Sturgis makes strong start

<p>With a game lacking in great offensive execution, Caleb Sturgis replaced Tim Tebow as Florida's savior in the Gators' 23-13 win over Tennessee.</p><p>The sophomore kicker entered Saturday's game with no career starts as a Gator, no field goal attempts and just two extra-point attempts. </p><p>He left with a much heftier resume.</p><p>Sturgis, who started in place of redshirt senior Jonathan Phillips, has been mainly used on kickoffs, but was perfect at place-kicker, hitting all three of his field goal attempts and two extra points.</p><p>"I’m very proud of Caleb," Coach Urban Meyer said. "He’s very talented."</p><p>The decision to use Sturgis in place of Phillips, Meyer said, came because of the senior's recent struggles in games. Phillips was 0-for-1 kicking field goals and 14 of 15 on extra points through Florida's first two games of the season. A solid practice week from Sturgis gave him the nod.</p><p>Criticized in the past for being an inconsistent practice player, Sturgis' first career field-goal attempt was a success, going in from 37 yards out at the 11:33 mark in the first quarter. Calm and collected, Sturgis later trotted out and nailed kicks of 29 and 35 yards.</p><p>"Those field goals he hit today, he bombed them," Meyer said.</p><p>Sturgis' kickoffs were well placed too. Most of his kicks, outside of the one that sailed out of bounds in the third quarter, were fielded by Tennessee's David Oku inside the 5. </p><p>Meyer said he officially has a kicking battle on his hands. Since the beginning of summer practices, Meyer has made it clear that while Phillips was the starter, while Sturgis was "nipping at his heals." Now, the starter will be decided on a week-to-week basis. </p><p>"We’re going to do it like we did it a couple years ago," Meyer said.</p><p> </p><p>Return specialist Brandon James said he didn't know there was any battle going on at the place-kicking position, but said that Sturgis showed that he's more than capable of being the kicker at Florida.</p><p>"He did good," James said of Sturgis. "He made some field goals. He pinned them back a couple times (on kickoffs). </p><p>James said he was unaware Sturgis was starting until he went out and made his first field goal. Teammates since th</p><p>eir days at St. Augustine High, James said it was fun to see Sturgis step up and make the most of his opportunity.</p><p>"It felt good to see him out there," he said. "I played high school ball with him, so it’s good to see your teammate out there contributing."</p>