Cooper returning to Gators

Tim Tebow won't have to find a new roommate this fall after all.

Senior wide receiver Riley Cooper, Tebow's roommate and potential go-to wide receiver in 2009, has agreed in principal to a professional baseball contract with the Texas Rangers that will allow him to play football for the Gators this fall, Florida coach Urban Meyer said Wednesday.

"We are excited to have Riley back as part of our 2009 team," Meyer said. "He will be counted on heavily to be one of our go-to receivers. I've said numerous times during the offseason that we need someone to step up with the departure of Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy. We haven't had someone step up yet, and Riley can certainly be someone that does."

Cooper was drafted by the Rangers in the 25th round of the Major League Baseball Draft in June. He has been in contract negotiations with the team for more than a month now. One option he was considering was signing and not returning to the UF football team. But he's decided to sign and play with the Gators.

"It was a tough decision, one of the hardest I've ever had to make, but I'm excited about being part of the Texas Ranger organization and coming back and playing football for my final season," Cooper said. "More importantly, I'm looking forward to being around my Florida teammates and our Gator coaching staff. We have something special going on in Gainesville and I want to be part of that.

"I want to thank the Texas Rangers for allowing me to play my senior football season at Florida, the University of Florida and especially Coach Meyer for all his patience and support during the process."

Cooper is UF's lone returning starting wide receiver.

Also on Wednesday, a UF source confirmed that 2009 commitment Stephen Alli, a 6-foot-5, 208-pound wide receiver from Andover (NH) Proctor Academy, is enrolled in school and will play with the team this fall.