The postseason accolades keep coming for Vernon Hargreaves III.
Florida’s junior cornerback was named a 2015 first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association, completing the quintet of teams needed to become the school’s first consensus All-American since cornerback Joe Haden in 2009.
Earlier this week, Hargreaves was named a first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Associated Press, Football Writers Association of American and Sporting News.
Hargreaves plans to enter the 2016 NFL Draft after the Citrus Bowl, and most analysts project the 5-11, 199-pounder as a potential top-10 pick.
“My junior year, my last year, we got to Atlanta. But we didn’t get the job done,” he said following Florida’s 29-15 loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.
Still, Hargreaves headlined the nation’s No. 6 defense, tying for the team lead with four interceptions and adding 31 tackles, four pass breakups and a forced fumble.
In his career, Hargreaves picked off 10 passes.
PRACTICE SCHEDULE
UF started preparation for its New Year’s Day showdown with Michigan on Tuesday, but the Gators won’t actually return to practice until Friday.
First-year coach Jim McElwain is using the initial Citrus Bowl practices as a mini training camp for younger players, allowing those who plan to or have already declared for the NFL Draft, along with all seniors, to rest the first couple of days.
“They’ll hold out and be working with [strength and conditioning] Coach [Mike] Kent during that time,” McElwain said.
“Then when we get into actual game prep, which will be that following week, they’ll jump back in.”
THIS AND THAT
▪ Wideout Antonio Callaway, a former Miami Booker T. Washington standout, was named a Freshman All-American by the Sporting News. Callaway led the Gators with 603 receiving yards and four touchdowns, adding a pair of scores on punt returns.
▪ UF officially announced a trio of mid-year junior-college signees Wednesday: No. 1 JUCO kicker Eddy Pineiro, No. 1 JUCO tailback Mark Thompson and athlete Dre Massey. The Gators’ 2016 signing class has 25 commits and ranks seventh nationally, according to 247Sports.
▪ Senior defensive back Brian Poole accepted an invitation to play in the 2016 East-West Shrine Game. Poole, a versatile nickel back, recorded 36 tackles, 3 1/2 tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble. His 10 pass breakups ranked second on the team.
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