Top College Football Prospect Heads South
Wide receiver Percy Harvin of Landstown, the nation's top-ranked prospect ended the suspense on December 19th at The Locals Satellite Sports Grill in Norfolk and announced his plans to play for the Florida Gators starting next Fall. Teammate Damon McDaniel, also a wide receiver, joined what could go down as the best recruiting class in Florida history.
"For the next four or five years of my life, I am going to the University of Florida," Harvin said. Harvin chose Florida ahead of Southern Cal. Harvin scored 33 touchdowns in his senior season, with 14 of those scores covering more than 50 yards.
Best of all, his best friend, Damon McDaniel will continue to share the field and undoubtedly the spotlight with him as a Gator. “Damon is like a brother to me. We didn’t plan to go to the same school, in fact just talked about it for the first time on Friday” Harvin said. “It makes the decision all that much better to have him there with me” he continued.
If you have ever watched Percy play football, you have seen the aggressive intensity that he puts into his game. That makes it all the more surprising to talk to him in person and see that he is really a quiet, well-spoken young man and very aware of the responsibility that comes with his notoriety. In his opening statement, Percy thanked God for giving him the ability and opportunity to accomplish all he has. I asked him about his faith and he told me, “ there is nothing we face in life that if given to the Lord can’t be taken care of”. “Percy has a big heart, loves kids and gives all the glory to God” according to his Mother whom Percy describes as his biggest fan who has stood by him through thick and thin. One of the reasons he gave for choosing Florida over USC was because he didn’t want his Mom to have to travel so far to see him. “That makes me feel very good, I didn’t know he had thought about that, but knowing him, it doesn’t surprise me” Mom said.
When making his final decision about where to play in college, he narrowed his choices to Florida and USC. He believes that going to Florida where Quarterback Tim Tebow has also signed and now with Damon also headed will give him all the tools he needs to prepare him for the NFL. “Florida is a receivers dream” Percy said and he expressed his confidence and respect for Coach Urban Meyer.
Percy has been through a lot this season, both good and bad. He feels he is misunderstood a lot because of his discipline and intensity on the field. “People don’t really understand who I am off the field” he said and when asked about the suspension this season, he added, “That was a very difficult time for me. The press never printed what actually happened and so people just thought I was a bad guy. I was spit on by another player and reacted. I have asked a lot of people, what they would do in the same situation and it’s a funny thing, but nobody can answer that question. I regret the bad press it caused my team and Coach Beatty.” He added, “Coach Beatty has always told us to be gentlemen and show good sportsmanship…to walk away from confrontation, but I felt this crossed the line”
Percy says the problems he has faced and the pressure from being in the press so much have made him stronger and will help him to handle the increased pressures he will face in college and the pros.
When asked about the people who have had the most positive influences in his life, he of course gives credit to God first, his Mother and close family and Coach Beatty. The most influential however are Coach Robertson and Coach Anderson from Landstown who he says, “they are like Father’s to me and words can never describe how thankful I am to them for all they have done to help me. They are not just football coaches, but Life Coaches and have given me some very valuable advice”.
“Now that the selection process is over, I can relax and really have fun playing basketball and running track for the rest of my senior year” Harvin said.
