Legendary Florida Gator Cracks List of Top Five-Star Recruits Since 2000

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hugh Green | Last updated Aug 4, 2025 10:11 PM ET

The Florida Gators football program of the mid-to-late 2000s was a force to be reckoned with. Led by head coach Urban Meyer, Florida went 35-6 from 2006-08 with a pair of SEC and national championships. One big cog in the Gators' machine over this three-year span was all-around superstar Percy Harvin.

Harvin was a two-time All-American at Florida, providing the Gators with an explosive piece to use at running back and wide receiver.

On Monday, Rivals released its top five-star recruits since 2000, and Harvin was ranked in the top 30. Legendary quarterback Tim Tebow was ranked No. 4 on the list, and Harvin was the second former Gator to be named.

Harvin was ranked No. 27 on Rivals' list of 32 players. He was the No. 1 player in the country in the class of 2006 after an incredible high school career in Landstown, Virginia, and chose the Gators over their in-state rival, the Florida State Seminoles.

His three years at Florida were nothing but impressive. He had 3,781 yards from scrimmage during his time in Gainesville, with 1,929 receiving yards and 1,852 rushing yards. Harvin averaged an absurd 9.5 yards per carry and 14.5 per reception in his Florida career. He also scored a combined 32 touchdowns.

The multifaceted star was drafted with the 22nd overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He was a Pro Bowler and won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Award that season. After a successful first three years with the Vikings, Harvin's career was plagued by injuries and off-field issues.

Harvin played eight years in the NFL for four teams, totaling over 4,000 receiving yards with 32 combined touchdowns.

Regardless of the way his NFL career ended, Harvin will go down as one of the most explosive and electrifying players to ever put on a Florida Gators uniform.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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