Now.. i would swear someone mentioned to keep an eye on this one before. :)
On Thu, Aug 11, 2016 at 8:09 AM, Shane Ford <[email protected]> wrote: > Worton is putting it all together at receiver for Gators > > Florida receiver C.J. Worton is pushed out of bounds by linebacker Will > Thomas during the Orange and Blue Debut at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in > April 8. Worton has been preparing to have a breakout season in 2016. (Matt > Stamey/The Gainesville Sun) > By Robbie Andreu <http://www.gatorsports.com/personalia/robbieandreu> > Gainesville SUN Staff writer > Published: Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at 5:20 p.m.Last Modified: > Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at 5:20 p.m. > > C.J. Worton made a statement with his leaping, acrobatic 46-yard touchdown > reception between two Alabama defensive backs in last December’s SEC > Championship Game. > > It was a statement to his coaches and teammates, to the fans and everyone > else who saw the play. But more than anything else, it was a statement to > himself. > > It showed him that he can do this, he can make big-time plays, he can be > the wide receiver everyone thought he was going to be coming out of South > Dade High School in Homestead in 2014. > > “Just for me to realize in my head that, ‘Man these are some of the best > DBs in the country. I guess I can really compete with anyone,’ ” Worton > said. “I’m doing it every day against two of the best corners in the nation > right now. Just me seeing all that and putting myself in a good position > right now.” > > The junior finds himself in a good place for maybe the first time since > he’s been at UF. His first two years were definitely a disappointment, with > a lot more time spent on the bench than on the field. > > Before the SEC Championship Game, Worton had played in only seven games > and caught just seven passes for 113 yards. > > This isn’t the way it was supposed to be for the one-time Florida State > commitment. He was used to being somebody on the football field, a dynamic > offensive player who led his high school to the Class 8A state title his > senior year with three touchdown receptions in the championship game > against Apopka. > > Being a non-factor brought him down and filled him with self doubt. > > There was speculation late last year that Worton would be transferring to > another school after the season in hopes of rebooting his college career. > He said he never quite reached that point. > > “No, I never never thought about leaving,” he said. “I understand (why > there was speculation I was leaving), but no, I never thought about > leaving. I love it here. I always had a good relationship with the coaches. > I never wanted to leave. > > “It was just upsetting for me personally because I had such high > standards. That’s what a lot of good players do. They set the standard real > high. If you fall short of it, of course you’re going to beat yourself up.” > > Worton beat himself up. Then he picked himself up. > > “I just had to really dig deep and see how much I love the game, how much > I wanted to play,” he said. “That’s when the change came. Since then, I’ve > just run with it.” > > Even though he wasn’t playing much, Worton refocused in the latter stages > of last season. He worked harder, prepared himself better -- and when his > opportunity finally came late in the game in Atlanta, he made the big play. > He’s hoping that touchdown has lit the spark that will turn his career > around and lead to a breakout season in 2016. > > “It gives me momentum,” Worton said. “I’m ready now to pick up where I > left off and really set the bar even higher, and hopefully I’ll reach it > this time.” > > Coach Jim McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier said Worton > should set the bar higher, because he does have the talent and potential to > achieve a higher standard. > > “He's a phenomenal athlete and I think he's just starting to scratch the > surface,” Nussmeier said. “He's got a big, big upside and I’m really > excited to see what kind of camp he'll have.” > > In his first two seasons, Worton has impressed the coaches with his skill > set and some of the plays he’s made in practice. He just hasn’t done it > consistently enough to make himself a factor in the offense. > > Since December, Worton has been putting in the work to turn that around. > > “I'll say one thing about C.J. He is another guy that has come a long, > long ways,” McElwain said. “He's a guy that I think even when you see his > body, you'll see the importance of the nutrition piece, the importance of > finishing everything you do and your attention to your daily detail. > > “It will be interesting to see where it carries over. But he's had an > outstanding summer; a guy that has really been a go-to guy for our > (quarterbacks).” > > Nussmeier said Worton has grown up and is now taking a more serious and > more complete approach to the game. > > “(He’s had a) really, really good offseason,” Nussmeier said. “C.J., I > think as much as anything, has really started to get it. He's really > maturing as a young man. Understanding how to take the things that he > learns in the classroom when it comes to the game and apply it to the > field, and how to physically put himself in the best shape by what he does > in the weight room and conditioning and those type of things.” > > There have been obvious physical changes in Worton. He’s added more than > 25 pounds of muscle since he’s been in Gainesville and is now up to 196 > pounds on a 6-foot frame. > > There have been some mental changes as well, thanks in part to that one > big play last December. > > “It shows me what I’m capable of and gives me a lot of confidence,” he > said. “I can’t wait to get out there and start competing.” > > *Contact Robbie Andreu at 352-374-5022 <352-374-5022> or > [email protected] <[email protected]>. Also check out > Andreu's blog at Gatorsports.com <http://gatorsports.com>.* > > > > > > > > > > > > > Sent From Shane's iPhone > Go Gators! & Skål Vikes! > ALPCA #8756 > Europlate #1045 > > -- > -- > GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! > 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 > National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 > National Football Champions | > Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel > (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "GatorNews" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorTalk" group. 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