Marco Ortiz named Florida Gators 'Wuerffel Man of the Month'
Florida Gators long snapper Marco Ortiz has been recognized as the second-ever Danny Wuerffel Man of the Month.
The newer award was introduced last month, with outside linebacker Chief Borders earning the recognition. According to Florida, it aims to recognize a player who “exemplifies the Gator Standard, demonstrating holistic excellence in leadership, character, service, and academics.”
In a short video that was released on Wednesday, Ortiz sat down with Wuerffel. The Heisman winning quarterback asked the recent UF graduate why he believes he deserves the honor.
“I think it’s just how I handled myself over these last four years,” Ortiz said. “I think it’s just all the coaches seeing the work I’ve put in and then what I do on and off the field.”
The Award is based in part on leadership. Wuerffel asked Ortiz who instilled that in him and how he exemplifies it.
“I would say, my dad. He used to always say, ‘What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.’ I kind of used that in all things, really,” Ortiz said. “I came in as a preferred walk-on. It took a long time, but I eventually earned a scholarship and a starting role.”
Ortiz gets put on a scholarship
Ortiz joined the Gators in 2018. He didn’t see his first game action until he was a redshirt freshman. He appeared in just one game as a sophomore a year later before winning the starting job in 2021. It was in that season, following the Tennessee game, that Ortiz’s life changed.
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“We were just going over the champions, like who graded out as a champion and who played well, and they went over my name and I was a little frustrated because I knew I had a good game and I thought I deserved to be noticed as a champion,” Ortiz said in April.
It’s not often that a walk-on would get recognized. However, Ortiz had played well and the special teams unit helped the Gators to a win. Little did he know, former coach Dan Mullen had a surprise.
“Coach Mullen at the very end just called me up,” Ortiz recalled. “He’s like, ‘Oh, yeah we actually forgot someone’ and they called me up. And then he was like, ‘You know, I think he deserves more than just a champion.’ Then he gave me the scholarship. And that’s how it went.”
Ortiz just graduated from the University of Florida last semester. That scholarship will certainly help pay for his graduate classes this fall, as he plays his final season of college football.
