For Gators TE Jake McGee, Saturday can't arrive soon enough
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- It's not difficult to imagine a modest list of goals for Jake McGee this season:
A sixth-year senior, McGee was granted an additional year of eligibility after he suffered a season-ending injury on his ninth play in a Florida uniform. Fully recovered, McGee has reason to be as excited as anyone Saturday when the Gators host New Mexico State in the season opener.
The one-year anniversary of his injury is Sunday, a day that, if all goes well Saturday for McGee, will be spent reviewing film from a victory over the Aggies mixed in with some rest following a good performance.
"It's here now. If you're not fired up and ready to go, it might not be the thing for you," McGee said of the opening game. "I've just been anxious. Camp has winded down and now we're here at game week, I'm just waiting for Saturday."
McGee figures prominently into Florida's offensive plans as the veteran among the receivers and tight ends. McGee caught 71 passes for 769 yards and seven touchdowns in his final two seasons at Virginia.
After graduating in the spring of 2014, McGee enrolled in graduate school at Florida with one season of eligibility remaining. And then before he got his uniform dirty, he was hurt in Florida's 65-0 win over Eastern Michigan.
McGee said he spent a few days in the dumps but quickly regrouped and focused on turning his misfortune into a positive. A year later McGee has clearly done that.
"The recovery went great. I could have done [full-contact workouts in] spring but Coach was just cautious with me," McGee said. "There really haven't been any issues at all."
As McGee rehabbed and first-year coach Jim McElwain took over the program, he took on more of a leadership role under the new coaching staff.
He is the senior voice among a talented but young group of tight ends that includes sophomore DeAndre Goolsby and redshirt freshmen C'yontai Lewis and Moral Stephens.
"They've still got their baby faces," McGee said.
Lewis emerged in fall camp as a player to watch. McGee keeps a close eye on him.
"He stays on me about my weight," Lewis said. "He makes me study the playbook. Every day he constantly coming after me to make sure I'm writing down my plays. He stays on me."
McGee's top priority is to help the Gators have a good season in his swan song to college football. He'll then turn his focus toward a potential future in the NFL.
At 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, McGee has a combination of size and speed that NFL scouts covet. But first, back to that list of goals.
