Tag: Mike Peterson

Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame to induct two former Gators

Mike Peterson, Florida’s edge linebackers coach, and former Gators defensive back Fred Weary are headed to the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame.

Former Gators linebacker [autotag]Mike Peterson[/autotag] and defensive back [autotag]Fred Weary[/autotag] are being inducted into the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame on Nov. 1, according to the City of Jacksonville Office of Sports and Entertainment.

Peterson is currently on Florida’s coaching staff as an assistant who works with the edge linebackers. He played for Florida from 1995-98 and won a national championship in 1996. Peterson was also named to the All-SEC and All-America teams that season. The University of Florida inducted him into its Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.

The Indianapolis Colts selected Peterson 36th overall in the second round of the 1999 NFL draft. He’d go on to record 883 tackles, 21.5 sacks and 19 interceptions over 196 career games, playing for Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Atlanta, in that order.

After retiring from professional play, Peterson returned to Florida in 2013 to get his degree and serve as an undergraduate assistant coach. He worked with the strength and conditioning staff until he was promoted to a full-time position as strength and condition coordinator after graduating.

He moved on to become the outside linebackers/defensive ends coach at South Carolina under Will Muschamp in 2016. Peterson stayed with the Gamecocks until returning to Florida in 2022 under Billy Napier.

Fred Weary as a Florida Gator

Weary was also a member of the 1996 national championship team in Gainesville, playing for Florida from 1994 to 1997. He holds the program record for career interceptions with 15, including six in his final season which led to first-team All-SEC and All-America selections.

Selected 97th overall in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL draft, Weary played in the pros for six seasons, mostly with the New Orleans Saints. Weary also played with Atlanta, St. Louis and Baltimore before retiring.

Georgia players going into the HOF

Since it’s a shared Hall of Fame that recognizes both sides of the Florida-Georgia rivalry, a pair of Bulldogs are also included in the induction ceremony.

WWE Hall of Famer and former Georgia defensive lineman Bill Goldberg joins walk-on defensive back Mike Fisher — a member of the 1980 “Junkyard Dogs” defense — as the former Bulldogs being inducted.

Former Gators in GA-FL HOF

  • Kerwin Bell (1996), Ray Graves (1996), Shane Matthews (1996) and Steve Spurrier (1996)
    Danny Wuerffel (1997), Jack Youngblood (1997)
  • Rick Casares (1998), Larry “Dupe” Dupree (1998), “Chuck” Hunsinger (1998), Charles LaPradd (1998) and Richard Trapp (1998)
  • Carlos Alvarez (1999), Jimmy Dunn (1999)
  • Joe Brodsky (2000), Howell Boney (2000)
  • Chris Doering (2001), John Reaves (2001)
  • Norm Carlson (2002), Ricky Nattiel (2002)
  • Buford Long (2003), Errict Rhett (2003)
  • Wes Chandler (2004), Reidel Anthony (2004)
  • Jeremy Foley (2005), Don Gaffney (2005)
  • Ike Hilliard (2006), Lee McGriff (2006)
  • Galen Hall (2007), Doug Johnson (2007)
  • Willie Jackson Jr. (2008), Fred Taylor (2008)
  • Rex Grossman (2009), Lawrence Wright (2009)
  • Scot Brantley (2010), Wilber Marshall (2010)
  • Kevin Carter (2011), Nat Moore (2011)
  • Doug Dickey (2012), John L. Williams (2012)
  • Lindy Infante (2013), Jevon Kearse (2013)
  • James Bates (2014), Louis Oliver (2014)
  • Jabar Gaffney (2015), Chris Leak (2015)
  • Jeff Chandler (2016), Ben Troupe (2016)
  • Lito Sheppard (2017), Tim Tebow (2017)
  • Alex Brown (2018), Percy Harvin (2018)
  • Brandon Spikes (2019), Jarvis Jones (2019)
  • Ciatrick Fason (2021), Keiwan Ratliff (2021)
  • Trey Burton (2022), Andre Caldwell (2022)
  • Joe Haden (2023), Earnest Graham (2023)

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Florida football sees two position changes ahead of 2024 season

Florida’s JUCO transfer will move up to the defensive line while a redshirt junior is moving back to an old position.

The start of the 2024 college football season is right around the corner and the Florida Gators are putting the final touches on its roster ahead of the grueling gridiron grind ahead.

During the offseason, [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and his army of coaches spent quite a bit of quality time with their players, working on maximizing the potential of every player on the team. As a result, a pair of those who were evaluated have migrated to different positions for the upcoming campaign, according to a report by Gators Online.

JUCO signee [autotag]Brien Taylor Jr[/autotag]., who arrived in Gainesville as a part of the 2024 class, played in the F spot during spring practice at the edge defender position with coach [autotag]Mike Peterson[/autotag] but has settled in with coach [autotag]Gerald Chatman[/autotag] on the defensive line.

The other making a move is redshirt junior [autotag]Kamryn Waites[/autotag], who has moved back to the position he played previously at right guard. He moved to offensive tackle last year, starting the final two games of the 2023 season at right tackle; co-offensive coordinator [autotag]Rob Sale[/autotag] moved him over to the left side this spring citing some mild weight loss.

However, Waites is now expected to compete with redshirt junior Damieon George for the starting job at right tackle in 2024.

Florida’s 2024 season opener

Florida and the Miami Hurricanes open their schedule on Aug. 31 in Gainesville, Florida. Kickoff time is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on ABC Sports.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Three-star EDGE will make official visit to Gainesville next weekend

The Florida Gators football staff is expecting a widely scouted 3-star EDGE to make an official visit to campus next weekend

The Florida Gators have been hard at work to get the best players out of the 2025 recruiting cycle, and they’re not looking to hit the brakes anytime soon with Spring practices right around the corner.

The Gators coaching staff coordinated with three-star edge rusher [autotag]Tylon Lee[/autotag] to set up an official visit next weekend, with Lee planning to tour the campus on March 9.

Florida linebackers coach Mike Peterson and Lee have been in close contact recently, according to reports from Swamp247. The bond is something that the Milton, Florida native appreciates about the UF football program.

“It’s been awesome,” Lee said. “Getting the connection and the vibe. That is the type of coach I love. One that makes you feel like you can be at home. As you go somewhere for college, you leave your real parents. The coaches are there to step up and be like parents kind of. They get you to work on and off the field, but it’s their responsibility to do good and treat you good.”

“I love how he talks to his players and build relationships with all of them. He tells them the good and the bad. We are clicking with the bond and he even talks to me about the good stuff and the bad stuff. Life has adversity, so I feel like the bond he has with me can help me when that comes around.”

Landing a commitment from Lee will be a huge boost to Florida’s recruiting class, with the Pace High edge rusher ranking at No. 32 for his position and is rated No. 461 on the 247Sports composite scale.

Neighboring Florida on Lee’s recruiting list are Penn State, Duke and Florida State.

Gators hosting 5-star EDGE on official visit in June

Florida is beginning to lock in official visit dates for the summer. This five-star edge rusher is the latest to make plans with the Gators.

Picayune (Mississippi) Memorial edge rusher [autotag]Jamonta Waller[/autotag] wasn’t a five-star recruit when he made his first trip to the University of Florida earlier this month, but he was granted the elite status by 247Sports on Tuesday and is also planning on returning to Florida for an official visit, according to Swamp247.

The return trip to the Swamp should come over the weekend of June 2. Waller got to see most of what the school has to offer during his spring trip, but the team will be rolling out the red carpet for an official visit. He’s already close with the coaching staff, especially outside linebackers coach [autotag]Mike Peterson[/autotag], and should only benefit from an entire weekend around the coaches.

At 6-foot-2-inches tall and 225 pounds, Waller has the size to do a lot for Florida. The nice thing about Waller is that he’s not going to be limited to coming off the edge, although that’s where he might shine the most. Florida sees him playing in multiple spots if he joins the team, and that’s helped UF surge in his recruitment.

“They really jumped up,” Waller said to Swamp247 after his first visit. “It’s really because the Florida Gators see me doing some stuff all over. They said I can play some inside linebacker and outside linebacker, edge. All of that.”

Ole Miss currently leads the way on On3’s recruiting prediction machine with 86.9% odds to land Waller. An official visit to UF should change those numbers, though, and a potential June 9 trip to Penn State could also affect things.

Waller recently attained five-star status by 247Sports’ measure. He’s still a four-star recruit on the composite rankings, but 247Sports’ standalone list has him at No. 22 overall and No. 5 among edge rushers. The On3 industry ranking, which is similar to the 247Sport composite, has him at No. 121 overall and No. 10 among linebackers in the class.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1739]

[mm-video type=video id=01gvdq8eqdb03x5mg83v playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gvdq8eqdb03x5mg83v/01gvdq8eqdb03x5mg83v-ce81f56192edd4f52d0b1f3b0a471855.jpg]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Gators getting this 2025 EDGE on campus this weekend

The Gators are hosting this promising young prospect this weekend.

Things are starting to heat up in Gainesville and it is not entirely due to the changing of the seasons. Rather, the month of March represents a return to the college football recruiting grind as [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and the Gators get set to host a flurry of talented young prospects on campus now that the dead period has expired.

One of several high school prospects set to visit the Swamp on the opening weekend according to Swamp247 is Highland Home (Alabama) edge rusher [autotag]JaKaleb Faulk[/autotag], who will be making his third visit to Hogtown this time around. The 6-foot-2-inch, 200-pound defensive lineman received an offer from the Gators last summer while on campus with his older brother [autotag]Keldric Faulk[/autotag] for his official visit and followed up with a game-day visit in November.

Outside linebackers coach [autotag]Mike Peterson[/autotag] and off-field assistant [autotag]Jamar Chaney[/autotag] have the most time into Faulk’s recruitment, with former defensive coordinator [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] also involved before his departure to the NFL.

The high school sophomore already made a stop with the Auburn Tigers on Wednesday to open up his spring visit schedule, with the Georgia Bulldogs and Tennessee Volunteers also on his itinerary.

Neither 247Sports nor On3 currently have ratings or rankings for Faulk. However, On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine has Florida out front for his talents with a 35.6% chance of signing him. The Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Bulldogs and Ole Miss Rebels follow behind at 21.1%, 9.5% and 7.9%, respectively.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1368]

[mm-video type=video id=01gtm1kn0wa18y3gatht playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gtm1kn0wa18y3gatht/01gtm1kn0wa18y3gatht-88879a64e8a2bd829f05d6cf8bb07a5a.jpg]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This class of 2025 safety is visiting the Swamp in March

The Gators are getting one of the top safeties in the class of 2025 on campus this spring for his first trip to the Swamp.

The Florida Gators offered four-star Good Counsel (Olney, Maryland) safety [autotag]Faheem Delane [/autotag] back in January, and now he’s locked in a March visit with the team.

Gators Online initially reported that Delane had plans to visit Florida in the “first weekend of March,” at the beginning of the month. Almost two weeks later, 247Sports confirmed that report with a more firm March 4 date.

This will be Delane’s first trip to the Swamp, but he’s been in touch with outside linebackers coach [autotag]Mike Peterson[/autotag] for a while now. Delane is looking forward to meeting him in person and getting to meet more of the staff.

Plenty of Power Five programs are pursuing Delane. Alabama, FSU, LSU, Ohio State and Miami are just a few names that have offered him a scholarship so far. As an elite member of the class of 2025, he’s likely to pick up a few more over the next two years.

It’s good for Florida to get started on Delane early, and a visit should give him a better idea of whether UF is the right fit for him or not. He already emulates former Gator [autotag]CJ Gardner-Johnson[/autotag] on the field, which is a good sign for Florida.

Delane is not yet ranked by 247Sports, but On3 and Rivals have him listed as a four-star recruit. He’s currently No. 18 overall on the On3 consensus and is No. 3 among safeties in the class of 2025.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1739]

[mm-video type=video id=01grvtjwk7r1tpmjd34e playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01grvtjwk7r1tpmjd34e/01grvtjwk7r1tpmjd34e-850bf62a7bd82e54b8559c4b237f973b.jpg]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

4-star DB planning Florida visit after securing offer

Florida is looking to get four-star safety Ka’Davion Dotson on campus in the spring after extending him an offer before the dead period.

One of the recruits from the class of 2024 Florida offered before the start of the dead period was four-star Duncanville (Texas) safety [autotag]Ka’Davion Dotson[/autotag].

After picking up the offer from UF in January, Dotson is eager to get on campus in Gainesville and check things out, according to 247Sports.

“I am looking forward to getting there (Florida) after the dead period,” Dotson said to 247Sports. “They are one of the first schools I want to try and get out to when things open back up. I am going to link up with my dude, coach Joe Hamilton to get me their schedule so I can lock in a date.”

Hamilton helps recruit Texas area talent and has helped outside linebacker coach [autotag]Mike Peterson[/autotag] and co-defensive coordinator [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] court Dotson. Getting him on campus to meet the staff in person is the next step now that Dotson has an offer under his belt.

A March visit is likely, but Florida will have to fit into his schedule with plans to stop by Arkansas and LSU in place. A Sunshine State loop that hits Florida, Florida State and Miami could be in store.

At one time, Dotson had things narrowed down to a top 10. Several offers have come in since then, so the new plan is to cut things down to a top 15 in the near future. Once he narrows things down, he’ll figure out which schools he wants to spend his five official visits on over the summer and commit before his senior year begins.

A spring visit should go a long way in securing Florida’s chance of being one of the five programs Dotson returns to over the summer. Right now, LSU is the heavy favorite on the On3 recruiting prediction matching with 88.7% odds to land him.

Dotson is ranked No. 160 overall on the On3 consensus and is No. 13 among safeties in the class. He figures to play the STAR position at Florida if that’s where he ends up, but he could play a true safety spot as well.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1739]

[mm-video type=video id=01grvtjwk7r1tpmjd34e playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01grvtjwk7r1tpmjd34e/01grvtjwk7r1tpmjd34e-850bf62a7bd82e54b8559c4b237f973b.jpg]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

5-star 2025 EDGE rusher gives Gators perfect score after visit

The Gators already made a great impression on one of the biggest recruits in the 2025 cycle.

Florida football’s recruiting efforts have switched gears after the passing of national signing day for the 2023 cycle, and now [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co. turn their attention to the next classes in an effort to restore glory to the Orange and Blue.

Among those on the Gators’ radar is five-star EDGE rusher [autotag]Jared Smith[/autotag] out of Birmingham (Alabama) Spain Park, who recently paid a visit to the Swamp and came away very impressed. The 6-foot-6-inch, 230-pound recruit attended the program’s Junior Day last weekend and offered the following to Swamp247’s Blake Alderman his first face-to-face with the Gators’ staff.

“I was wondering about things like how the scheme works, how I would fit in, but I loved it as soon as I got down here. The people, the atmosphere, they care about academics more than being on the field. Those were some of the things I loved the most. I got to tour the campus, buildings, stadiums. The stadium was nice. They have a really nice field and locker room.

“On a scale of 1-to-10 I think the visit was a 10. I just like the people, just the coaches. The coaches really stood out. How they are all really connected, and how connected they are with your teachers and tutors. They are on you about your grades. With Coach Napier, we had a long discussion about the Hawkins Center where the tutors are. He got done telling me how they are top five in the country as far as academics. That’s great.”

Spearheading the young student-athlete’s recruitment is outside linebackers coach [autotag]Mike Peterson[/autotag], who has been the main point of contact and has spent significant time with Smith.

“Coach Peterson keeps it straightforward and he’s a really good man.”

Smith is rated at five stars and ranked No. 4 overall and No. 1 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 consensus rates him as a four-star recruit and has him at Nos. 5 and 2, respectively. On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine has the Georgia Bulldogs out in front for his services with a 40.4% chance of landing him, while the Alabama Crimson Tide, Auburn Tigers and Gators follow at 18.5%, 15.9% and 13.2%, respectively.

[mm-video type=video id=01graa1dq79khqaxwazw playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01graa1dq79khqaxwazw/01graa1dq79khqaxwazw-c6f127b21f447c5b32388ac987456672.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=100779,100765,100762,100750,100627]

[listicle id=100739]

[listicle id=100205]

[listicle id=100155]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Florida staff visits 4-star teammates toward end of contact period

Florida coaches were in Georgia this week to check in with a pair of blue-chip teammates.

Florida outside linebackers coach [autotag]Mike Peterson[/autotag] was one of the latest to stop by Schley County High (Ellaville, Georgia) to see blue-chip teammates [autotag]Jalewis Solomon[/autotag] and [autotag]Zayden Walker[/autotag], according to Gators Online.

Solomon is an athlete in the class of 2024 ranked in the top 100 by On3 and Walker is an edge rusher ranked No. 3 overall in the class of 2025. Both received four-star designations from On3, but Walker should be a five-star once the class of 2025 matures a bit.

Florida offered both players in November and hosted them for the South Carolina game. The staff paying them a visit just goes to show how seriously they are taking the duo, and this relationship dates back at least a year to the 2022 Orange and Blue Game.

Florida isn’t short on competition for the duo. Deion Sanders and Colorado recently joined a group of contenders that includes recruiting heavyweights such as Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Tennessee and USC among others.

Solomon will be the first to commit, but whoever gets him could stand a good chance at landing Walker in the next cycle. They aren’t exactly marketing themselves as a duo, but it’s hard not to recruit one blue-chip defensive player when another plays right next to him.

[mm-video type=video id=01gq6jranptegagbdtcp playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gq6jranptegagbdtcp/01gq6jranptegagbdtcp-9224ff8624ad4dd0dda9dbea3f721bcc.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=100355,100331,100333,100327,100321]

[listicle id=100205]

[listicle id=100245]

[listicle id=100180]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Florida’s coaching staff visiting pair of 5-star recruits on Monday

While the madness ensues in the transfer portal and NFL draft declarations, the Gators are on the recruiting trail on Monday.

Monday marked a big day in the college football world as it marked the start of the NCAA transfer portal period, which has been at the forefront of the minds of millions of rabid fans. However, in the background amidst the portal din and NFL draft declarations, the recruiting trail is also heating up after the end of the no-contact period on Friday.

While the 2022 campaign left a lot to be desired on the field for the Florida Gators, off the field, head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co. have done a remarkable job pulling the program out of the recruiting doldrums up to a consensus top-10 class for this cycle. The staff’s efforts were once again on display according to Swamp247 with Napier, linebackers coach [autotag]Mike Peterson[/autotag] and co-defensive coordinator [autotag]Sean Spencer[/autotag] scheduled to visit a pair of five-star recruits on Monday who remain undecided in the 2023 class — Montgomery (Alabama) Carver five-star teammates [autotag]Qua Russaw[/autotag] and [autotag]James Smith[/autotag].

Both have visited Gainesville twice before, logging an unofficial visit during the Friday Night Lights event at the end of July while also dropping in for an official visit for the LSU game.

“They see me more being used like Brenton Cox, but they said they could use me in different spots so I can make plays the whole game if it came to that,” Russaw told Swamp247 prior. “They see me being someone to fill in for Cox though.”

His teammate expressed similar sentiments for the program recently.

“I liked the scheme. They put people in the position to make plays. They see me being like a three or four technique or even playing some zero. Coach Spencer said he likes how I play impressive and get up the field and cause havoc. He said I can fit into what they do with how I play.”

The two high school seniors have already spent three of their five official visits on the Georgia Bulldogs and Auburn Tigers, as well as the Gators, and both still plan to use another this coming weekend with the Alabama Crimson Tide. The two top prep prospects are considered to be a package deal by most in the recruiting circles.

Russaw is ranked No. 31 overall and No. 5 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 consensus has him at Nos. 23 and 2, respectively. On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine has ‘Bama far out front in the race for his talents with a 74.7% chance of landing him, with Auburn and Florida following at 14.2% and 4.4%, respectively.

Smith is ranked No. 15 overall and No. 2 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 consensus has him at Nos. 14 and 2, respectively. The Tide also are also in the lead for the five-star’s talents according to On3’s RPM with a narrower 42.3% chance of signing him, while Georgia, Auburn and Florida follow at 26.7%, 23.1% and 4.4%, respectively.

[mm-video type=video id=01gkf5ynv2xxas27ssxj playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gkf5ynv2xxas27ssxj/01gkf5ynv2xxas27ssxj-783cece52f81bf61004d8b49d6cc0685.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=97406,97401,97396,97391,97387]

[listicle id=97254]

[listicle id=97242]

[listicle id=97108]

[listicle id=97045]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!