UF's Patchan puts shooting behind him

<p>When asked what he felt he brought to the Florida defensive line, freshman Matt Patchan didn't hesitate from unleashing the first zinger of preseason camp.</p><p>"Long hair and attractiveness," the curly-haired Patchan said.</p><p>Patchan can joke now, considering what he's overcome. In May, at a Tampa-area park, Patchan was shot above his shoulder. The bullet was lodged in his body for two days before it was removed.</p><p>Patchan didn't get into specifics of how the shooting took place, only saying he was "in the wrong place at the wrong time." The shooter, Patchan said, remains at large.</p><p>"I feel grateful for a lot of things," Patchan said. "I know God was watching me for that. He gave me a second chance so I'm going to make the best of it and work as hard as I can."</p><p>Florida coach Urban Meyer recalled talking to Patchan's father, Matt Sr., on the night of the shooting.</p><p>"You start hearing that word shot, his dad was on the phone with me," Meyer said. "Yeah, I remember it very well."</p><p>What was going through Meyer's mind?</p><p>"That he was going to be alive, that he was going to be OK, that he was going to be functional, and you hear, yes, yes, yes," Meyer said. "We're very fortunate that he is."</p><p>Patchan enrolled at Florida last January after graduating from high school in December of his senior year. He was back in his native Tampa during the semester break on the weekend of the shooting.</p><p>Many felt Patchan, a standout two-way lineman from Armwood High in Tampa, would enroll at Miami because his father, Matt Sr., was a standout lineman for the Hurricanes from 1984-87.</p><p>Instead, the 6-foot-6, 270-pound Patchan chose Florida, where he hopes to make an impact on the defensive line this season.</p><p>Patchan is working out at both defensive tackle and defensive end early in camp. Asked what he preferred, Patchan responded, "Wherever I start."</p><p>Patchan also said he's approached the Florida coaching staff about playing on the offensive line if he was needed there.</p><p>"Whatever gets me on the field," Patchan said. "It's all about helping the team win. Wherever the coaches want me."</p><p>Patchan said his pectoral muscle remains "a little strained" but should be ready when Florida starts practice in pads next week. The shoulder, Patchan said, is fully healed from the gunshot wound.</p><p>On the defensive line, Patchan will be competing against several talented true freshman including five-star recruit Omar Hunter and former Gainesville High standout Earl Okine.</p><p>"I think we're all doing good team-wise and everyone is working hard," Patchan said. "Everyone gets their fair shake when you put the pads on come two-a-days."</p>