Iconic Gators QB Tim Tebow headlines UF 2020 Hall of Fame class

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow won two national titles and a Heisman Trophy to earn himself a statue and a place in the football program’s exclusive Ring of Honor.

Tebow soon will have a spot in the the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

Tebow headlines an impressive, nine-member 2020 class, the University of Florida F Club and Gator Boosters Inc. announced Monday morning.

Former UF basketball coach Billy Donovan also will be recognized as an honorary letterwinner. He coaches the Gators to back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007, steered the program to four Final Four appearances (2000, 2006, 2007, 2014) and posted 16 consecutive 20-win seasons.

The 2020 Hall of Fame class led various UF programs to five national titles, 13 Southeastern Conference championships, and five SEC Tournament titles, in addition to 15 individual NCAA titles.

Details of the induction ceremony have yet to be set.

Tebow will be joined in the 2020 class by two former teammates, linebacker Brandon Spikes and return specialist Brandon James.

The honor for Tebow comes two years after he became the sixth member of the Ring of Honor, with his name and number now on display at the Swamp.

Tebow, 32, helped the Gators to the 2006 and 2008 national championships and won the 2007 Heisman Trophy during four seasons at UF. Along the way, he set SEC records for total touchdowns (145), rushing touchdowns (57) and tied quarterback Chris Leak for fourth in touchdowns passes with 88.

Meanwhile, Spikes was two-time All-American with a UF record four pick-sixes, while James remains the only SEC player with more than 4,000 combined return yards.

“They were here for a very special run,” said coach Dan Mullen, UF’s offensive coordinator from 2005-08. “Great players, great leadership and they made a great impact on not just the program, the state, on college football as a whole.”

Six former Gators join Tebow, Spikes and James in the 2020 class.

— Former UF center Andrew DeClercq, who led the Gators to 1994 Final Four and started 128 consecutive games.

— Three-time NCAA champion and two-time Olympian swimmer Shaune Fraser.

— Mariam Kevkhisvili, who tied the school record with five NCAA titles in women’s track and field.

— Tennis standout Hamid Mirzadeh, a three-time All-American in singles and twice in doubles.

— Seven-time NCAA champion Gemma Spofforth, who led the Gators to 2010 national championship in swimming.

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