Percy Harvin did the work of two men on Saturday.
He had no trouble carrying the load.
In the absence of senior wide receiver Andre Caldwell, Harvin became Tim Tebow's top target and Tennessee?s biggest problem.
The sophomore finished with 13 touches for 195 yards and a touchdown, doing most of his damage in the second half.
BWe kind of knew it a little bit with Bubba (Caldwell) going out,C Harvin said of his increased looks. BCoach (Urban Meyer) came to me at halftime and said he was ready to unleash me a little bit. I took advantage.C
Meyer and offensive coordinator Dan Mullen went to Harvin on the first play of the first four series of the second half.
On the first two drives, he gained ho-hum 9-yard runs.
On the third, he bailed out the offense with a 49-yard outstretched catch that took the Gators from their own 1-yard line to midfield.
BWe thrive on being one-on-one, and we knew we had it,C Harvin said of Tennessee?s failed defensive strategy.
Harvin capped the nine-play, 99-yard drive with a 19-yard end around for a score.
He took a handoff from Tim Tebow, sprinted across the field, split two Tennessee defenders and spun past another to put the Gators up 42-20 early in the fourth quarter.
Behind Tony Joiner and Tim Tebow?s emotional kiss, it was the second biggest highlight of the game.
BI was able to get to the edge and let my God-given abilities go,C Harvin said.
Harvin had 13 touches combined in the first two games as he battled tendinitis.
Meyer also does not like to play Harvin in blowouts - UF won its first two games by a combined 74 points.
With a healthy Harvin, a big-time opponent and no Caldwell, Meyer had no choice but to go to No. 1.
BI think you witnessed one of the better players in college football in No. 1, Percy Harvin,C Meyer said. BI think he?s healthy now. He?s a weapon.C
News came out Monday that Caldwell would miss the game with a sprained MCL.
At first, it looked like youngsters Riley Cooper and Jarred Fayson would have to step up.
Everybody forgot about Harvin, who dazzled as much as Tebow in 2006 despite an injury-plagued freshman campaign.
Harvin made a point not to forget Caldwell, thanking him after the game in front of the rest of the team in the locker room.
BI?ve got to give him most of the credit,C Harvin said. BWhen I first got here, he was the one that taught me the plays, taught me to go hard. When he wasn?t there, it didn?t feel right. I wanted him to know that we played for him today.C
