Hernandez to be go-to guy

<p>It’s pretty obvious now that Florida’s search for the next Percy Harvin will carry over into the fall, and maybe beyond. Another spring search, however, is over.</p><p> The Gators have found their go-to guy on offense.</p><p> “On third and fourth down, you see who I’m looking for,” quarterback Tim Tebow said.</p><p> That would be No. 81 — junior tight end Aaron Hernandez.</p><p> When Tebow has needed a first down or a spark to get the offense going this spring, he’s turned to Hernandez time and time again. And Hernandez has responded by making play after play.</p><p> “He’s having a great spring,” new tight ends coach Brian White said. “He’s really improved fundamentally, and he’s really fun to coach. He has just a ton of personality, and I’ve really enjoyed coaching him. He’s a really smart football player. He’s an outstanding route runner and has excellent hands. And he’s done a nice job improving his blocking.”</p><p> Several recent practices have turned into personal Aaron Hernandez highlight shows.</p><p> In last Saturday’s scrimmage, he caught touchdown passes of 55 and 17 yards. In Monday’s practice, he caught more than a dozen passes and had a long touchdown reception after coming back on an underthrown ball, then cutting back up field for the score.</p><p> “Without a doubt, he’s going to be one of our main guys on offense that we’re going to go to,” Tebow said. “He’s a mismatch for guys. He goes out there and makes plays.”</p><p> Hernandez is Harvin-like in one way. He’s a match-up nightmare for opposing defenses, and when you have a match-up advantage, that’s a guy you go to.</p><p> “He runs routes like a wide receiver, and he’s 250 pounds and runs a 4.5 (40-yard dash),” White said. “There aren’t too many linebackers that are going to be able to athletically handle some of the things he can do.</p><p> “He can run vertically, and he’s really good in intermediate space. He understands the game. He has great special awareness, and that’s what you have to have in this game.”</p><p> In an effort to learn about the player he would be coaching, White looked at a lot of tape on Hernandez during the offseason. What he saw was an excellent pass-receiving tight end. What he didn’t see was a complete tight end. Now he does, he said.</p><p> “I saw a very accomplished receiving tight end who needed a lot of improvement at the point of attack to become a complete tight end,” White said. “He’s really taken that as a challenge and worked very diligently through theoffseason and carried it into the spring.</p><p> “He’s done a great job in that phase of his game. Blocking has been a major point of emphasis, and he’s answered the challenge.”</p><p> Hernandez credits White for his improved blocking.</p><p> “Coach White is mainly about blocking, and route running,” he said. “He’s taught me a lot about blocking, and I’ve improved a lot because of him.”</p><p> Now, the complete tight end is ready to be the go-to guy in the UF offense.</p><p> “I’m going to play as hard as I can and hopefully I can make some plays for the team along the way,” Hernandez said. “Me and Tebow worked together all last summer and during the offseason, and we have a great connection. He does look to me a lot. If he throws to me, I’m going to try and make a play for him. We have a bit of a connection. He has a feel for where I’m going to be.”</p><p> The most popular story line this spring has been: who is going to replace Percy Harvin? Maybe a year from now it will be: who is going to replace Aaron Hernandez?</p><p> “There’s not a chance he’ll be special. He will be,” White said. “He will be a very special football player this fall. People will really enjoy watching him play.”</p>