Jesse Palmer joins ESPN

GAINESVILLE - Former quarterback Jesse Palmer has joined ESPN as a college football analyst.

He will primarily work on ESPN2's Saturday pre-game, halftime and post-game studio coverage as
well as ESPN's daily College Football Live show from Bristol, Conn. He will also call  select game telecasts as an analyst. 

"College football has always been a huge passion of mine, and I am extremely excited and honored to be working with ESPN in this chosen field," Palmer said.

Before joining ESPN, Palmer was an analyst and reporter for the MSG network in 2006, appearing on the network's MSG, NY program during the NFL season.  In 2005, he was a Super Bowl correspondent for Global Sportsnet in Toronto, Canada

Outside of Florida fans, he may best be known for his season on ther ABC reality show "The Bachelor'' - the first professional athlete to star in the show.

Palmer played in 27 games during his four-year career at Florida from 1998-2000.  He ranks among Florida's top quarterbacks in many categories, including fourth in passing efficiency (133.14), eighth in
passing (3,755 yards) and ninth in touchdown passes (31).

Palmer was selected in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.  In 2005, he signed with the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent for one season and signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League in 2006. 

Palmer is a native of Nepean, Ontario and his father, Bill, was a former Canadian Football League star with the Ottawa Rough Riders.