Meet Nick Washington, Florida's real-life gator hunter

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Nick Washington laughs as his eyes drift down to the Band-Aid wrapped around his right thumb. He's a football player, so Band-Aids are extensions of the uniform, but this one hides a rather unusual battle scar. It isn't one from constant on-field battles or crushing body blows Florida's redshirt senior safety regularly delivers.

This is one that any self-proclaimed outdoorsman would be proud of. This one came while Washington was wrangling an eight-pound catfish by its sharp, Velcro-like mouth.

"I stuck my hand in its mouth," Washington said with a laugh. "Probably wasn't the smartest thing to do."

Maybe not, but that's a guppy-like problem compared to his more dangerous…