Fan site keeping tabs on area stars

Not only is Florida interested in junior standouts Aaron Murray and Petey Smith, so too is Gatorbait.net, a website devoted solely to the coverage of the Gators.

The site has profiled both players this week.

Gatorbait.net is a subscription-based site so unless you have a membership you can’t access the stories, but here’s a snippet of what Murray, a 6-foot, 210-pound quarterback at Plant, and Smith, a 6-foot, 230-pound Armwood linebacker, had to say …

Murray:

"Most colleges right now see it as a plus to get in there early," Murray said. "We talked about it. (Tim) Tebow did it and Cam Newton (of Florida) did it…I usually go with my parents and sit down with the coaches and ask them some questions, what their quarterback situation looks like and to make sure they're going to be there in five years. I'm making a commitment to a school and I want to make sure the coaches are there. It's going to help us narrow things down."

Smith:

"A lot of people knock me because of my size and say I can't really run," Smith said. "I never back down from a challenge. Only the best will be there. If I go against the best and prove myself then that is important."

The Gators already have offered scholarships to both players. Then again, so have a lot of other programs.

-- KEITH NIEBUHR