Chief Borders named Florida football's Wuerffel Man of the Month
Chief Borders was recognized this week as Florida football’s Wuerffel Man of the Month, a new tradition started by UF coach Billy Napier.
The honor is named after Gator Great and 1996 Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel. He has been involved in Napier’s GatorMade program, a holistic player-focused and purpose-driven initiative that develops the football players during their time at UF and beyond.
“GatorMade and the Man of the Month, I’m really excited to be associated with that and help just really highlight the great stuff that they’re doing,” Wuerffel said Saturday.
Before Napier announced Borders as the first recipient, he explained how the Wuerffel Man of the Month is determined.
“This is not about ability on the field,” Napier said in the video below. “This is more about your character. It’s more about selflessness. It’s more about how you treat people. The ability to live life to impact other people, to bring things to the team, that extra dimension. And this guy does just that. Let’s give our guy Chief a round of applause.”
Borders is one of nine players who traveled to Atlanta for GatorMade’s four-day business trip over spring break. He’s also been praised by coaches and teammates for his infectious energy, which co-defensive coordinator Sean Spencer called “unmatched.”
“Man, full of energy. That guy is full of energy. I love it,” Borders’ position coach, Mike Peterson, said. “He keeps the group going, just the energy that comes with. A guy that can run. He has a motor, man, and that’s one of the things I love.
“The energy he plays with, you can’t coach that. Right now, it’s just fine-tuning. I don’t know if he’s played much football, so I think it’s only going to get better with reps.”
Borders made four appearances last season as a true freshman, registering one tackle and earning a redshirt. He took to Twitter after being named Man of the Month to thank Wuerffel, his teammates and the GatorMade program.
![Florida Gators wide receiver Eugene Wilson III (3) hauls in a pass while taking balls from a throwing machine during University of Florida Gators’ Spring football practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, March 28, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/08/01212103/Untitled-design-80.png)
![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier walks during the first half at the Orange and Blue spring football game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 13, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/04/18141240/Untitled-design-72-2.png)
