TWO BITS: Ronald Powell’s transformation

1 » Headlining the Florida Gators’ 2010 recruiting class is five-star defensive end Ronald Powell (Moreno Valley, CA). But if you asked family, teachers and coaches about Powell a few years ago, the last thing they would tell you is that he was capable of reaching such heights. A “lost and angry” young man who was “downright mean, a mess who didn’t seem to love much of anything,” Powell had a tough go of it through his parents divorce but turned his life around with the help of older teammates and Rancho Verde High School head coach Pete Duffy. Matt Winkeljohn, in a special to ESPN covers Powell’s turnaround from troubled youth to unanimously ranked No. 1 prospect.

2 » The Southeastern Conference announced Tuesday that Florida gymnast Ashanée Dickerson has been named the SEC Freshman Gymnast of the Week for the third consecutive time. Dickerson has compiled seven event titles so far in 2010, most on the team and tops by a Gators freshman since 1986. She is tied for third in the nation in the all-around event for season average 939.381) and holds No. 4 rankings in the vault (9.887) and floor (9.894).