The Alligator Awards continue this week, with the fifth award being for "Best Male Athlete." Editor-in-chief Jordan McPherson and staff writer Ian Cohen join alligatorSports editors Graham Hall, Luis Torres and Graham Hack in a roundtable discussion to debate the five nominees. Debates will go in alphabetical order by the writer’s last name.
Cohen: Schwarz delivers for UF
In his first season, JJ Schwarz did things freshmen aren’t supposed to do.
He led Florida with 18 home runs, 73 RBIs and a .629 slugging percentage, numbers that ranked tied for fourth, third, and 32nd in the nation, respectively. His best stretch came during six days in April, when Schwarz hit seven home runs over the span of four games.
His play grabbed the attention of collegiate baseball experts everywhere, as the freshman collected numerous postseason accolades, including the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Freshman Hitter of the Year and the Louisville Slugger Co-Freshman of the Year.
On a UF team that also included juniors Richie Martin, Harrison Bader and senior Josh Tobias — all selected in the first 10 rounds of June’s MLB draft — it was Schwarz that consistently displayed the most power and maturity at the plate.
At his age, and with the production and versatility he provided UF as both catcher and designated hitter, Schwarz deserves to be named the Best Male Athlete.
Hack: Fowler showcases his pro potential
There were a lot of great male athletes at UF last year, but only one signed a contract worth more than $23 million after the season concluded.
That would be Dante Fowler Jr., former Gator and current Jacksonville Jaguar defensive lineman.
When the 2014 season started, Fowler was considered one of the best defensive linemen in the Southeastern Conference. When it was over, he had become the best draft eligible defensive player in the nation — at least according to the NFL Draft.
Fowler was selected third overall by Jacksonville, the first non-quarterback taken and the first defensive player off the board.
He impressed the scouts by racking up 60 tackles and 8.5 sacks during his junior season despite routinely facing double teams.
Take Fowler off of that defense — a defense that ranked 44th nationally with 30 team sacks — and there’s a good chance Florida doesn’t go bowling in 2014.
Obviously, the Jaguars believe that to be the case. They still gave him a fully-guaranteed contract even after the rookie tore the ACL in his left knee on the first day of rookie minicamp. Money talks.
Hall: Dressel sets UF records
As a freshman, Caeleb Dressel set UF records and nearly set a national record in arguably the most athletic sport on the planet.
He was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week three times last season before being named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and ultimately being declared the SEC Freshman Swimmer of the Year.
And Dressel only got stronger and faster as the season progressed.
At his first SEC Championships, Dressel captured the 100-yard butterfly (45.28 seconds) with his season-best performance in the event.
And on the big stage, Dressel didn’t disappoint.
On the first day of competition at the 2015 NCAA Championships, Dressel won first place in the 50-yard freestyle (18.67 seconds).
That time isn’t just a UF record — it’s one-hundredth of a second off the record for fastest-ever time in the 50-yard freestyle swim by an American.
He’s the first Gator to ever win the award, and now holds UF records in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle and the 200-yard medley relay.
Swimming requires superior athleticism, and as a freshman, Dressel outpaced the competition to become the Best Male Athlete at UF.
McPherson: Tobias breaks through in senior year
This argument really comes down to one thing: Consistency.
The winner should be the athlete who had not just one or two standout moments, but rather the one who had a solid season and regularly played better than the rest of the field.
And that person, without a doubt, is Josh Tobias.
You might not remember Tobias for his home run prowess, but the senior third baseman and cleanup hitter was hands down the best player on the UF baseball team this year (sorry, Ian. JJ doesn’t make the cut).
Defensively, Tobias had just one error in 141 chances at the toughest position to field while making jaw-dropping plays look routine. Schwarz had three miscues behind the plate despite only being in the field half the time.
At the plate, Tobias led the Gators with a .355 batting average and set career highs in almost every statistical category on offense.
And Tobias only got hotter as the season progressed.
He ended the year reaching base in 31 of the final 32 games, a mark unmatched by anyone else on the team (Schwarz included).
Tobias did all of this while batting as a switch hitter — changing his batting stance depending on the pitcher — for the first time in his career.
That’s consistency. That’s a player deserving of the Best Male Athlete award.
And that’s how you clean up the competition.
Torres: Last one, best one
Entering this year Marquis Dendy was one of the most decorated athletes in Florida Gator history.
He had five national titles in his first three seasons, and this year at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships he would add two more to further cement himself as one of the best jumpers in program history.
On the second day of the championships, Dendy would repeat as the long jump champion after leaping 27 feet, 8 inches. That jump would set an all-conditions personal record for the Middletown, Delaware, native and it was the No. 2 mark in the world.
But the last jump of his career was his best one.
In his final event as a Gator — the triple jump — Dendy would soar 17.71 meters (58.25 feet) to win the triple jump title. With that jump, he set the third-best all-conditions mark in collegiate history and a new record for an NCAA meet.
For his efforts during the year, he was crowned as the indoor and outdoor USTFCCCA National Field Athlete of the Year.
He’s also a finalist for The Bowerman Trophy, which is collegiate track and field’s highest individual honor. He’s the third Gator ever to be a finalist for the award and he has the chance to become the first in program history to win it.
Which male athlete at UF was the best? Vote online at alligator.org/sports. All results will be revealed in our New Student Edition on Aug. 17.
Florida's Marquis Dendy leaps on his way to winning the triple jump during the NCAA track and field championships in Eugene, Ore., Friday, June 12, 2015.
Florida jumper Marquis Dendy saved his best season for his last one, sweeping the long and triple jumps at both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships en route to becoming Florida's first winner of The Bowerman, the track and field equivalent of The Heisman Trophy. Here's Kyle Brutman's feature on Dendy (http://www.alligator.org/sports/track/article_4c53418a-13e5-11e5-b636-f77a62ccc996.html)
