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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 3:37 p.m., Tuesday, April 21, 2009

NFL draft: Florida's Harvin must overcome dubious past

By Charean Williams
McClatchy Newspapers

FORT WORTH, Texas — Florida's Percy Harvin looks the part. He is a 5-foot-11, 192-pound receiver who runs a 4.39. In three seasons, he gained 3,781 total yards and scored 32 touchdowns.

But before him, Gators receivers Jacquez Green, Reidel Anthony, Reche Caldwell, Taylor Jacobs, Travis Taylor, Jabar Gaffney and Chad Jackson looked the part, too. None of them became stars.

"I don't know too, too much history on that," Harvin said. "... Our offense may not be the best, but it does show our playmaking ability. Of course, they don't show our route running (skills) as much as need be. But I'm not worried about that at all."

Harvin caught 133 passes for 1,929 yards and 13 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,852 yards and 19 touchdowns. He has been compared to Reggie Bush, but he likely will be more of a full-time wideout than Bush is in New Orleans.

"Percy is a guy who could play running back or receiver," Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik said. "He's a guy who has multiple talent, where Reggie coming out of USC was extremely dynamic. Reggie was much more easy to cast his role in the National Football League from Day One. I don't think Percy is going to have a hard time fitting into the NFL, either. But Reggie was so obviously a running back, that's probably why there's more of a gap with Percy."

Harvin's stock has been falling, though he still is projected as a first-round choice.

Harvin has an injury history, with ankle, feet and leg injuries during his four years. Given his size, some scouts worry how he'll hold up in the NFL.

There also are off-field concerns. He was suspended each of his last two years in high school, once for igniting a bench-clearing brawl and another time for shoving an official. And NFLDraftBible.com first reported that Harvin tested positive for marijuana at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Still, Harvin will get a chance to do what so many highly touted Gators receivers before him couldn't do — star in the NFL.