College Sports Wire – Page 10 – Syndication Server

Christian Gonzalez joins former Oregon Duck in latest College Sports Wire NFL Mock Draft 4.0

According to the latest mock draft from @PatrickConnCFB, Christian Gonzalez is going to be teaming up with a former Oregon great at the next level.

Mock Draft season has been in full swing for the past couple of months since the college football season came to a close, and at this point, we’ve got a pretty good idea where the top players are going to end up, for the most part.

While there are some differences here and there, depending on which mock draft you look at, players and fans can feel confident that they at least know which round, or where in the first round some of the top players will be drafted.

For fans of the Oregon Ducks, the past couple of months have been spent trying to figure out where cornerback Christian Gonzalez is going to end up landing. Some mock drafts have him going as high as the No. 7 or No. 8 pick in the draft, while others see him more as a middle-to-late rounder on day one of the draft in April.

According to USA TODAY’s Patrick Conn, who recently put out his latest 4.0 version of the College Sports Wire Mock Draft, it will be a little bit of a wait until Gonzalez hears his name on draft night. Conn has Gonzo being taken by the Detroit Lions with the No. 18 pick.

“The Lions could use an upgrade at tight end, but the opportunity to snag Gonzalez is one they might not want to pass up,” Conn writes. “The Ducks cornerback can be a physical tackler and he hauled in four interceptions in 2022.”

While it may not mean much to Gonzalez, since he never played with the Oregon legend, Duck fans would be happy to see Lions’ offensive tackle Penei Sewell be able to welcome in a fellow Man of Oregon in Detroit and help get him settled into the NFL. We will see on draft night if Gonzalez ends up having to wait this long to hear his name, but at this point, it’s pretty clear that, regardless of when it is, Gonzalez should come off the board sometime on day one.

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Pete Maravich’s career scoring average among college basketball’s (likely) unbreakable records

Maravich averaged an unbelievable 44.2 points per game over three seasons at LSU.

As a sport changes and evolves over time, so do the rules and style of play. This can result in largely different statistical outputs when looking at different eras of the game, and it’s where the concept of an “unbreakable record,” one which will likely stand the test of time given the way the modern game is played, comes from.

This is most commonly seen in a sport like baseball, but unbreakable records exist in football and basketball, too. Our Will Rosenblatt already took a look at six unbreakable program records for LSU football, but former Tigers basketball star [autotag]Pete Maravich[/autotag] set an NCAA record that isn’t likely to be broken any time soon.

“Pistol Pete,” as he is affectionately known, averaged an unbelievable 44.2 points per game over three full seasons at LSU. That mark will almost certainly stand the test of time considering what it would take to produce at that level for so long, and it was listed among college basketball’s unbreakable records in an article for College Sports Wire by regional editor Patrick Conn.

With a name like “Pistol” Pete Maravich, you better believe you have to perform on a nightly basis. During his career atLSU, Maravich averaged a blistering 44.2 points over three seasons. That includes 28 50-point games. With the opportunities for players to go the G-League or overseas route, we might not ever see 44.2 points per game again.

That’s a truly unbelievable amount of production and something we are not likely to see again any time soon. I suppose there’s a reason that Maravich later became the namesake for LSU’s basketball arena.

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Here’s where two Gators land in College Sports Wire’s mock draft 4.0

No surprise that these two Gators are expected to be first-round picks.

There are just a little over two-and-a-half months remaining until the 2023 NFL draft, which kicks off on April 27 and runs until April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. Each franchise knows the selection order now that the Super Bowl is well in the rearview mirror — though they are always subject to change at any time before and during the draft as teams swap positions to pick their preferred prospects.

Over the past three drafts dating back to 2020, the Gators had at least one representative among the first 32 players selected. According to College Sports Wire’s mock draft 4.0 put together by Patrick Conn, Florida football will likely have a pair picked in the first half of the first round this year.

First up is quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag], a mercurial redshirt sophomore who many see as an incomplete player, albeit with an extremely high ceiling due to his athleticism. In his previous mock, Conn predicted the Detroit Lions to take him at No. 6, but this time around fell to the Carolina Panthers at No. 9.

The Panthers tried Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, and P.J. Walker as their starting quarterbacks in 2022 to no avail. Here the team can give new head coach Frank Reich a quarterback to develop with Richardson.

The second Gator taken in Conn’s mock was offensive lineman [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] — a transfer from the Lousiana Ragin’ Cajuns joining Napier in Gainesville — who was the No. 12 pick with the Houston Texans in the previous mock but fell a spot to No. 13, where the New York Jets currently hold the selection.

If the Jets truly believe in Zach Wilson as their quarterback, addressing the offensive line is the key. Torrence is an absolute mauler that can keep Wilson upright and pave the way in the run game.

The previous UF alumni taken in the first round of the draft are cornerback [autotag]Kaiir Elam[/autotag] (2022, No. 23), tight end [autotag]Kyle Pitts[/autotag] (2021, No. 4), wide receiver [autotag]Kadarius Toney[/autotag] (2021, No. 20) and cornerback [autotag]CJ Henderson[/autotag] (2020, No. 9).

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This Gator holds one of the most embarrassing college football records

John Reaves’ nine INTs against Auburn in 1969 is very unlikely to be replicated ever.

The Florida Gators have seen some lofty highs over the course of their football program’s history but have also seen some valleys, from their peak seasons that saw two national championships in three years to their 0-10-1 season back in 1979. Overall, with a resume that includes three Heisman Trophy winners things have been better than they have worse.

However, one of the most embarrassing moments in school history came back in 1969, when quarterback [autotag]John Reaves[/autotag] — the heir to the starting job under center after the legendary [autotag]Steve Spurrier[/autotag] — through an unheard-of nine interceptions in a road matchup against the Auburn Tigers. The Orange and Blue came into the game ranked No. 7 while the Tigers sat at No. 17, and Ray Graves’ team lost their only game of the season, 38-12.

Those nine picks in that game were enough to make College Sports Wire’s top five individual records unlikely to be broken in college football, coming in at No. 5. Here is what author Patrick Conn had to offer on the ignominious distinction.

Hearing that a quarterback threw nine interceptions in a single game is almost unheard of. This would be the one record on our list that you wouldn’t want any part of. At some point, a head coach would either stick to running the football or put in the backup. However, in 1969 Florida stuck with quarterback John Reaves as he threw nine picks in a single game, it would have been 10 if a penalty didn’t negate it. It helped No. 17 Auburn upset No. 7 Florida on this day, 38-12.

Florida finished the season 9-1-1 after beating the Tennessee Volunteers in the Gator Bowl, 14-13.

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Two Florida football rivalry games among the best in college sports

What makes college sports different than the professional level is a particular type of emotion that comes along with being an amateur fanatic. The connection between an individual and the school of their choice can be driven by a myriad of forces; whether they matriculated at the institution or are a bandwagon fan, the joy of victory and the sting of defeat still resonates the same.

One of the things that the University of Florida prides itself on is the strength of its fanbase, the Gator Nation, a collection of people from across the globe who share a love of the Orange and Blue. But that collective consciousness did not arise spontaneously from the ether, but rather, over decades of grinding out yearly schedules. Most important were the rivalry matches, which often came against other highly-regarded institutions that helped elevate the university’s image to a higher level.

College Sports Wire’s Patrick Conn published his list of the top college sports rivalries games and Florida had two of its annual matchups selected. First up is the in-state feud between the Gators and the Florida State Seminoles, which came in sixth on the list. Here is what Conn had to offer on one of the best rivalries games in college football — even during down seasons.

Why The Ranking?

The Florida Gators and the Florida State Seminoles might not play in the same conference, but these two teams face off every season. There isn’t a more bitter rivalry in the Sunshine State than this game, and I would argue it is the best rivalry for the Gators and Seminoles. Even the former Head Ball Coach would get into the act of this hatred between the two Florida teams.

“You know what FSU stands for, don’t you? Free Shoes University.” – [autotag]Steve Spurrier[/autotag], Former Florida head coach

This rivalry really blossomed during the 1990s with Steve Spurrier facing off with Bobby Bowden. Some of the best matchups featured the “Choke at the Doak” in which Florida held a 31-3 lead but ended in a 31-31 tie. The Seminoles won the rematch in the Sugar Bowl. In the 1996 season finale, the Noles would knock off the Gators in Gainesville, 24-21. In the rematch, Florida throttled their rivals 52-20 in the Sugar Bowl to secure the national championship.

Florida holds the overall edge, 37-27-2. The first matchup came in 1958 when the Gators won 21-7 in the Swamp.

Next up is the inevitable cross-border battle between Florida and Georgia — a rivalry so heated it has to be played on a neutral field in Jacksonville. Conn had some choice words about his selection for the eighth-best rivalry in college sports.

Why The Ranking?

We have another border war with the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs’ annual dust-up in Jacksonville, Florida.

Once again, this rivalry spilled out to the coaching staff and the HBC Steve Spurrier has yet another epic quote.

“I sort of always like playing [Georgia] that second game because you could always count on them having two or three key players suspended.”

This series became very one-sided from 1990-2010 where the Gators won every matchup with the exception of three games. Since the Dawgs’ rise to prominence, these two schools have traded blows. Since 2015, the winner of this game has gone on to represent the East in the SEC title game.

Some of the memorable moments include ‘Fourth and Dumb’, ‘Herschel over the Top’, ‘The Gators upset No. 4 Bulldogs’, and ‘The Gator Stomp.’ The series dates back to 1915 when Georgia won 37-0 in Jacksonville. The Bulldogs own the all-time series edge 54-44-2.

Billy Napier and the Gators are slated to face Georgia in Jacksonville on Oct. 28 and the Seminoles in Gainesville on Nov. 25 next season. Kickoff times and broadcast information have not yet been announced.

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Oklahoma EDGE addition Dasan McCullough a top 10 transfer per College Sports Wire

Oklahoma Sooners Edge Dasan McCullough is one of College Sports Wire’s top impact transfers for the 2023 season

The Oklahoma Sooners are going to need more consistent pressure off the edge in 2023 to help improve their defense. Brent Venables addressed that immediate need by getting former Indiana Hoosier Dasan McCullough out of the transfer portal.

McCullough figures to be a contributor right away. While Reggie Grimes and Ethan Downs could still improve, OU needed to bring in a new face as their pass rush did run cold when Big 12 play began.

Our friends at College Sports Wire have McCullough as one of the top impact tansfers for the 2023 season.

The first year under new head coach Brent Venables went about as bad as it could have. Sure they finished 6-6 and made it to a bowl game but they were outgunned by Florida State to finish with their first losing record since 1998. The next year Bob Stoops rolled into town. Oklahoma needs help and they picked up a big edge transfer in Dasan McCullough. He finished his freshman season with 49 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 4 sacks, and 3 passes defended. Perhaps McCullough can be the next Nik Bonitto for this defense.- Patrick Conn, College Sports Wire

Dasan McCullough has the size and pass-rush ability to be a full-time defensive end for Oklahoma. Or he could end up taking on the Cheetah role in Brent Venables’ defense due to his athleticism and length. If McCullough can be anything like Bonitto, this would be a massive win for Oklahoma. Bonitto led the Big 12 in pressure rate during his final season in Norman and is now making an impact in the NFL for the Denver Broncos.

His ability to play in space will provide the Sooners with greater athleticism and speed wherever he ends up playing and that’s a huge plus for the Sooners.

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Where Florida football lands in updated all-time win percentage rankings

Here’s where Florida’s all-time college football record stands among its peers.

Florida football has a long and storied history that stretches over a century of competitive play dating back to 1911. The first decade of existence saw Gainesville’s gridiron warriors take the field as an independent school before joining the Southern Conference in 1922, eventually leading to the formation of the Southeastern Conference of which the Gators were a founding member.

Over the course of history, the Orange and Blue have seen fat and lean years, earning three national championships in a dozen years for the high water mark while having the ignominious 1979 campaign — in which the program went 0-10-1 — as a reminder of how bad things can get. A rash of NCAA infractions during the 80s also slowed Florida down.

College Sports Wire’s Patrick Conn published his updated list of the top 25 all-time college football records and the Florida Gators came in ranked No. 16, sitting between the Appalachian State Mountaineers at No. 15 and Auburn Tigers at No. 17. Here is a look at the numbers.

Winning Percentage: 62.8%

Overall Record: 754-438-40

2022 Record: 6-7

Other notable teams on the list are the Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 2), Tennessee Volunteers (No. 11), Florida State Seminoles (No. 12), Georgia Bulldogs (No. 13), LSU Tigers (No. 14), Miami Hurricanes (No. 18) and Texas A&M Aggies (No. 22).

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Florida’s best impact transfer following the 2022 season, per College Sports Wire

This Baylor transfer is one of @College_Wire’s top players out of the portal.

Florida football’s most recent acquisitions — both on the prep recruiting front as well as the transfer portal — are settling into life on campus as the program prepares for its spring practice and scrimmage schedule. Dealing with a roster that saw a great deal of turnover since the end of the season, [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co. have done quite well overall in finding replacements for the departing players so far.

The Gators, however, are not the only school dealing with the traditional pains of graduation and NFL draft departures along with the pressure that the recent rise of the transfer portal has placed on programs. That de facto free agency system has gained popularity in recent years and has played a major role in how quickly some teams can reload.

College Sports Wire’s Patrick Conn took a look at a baker’s dozen worth of incoming transfers following the 2022 campaign, ranking them in order of potential impact. Last on Conn’s list at No. 13 is former Baylor Bears offensive lineman [autotag]Micah Mazzccua[/autotag] who is expected to help shore up a depleted offensive line that was among the best in the country last fall.

Last year Napier brought in top IOL transfer [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] to help his offensive line, when Torrence left for the NFL you just add another top IOL in the portal. Baylor’s Mazzccua helped paved the way for Richard Reese and his 14 rushing touchdowns. This should help Florida’s offense as they try and incorporate a new quarterback.

You can catch up on all 10 incoming transfer players here.

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Two Gators make College Sports Wire’s 2023 NFL mock draft 3.0

These two Gators made the cut in CSW’s debut 2023 NFL mock draft.

There are still just under three months remaining until the 2023 NFL draft, which runs from April 27 to 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The selection order has already been set now that the Super Bowl is well in the rearview mirror, though there are still chances of some shifting as teams trade picks to find their optimal spot.

Over the past three drafts, Florida football has had at least one representative among the first 32 players selected. According to College Sports Wire’s mock draft put together by Patrick Conn, the Orange and Blue will likely have a pair picked in the first half of the first round.

The first Gator in the mock is unsurprisingly quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag], whose mercurial redshirt sophomore season has many viewing the standout athlete as an incomplete player, albeit with an extremely high ceiling due to his athleticism. Conn sees him taken at No. 6 by the Detroit Lions and here is why.

The Lions weren’t horrible in 2022, in fact, they were among one of the better teams in the NFC North. Jared Goff certainly has been a positive for the organization but if they feel he isn’t the quarterback of the future, they should look at Richardson. He can develop instead of being thrown into the fire immediately.

Also mentioned was consensus All-American offensive lineman [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag], who transferred from the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns with [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and made the most of his only SEC season. Conn sees the big man as a No. 12 overall pick this April and here is why.

With their first pick, the Houston Texans went the route of quarterback. Using a pick from the Deshaun Watson trade, the team can address protecting their investment with the best interior lineman in the draft.

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