Category: Player Profile Card

2020-21 Florida Gators Men’s Basketball Profile Card: Samson Ruzhentsev

The Gators added Ruzhentsev as a high-end recruit, but he’s more of a play for the future than a readymade contributor.

Name: Samson Ruzhentsev

Number: 2

Position: Small Forward

Class: Freshman

Height: 6’7″

Weight: 231 lbs

Hometown: Chattanooga, TN

High School: Hamilton Heights Christian Academy

Twitter: @thesame_sam27

2019-20 Stats:

New roster addition in 2020-21

Overview:

The top recruit among Florida’s freshman this season, the 6-foot-7-inch Ruzhentsev was fairly well-known as a prep player especially thanks to his win in the Dr. Pepper Classic Dunk Contest. Searching his name on Twitter reveals a bumper crop of highlights, mostly of Ruzhentsev dominating at the rim and overpowering some unfortunate kid for an acrobatic layup or dunk.

As a Gator, he hasn’t been able to find much time on the floor yet through his first handful of games. It’s a predictable decision on the part of head coach Mike White to keep him on the bench, as Ruzhentsev is considered more of a project player than a polished one. However, if they play their cards right, Florida could have an exceptional player on their hands in a year or two.

The 247Sports scouting report on Ruzhentsev described him as a “confident scorer with ability to put up points from all three levels.” They them went on to praise his body control and defensive versatility. However, they note, to actualize his full potential, he’ll have to level up his “feel and shot selection.” Additionally, there’s room for him to add muscle to his frame as he grows into his adult body.

Don’t expect to see too much of Ruzhentsev on the court this season unless another important member of the Gators’ roster succumbs to injury. He’s a good candidate to be redshirted as the Florida coaching staff helps him transform his potential into realized talent and molds him into a feature player.

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-__2vW7TKQ

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2020-2021 Florida Gators Men’s Basketball Profile Card: Colin Castleton

Castleton will be a fixture in the Gators’ lineup – he’s the longest big man the Gators have and he has added 16 pounds of muscle.

Name: Colin Castleton

Number: 12

Position: Center

Class: Junior

Height: 6’11”

Weight: 231 lbs

Hometown: Deland, FL

High School: Father Lopez Catholic

Twitter: @Castleton_

2019-20 Stats:

GP MIN FG% 3P% FT% REB AST BLK STL PF TO PTS
25 7.9 54.0 0.0 82.8 2.4 0.3 0.5 0.1 0.8 0.5 3.1

Overview:

The Gators landed Castleton as a transfer out of the University of Michigan. Coming out of Florida’s backyard as a native of Deland, Florida, the lengthy center was a highly regarded recruit in 2018 who had his pick of 21 schools to begin his college career. The big man played backup minutes for the Wolverines for his first two years in the NCAA, but seeking greener pastures, he came to UF to play as the starting center.

The former 4-star recruit hasn’t been able to do much before the 2020-21 season, but he’s been let loose by Mike White this season, tripling his minutes from last season. He’s proven valuable in the paint, exemplified by his performance against Vanderbilt in the Gators’ first game without Keyontae Johnson. He had the best night of his career thus far, putting up a pair of blocks, grabbing five rebounds and shooting 11-of-13 from the field. All of those shots came from within only a few feet of the rim, including four dunks.

It’s unclear how long Johnson will be out of action. However, if he misses considerable time, Castleton could see a boost in possessions as head coach Mike White looks for reliable mismatch options.

In all likelihood, Castleton will be a fixture in the Gators’ lineup through his junior and senior years. He’s the longest big man the Gators have to offer and he has added 16 pounds of muscle since his days as a prep player. As an old-school center, he probably won’t be prioritized at the next level, but he has the building blocks for an excellent player in the SEC.

Video:

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2020-2021 Florida Gators Men’s Basketball Profile Card: Niels Lane

Niels Lane joined the Gators as a guard in the 2020 recruiting class, and he’s already seen some action as a reserve through five games.

Name: Niels Lane

Number: 44

Position: Guard

Class: Freshman

Height: 6’5″

Weight: 206 lbs

Hometown: Freehold, N.J.

High School: Roselle Catholic

Twitter: @realnielsl

2019-20 Stats: New roster addition in 2020-21

Overview:

Lane was a three-star recruit from New Jersey coming out of high school. He committed to play for the Gators on Oct. 8, 2019, and he signed his National Letter of Intent on Nov. 13.

He enrolled at UF in December, and as a true freshman, he’s seeing some action in Florida’s guard rotation. At 6-foot-5-inches, he has ideal size for his position, and though he isn’t the best shooter, he can get the job done. He’s a talented defensive player who also makes himself a factor on the boards.

So far this season, he’s appeared in four games. His best performance came in a win against Stetson, when he scored six points in addition to making a rebound and an assist. All in all, he’s averaging 2.3 points, a rebound and 0.5 assists.

He’s a bit buried on depth chart this season, but in the future, Lane could be a key role player in UF’s guard group.

Video:

https://youtu.be/ZF_pBqw7LMk

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2020 Florida Gators Football Profile Card: Noah Keeter

This is a player profile card for outside linebacker transfer from UCLA Noah Keeter, who returns home to Gainesville to play for UF in 2020.

Name: Noah Keeter

Number: 48

Position: Outside Linebacker

Class: Redshirt Freshman

Height: 6’5″

Weight: 224 lbs

Hometown: Gainesville, Fla.

High School: Buchholz High School

Twitter: @NoahKeeter_25

2019 statistics:

Did not play for the UCLA Bruins

Overview:

A standout for F.W. Buchholz High School in Gainesville, Keeter was rated as a three-star prospect, the No. 94 weak-side defensive end and a top-240 player in the state in the 2019 class.

Racking up 153 tackles (26 for loss), 22.5 sacks and an interception during his final two seasons with the Bobcats, he committed to Chip Kelly’s UCLA Bruins, located roughly 2,400 miles northwest, on January 12, 2019, the day after taking his official visit, and signed his National Letter of Intent (LOI) less than one month later.

He did not appear in any games during his lone year in Los Angeles and entered the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) transfer portal on December 2.

On January 3, 2020, he announced he would be coming home and joining Dan Mullen’s program as a preferred walk-on. Coincidentally, this was the same day running back Lorenzo Lingard, a five-star in the 2018 cycle and former Miami Hurricane, shared he, too, would be joining the Gators.

Profiling as more of an outside linebacker than defensive end at the collegiate level, Keeter did not appear on Florida’s first two-deep defensive depth chart, released on September 21, but has four years of eligibility remaining to carve out a role for himself.

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2020 Florida Gators Football Profile Card: Zack Sessa

This is a player profile for kicker Zack Sessa, a freshman transfer from Georgia Southern who looks to join the Gators in 2020 as a walk-on.

Name: Zack Sessa

Number: 36

Position: Kicker

Class: Freshman

Height: 6’0″

Weight: 170 lbs

Hometown: Venice, Fla.

High School: Venice High School

Twitter: @ZackSessa

2019 statistics:

Signed with Georgia Southern but never enrolled.

Overview:

A graduate of Venice High School, Sessa played wide receiver and defensive back, in addition to handling kicking duties, during his time with the Indians.

Making 22-of-34 (65-percent) of his prep field goal attempts, including a 50-yarder as a freshman in 2015, he was rated as a two-star prospect, the No. 28 kicker in the 2019 class, and a top-375 player in the state, per the 247Sports Composite.

Sessa committed to the Sun Belt Conference’s Georgia Southern Eagles on February 6, 2019, the same day he signed his National Letter of Intent (LOI), but never enrolled at the school and was granted his release.

“Zack asked for a release from his LOI due to personal reasons and we granted his release,” Eagles head coach Chad Lunsford told the Savannah Morning News on June 23, 2019.

“He will not be attending Georgia Southern and we wish him the best.”

Joining Dan Mullen’s program as a preferred walk-on in June, Sessa has been competing with redshirt junior Chris Howard for the backup job behind junior Evan McPherson, who connected on 17-of-19 (89-percent) field goal attempts in 2019.

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2020 Florida Gators Football Profile Card: Jordan Pouncey

Wide receiver Jordan Pouncey has two more seasons of eligibility post-transfer and he should see action this season as a 2nd-team receiver.

Name: Jordan Pouncey

Number: TBA

Position: Wide Receiver

Class: Sophomore

Height: 6’1″

Weight: 205 lbs

Hometown: Winter Park, Fla.

High School: Winter Park High School

Twitter: @_pouncey

2019 statistics:

G Rec Yds Avg TD
5 2 19 9.5 0

Overview:

The second cousin of former Florida and current NFL offensive linemen Mike and Maurkice Pouncey, Jordan Pouncey originally played for Texas.

A three-star recruit out of Winter Park, he redshirted as a true freshman in 2017, not appearing in a game. As a redshirt freshman in 2018, he appeared in seven games, but his appearances were limited to special teams and he didn’t record any statistics.

He finally got to see the field as a receiver during his redshirt sophomore season. He made his first career catch in the season opener for 11 yards, and he had another eight-yard catch in another game.

Following the season, Pouncey graduated, and he elected to join coach Dan Mullen and the Gators as a graduate transfer. His younger brother, Ethan Pouncey, was a four-star cornerback recruit who signed with UF in the 2020 recruiting class.

Pouncey has two more seasons of eligibility, and he should see action this season as a second-team receiver.

Video

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2020 Florida Gators Football Profile Card: Justin Shorter

Name: Justin Shorter Number: TBA Position: Wide Receiver Class: Redshirt Sophomore Height: 6’4″ Weight: 226 lbs Hometown: Monmouth Junction, N.J. High School: South Brunswick High School 2019 statistics (with Penn State Nittany Lions): G Rec Yds Avg …

Name: Justin Shorter

Number: TBA

Position: Wide Receiver

Class: Redshirt Sophomore

Height: 6’4″

Weight: 226 lbs

Hometown: Monmouth Junction, N.J.

High School: South Brunswick High School

2019 statistics (with Penn State Nittany Lions):

G Rec Yds Avg TD
8 12 137 11.4 0

Overview:

Coming out of high school, Justin Shorter was one of the top players in the nation. The No. 1 receiver in the nation and the No. 7 player overall according to 247Sports, the five-star Monmouth Junction, N.J., product committed to play for James Franklin and the Penn State Nittany Lions.

As a true freshman in 2018, he appeared in four games, making just three catches for 20 yards in addition to a nine-yard rush. He redshirted the season.

His redshirt freshman year in 2019, he saw more action, appearing in eight games (including three starts). He totaled 12 catches for 137 yards, but he is still yet to snag his first career touchdown reception.

After the 2019 season, he transferred to Florida. After an offseason of uncertainty as to whether he would be eligible to play in 2020, his waiver was approved.

Shorter joins an already talented receiver room, but the former five-star recruit should be a significant factor on the field this season.

Video

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2020 Florida Gators Football Profile Card: Lorenzo Lingard

A five-star prospect and the No. 2 tailback in the 2018 class, per 247Sports, Lingard began his collegiate career with the Miami Hurricanes.

Name: Lorenzo Lingard

Number: 7

Position: Running back

Class: Redshirt sophomore

Height: 6’0″

Weight: 200 lbs

Hometown: Orange City, Fla.

High School: University High School

Twitter: @d1champ99

2019 statistics (with Miami Hurricanes):

Appeared in two games, exclusively on special teams.

Overview:

A five-star prospect and the No. 2 tailback in the 2018 class, per the 247Sports Composite, Lingard began his collegiate career with a different Sunshine State program, the Miami Hurricanes.

Then-coached by Mark Richt, he saw immediate action as a freshman, carrying the football 17 times over four games for 136 yards (eight avg.) and two touchdowns.

Just as Lingard’s debut campaign in Coral Gables was taking off, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in an October 22 practice. He rehabbed and returned to the Hurricanes, now-coached by Manny Diaz, in 2019, but played in just two games, only seeing the field on special teams.

Electing to seek a fresh start, he entered the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) transfer portal on December 30 and announced his intention to enroll at Florida just four days later.

Receiving immediate eligibility from the governing body in late-May, he projects to compose half of an intriguing duo with junior Dameon Pierce in the Gators’ backfield this fall. With Lingard known for his game-breaking speed and Pierce being more of a thumper, these two figure to complement each other well.

How he looks nearly two years removed from his knee injury remains to be seen, but head coach Dan Mullen and co-offensive coordinators Billy Gonzales and John Hevesy have themselves a potentially high-reward piece to deploy in 2020.

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2019 Florida Gators Football Profile Card: Lloyd Summerall III

This is a Player Profile Card for freshman linebacker Lloyd Summerall III of the Florida Gators football team.

Name: Lloyd Summerall III

Number: 99

Position: Linebacker

Class: Freshman

Height: 6’5″

Weight: 214 lbs

Hometown: Lakeland, Fla.

High School: Lakeland High School

Twitter: @HimsoHam

2019 statistics:

Tackles
Gm Solo Ast Tot Loss Sk
3 1 1 2 0.5 0

Overview:

Summerall III started his high school career at Auburndale High School but transferred to Lakeland High School for his senior year, leading it to a Class 7A state title.

He was a four star recruit in the 2019 recruiting class after finishing his high school career with 117 tackles and 14.5 sacks. He committed to coach Dan Mullen and the Gators over offers from Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, LSU and more.

Summerall III played in three games his first year on campus, blowouts against UT Martin and Vanderbilt, as well as the Orange Bowl victory over Virginia. He made just two tackles (one solo) and redshirted the season. He should see more action as an edge rusher his redshirt freshman season in 2020.

Video:

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2019 Florida Gators Football Profile Card: Luke Ancrum

This is a Player Profile Card for redshirt senior defensive lineman Luke Ancrum of the Florida Gators football team.

Name: Luke Ancrum

Number: 98

Position: Defensive Lineman

Class: Redshirt Senior

Height: 6’5″

Weight: 263 lbs

Hometown: Sebring, Fla.

High School: Sebring High School

2019 statistics:

Tackles Def Int
Gm Solo Ast Tot Loss Sk Int Yds Avg TD PD
12 11 11 22 4 1.5 0 0 0 0 1

Overview:

Ancrum was a defensive end coming out of Sebring High School, though he was not highly regarded. A three-star recruit, Ancrum’s only Power Five offers other than Florida were Pittsburgh and Wisconsin. He chose to sign with the Gators in former coach Jim McElwain’s first recruiting class in 2015. He sat out his first season with the team in 2015 and redshirted before moving to defensive tackle as a redshirt freshman.

In 2016, he played in seven games, though he was limited to just three tackles. In 2017, he played in all 11 games but again wasn’t particularly productive, totaling four tackles and a pass breakup.

As a redshirt junior in 2018, he saw action in 11 games as a reserve defensive lineman and special teams contributor, totaling eight tackles. He also made his first career interception against Tennessee.

During his final season in 2019, he played in 11 games, notching a career-high 22 tackles. He started three games and had 1.5 sacks.

Video:

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