5 former Florida Gators who left school at the right time
In the world of college athletics – which right now is both confusing and rewarding – careers are made by decisions.
It starts early with athletes deciding where they will visit, then where they will commit and finally where they sign. Nowadays, it’s a yearly decision about whether to stay or jump into the transfer portal.
Finally, it’s a decision for the elite (and some not so elite) to turn pro early or use all of their eligibility.
Trinity Thomas is facing that decision even though she has been amazing for four full years. Because she has a pandemic year she can still use, Thomas could return for a fifth season and use it as a bridge to the next Olympics.
Thomas would be one of those athletes in Florida history who could choose to leave and we would all say, “Thanks.” The voice would be loud, too, because she is in the argument for greatest gymnast ever at Florida and perhaps the NCAA.
We’ll wait for her to announce, but while we do that, let us look at 10 UF athletes who left early and most Gator fans just wanted to give them a hug and wish them well. They had done enough.
Today, the first five of the top 10 of those athletes. Tomorrow, the second five plus a few that we were wondering what they were thinking.
Tracy Caulkins
Porter Binks-USA TODAY NETWORK
Caulkins (now Tracy Stockwell) followed her sister Amy to UF and was as dominant a swimmer as you could be, especially because she excelled in all four strokes.
She won 16 NCAA titles and earned 21 All-American honors while leading Florida to the 1982 national title. She gave up her senior season to concentrate on the Olympics and ended up winning three gold medals during her career.
Grant Holloway
James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
Holloway had an amazing three years at Florida and was unbeatable in the 60-meter hurdles, in which he is the world record-holder for the indoor event.
In the six NCAA Championships Florida had with Holloway as the points machine, the Gators finished first three times and second three times.
And we always wondered what the four-star receiver might have done at the Swamp.
That didn’t happen, but like Caulkins, he skipped his senior year to concentrate on his pro career and the Olympics.
Brad Wilkerson
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
For my money, he is the best Florida baseball player ever. Wilkerson was a big reason why Florida went to two College World Series in the three years he played.
As a freshman, he hit a grand slam to beat FSU in the CWS and also came in to close the game on the mound.
Wilkerson hit .406 as a freshman, then cranked up the power numbers his last two seasons to leave as Florida’s all-time home run leader.
After his junior season, it was no surprise that he turned pro and was drafted by Montreal in the first round and played eight seasons in the majors with 122 home runs.
Ike and Reidel
(Left) Andy Lyons /Allsport; (Right) Gainesville Sun/Stephen Morton
These two receivers are Nos. 4 and 5 on this list (they aren’t in any order, by the way) because they were inseparable, even having an emotional phone conversation when both were drafted in the first round.
[autotag]Ike Hilliard[/autotag] and [autotag]Reidel Anthony[/autotag] were like attatching a hyperdrive to the Steve Spurrier offense, culminating with the 1996 national title.
Spurrier told me this great story about the morning after the game in New Orleans. The team was getting on the bus to go to the airport when Spurrier was approached by the two players.
“Coach, when we get back, we want to meet with you in your office,” they said.
“About what,” he replied.
“Going to the NFL.”
“You guys? You guys are gone. You’ve done everything you could for the Florida Gators.”
Well done, young men.
[listicle id=83069]
Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.
1
1
