On a humid day at the Sanders Practice Field, Major Wright is searching, probing for his next opportunity.
He's looking for his next shot, the one that will be heard around Gainesville.
Chris Rainey receives a handoff and runs toward what appears to be daylight, and that's when it happens.
Boom.
What follows after is pure pandemonium as Wright's fellow defensive players whoop and holler in amazement at what's just happened on the first day of fall practice last year.
It was talked about around Gainesville, and thanks to the powers of YouTube, eventually heard 'round the world.
While Wright is currently three games into his second season as the Gators' starting free safety, that hit may still be the first thought that comes to mind when you hear his name.
"He intimidates people," cornerback Joe Haden said. "He makes people make their arms a little shorter than what they are, alligator arms."
Upon meeting Wright, you would never guess he's a player capable of making the bone-crushing hits that SportsCenter packages are made of.
Off the field, Wright is a quiet, unassuming 20-year-old. He's a yes-sir, no-sir type of guy who answers questions as succinctly as possible.
In a time when self-promotion has become an art form and one of the best receivers in the NFL had his last name changed to Ocho Cinco, Wright is a throwback player of sorts.
He's a team-first guy that shrugs off his hard-hitting ability as a necessity for his team, rather than an opportunity to make the post-game highlight reels.
"I feel like our defense as a whole is coming together as a unit. If we do that, then we'll be okay," Wright said.
It's that type of attitude that made him a favorite of George Smith, his former high school coach at St. Thomas Aquinas in Ft. Lauderdale. Smith, who has been coaching for 31 years, calls Wright one of the best players he's worked with, not only as a talent, but also as a person.
"Off the field he's as tough a competitor as anyone out there," Smith said. "That's why you see all of those big hits. He's out there trying as hard to win as anyone you'll ever see. Off the field he may be one of the best kids I've ever worked with. He's just a good person."
Wright transferred to St. Thomas after playing at Tallahassee Godby during his freshman season while his mother, Andrea Eluett, finished her pharmacy degree at Florida A&M.
Wright played in three state championships at St. Thomas - all losses - but it's an achievement that could not have been reached had Wright not joined the team.
"He just understands the game," Smith said. "He's a student of the game and he works as hard as he can to be the best he can be. We've had some really good players here and he's definitely one of the most intelligent."
DECISIONS
Playing at St. Thomas in South Florida, it appeared to be a foregone conclusion that Wright would attend Miami.
Wright grew up a huge Hurricanes fan and wears the No. 21 in honor of his favorite player, former Miami and Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor.
Wright was the type of recruit coming out of South Florida that the Hurricanes normally snatch up with ease, but things didn't work out as easily as Miami would have hoped.
The death of former Hurricanes defensive lineman Bryan Pata in 2006 appears to have brought his plans of being "The U's" next great safety to a halt, though the reasons behind why he didn't sign with Miami are muddled.
According to coach Urban Meyer, Wright's mother didn't want her son to be taken into the culture of troublemakers and violence for which the Hurricanes' program has been noted for several years.
In an interview with the Miami Herald two weeks ago, Andrea Eluett admitted as much.
"I told (Wright) definitely no," Eluett told the Herald. "I wanted him far away. I was like, 'Get the heck away from your friends and all this craziness.'"
Wright paints a different picture of the situation. He admits he did want to get away, but he doesn't attribute his decision to Miami's reputation for violence or heeding his mother's advice. According to Wright, it was just time for a change of scenery.
"I wanted to be somewhere else," Wright said. "But I also wanted to be close enough to go home, and my family can come without paying a lot of money for flights. And my visit was big. When I came on my visit, I just fell in love with Florida."
Coach Smith wouldn't comment on the Hurricanes' reputation being a factor, but he did agree with Wright's take on the matter.
"I think he felt comfortable with where he was going," Smith said. "He did his homework really well and weighed his options on where he would fit in the best, and he thought Florida was the best place for him."
Whatever the reason, Wright appears to be happy with his decision, despite having to ignore a few more calls than normal when the Gators faced Miami on Sept. 6.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
While Wright did enjoy what most would consider a successful freshman season, it didn't come without adversity.
UF's pass defense was dead last in passing in the Southeastern Conference in 2007, allowing over 250 yards per game. Opponents picked on UF's secondary at will, and the adjustment to SEC offense didn't come as quickly as he hoped.
"It's very fast," Wright said of an SEC football game's speed. "The ball moves quick, and you have fast receivers and fast running backs (and) tight ends. You think you can run with a tight end, but in the SEC a tight end is as fast as you."
Because of that, Wright's biggest strength - his aggressive tackles - became a weakness of sorts. His desire to make the big play for his team sometimes led to an even bigger play for the opposition.
"It was really trying to go out there and not mess up and not make as many mistakes," he said. "I have a lot of people counting on me, and I didn't want to let them down."
On a defense that featured nine new starters and had the unenviable task of replacing a 2006 defensive slate that often willed the Gators to victory, Wright was forced to take on a leadership role much earlier than your average freshman.
Though he's more of a silent leader by example, it wasn't a job he shied away from.
This season, he's served as a mentor to another hard-hitting safety.
Freshman Will Hill's decision to sign with UF was followed with hype similar to Wright's signing. Hill has been slightly slow to pick up the nuances of the Gators' defensive schemes and has received limited playing time.
Established as the leader of the secondary, Wright has taken it upon himself to help Hill along.
"He helps me with my confidence," Hill said. "He's always making sure that I know what I'm supposed to do in my head before the play even starts."
THE NEXT REGGIE
It wasn't long after former UF safety Reggie Nelson declared for the NFL Draft that talk of Wright being a bigger, stronger version of his predecessor - Nelson Version 2.0 - began circulating around Gainesville.
Nelson was an All-American and one of the best safeties ever to suit up for the Gators, so that's quite a bit of hype to live up to when you're an 18-year-old still waiting to get your tuxedo for senior prom fitted.
But just like his first instinct when running down a wide receiver brave enough to venture through the middle of the field, Wright decided to face this challenge head on.
"I watch film of him every day," Wright said. "I go out there and try to do everything like him."
The rewards of that extra time in the film room appear to have manifested. Wright returned an interception for a touchdown for the first time in his life in the season opener against Hawaii, and he has been an integral part of a defense that is allowing just over six points per contest.
Now, those comparisons to Nelson may actually be warranted.
"They're big hitters," safeties coach Chuck Heater said. "Reggie was as well, and they're both great kids. I think Major is getting better every week and every rep and just improving constantly. He's turning into a really outstanding player."
Pandemonium is sure to ensue if Wright does manage to tap into his full abilities. And it wouldn't be a surprise if, once again, he announced his presence with a shot heard 'round Gainesville.
