Caleb Sturgis

Classroom

Sturgis continues to excel in the classroom as he is currently pursuing a Master’s of Management at the University of Florida where he holds a 3.84 graduate GPA and is on track to graduate in December 2012.  He received his undergraduate degree in Sports Management in 2011, holding a 3.32 GPA.  He is also a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

Character

After a successful sophomore season, Sturgis suffered a season-ending back injury that sidelined him for most of the 2010 season and he was granted a medical redshirt. The injury failed to slow Sturgis in 2011, as he returned to the Gators full strength after changing his training regime to ensure his return.  His leadership skills on the field earned him team captain honors for two games last season - against UAB and Kentucky.

Community

Sturgis not only remains a dedicated student and athlete, he also spends time helping with various causes around the Gainesville community.Throughout his four years at UF, Sturgis has participated in a variety of community service efforts with the Goodwill Gators program.  He has spent time tutoring youth at Williams Elementary School, visited patients at UF’s Shands Hospital and also spent time visiting special military veterans. Sturgis has also participated in several Video Game Challenges where the players invite children around the community to come compete with them in the Gator Room at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on the University of Florida campus. In addition, Sturgis, along with other teammates, volunteered with the “Swamp Field Trips” program, where young children are given a tour of the Gator Football facilities and stadium to reward them for good school work. He has also dedicated his time during the Thanksgiving holiday in 2010 and 2011 helping put together bags of collected food items and distributed to those in need in the Gainesville area.

Competition

Sturgis remains one of the best kickers in the nation heading into the 2012 season.  Sturgis has been named to the Lou Groza Award list twice, an award that honors the nation’s top place kicker. He was as a semifinalist in 2009, a finalist in 2011 and has been named to the preseason watch list again in 2012.  He has picked up numerous awards in his career, including a First-Team ESPN.com All-America nod as well as Second-Team All-America honors by CBSSports.com, Walter Camp, Yahoo! Sports, Sports Illustrated, Rivals.com and AP.  Additionally, he was a 2011 First Team All-SEC selection. The 2011 season proved to be a banner year for Sturgis, who was named one of three Lou Groza Award finalists. He connected on 31-of-31 point after attempts and 22-of-26 field goals, with a season-long kick of 55-yards.  His 55-yard field goal against Vanderbilt was the third longest in the nation last season and third longest in Gator history.  He completed three field goals of 50-yards or more in 2011, just one of two kickers in the country to do so. He was third in the nation with 22 made field goals and also ranked third with 1.7 field goals made per game. In his career, the St. Augustine, Fla. native is 46-for-60 on field goal attempts and 96-for-101 on point after attempts.  He has also made his way into the Florida record books as his five career field goals of 50-yards-or-more, including three last season, ranks as the most in UF history.  In addition, Sturgis’ 46 made field goals ranks second-most all-time for the Orange and Blue. Sturgis is also in the top three of several other Gator kicking records, including his streak of 14-straight made field goals from 2010-11, which ranks second all time.  His12 successful field goals to begin the season in 2011 is the third-longest single season streak in Gator history, and he also holds three of the four longest kicks in UF history, including a 56-yard field goal against Georgia in 2009.