Poole’s contribution to the Gators victory are even more important than the stat sheet shows.

The talented Florida secondary added another award winner when the Associated Press named Florida Gators cornerback Brian Poole to the All-Bowl team for his game-changing performance in the team’s 28-20 win against East Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl.

On the stat sheet, Poole was an easy choice for the recognition. He had an interception return for a touchdown and a forced fumble that he recovered. But Poole’s contribution to the Gators victory are even more important than the stat sheet shows.

In their first possession of the game, East Carolina drove for 35 yards but couldn’t convert a fourth day play. The Gators went three-and-out and the Pirates skilled offense took their next possession 78 yards for a touchdown, cutting up the Gators defense.

Down 7-0, the moribund Gators offense again stuttered, having to punt after picking up just one first down. East Carolina reignited its offense immediately, converting a long third down near their goal line with a running play. At this point in the game, the Gators were on their heels and once again in for the 2014 Florida Gators, the defense was called upon to lift the team.

And Poole answered the call, stepping in front of a 3rd down pass from East Carolina’s Shane Carden and returning it 29 yards for the touchdown.

The Gator defense again stopped a fourth down try by the Pirates on the their next possession and from their, the running of Adam Lane ignited the Gators offense, which fueled the Gators victory.

Poole came up big later in the game too, when he recovered a Pirates fumble on the Gators goal line with 3:23 remaining in the second quarter. The turnover killed a promising East Carolina drive, who was trailing to the Gators 21-7 at the time, and kept momentum on Florida’s side.

Poole isn’t the only member of the Florida Gators secondary to be honored this year. Sophomore cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III was named a first team The Sporting News All-American and a second team AP All-American. Both are returning next year, giving new secondary coach Kirk Callahan a talented roster on what should be one of the defensive backfields in the nation.