Category: Florida Gators

Five-star defensive lineman and Florida commit may not sign on early signing day

McCray, a five-star defensive lineman and one of the top 10 players in the upcoming class, may not make his commitment to Florida official.

Defensive lineman LJ McCray, who is currently 247Sports’ No. 2 defensive lineman in the Class of 2024 and the No. 6 overall player, may not put pen to paper on Early Signing Day on Wednesday.

On3 reported that McCray described it as a “high possibility” that he doesn’t sign on Wednesday.

The defensive lineman, who plays for Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida, committed to Florida on October 21. He’s the second-highest recruit in the Gators class.

McCray has visited Florida State and Auburn over the past few weeks, but On3’s report did not elaborate on whether McCray’s commitment to Florida was wavering at all. The Gators have lost four players of four stars or higher over the past month, including five-star safety Xavier Filsaime who flipped to Texas on Monday.

Get more Florida coverage at Gators Wire.

Contact/Follow us at the College Wire on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of College Sports news, notes, and opinions.

Top safety prospect Xavier Filsaime flips from Florida to Texas

Xavier Filsaime, a Texas native who had been committed to Florida since April, announced on Monday he would instead play for the Longhorns.

Xavier Filsaime, a consensus top-50 prospect and one of the best safeties in the Class of 2024, flipped his commitment from Florida to Texas, On3’s Hayes Fawcett reported on Monday.

247Sports grades Filsaime as a five-star prospect, the No. 32 overall player, and the second-best safety in the upcoming class. He had been committed to Florida since April.

“One of my hardest decisions ever,” the Texas native said in Fawcett’s report on the decision. “I have lots of love for everyone over there.”

The move jumps Texas to No. 5 in 247Sports’ 2024 team recruiting rankings. Billy Napier and the Gators, who were once as high as third in the country, tumbled down to 10th with the decommitment.

Filsaime becomes the latest player to detach from the Florida football program. Four other 2024 recruits have decommitted from the Gators since the start of November, including three four-star prospects in defensive lineman Nasir Johnson, edge rusher Jamonta Waller, and cornerback Wardell Mack. Edge rusher Princely Umanmielen and running back Trevor Etienne also left for the transfer portal.

Get more Texas coverage at Longhorns Wire.

Florida running back Trevor Etienne in the transfer portal

The sophomore, Florida’s second-leading rusher with 753 yards in 2023, has two years of eligibility left.

Florida running back Trevor Etienne entered his name in the transfer portal,  On3’s Pete Nakos first reported on Thursday.

The running back released a statement on social media shortly after the report.

“I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to put on the Orange and Blue every Satrda, going to war with my teammates who would become brothers for life,” the running back wrote. “My time as a Gator was an invaluable experience and one that I will cherish for years to come.”

The sophomore, the younger brother of Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, rushed for 753 yards on 131 attempts this season. He led Florida with eight rushing touchdowns.

Etienne was named the Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week in Week 3 of this regular season, when he tallied 172 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries against Tennessee.

In his first season in Gainesville, Etienne was named to the Freshman All-SEC team after he took 118 carries for 719 yards and six touchdowns. He was named the SEC Freshman of the Week when he ran for 100 yards and a touchdown on eight carries against South Carolina.

The news of Etienne’s departure comes one day after Florida edge rusher Princely Umanmielen, the only Gators player to make the All-SEC team this season, announced he’d enter the transfer portal as well.

Get more Florida coverage at Gators Wire.

Florida edge rusher Princely Umanmielen to enter transfer portal

The Gators edge rusher who was named to the All-SEC Second Team announced he would forgo the NFL Draft but not return to Gainesville.

Florida edge rusher Princely Umanmielen announced on Wednesday that he would not enter his name in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he would be entering his name in the transfer portal.

“We all must do what is best for us and I think this is what is best for me at the time,” Umanmielen wrote in his statement. “Thank you, Gator Nation.”

The All-SEC Second Team defensive lineman and presumed day-two draft pick led the Gators with seven sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss last season, within the top 10 in the SEC in both metrics. He was one of four defensive linemen named to the USA TODAY Sports Network All-SEC team.

He was the only player on head coach Billy Napier’s team to make the SEC’s all-conference team this season.

Umanmielen has collected 98 total tackles and 15 sacks over his four seasons with the Gators.

For more Florida coverage, go to Gators Wire.

Social media reacts: Georgia flips 4-star Florida commit

Four-star Florida defensive line commit Nasir Johnson flips to Georgia football!

The Georgia Bulldogs added to their No. 1 recruiting class with a recent commitment from four-star defensive line recruit Nasir Johnson. Johnson is the No. 75 recruit in the nation and the No. 15 recruit in Georgia. Johnson is the No. 14 defensive line prospect in the country.

Following Johnson’s commitment, Georgia has 10 commitments from players ranked in the nation’s top-75, per 247Sports. Georgia’s gain is Florida’s loss. Johnson is the second player Georgia has flipped from Florida in the class of 2024 recruiting cycle. The Dawgs have 28 commitments in the class of 2024.

Johnson plays high school football for Dublin High School in Dublin, Georgia. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound defensive lineman will help Georgia replace seniors on the defensive line that could enter the NFL draft: Nazir Stackhouse, Warren Brinson, Tramel Walthour and Zion Logue.

Georgia football social media was hyped as the Bulldogs flipped an elite Florida commit!

Florida Gators lead Wolken’s Week 10 Misery Index after Arkansas upset

Florida started the season with five wins in seven games but now has back-to-back losses, including an overtime stunner at home to Arkansas.

The Florida Gators might have a winning record, but the pulse of the fanbase might not reflect that right now. At least, not according to USA TODAY Sports columnist Dan Wolken, who had Billy Napier’s squad atop his Week 10 Misery Index.

The Gators lost at home to Arkansas, a team that was on a six-game losing streak, in overtime after kicker Trey Smack pushed a 44-yard field goal attempt wide right in the closing seconds of regulation. It was the Razorbacks’ first-ever win in Gainesville.

Florida is now 5-4 on the season, but the Gators have lost back-to-back games. With a closing stretch of LSU, Missouri, and Florida State, three teams a combined 22-5 on the season, bowl eligibility no longer seems assured for a team that started 5-2.

Wolken touched on an anecdote from Napier’s days at Louisiana-Lafayette when he asked his players to donate $50 dollars to the athletic department, citing it as an example of how the newest Florida coach loves saying the right thing but insisting his execution always leaves something to be desired.

“What’s Florida’s identity? What are the Gators actually good at? And why is Napier clinging to his offensive play-calling duties when the offense hasn’t been very effective?” Wolken wrote.

When you compare the Gators to their biggest rivals like Georgia looking for a third consecutive national title or Florida State’s playoff aspirations, it’s easy to see why a winning record might not have a winning feeling in Gainesville.

Urban Meyer has ‘no desire’ to return to coaching

Former Florida and Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has “no desire” to return to coaching

Urban Meyer’s days as a head coach are over, at least for the foreseeable future.

During an appearance at the Knoxville Quarterback Club on Monday, Meyer told those in attendance that he has “no desire” to return to coaching. The story was first reported by Mike Wilson of the Knoxville News Sentinel.

“I am good,” Meyer added, noting that despite stepping away from his coaching job at Florida and Ohio State, he “never really took a day off,” citing health issues and an addiction to sleeping pills while calling himself a “maniac work”.

Wilson in the story also notes that Meyer cited the transfer portal and NIL as another reason that he has little desire to get back into coaching.

“It’s never been harder I am telling you right now,” Meyer said about the current state of college football. “Every coach, every player has an agent. Thank for that. Remember those days?  Maybe a coordinator every once in a while had an agent. There is nothing wrong with agents. They’re great.

But when I am the head coach having to deal with a high school player that (says) meet with my agent first. I am going I want to meet with your family because you are talking about recruiting and other stuff.”

The 59-year-old head coach stepped away from the college game in 2018 after seven seasons at Ohio State due to health concerns.

It was the second time that Meyer had stepped down from a head coaching position due to health reasons, he also did so in 2010, two years after leading the Florida Gators to their second national championship in three years.

Meyer, considered one of the best coaches of his generation, is a three-time national champion leading the Florida Gators to a pair of national titles in 2006 and 2008 while also leading the Ohio State Buckeyes to a national championship in 2014. He also was the head coach at Bowling Green and Utah over the course of his head coaching career.

Over the course of his illustrious career, Meyer led his programs to a combined record of 187-32, the fourth-highest winning percentage of all-time for any FBS head coach.

After serving as an analyst for Fox’s college football coverage in 2019 and 2020, Meyer would have a one-year stint in the NFL as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021. He would be fired after a 2-11 start for the Jaguars that season.

Since then, Meyer has returned to Fox, once again serving as one of the network’s college football analysts, being featured on their weekly Big Noon Saturday pregame show as well as the halftime show of that week’s featured matchup.

Meyer’s denial of having any desire to coach again comes in the midst of his name being brought up in connection to the opening at Michigan State following the firing of Mel Tucker. The Spartans are currently being led by interim head coach Harlon Barnett and have lost four straight games since starting 2-0 on the season.

If Urban Meyer’s career is truly over, it will be a mixed legacy for the Ohio native.

On one end, Meyer delivered great success anywhere he went, collecting 12 double-digit win seasons in his 17 seasons as a head coach. His programs finished first or tied for first in their division 12 times, he also collected seven conference championships, and his previous three national championships.

On the other hand, his times at Florida and Ohio State had their fair share of controversy, some of that controversy in Gainesville was recently covered in a Netflix miniseries titled Untold: Swamp Kings which takes a look at the success the Florida Gators achieved during Meyer’s time with the program but also the culture and issues that arose during his tenure as well.

At Ohio State, Meyer’s final season was marred by allegations that he did not handle domestic abuse allegations against Buckeyes assistant coach Zach Smith properly, ultimately resulting in Meyer being placed on administrative release and receiving a three-game suspension. His lone year in the NFL was considered quite tumultuous as well, with multiple issues arising both within the Jaguars franchise and Meyers’ personal life.

With all that being said, while Meyer may currently have “no desire” to return to the coaching ranks, it will surely not stop any potential suitors from giving the future College Football Hall of Fame head coach a call.

Florida, Oklahoma, LSU, and Iowa athletes nominated for ESPY awards

LSU and Iowa will battle it out again, but this time they won’t be wearing basketball shoes or playing on the hardwood.

2023 ESPY award nominations have been announced and Florida, Oklahoma, LSU, and Iowa all have athletes nominated for awards. The 2023 ESPYs will air live on Wednesday, July 12, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC from Los Angeles.

LSU and Iowa will battle it out again, but this time they won’t be wearing basketball shoes or playing on the hardwood. Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese of LSU will vie for position against Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers, and Julio Rodríguez of the Seattle Mariners for the Best Breakthrough Athlete award.

Gymnast Trinity Thomas of Florida is nominated for Best Play for her perfect 10 which tied the All-Time NCAA record. She is the only Florida athlete represented in the nominations. She competes for the award against UCLA soccer player Ally Lemos with the perfect corner to tie the National Championship game and two other professional athletes.

Oklahoma Sooners softball and LSU women’s basketball are nominated for Best Team. The Sooners will also be represented as softball player Jordy Bahl is nominated for Best College Athlete, Women’s Sports along with  Caitlin Clark, Izzy Scane of Northwestern Lacrosse, and Trinity Thomas.

Recipients of the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, and the Pat Tillman Award for Service will be announced next week.

2023 Bowerman women’s finalists announced

The Bowerman is “given each year to the most outstanding male and female NCAA track & field athletes.”

The finalists for the women’s 2023 Bowerman Award were announced and three athletes made the list. The Bowerman is “given each year to the most outstanding male and female NCAA track & field athletes.” The award debuted in 2009 and was named after the legendary track and field coach and co-founder of Nike, Bill Bowerman. Bowerman coached 24 NCAA individual champs, 33 Olympians and 64 All-Americans, and coached the 1972 Olympic Team.

The 2023 finalists include:

Julien Alfred | Sprints | Texas

Alfred is the fourth female University of Texas to be named a Bowerman finalist. The only female Longhorn to take home the award was Courtney Okolo in 2016. This season Alfred broke her own 60-meter collegiate record six times before taking home the NCAA title. Alfred also added a collegiate record during the indoor 200 meters.

During the outdoor season, she set three collegiate records in the 4×100, 4×200, and sprint medley relays. She also set the standing record in the DI championship semifinals.

Alfred ran the fastest all-conditions times in NCAA history to win the outdoor 100 and 200-meter crowns. She also scored 22.5 total points at the NCAA championships and led Texas to a National Championship, the first for the Longhorns in 18 years.

Jasmine Moore | Jumps | Florida

This season, Moore swept the indoor long jump and triple jump titles at SEC and NCAA championships and set the indoor collegiate records in the long jump and triple jump at NCAA championships.

Moore also swept the SEC outdoor long jump and triple jump during the spring season. Moore won the outdoor triple jump and set an NCAA record. If Moore wins the award, she will be the first woman to win in Florida history.

Britton Wilson | Sprints/Hurdles | Arkansas

Wilson specializes in 400-meter hurdles and this season at the DI indoor championships she won the indoor “400-meter title with the first sub-50 second finish in collegiate history.”

During the outdoor season, she set the collegiate record in the 400 flat at the SEC outdoor championships. This performance helped Arkansas win the team title, sweeping the SEC crowns for the calendar year.

The finalists for the 2023 award will be announced December 14, at the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Convention.

Netflix’s Florida Gators documentary receives release date

The upcoming Netflix documentary on the Florida Gators has received a release date.

The upcoming Netflix documentary on the Florida Gators teams from 2006 – 2009 has received a release date. According to an Instagram post from former Gators linebacker Brandon Siler, the documentary is expected to be released on August 23.

The documentary will be titled “Swamp Kings” and will be a part of the streaming service’s widely popular “Untold” series of documentaries according to the email shared by Siler.

While the documentary will surely discuss the success of the Gators in that time period under head coach Urban Meyer, it will also likely look at the controversy that has followed multiple members of the program. According to a report from the New York Times, 41 members of the Gators 2008 team alone have been arrested at one time or another.

Among members of those Florida teams included tight end Aaron Hernandez who would go into have a successful stint in the NFL before being convicted of murder in 2015 and being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Hernandez would pass away in 2017. Netflix previously covered Hernandez’s career and of the field troubles in a 2020 documentary titled “Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez”.

Other members of the Gators teams from 2006 through 2009 include names such as Tim Tebow, Brandon Spikes, Cam Newton, Percy Harvin, Joe Haden, and Riley Cooper among others.

Despite the troubles those Florida teams faced off the field during and after their time in Gainesville, the Gators were still dominant on the gridiron. In their four-year stretch from 2006 through 2009, they would go 49-7 on the field with three 13-1 seasons. They would also win a pair of national championships.

The documentary is set to be released just three days before the beginning of the 2023 college football season on August 26. The Gators will open up their 2023 season on the road against the Utah Utes.