New kicker doesn’t lack confidence

GAINESVILLE — Gators redshirt freshman Austin

Hardin did not hear he had won the placekicking job from coachWillMuschamp.

Hardin heard it froma voice even more powerful these days: Twitter.

When the tweet came over his timelineMonday, Hardin finally could say for certain his hard work and self confidence had paid off during his battle with seniorBrad

Phillips.

“Iwent into camp believing Iwas going to win that role and preparing to be the starter,” he said.

Hardin now will look to fill one Florida’s biggest holes, beginning in Saturday’s opener against Toledo.

With record- setting kicker Caleb Sturgis a Miami Dolphin, Hardin is eager to showwhat he can do.

“He had a great career here, but it’s my turn now,” Hardin said.

Hardin said he leared a lot as a freshman watching Sturgis prepare.

“Really for me it was about getting a routine and learning different mental aspects of kicking,” he said.

Hardin has the physical tools to succeed. He once kicked a 59- yard game- winning field goal and believes he can rival the range of Sturgis, who set the standard at Florida with eight field goals of 50 yards or longer.

With 4.5- second speed in the 40 and experience as a running back, Hardin could offer something else. “Iwould love to run a fake,” he said.

Next game: at Toledo, Saturday at 12: 21p. m., SFL- TV