Percy Harvin

Infobox NCAA Athlete
name = Percy Harvin

William Percy Harvin III (born May 28, 1988 in Virginia Beach, Virginia) is a college football player at the running back and wide receiver positions for the University of Florida.

High school career

Harvin was considered to be one of the fastest and best ever two-position football players, excelling at both running back and wide receiver. One of the top recruits in the 2006 high school class, a product of Virginia Beach's Landstown High School. Ranked number one overall by [http://www.rivals.com Rivals.com] [http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?SID=880&Year=2006&ra_key=1162] , and the number two receiver by Scout.com,cite web|url=http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=4&yr=2006&pid=16|title=Scout.com Football Recruiting|date=2006|publisher=Scout.com|accessdate=2008-09-24] Harvin quickly became one of the most prized recruits available. Harvin is noted for his speed (4.2 seconds in the 40-yard dash, as a Freshman) and ability to make people miss in the open field. He also set five state track records while he was at Landstown High, winning five gold medals at the state finals in 2005: long jump, triple jump, 100 meters, 200 meters and 400-meter relay. Among that performance Landstown went on to win the State championship (tying with Great Bridge). That team included: Percy Harvin, Danny Garcia, Damon McDaniel, Jamal Blyden, Kevin Wilson, Darren "Tiger" Jones, and Sean Lam. However, he was expelled from his basketball team for fighting, so coaches fear his attitude may be a problem. [cite web | last = Squires | first = David | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url = http://www.dailypress.com/sports/columnists/dp-39269cm0jun02,0,4327722.column?coll=dp-sports-columnists | title = With top track stars out, medals are up for grabs | format = | work = | publisher = "Daily Press" (Newport News, Virginia) | accessdate = 2006-06-12] Harvin was suspended for one football game for unsportsmanlike conduct during his junior year, and then was suspended for the final two games of his senior year for making contact with a referee and for inappropriate language. Harvin was later barred by the Virginia High School League from participating in any high school sporting events.Fact|date=September 2008 Harvin led Landstown to a perfect 14-0 record and a Virginia Group AAA, Division 6 state championship in 2004. In the title game against James Robinson High School, Harvin accounted for 476 total yards in rushing, receiving, kick returns, and interception returns, and scored 5 touchdowns in the 47-20 victory. Landstown finished 13-1 in 2005 after suffering an upset loss to Oakton High School, led by University of Virginia recruit Keith Payne, in the state championship. Landstown was also the state runner-up in 2003, Harvin's sophomore year. Following his stellar high school career, Harvin participated in the 2006 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

On December 19, 2005, Harvin committed to the University of Florida. [cite web | last = Gola | first = Henry | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = Dec 2005 | url = http://insider.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/news/story?id=2265229&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncaa%2frecruiting%2fnews%2fstory%3fid%3d2265229 | title = Harvin and McDaniel Commit to Florida | format = | work = | publisher = ESPN | accessdate = 2006-12-07]

College career

Freshman season

Harvin made his collegiate debut on September 2 against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles. Harvin caught three passes for 33 yards and carried the ball four times for a team-leading 58 yards [http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/recap?gid=200609020067] .

Harvin's second game was on September 9 against the University of Central Florida Golden Knights. He caught four passes for a total of 99 yards, including a 58 yard touchdown pass. He also ran for 11 yards on two carries [http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/recap;_ylt=AnSuvxJQAeqB_Xu7ztjLMl9k1LYF?gid=200609090067] .

Harvin saw limited action in the third and fourth games of his career at Florida. Against the University of Tennessee Volunteers on September 16, 2006, Harvin had one catch for 12 yards and one rush for 13 yards [http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegefootball/gamecenter/recap/NCAAF_20060916_FL@TN] . He was injured in this game in the second quarter and thus played very little for the rest of the game and in the next week [http://www.tbo.com/sports/MGBJT35W6SE.html] . Against the Kentucky Wildcats on September 23, Harvin had only one rush for 2 yards [http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegefootball/gamecenter/recap/NCAAF_20060923_KY@FL] . He did not play in the game against the University of Alabama. Percy played very little in the game against LSU but returned to the lineup in the game against Auburn. Harvin continued his sensational freshman season, rushing for a 42 yard touchdown against hated rival Florida State. However, Harvin suffered a neck sprain and was taken off the field on a cart. Percy returned the next week for the SEC Championship Game against Arkansas and was again spectacular, catching five passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. He also ran six times, for a team high 105 yards, including a dazzling 67 yard touchdown burst up the middle. With the performance, Harvin won game MVP. After the game, Percy also won SEC Freshman of the year.

Harvin finished off his freshman season with a win in the National Championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes, 41-14. Harvin lined up at quarterback numerous times, and was a factor in both the run game and the pass game. Harvin had 22 yards rushing and a score, and 60 yards receiving.

Sophomore season

Percy Harvin entered the 2007 season as the starting receiver for the Florida Gators. In the first game of the season, a 49-3 victory over Western Kentucky, Harvin recorded three receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown. In the 59-31 victory over Troy, Harvin grabbed 3 receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for 56 yards on four carries. In the 59-20 victory over Tennessee, Percy Harvin contributed greatly to the victory with his 120 yards on four receptions and 75 rushing yards with a touchdown. The next victory, a 30-24 contest against Mississippi, Harvin grabbed 11 passes for 121 yards and a score. In the first loss of the season, 17-20 to Auburn, Harvin recorded 119 yards on 7 receptions. The game marked his third-consecutive 100-yard receiving game. The next game, a 24-28 loss to LSU, Harvin only recorded 69 total yards. However, in the 45-37 victory over Kentucky, Harvin recorded 97 total yards and a rushing touchdown. In the 30-42 loss to Georgia, Harvin only had 41 receiving yards but contributed with 97 rushing yards on 10 carries. Harvin's best game of the season, statistically, was the next game against Vanderbilt in the victory, when he recorded 110 receiving yards on 9 receptions and 11 rushes for 113 yards and two rushing scores. After missing the South Carolina and Florida Atlantic victories with a sinus infection, Harvin returned with a 16 rush, 157 yard performance with a rushing touchdown against Florida State in the 45-12 victory. In the Capital One Bowl loss to University of Michigan, 35-41, Percy Harvin grabbed 9 receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown, also rushing for 165 yards and a score. The game marked his third consecutive contest with 100-yards rushing.

Percy Harvin finished the season with 858 yards on 59 receptions for 4 touchdowns. He also totaled 764 yards on 83 rushes for 6 touchdowns. Harvin totaled 1,622 total yards and 10 touchdowns on the season, becoming the first receiver in school history to have over 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in a career. Harvin earned All-SEC first team honors as an all-purpose player, while earning second team honors as a receiver.

Percy was named to the pre-season All-American list and to the heisman contenders list in March of 2008.

Junior Season

Early in his junior season head coach Urban Meyer officially announced his position had been changed from wide receiver to running back

References