Cooper makes highlight-reel grab

JACKSONVILLE — One hand. One foot.

That's all Florida receiver Riley Cooper needed as quarterback Tim Tebow's pass sailed toward him in the back right corner of the end zone in the first quarter.

Coach Urban Meyer called "X Go," meaning Cooper was in a dead sprint to the end zone and the ball was headed his way.

Already with one touchdown under his belt, Cooper was draped by Georgia defensive back Brandon Boykin as he closed in on the goal line. Once Tebow saw the slightest separation, he honed in on his favorite target and lofted the ball just high enough for only Cooper to reach.

With Cooper using his left arm to try to get some distance between he and Boykin, Cooper extended his right arm and hauled in the 29-yard touchdown while barely keeping one foot in bounds to put the Gators up two touchdowns.

Cooper said there was no doubt in his mind that his one-handed toe-tapper was good and after a brief review by officials and another flash of the fantastic play on scoreboards. Florida's half of Jacksonville Municipal Stadium erupted with cheers.

"When I was going to the end zone (the defender) was kind of grabbing me, holding me, and I could only get one arm up," Cooper said. "'T' just put it right where it needed to be.

"I pretty much knew that I got a foot down in bounds. I looked back and all the players were kind of just looking at me, not really celebrating. I don't think they knew if I caught it or not. Once they figured it out, they came over and we started celebrating."

His coach was even more shocked.

Before the play was reviewed, Meyer says he was almost certain that he'd have to prepare for second-and-10 because he was convinced the play was too good to have happened in bounds.

Now that the play will forever be viewed in Florida highlight films of some sort, Meyer made sure to give his nomination for that play to at least be part of ESPN's Top Plays of Saturday night.

"Was that as good looking as it was on the field? That's as fine a catch as I've ever seen," he said.

"That's a 'Na Na Na, Na Na Na.' "

One guy who didn't see the catch? Cooper's roommate.

Tebow said that because of the angle, he didn't get to see it live, but he didn't doubt that Cooper would come down with the ball after the way he handled the coverage.

"(Cooper) did a great job (of getting separation) and that (defensive back) is a very good player and he was right on him," Tebow said. "I just tried to put it up for Riley to go make a play and he did."

Cooper has had couple of other one-handers in his career, but none felt like this. None were in such a powerful atmosphere against such a big rival and for that, Cooper said this one will linger a bit longer in his memory.

"I've had a few, but probably not in such a big game like this," he said. "This is a little different."

Cooper followed his circus catch with a game-high four receptions for 78 yards in Florida's 41-14 win over the Bulldogs. He also became the first Gator with two touchdown receptions in a game this year.

He was Tebow's favorite target, again, and after plays and a performance like that, Meyer understands why.

"Riley Cooper's going to have a choice to make in professional football or professional baseball. That's how much I think of him as a player," he said.