GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida’s Darrin Kitchens couldn’t say no to God.

But he wasn’t sure if his girlfriend Nathalie would say yes to him.

Kitchens, a junior linebacker, and his girlfriend were on a church retreat earlier this year. After a night of worship, Kitchens was praying by himself when God sent him a message: Ask Nathalie to marry you.

"I thought it was me at first," the 20-year-old Kitchens said. "I started apologizing to God. I said, 'Lord, I’m sorry. I’m supposed to be praying to you and I’m over here thinking about her.' And then He said it again and then I got scared a little bit.

"I was like, 'OK, maybe I’ll do it tomorrow. What’s she going to say?' He just kept telling me to do it and I did it and everything worked out."

Kitchens and Nathalie, who met when they were students at Homestead (Fla.) High School, were married in a Gainesville church on June 23. That makes him the only UF football player with a wife. That earned him some sit-down time with his coaches, who wanted to give Kitchens some advice.

"It wasn’t a long, drawn-out speech, but they sat down and talked to me (to) make sure my head was in the right place," said Kitchens, who is competing with several players for playing time at strongside linebacker. "Letting me know that marriage is a big sacrament and how special and important it is."

One piece of advice that they all had for him?

"Stay faithful," Kitchens said.