2011 centerpiece? Jernigan favors Gators

<i>Timmy Jernigan is already among the elite prospects for the class of 2011. He lives in UF's backyard and favors the Gators in what could be a dramatic year of recruiting ahead. He sat down on Wednesday (National Signing Day) with Gainesville Sun high school sports editor John Patton to take our A to Z survey.</i><br /> <br /> <b>School:</b> Columbia Tigers<br /> <b>Year:</b> Junior<br /> <b>Position:</b> Defensive tackle<br /> <b>Jersey number:</b> 8<br /> <b>Height/Weight:</b> 6-foot-3, 275 pounds<br /> <br /> <b>A </b>rea player I would pay to watch play: Tiger Powell (of Columbia); outside of my own team would be Alexis Blake of Fort White<br /> <br /> <b>B </b>iggest area of improvement I need to make: I would like to be faster. (Editor's note: Jernigan and Columbia coach Craig Howard confirm Jernigan runs 4.6 40-yard dash now. His goal is to be in the 4.5s before his senior season begins and maybe improve further in college.)<br /> <br /> <b>C </b>omic book hero I would want to be: My Momma calls me Hercules, so I would have to go with Hercules.<br /> <br /> <b>D </b>efeating what team(s) would make me the happiest? (Tallahassee) Lincoln<br /> <br /> <b>E </b>SPN's best program? Top-10 highlights<br /> <br /> <b>F </b>ootball coaches who have come by Columbia High School to visit me: (Florida's) Urban Meyer, (Alabama's) Nick Saban and (Michigan's) Rich Rodriguez are head coaches who have been out here. They can't really talk to me now, but I have seen them at the school.<br /> <br /> <b>G </b>ators, Seminoles or Hurricanes? Gators<br /> <br /> <b>H </b>ow many scholarship offers do I have, and who offered first? I have about 30 offers, and Florida offered first (in my ninth grade year).<br /> <br /> <b>I </b>f I had to sign a national letter of intent today, it would be with: Florida<br /> <br /> <b>J </b>unior class top prospects I have gotten to know: The guys that I really know graduate this year. (He added he'll get to know the 2011 prospects better in the coming months.)<br /> <br /> <b>K </b>ing of football: Tim Tebow<br /> <br /> <b>L </b>east favorite sports moment I've had: Florida losing in the SEC Championship Game this year<br /> <br /> <b>M </b>ain factor(s) that will go into me signing with a college: Education (not sure of major yet)<br /> <br /> <b>N </b>ickname? Hercules<br /> <br /> <b>O </b>bama's biggest challenge? It has got to be the economy.<br /> <br /> <b>P </b>otential college major: I would like to be a teacher one day.<br /> <br /> <b>Q </b>uiet time activity: Probably sleeping<br /> <br /> <b>R </b>apper I listen to most: Lil Wayne<br /> <br /> <b>S </b>ummer camps and combines I will be attending: I'll go to Seminole Showtime at Florida State and Friday Night Lights at Florida. Those are the only two I know of at this point.<br /> <br /> <b>T </b>he person who is my biggest influence: I would have to say my Dad (Timmy) and my big brother (Jarred).<br /> <br /> <b>U </b>niversities or colleges considering: Florida, Florida State, LSU, Alabama and Michigan are the top five. It's pretty close, but if I had to choose today it would be Florida.<br /> <br /> <b>V </b>acation spot I'd love to visit: I'd love to go to New York<br /> <br /> <b>W </b>hat advice would I give an offensive lineman trying to block me: "Never close your eyes. I might be gone."<br /> <br /> <b>X </b>box, PlayStation or Wii? PlayStation<br /> <br /> <b>Y </b>oung player the area will get to know in the next few years: Laremy Tunsil (a 6-foot-6, 275-pound ninth grader) at Columbia<br /> <br /> <b>Z </b>oo animal I like most: A monkey