Gator great Vernon Hargreaves to be added to UF Athletic Hall of Fame

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One of the best defensive backs to ever take the field for Florida football, cornerback Vernon Hargreaves, will be inducted into the UF Athletic Hall of Fame this fall as part of the 2026 class.

Hargreaves earns the rare distinction of becoming a first-ballot selection following the 10-year waiting period after his final game in Gainesville, punctuating his peak performance with the Gators. His tenure in the Swamp ran from 2013 to 2015, making an immediate impact upon his arrival and departing as one of Florida's standout players of the era.

During his time with the Orange and Blue, the Tampa, Florida, product hauled in numerous accolades, including two First-Team All-America honors as well as three First-Team All-SEC selections as a cornerback. Hargreaves started in 35 of 37 games in which he played, totaling 121 tackles, three tackles for loss, 10 interceptions, 28 pass breakups and one forced fumble over his three years with the Orange and Blue.

Hargreaves was named a Third-Team All-American by the Associated Press, National Defensive Player of the Year by College Football News, First-Team Freshman All-America by numerous outlets and First-Team All-SEC after his debut campaign. For his efforts during his sophomore season, he was named a semifinalist for both the Chuck Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy; he was also named one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award after his junior year.

The well-decorated Gator was selected with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and would go on to play six seasons in the pros with the Buccaneers, Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals.

Hargreaves will be joined by the other seven honorees as Gator Greats at the Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, Oct. 9, ahead of the South Carolina home football game. Gator Greats are letter winners who brought recognition and prominence to the University of Florida and themselves by their athletic accomplishments as a student-athlete.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Vernon Hargreaves Selected to 2026 UF Athletic Hall of Fame Class

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