Tag: Gervon Dexter

Florida announces rosters for Orange and Blue game

Who are Gators fans cheering for Team Orange or Team Blue? Florida’s spring game is this Thursday night.

Florida’s first football game under new head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] is finally here. The Orange and Blue Game is Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. EDT and can be seen on SEC Network+. Ahead of the game, the Gators unveiled their rosters for the spring game on Wednesday.

The rosters consist of 52 and 48 players, respectively, even though outside linebacker [autotag]Chief Borders[/autotag], running back [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag] and cornerback [autotag]Jordan Young[/autotag] are expected to play for both teams. Napier and Florida also divided up its on-the-field coaching staff and off-the-field analysts and staffers. Women’s basketball coach [autotag]Kelly Rae Finley[/autotag] and men’s basketball coach [autotag]Todd Golden[/autotag] will serve as the honorary captains for the Orange and Blue teams.

Napier has elected to put the first-team offense and defense on opposite teams. The first-team defense will be on Orange while the first-team offense will be on Blue. Orange’s defense will be highlighted by safety [autotag]Trey Dean[/autotag], defensive tackle [autotag]Gervon Dexter[/autotag] and linebacker [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag]. Blue’s offense will be led by quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag], wide receiver [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] and offensive linemen [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag].

It’s an exciting time for Florida fans because it’s their first chance to see Napier in charge and the program’s first spring football game in three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here is a look at the rosters for both teams:

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Florida hosting this top-100 wide receiver for its Orange and Blue game

Florida is set to host four-star wide receiver Tyler Williams for the second time this month during its spring game.

Many fans, media members and I were skeptical about whether Florida head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s decision to move the spring game to Thursday from Saturday would pay off. From a recruiting standpoint, his strategy has been a success. The Gators are set to host three five-stars and 16 four-stars. One of those four stars is top 100 wide receiver [autotag]Tyler Williams[/autotag], according to Gators Online.

He hails from nearby Lakeland, Florida, and most recently visited the Swamp on April 2. He mentioned after his visit two weeks ago that he wants to come back in the future and now has that date locked in.

Lakeland has always been a Gators-friendly area. They have several players who are from the area like [autotag]Gervon Dexter[/autotag], [autotag]Keon Zipperer[/autotag], [autotag]Demarkcus Bowman[/autotag] and [autotag]Fenley Graham[/autotag]. Williams plays for Lakeland High School where Zipperer, Bowman and Graham played and says he spends a lot of time with them when they come back home.

“I catch up with all of them for the most part,” Williams said. “I see them a lot when they come back home. They come work out with us and lift. I can call them if I need to talk about something or ask any questions. I get advice about my game and stuff like that. Even with the recruiting process, they give me pointers and stuff to look at.”

For Florida, wide receivers coach [autotag]Keary Colbert[/autotag] and Napier have led the charge for Williams.

He also holds some other offers from Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, LSU, Georgia, Miami, Oklahoma and USC.

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Florida targeting this Maryland DL in the transfer portal

Florida has reportedly contacted Maryland defensive lineman Darrell Jackson who is currently in the transfer portal.

Florida and head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] needed to find a starter up front to pair with defensive tackle [autotag]Gervon Dexter[/autotag]. But upperclassmen [autotag]Jaelin Humphries[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Lee[/autotag] have struggled to do so. Now the Gators are looking for an answer in the NCAA transfer portal. Swamp247 reported Friday that the new coaching staff is targeting Maryland defensive lineman [autotag]Darrell Jackson[/autotag].

The Gators wasted little time contacting him after he entered his name into the transfer portal on Thursday. During his freshman season in 2021, he recorded 22 total tackles while playing in eight games. He hails from Havana, Florida, and was ranked as a three-star recruit by 247Sports coming out of high school.

Florida could also use another body at the position after redshirt sophomore [autotag]Lamar Goods[/autotag] announced his decision to transfer on Friday.

Napier and the Gators plan to be aggressive in the transfer portal this spring and summer at a plethora of positions after several injuries have caused depth issues at some spots.

“The University of Florida, you can anticipate us being very aggressive in the portal this spring, we need players,” Napier said after the team’s first scrimmage. “Now, I think the approach is going to be acquire as many good players as we can at any position, right? We’re thin and we need help in a lot of different spots.

“I think we have, we’re approaching double-digits if that makes sense. So, you know, I think it’s fortunate that we have that opportunity, right? It’s something I’m very thankful for? Can’t imagine not having that opportunity at this point. So that window of time is coming. We anticipate doing a lot of business and we’re looking forward to it.”

Expect more transfer targets to arise for Florida after the Orange and Blue game next week.

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Florida defensive tackle Lamar Goods enters NCAA transfer portal

Florida redshirt sophomore DT Lamar Goods plans to enter the portal after only registering a single tackle during his career.

Florida redshirt sophomore defensive tackle [autotag]Lamar Goods[/autotag] announced on Instagram Friday that he plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal with spring practice set to conclude next week with the Orange and Blue Game.

“I wanna start by thanking everyone at the University of Florida and that I appreciate and care for all that you have done for me,” Goods wrote. “But after long and hard talks with my family I have decided to enter my name in the transfer portal. I am excited to see where this next chapter in my life takes my academic and football career but will always be proud that I was a gator thank you GATOR NATION.”

He played sparingly during his career with Florida, recording only a single tackle. During spring practices, the media has seen Goods leave early on multiple occasions for reasons unknown.

The Gators are looking for contributors at the defensive tackle position beside a player named [autotag]Gervon Dexter[/autotag] this spring. Former head coach [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag] and defensive line coach [autotag]David Turner[/autotag] brought in graduate transfers [autotag]Daquan Newkirk[/autotag], [autotag]Antonio Valentino[/autotag] and [autotag]Tyrone Truesdell[/autotag] as a quick fix to supplement their struggles to recruit the position.

It’s a problem new head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and defensive line coach [autotag]Sean Spencer[/autotag] will have to address via the transfer portal themselves after spring ball wraps up and new names enter the portal.

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This 4-star DL completes his fourth visit to Florida this weekend

Florida priority target and four-star defensive lineman Derrick LeBlanc visited Florida for the fourth time this past weekend.

Four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Derrick LeBlanc[/autotag] made his fourth trip to Florida and the Swamp this past weekend. After his visit, he told 247Sports that the Gators continue to push all the right buttons in his recruitment.

LeBlanc is a priority target for coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and defensive line coach [autotag]Sean Spencer[/autotag]. The 247Sports composite rankings have him as the 87th overall prospect and as the 11th best player at his position. He hails from Osceola, Florida, and is teammates with fellow four-star defensive lineman [autotag]John Walker[/autotag], who is also a top target for the Gators.

He said he really wanted to spend more time around Spencer this weekend and came away accomplishing that. Spencer showed LeBlanc film from spring practice and started quizzing him on Florida’s defense because he’s been there so many times.

The Gators need more top defensive line prospects after the previous regime struggled mightily with recruiting. LeBlanc feels like he can see the field early if he chose Florida.

He also spoke with current defensive linemen [autotag]Gervon Dexter[/autotag] and [autotag]Brenton Cox[/autotag]. They said they love the new current coaching staff and that if they could stay two more years to play for them, they would.

LeBlanc will visit Miami next weekend and will take an official visit to Penn State during the weekend of June 10. He also wants to take official visits to the Gators, Hurricanes and Oklahoma during June. He also believes that these four schools are recruiting him the hardest.

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Teammates raving about Anthony Richardson’s leadership this spring

Teammates have said quarterback Anthony Richardson has been more vocal as a leader so far this spring.

Quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] should be the starter Florida trots out for its season opener on Sept. 3 versus Utah, barring an injury or a major surprise after quarterback [autotag]Emory Jones[/autotag] entered the NCAA transfer portal two days into spring practice. Richardson needs to avoid becoming complacent while working on becoming more consistent with his play.

As the presumed starter, he will also need to establish himself as a leader. His teammates so far this spring have noticed that Richardson has been more vocal this spring.

“He’s the guy,” defensive tackle [autotag]Gervon Dexter[/autotag] said. “He’s kind of doing the same things. Just leading through his ability and also leading with his vocals. He’s always been (that way). I’ve never not heard Anthony try to lead. He’s always been a leader.”

Dexter added that he still tried to be a leader even when he was a freshman behind Jones and current Tampa Bay Buccaneer backup quarterback [autotag]Kyle Trask[/autotag].

Running back [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright[/autotag] said that Richardson was a great teammate and understood his role last season.

“This year he’s a leader, he’s being more vocal,” he said. “He understands his role now. He’s doing a great job in practice. He be having guys flying around. If he makes a bad throw he’s asking the receiver, ‘Where should I place this?’ He’s understanding his role.”

The local media who have watched the open portions of spring practice have said he’s been sporadic with his accuracy, but his sheer talent is still undeniable.

However, he still finished the 2021 season 38 of 64 passing for 529 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions. Richardson also struggled with injuries and was sidelined for the Gasparilla Bowl while recovering from a meniscus procedure.

Napier and Co. have been careful with Richardson this spring, limiting some of his reps. But spring practice is a critical time for any Florida quarterback to improve without pressure and intense scrutiny from fans that like to hang on every throw.

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Gators’ underclassmen among most productive in college football

It’s not easy making the transition from high school to college, but Florida’s underclassmen are some of the most productive in the country.

Florida’s season has been somewhat of a disaster so far with losses against Kentucky and LSU, but the future looks bright with a few underclassmen overperforming seven games in.

ESPN ranked the college programs with the most production from underclassmen in 2021 and Florida landed at No. 5. The Gators have nine underclassmen who have played 100 snaps or more this year, and four of them have a Pro Football Focus grade of 70 or higher.

On offense, Anthony Richardson is the obvious standout. He’s outperformed starter Emory Jones in half of Florida’s games this year and sat on the sidelines with an injury in the other half. He seemed like the obvious starter going forward after taking over for Jones against LSU, but head coach Dan Mullen is still evaluating both quarterbacks over the bye week.

Gervon Dexter, a five-star recruit in 2020, has taken over the starting role at nose tackle for Florida. Standing at 6-foot-6-inches and 303 pounds, Dexter has the size to handle SEC linemen and his stats are among the best in the nation right now:

Dexter has recorded an 86.4 pass-rush grade, 22.7% pass-rush win rate and 18.1% pressure rate, all of which are among the top five among Power 5 interior defensive linemen.

Georgia ranked just ahead of Florida at No. 4 on the list, and Alabama was one spot higher at No. 3. Florida’s future does seem bright, assuming Richardson stays, but the SEC’s best is on almost equal footing. LSU and Auburn are right behind Florida at Nos. 6 and 7 as well.

Ohio State and Oklahoma have quite a bit of young talent and top the list, but Florida doesn’t need to worry about that until it’s back in contention for a College Football Playoff spot.

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Here’s where the Gators defensive line ranks in the SEC

The Gators defense is looking to recover after a rough 2020. The defensive line’s health will be key to the team’s success.

Florida’s defensive line has drummed up some excitement during fall training camp, and The Athletic has them fifth in the Southeastern Conference in a recent analysis of the unit.

The Gators enter the season with a four-player rotation of Zachary Carter, Gervon Dexter, Daquan Newkirk and Antonio Valentino. Carter opted to come back to the team despite being NFL-ready, and Newkirk and Valentino came over through the transfer portal with Power 5 experience. Dexter, who played in all 12 games as a true freshman last season, is looking to make a big leap in his fourth season of organized football.

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The concern lies in the unit’s depth. Beyond those four, the options are mostly young players who still need development to compete with SEC offensive linemen. Carter had to fill in up the middle last year and it hurt his production. That adds more pressure to Valentino and Newkirk to perform but the two have impressed in fall so far.

Staying healthy will be key. Any one of the four men going down with a serious injury may cause the defensive end rotation to fall apart, which The Athletic describes as the “worst-case scenario” for Florida. The “best-case scenario” is if “Carter capitalizes on his all-conference potential, Dexter becomes a monster, and the transfers deliver career-best production.”

Ahead of Florida are Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia and LSU. The Tigers are in a comparable situation to the Gators as they look to bounce back from a rough 2020.

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Gervon Dexter aims to build off promising freshman season in 2021

Dexter played in all 12 games as a true freshman, and he should play an even bigger role in the rotation in 2021.

Name: Gervon Dexter

Number: 9

Position: Defensive Tackle

Class: Sophomore

Height: 6’6″

Weight: 308 lbs

Hometown: Lake Wales, Florida

High School: Lake Wales

Twitter: @GervonDexter

2020 statistics:

TOT SOLO SACK INT
19 5 0 1

Overview:

A five-star recruit on the 247Sports Composite and the No. 12 overall player in the country, Dexter was the highest-rated prospect in Florida’s 2020 class. He was expected to be a major impact player, even as a true freshman, and that was mostly the case.

He appeared in 12 games during the 2020 season and even started two of them. He finished the year with 19 total tackles (five solo) and he notched an interception in the season-opening win over Ole Miss to give the Gators their first takeaway of the year. He also had a tackle for loss in that game.

Florida lost three interior defensive linemen after the 2020 season, and though it added experienced transfers in Antonio Valentino and Daquan Newkirk, Dexter should see a lot more playing time in 2021. That pair of veteran transfers is likely to be the interior starting duo, but Dexter should be a primary part of that rotation, as well.

Video:

This Gator became the first SEC defensive lineman to sign an NIL deal

Gervon Dexter made history Thursday when he announced a partnership with College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk and Moving.

Florida defensive tackle Gervon Dexter made history in the SEC Thursday. He became the first defensive lineman to ink a name, image and likeness deal. Student-athletes have been allowed to profit off NIL since July 1.

Dexter announced via Twitter that he teamed up with College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk & Moving. They are a moving and junk removal company for locals that is attempting to start a franchise in Gainesville, Florida. In his announcement, he wrote to followers that the company is looking to hire a franchise owner.

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He isn’t the only college athlete to sign a deal with this company. Miami quarterback D’Eriq King teamed up with them in an agreement that is reportedly set to net King $20,000.

Besides partnering with this company, Dexter also launched his own clothing line with his T-Shirts selling out on the very first day. To help him manage his NIL deals, he signed with Mark Bailey and 1st Down Sports. He can also make money off the YouTube page that he has with his girlfriend.

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