Dendy, Florida’s First Bowerman Winner, Tapped for UF Athletic Hall of Fame
florida connectz
2025 Florida Hall of Fame Class:
The F Club Committee chooses UF Athletic Hall of Fame inductees based on three categories: Gator Greats, Distinguished Letterwinners and Honorary Letterwinners.
The 2025 class is composed of seven Gator Greats and one Honorary Letterwinner.
The list of Gator Greats in this year’s class includes:
| Name | Sport | UF Career |
| Theresa Andrews | Swimming | 1981-83 |
| Charlotte Browning | Track & Field/Cross Country | 2008-10 |
| Kitty Cullen | Lacrosse | 2010-13 |
| Marquis Dendy | Track & Field | 2012-15 |
| Lauren Haeger | Softball | 2012-15 |
| Kytra Hunter | Gymnastics | 2012-15 |
| Maurkice Pouncey | Football | 2007-09 |
Gator Greats are Letterwinners who brought recognition and prominence to the University of Florida and themselves by their athletic accomplishments as a student-athlete.
The Hall of Fame Banquet is Friday, October 17, 2025, prior to the Mississippi State home football game.
Marquis Dendy | Men’s Track and Field, 2012-15
One of the greatest and most decorated jumpers in collegiate history, Marquis Dendy won an incredible seven NCAA individual titles and seven SEC titles during his four seasons in Gainesville. In 2015, Dendy became unstoppable in the horizontal jumps, sweeping the long jump and triple jump titles at the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, as well as both SEC Championship meets. He set the school record in all four events (i-LJ, i-TJ, o-LJ, o-TJ) – all of which stand to this day.
Following his senior season, Dendy won the long jump crown at the U.S. Championships, and would go on to represent team USA at the World Championships. He won the 2016 World Indoor Championships long jump title.
Dendy became the first athlete in Florida Gators history to win The Bowerman Trophy in 2015, collegiate track and field’s highest individual honor.
A singular talent and personality, Dendy’s professional career has continued to flourish, donning his colorful kits and iconic hats in international competition to this day, currently holding the No. 25 long jump mark in the world for 2025 season.
