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Friday, April 19, 2024

Electrifying playmaker Harvin fights through injury for big-time BCS performance

Similar to the leadup to the NFL Draft, Percy Harvin's health would be a major storyline for the Gators' two postseason games this season.

He would not play against Alabama in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game.

He would make his triumphant return to lead UF past Oklahoma in the BCS National Championship Game.

Each told part of the Percy Harvin Saga.

His absence in Atlanta was due to an ankle sprain suffered against Florida State a week prior to the SEC title game. Harvin's injury status was the story leading up to kickoff and Gators fans' hearts sank as the then-junior came out not dressed for action.

Harvin said after the game that the trainer's final decision was one of the hardest things he ever had to hear, but he used the opportunity to inspire his teammates with a pregame speech.

"I basically told (the team) this is it," Harvin said after the game. "Don't come back in the locker room if you (don't) leave it all out on the field, or you'll have to face me and look me in the eye and tell me you hadn't given everything."

Prior to the Gators' showdown in Miami, injury news again captured the headlines.

The star playmaker would turn in one of his best performances as a Gator against Oklahoma, logging 171 yards and a touchdown on 14 touches. His 122 rushing yards was the third-best running performance in a BCS title game.

"That was one of the guttiest performances I've ever been around," coach Urban Meyer said after the game. "We've got three years together, and the one thing about (him is) the brighter the lights, the better he plays. He's a big-time game performer."

While widely known for his sharp cuts and quick speed, his stats also tell the tale of a dominating playmaker.

He was one of four players in the country to average more than 20 yards per carry in a game (minimum of seven carries) when he rumbled for a career-high 167 yards on eight carries against South Carolina on Nov. 15. Harvin ended his career having scored a touchdown in his last 15 games, the best such mark in the country.

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His best receiving game also came in 2008 during the Gators' only loss of the season against Ole Miss. Harvin had 186 yards on 13 catches - both numbers set career marks.

He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2009 NFL Draft with the No. 22 overall pick.

For being one of the most electrifying players every time he touched the ball and coming through with a gritty performance in the BCS title game, Percy Harvin is the alligatorSports No. 3 UF Athlete of 2008-09.

BY THE NUMBERS: Harvin earned two third-place votes, two fourth-place votes, one sixth-place vote and was left off one ballot.

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