Category: Florida Gators

Which bowl game will the Gators play in?

The Florida Gators are projected to play in this bowl game for the first time since 2016, according to ESPN.

The Florida Gators have a good chance to play on New Year’s Day, according to ESPN’s recent preseason bowl projections. Both predictions listed for the Vrbo Citrus Bowl include Florida in the matchup, against either Penn State or Iowa.

Georgia and Alabama are pegged to make the College Football Playoff, leaving other SEC teams like Florida, LSU and Texas A&M in an unlikely position to fill the other two spots. The Gators would have to win the SEC to realistically have a shot at making it to the CFP.

The Gators haven’t appeared in a Citrus Bowl since a loss to Michigan on New Year’s Day 2016. Under Dan Mullen, Florida has made it to the Peach Bowl, Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl. While the Citrus Bowl isn’t one of the six major bowl games that rotate in the playoff, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious bowls.

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The University of Florida played in and hosted the 1973 Citrus Bowl at Florida Field. The temporary venue was used while the main one was under construction, and the 37,234 in attendance was a record at the time.

The Citrus Bowl will be played at 1 p.m. EDT on Jan. 1, 2022, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

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Linebacker EJ Lightsey breaks down commitment to Florida

Three-star linebacker EJ Lightsey became the 12th commit of Florida’s 2022 recruiting class. He spoke about why he chose the Gators.

Three-star linebacker EJ Lightsey became Florida’s 12th commit in its 2022 recruiting class when he chose the Gators Monday. He is the second linebacker to team up with Florida this cycle. Four-star linebacker Shemar James gave his pledge to the Orange and Blue back in June. After his commitment, he spoke with Swamp247 to explain his commitment.

He said his recruitment came down to Florida, Georgia Tech, Auburn, LSU and Georgia. The Gators gained an advantage over the others due to their great atmosphere.

“Just the people there made them stand out,” Lightsey said, according to Swamp247. “I feel like if I go there and do what I need to do, I can get on the field. When you talk about academics, they are in the top 10 for that plus a good football team. That is one of the things I really thought about too when I was committing.”

His relationship with linebackers coach Christian Robinson played a significant factor in his decision. Lightsey believes he can help him get to the next level if he heeds his coaching.

“It was a big thing getting there on the visits I took, but the love he showed me was something that helped us bond,” Lightsey said. “Ever since he offered me, he’s been in touch with me and reaching out to me and making sure we are good. He makes sure my family is alright and he gives me more of a family vibe than a coach. He talks to me about life and we talk almost every day. I feel like I can talk to him about anything and he is more than just a coach to me.”

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Lightsey said that he was a silent commit to Florida since June. He committed to the Gators back during Friday Night Lights. Coach Dan Mullen and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham were really excited when he gave them the news.

When projecting where he’ll play when he gets to Florida, Lightsey said the coaches told him that they believe he can play its three linebackers spot because of his versatility.

He added that he’ll come back to the Swamp when the Gators play Alabama.

“I really have seen everything, but now I just want to experience game day and all that,” Lightsey said. “I want to bond with the people and the school and people around the campus. I have seen everything, but just want to see a game day experience. It’s going to be rocking in there too with it being the Alabama game.”

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Florida football eyeing Fenley Graham to help improve return team

Florida defensive back Fenley Graham has the potential to star on special teams as Brandon James did under former coach Urban Meyer.

Former Florida coach Urban Meyer placed a heavy emphasis on special teams when he helped the Gators win two national championships. Current coach Dan Mullen was an offensive coordinator under Meyer and said he wanted to focus on side of the ball when he was hired. Through three years with the Gators, his special teams unit has been average at best.

They have only scored on a punt or kickoff return twice on 87 attempts during his tenure. Because of those average statistics, Mullen recruited defensive back Fenley Graham who excelled in those areas. At Lakeland High School, he collected more than 1,600 combined return yards, three kickoff return touchdowns and three punt return touchdowns in his high school career.

“Fenley coming out of high school, obviously everybody knew that was a guy that was very much a utility player, a really good football player, can return punts, can return kicks, can move him around defensively,” Mullen said on Thursday. “A guy who has a really natural instinct for the ball. Obviously, in the return games, he’s up there big.”

Because of his size at 5-foot-9-inches, Graham is similar to special teams ace Brandon James who starred under Meyer.

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Mullen also added that they are trying former five-star running back Demarkcus Bowman on kickoff returns.

On punt returns, he said that wide receiver Xzavier Henderson, wide receiver Ja’Markis Weston and cornerback Kaiir Elam have been getting some run at the punt return position.

It’ll be interesting to see if these moves pay dividends in 2021.

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Graduate cornerback transfer arrives at Florida on Friday

Former Aggies cornerback Elijah Blades enrolled at Florida Friday after he committed to the Gators last week.

Former Texas A&M cornerback Elijah Blades graduated from his old school on Thursday and officially enrolled at Florida and arrived on campus Friday. Blades announced last week that he would use his final year of eligibility to play football with the Gators.

However, he will be a week behind after Florida’s fall camp started a week ago. Cornerbacks coach Jules Montinar and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham need to catch him up to speed quickly after coach Dan Mullen announced cornerback Jaydon Hill will miss the 2021 season with a torn ACL.

Blades is one of the few cornerbacks along with redshirt freshman Avery Helm and junior Jadarrius Perkins who have had some experience playing college football. True freshman Jason Marshall will also be firmly in the mix for playing time as he’s an incoming five-star recruit.

With the Aggies, Blades recorded 19 tackles, 1.5 sacks and three pass deflections in 2019. He opted out of the 2020 season, however.

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Former Kentucky linebacker Kash Daniel could replace Tim Tebow on SEC Nation

Former Kentucky star Kash Daniel wants to replace Tim Tebow on SEC Nation if he makes the Jaguars’ final roster.

Many Florida fans aren’t fond of former Wildcats linebacker Kash Daniel because of what he did in 2019. Florida quarterback Kyle Trask tried to plow his way into the endzone on a keeper. In the midst of a dog pile of players, the television cameras caught Daniel trying to twist Trask’s ankle at the bottom of the scrum. He originally denied his actions, but then apologized to Trask and the University of Florida in a television interview after Kentucky’s bowl game.

Now he might take former Florida star Tim Tebow’s spot on SEC Nation if Tebow makes the final roster in Jacksonville.

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Daniel made his case on why he should fill the potential vacancy on the “Saturday Down South” podcast.

“Well, I’m a guy that knows football inside and out,” Daniel said, according to “Saturday Down South“. “I’m a football junkie. Even though I haven’t played in almost two years, I still try to watch as much film as I can on dudes that are in college or in the league. I can’t even watch a game without watching it like I’m watching film.”

He added that he has great charisma and does well in front of a camera. Daniel thinks he could work well with current SEC Nation stars Alyssa Lang, Marty Smith and Ryan McGee.

It’s unlikely that SEC Nation will need someone to fill Tebow’s spot because he’s a long shot at best to make the Jaguars roster. But Tebow or not, it’s going to be difficult to watch the show on Saturday mornings in the fall without its past stars like Laura Rutledge, Marcus Spears and Paul Finebaum.

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Pat Dooley’s Book of Lists – Volume 6: Florida football players who must step up in 2021

If these 10 players step up for Florida football this fall, it could be a special season. If they step off, well, you know what will happen.

Former longtime Gainesville Sun sportswriter Pat Dooley contributes on a weekly basis to Gators Wire with “Pat Dooley’s Book of Lists,” chronicling his thoughts on the past, present and future of Gators sports. Look for more frequent contributions during football season.

Because Florida went through spring practices earlier than normal, it’s going to be a long, hot summer waiting for the opener against Florida Atlantic.

The offseason is when bonds are formed and teams are forged. For the 2021 Florida team, it’s a ginormous offseason because so many of the stars of 2000 are headed to the pros. This is still a really good roster, but it is up to strength and conditioning coach Nick Savage to develop these players in time for the start of summer camp.

Urban Meyer used to say that he would know if he had a good team or not when the players showed up for the first meeting at the start of the season. Mr. Meyer, we have a delivery for you. 

We will see what team is ready to go when Florida starts preparing for this “more normal” season. Sorry, by “more normal” is the best I can promise.

To me, there are some players on this team who – quite simply – have to be better than what we have seen, have to play better than they ever have if Florida is going to compete for the East, compete for the playoffs, heck, just compete at a high level.

If these 10 players step up, it could be a special season. If they step off, well, you know what will happen.

Now, before I get to this weekly list, let it be known that I did not include freshmen on this list. I’m looking at guys who have to be better than they have so far at this level.