Bowl last January, some thought senior Antonio Morrison's 2015 season was over before it even began. Through countless rehab and training sessions, Morrison not only returned to the field this fall, he didn't miss a start and played at an elite level.

In November, Morrison was selected as one of 10 semifinalists for the 2015 Butkus Award for the nation's top linebacker. Following the season, he earned multiple All-SEC honors and was invited to play in the 2016 Reese's Senior Bowl.

Morrison leads the Gators with 97 total tackles on the season and is second on the team with 12 tackles-for-loss. He has 288 total tackles in his career, trailing only Brandon Spikes (307 tackles) among players since 2005 in career tackles.

Butkus Award Semifinalist (1 of 10)
Phil Steele Third Team All-America (LB)
Athlon First Team All-SEC (LB)
Phil Steele First Team All-SEC (LB)
Coaches Second Team All-SEC (LB)
AP Second Team All-SEC (LB)
GridIron Now First Team All-SEC (LB)

Cornerback Jalen Tabor

After earning All-Freshman honors in 2014, cornerback Jalen Tabor started to make a name for himself this season. He led the SEC with 14 pass breakups, currently fourth-most in a season at Florida, while also recording four interceptions -- returning two of them for touchdowns.

"If you talk to people around Florida, you'll hear that Tabor was Florida's best defensive back," wrote Edward Ascoff of ESPN.com. "The tape proves it. His 18 passes defended led the SEC and ranked 10th nationally."

Sporting News Second Team All-America (CB)
Phil Steele Third Team All-America (DB)
PFF Honorable Mention All-American (CB)
SI.com Honorable Mention All-America (DB)
Coaches First Team All-SEC (DB)
AP First Team All-SEC (CB)
ESPN.com First Team All-SEC (DB)
Athlon First Team All-SEC (CB)
Phil Steele First Team All-SEC (DB)
PFF First Team All-SEC
GridIron Now First Team All-SEC (CB)

Punter Johnny Townsend

An unsung hero of the 2015 squad is punter Johnny Townsend, one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award for the nation's top punter. After redshirting in 2014, Townsend returned to the field and had as big of an impact of any Gator this season, capping the year with a record-setting performance in the SEC Championship Game. He punted eight times with a 51.8 average, the highest in SEC Championship Game history.

On the season, he averaged 44.9 yards per punt while placing 29 inside the 20-yard line and bombing 26 punts of 50 yards or longer. His 79 attempts so far on the year rank as the third-most in school history (record is 83).

Ray Guy Award Semifinalist (1 of 10)
ESPN.com First Team All-SEC (P)
GridIron Now First Team All-SEC (P)
Coaches Second Team All-SEC (P)
AP Second Team All-SEC (P)
Athlon Second Team All-SEC (P)
Phil Steele Second Team All-SEC (P)

Tight End Jake McGee

After missing the majority of last season with a broken leg, Jake McGee returned as a sixth-year senior and became a key member of the Gators' offense. He finished second on the team with 41 receptions and tied for the team lead with four touchdown catches. Even more impressive, 23 of his catches have resulted in a first down or touchdown.

McGee was named one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award, given to the best tight end in the country.

John Mackey Award Semifinalist (1 of 8)
AP Second Team All-SEC (TE)
Phil Steele Third Team All-SEC (TE)

Other Notables

With the success of the 2015 season, there were numerous Gators who gained the attention of media and fans in the Southeast and across the nation. These players also had notable seasons on the field for Florida.

Defensive Lineman Caleb Brantley: A virtual unknown entering the season, Brantley started nine games at defensive tackle and drew extra attention from the opponent's offensive line, freeing up his teammates to make plays. He has 28 tackles with 5.5 tackles-for-loss and three sacks on the year. PFF named him to their All-SEC Second Team.
Linebacker Jarrad Davis: A candidate for breakout player of the year, Davis was flying all over the field this fall -- totaling 94 tackles with 11.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks. The staff at GridIronNow.com named him to their All-SEC Second Team.
Offensive Lineman Mason Halter: A graduate transfer from Fordham, Halter started all 13 games at tackle this season. He earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from SI.com.
Offensive Lineman Martez Ivey: A highly-touted prospect from the day he arrived on campus in the summer, Ivey entered the starting lineup at LSU in Week 7 and flashed his potential. The SEC coaches named him to the All-Freshman team.
Defensive Lineman Cece Jefferson: True freshman totaled 28 tackles and was consistently in the backfield with 8.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks. He was named to the ESPN.com Freshman All-America Team, PFF All-Freshman Second Team and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team by the league's coaches.