Tag: Player profile

Donovan Stiner graduates after missing just one game in four years

Coming off a career-best season in tackles (though he didn’t manage an interception), safety Donovan Stiner hopes to land on an NFL roster.

Name: Donovan Stiner

Number: 13

Position: Safety

Class: Senior

Height: 6’2″

Weight: 210 pounds

Hometown: Houston

High School: Bellaire

Twitter: @dstiner3

2020 statistics:

TOT SOLO AST SACK PD
62 33 29 0 1

Overview:

Stiner may have been a three-star recruit coming out of high school, but the safety prospect out of Houston wasted no time finding the field with the Gators. In his first season in 2017, he played in all 11 games, mostly at special teams and as a reserve defensive back. In the process, he totaled nine tackles.

Heading into his sophomore year in 2018, he was ready to become one of the Gators’ top safeties. He played in all 13 games that season and started 12 of them, finishing with 49 tackles, two picks and the only sack of his collegiate career. He saw his role diminish slightly as a junior in 2019, and though he appeared in every game once again, he started just six of them. His tackle total dropped to 30, though he did manage to set a career-high in interceptions with four.

Stiner reclaimed his starting role for most of his senior season in 2020, starting 10 of the 11 games he appeared in. He finished with a career-high in tackles, though he didn’t record an interception for the first time since his freshman year. Overall, Florida’s secondary struggled, and at times, so did Stiner.

Still, he was a relatively consistent starter for three years with the Gators, and replacing him will be one of the biggest questions facing UF’s defense next season.

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Brett Heggie heads to NFL after accomplished Florida career

Florida football loses its starting center in 2021 as Brett Heggie moves on to the NFL after 31 starts in four years.

Name: Brett Heggie

Number: 61

Position: Offensive Line

Class: Redshirt Senior

Height: 6’5″

Weight: 321 pounds

Hometown: Mount Dora, Fla.

High School: Mount Dora

Twitter: @HeggieBrett74

Overview:

One of the few remaining holdovers from the previous regime, Heggie joined the Gators in former coach Jim McElwain’s second recruiting class in 2016. A three-star prospect from central Florida, Heggie was the sixth-best center in the class per the 247Sports Composite. Already at nearly 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds coming out of high school, Heggie had good size right away. Still, he sat out his first season in 2016, taking a redshirt.

As a redshirt freshman, though, he was one of the Gators’ best offensive linemen. He appeared in eight games (starting seven of them) and earned an SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week award before an injury against Missouri cut his 2017 season short.

He returned in 2018, but his season was again limited by injuries. Still, he appeared in nine games, earning another SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week award. He saw action at both guard spots as a redshirt sophomore, and he was a part of an offensive line that allowed just 18 sacks all season, the third-least in the SEC.

Heggie played in 12 of UF’s 13 games the following year, starting all of them. He once again saw starts at both left and right guard, and the Gators’ passing offense took a major leap forward, becoming the 16th-best in the country.

During his final season in 2020, Heggie moved to center, where he started for all 12 games. He was one of the team’s most dependable offensive linemen, which allowed quarterback Kyle Trask to have a record-setting season through the air. Florida led the nation in passing yards per game and were eighth in yards per play, and in the process, Heggie took home the third SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week award of his career in the season opener against Ole Miss.

With his eligibility expired, Heggie will move on to the NFL while the Gators are left to try to fill a major void along the interior of their offensive line.

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Now an upperclassman, tight end Keon Zipperer hopes to break out

Zipperer’s production has been limited to this point in his career, but with the departure of Kyle Pitts, he could see an increased role.

Name: Keon Zipperer

Number: 9

Position: Tight End

Class: Sophomore

Height: 6’3″

Weight: 240 pounds

Hometown: Lakeland, Fla.

High School: Lakeland

Twitter: @_KeonZ

2020 statistics:

REC YDS AVG TD LNG ATT YDS AVG TD LNG FUM LST
11 145 13.2 2 39 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0

Overview:

Part of the Lakeland contingent of Florida’s roster, Zipperer was a four-star recruit and the No. 2 tight end in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite. His recruiting process was contentious, with schools like Miami and Alabama showing late interest, but he committed to and signed with the Gators on the first day of the early signing period in December 2018.

As a freshman in 2019, he saw action in eight games but only made three receptions on the year for 31 yards and a touchdown, and all of those came in UF’s win over Towson. Though he was playing behind Kyle Pitts and Kemore Gamble as a sophomore in 2020, he saw some more action when the former got hurt.

He played in 10 games at both tight end and on special teams, making 11 catches for 145 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught the first pass of the season against Ole Miss.

Now, Pitts is gone, and it will be down to Zipperer and Gamble as the only returning experienced tight ends to fill that void.

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Running back Nay’Quan Wright looks to build off impressive freshman season

Running back Nay’Quan Wright showed signs of potential both running the ball and as a receiver out of the backfield as a freshman in 2020.

Name: Nay’Quan Wright

Number: 6

Position: Running Back

Class: Redshirt Freshman

Height: 5’9″

Weight: 195 pounds

Hometown: Miami Gardens, Fla.

High School: Miami Carol City

Twitter: @B0SSMAN_5

2020 statistics:

ATT YDS AVG TD LNG REC YDS AVG TD LNG FUM LST
54 213 3.9 2 26 19 219 11.5 0 50 0 0

Overview:

Coming out of Miami, Wright was a four-star recruit and the No. 16 running back in the 2019 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite. He committed to coach Dan Mullen and the Gators in Nov. 2018, and he signed his National Letter of Intent the next month.

Wright entered a pretty deep running back room as a true freshman in 2019, and he saw very limited action as he eventually took a redshirt. He appeared in three games, taking 12 carries for 24 yards and making one four-yard reception.

As a redshirt freshman in 2020, Wright was once again a part of a loaded position group, but he managed to see the field a lot more. He played in nine games and finished third on the team in rushing with 54 carries for 213 yards and two touchdowns. He was also a factor in the receiving game, reeling in 19 catches for 219 yards.

With everyone returning at running back, Wright will likely see a similar role in 2021. But he demonstrated some skill, especially in the receiving game out of the backfield, and he should play a key part in UF’s offense next season.

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Linebacker Ventrell Miller returns for fifth season looking to lead UF defense

Ventrell Miller led the team in tackles as a redshirt junior, and he returns as one of UF’s most experienced defensive players.

Name: Ventrell Miller

Number: 52

Position: Linebacker

Class: Redshirt Junior

Height: 6’1″

Weight: 230 pounds

Hometown: Lakeland, Fla.

High School: Kathleen

Twitter: @ventrell_miller

2020 statistics:

TOT SOLO AST SACK FF FR YDS PD
86 52 34 3.5 0 1 0 3

Overview:

A three-star recruit coming out of Kathleen High School, Miller originally committed to and signed with former coach Jim McElwain in 2017, becoming a part of the Lakeland-to-Gainesville pipeline.

He had to wait until his second season on campus to see the field, though, as he spent the entire 2017 season suspended for his role in the credit card fraud incident. He finally rejoined the team in 2018, and he appeared in all 13 games playing on special teams and as a reserve linebacker, finishing with 15 tackles, a sack and a pick.

Miller’s role increased considerably as a redshirt sophomore in 2019. He appeared in 12 games and started 11 of them, eventually finishing second on the team in tackles with 55. He also had three sacks.

He entered his redshirt junior season in 2020 expected to be one of the leaders on defense, and though the unit as a whole struggled considerably, he had a solid season. He played in 11 of Florida’s 12 games, and he started 10 of them.

Miller led the team in tackles last season with 88 in addition to notching 3.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss (all career-highs). Though he certainly could have been selected in the 2021 NFL draft, he decided to return for a fifth season in Gainesville, where he should be one of the best players on defense.

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Running back Malik Davis hopes to close out Florida career on a positive note

Davis hasn’t been able to match the production from his freshman season, but he’ll hope that in Year 5 he can reach his full potential.

Name: Malik Davis

Number: 20

Position: Running Back

Class: Redshirt Junior

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 205 pounds

Hometown: Tampa, Fla.

High School: Jesuit

Twitter: @Campaign_Lik

2020 statistics:

ATT YDS AVG TD LNG REC YDS AVG TD LNG FUM LST
66 310 4.7 0 39 31 377 12.2 0 39 0 0

Overview:

A three-star recruit out of Tampa, Davis wasn’t expected to contribute much as a true freshman when he signed with former Gators coach Jim McElwain. But during his first year on campus on 2017, he was one of the lone bright spots in an anemic Florida offense. He played in seven games (and started two) before an injury ended his season, but he still managed to finish second on the team in rushing with 526 yards and two touchdowns on 79 carries.

He was expected to be a major part of the offense in 2018, but just three games into the season, he suffered another injury that ended his campaign, as he finished with just 61 yards on 13 carries. He took a medical redshirt for the season.

Davis returned healthy for the 2019 season, but he saw his role on the team diminish considerably. Florida didn’t run the ball much, and Davis found himself third on the depth chart behind Lamical Perine and Dameon Pierce. Despite appearing in 12 games, he only had 86 yards on 34 carries with a touchdown.

He slightly returned to form in 2020, though UF’s run game as a whole struggled once again. Davis played in all 12 games and started two of them, finishing with 310 yards on 66 carries, the most since his freshman season. He didn’t manage a touchdown, though.

Davis returns for his final season of eligibility as a redshirt senior in 2021, and though he’ll likely be playing behind Pierce (and will have to compete with former five-stars Lorenzo Lingard and Demarkcus Bowman, as well as Nay’Quan Wright for backup reps), he’ll try to maximize the potential he’s shown in flashes throughout his career.

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Dameon Pierce returns for senior year to lead Florida’s running back group

Pierce returns to Gainesville for his final season looking to lead a running back group that has been a bit of an afterthought.

Name: Dameon Pierce

Number: 27

Position: Running Back

Class: Junior

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 215 pounds

Hometown: Bainbridge, Ga.

High School: Bainbridge

Twitter: @IRep229

2020 statistics:

ATT YDS AVG TD LNG REC YDS AVG TD LNG FUM LST
106 503 4.7 4 38 17 156 9.2 1 35 0 0

Overview:

One of Florida’s most reliable running backs throughout his collegiate career, Pierce joined the Gators as a four-star recruit from Georgia in the 2018 recruiting class. He saw action right away as a true freshman, playing in all 13 games as a backup running back and special teams player. He finished with 69 carries for 424 yards and two touchdowns (in addition to a touchdown through the air).

As a sophomore in 2019, he was Florida’s No. 2 back behind senior Lamical Perine, but he saw his production dip a bit as he appeared in 12 games. He only had 54 carries on the season for 305 yards and a touchdown as UF’s entire run game struggled that season.

Entering his junior year in 2020, Pierce figured in as the Gators’ top back. He started 10 of Florida’s 12 games and appeared in all of them. The run game was a bit of an afterthought as quarterback Kyle Trask led a record-breaking passing offense, but Pierce finished as the leader among Gators backs with 503 yards and four touchdowns (plus another receiving touchdown).

Pierce elected to return to Florida for his senior season, and with Emory Jones taking over as starter, the run game will likely be a much bigger factor this season. And if the rushing attack takes a step forward, Pierce will be the biggest beneficiary in a talented backfield that has underproduced recently.

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Demarkcus Bowman joins Gators looking for new beginning

Former five-star Demarkcus Bowman transferred after just two games at Clemson. Now, he looks for a fresh start in Gainesville.

Name: Demarkcus Bowman

Number: 23

Position: Running Back

Class: Redshirt Freshman

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 190 pounds

Hometown: Lakeland, Fla.

High School: Lakeland

Twitter: @Bowman_22

2020 statistics:

ATT YDS AVG TD LNG REC YDS AVG TD LNG FUM LST
9 32 3.6 0 10 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0

Overview:

A five-star recruit from Lakeland and the No. 4 running back in the state of Florida coming out of high school, UF coach Dan Mullen made quite a run at the talented player coming out of high school, but he eventually committed to and signed with Clemson.

He appeared in two games as a freshman with the Tigers, totaling just 32 yards on nine carries before he made the surprising decision to transfer. He said the decision came after both of his grandfathers passed away and he wanted to be closer to home.

Now, Bowman joins a talented running back group, and Mullen gets the guy he wanted all along. The battle for carries is going to be fierce, as Bowman will have to compete with incumbents Dameon Pierce, Malik Davis and Nay’Quan Wright, as well as Lorenzo Lingard, another former five-star transfer who saw minimal action in 2020.

The Gators lose their star quarterback in Kyle Trask, and with likely new starter Emory Jones having a much more run-oriented skillset, Florida’s offense will likely focus much more heavily on the run game and the use of the quarterback option. Given Bowman’s talented, that could suit him nicely.

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Evan McPherson leaves as one of the most accomplished kickers in UF history

As the all-time leader in career field goal percentage for the SEC, McPherson could be one of the rare specialists selected in the draft.

Name: Evan McPherson

Number: 19

Position: Kicker

Class: Junior

Height: 6’1″

Weight: 185 pounds

Hometown: Fort Payne, Ala.

High School: Fort Payne

Twitter: @McPherson_Evan

2020 statistics:

FG% FG 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LNG XPM XPA PTS
77.3 17-22 0-0 4-4 7-7 2-4 4-7 55 52 52 103

Overview:

McPherson, the top kicker in the country in the 2018 recruiting class, originally committed to Dan Mullen at Mississippi State in April 2017. When Mullen left Starkville for the Florida job, McPherson’s commitment followed him. He flipped to the Gators on Dec. 10, 2017, and he started right away as the previous kicker Eddy Pineiro had left for the draft.

As a freshman, he went 17 of 19 on field-goal attempts and had a 3-of-4 mark from 40+ yards. He was 17 of 19 again as a sophomore in 2019, this time hitting 7 of 8 from over 40 (including a then career-long 50-yarder). He led the SEC in field goal percentage that season.

His percentage dipped a bit as a junior in 2020, as he hit just 17 of his 22 attempts. He was used more on long attempts, though, and he fared well, hitting 4 of 7 from over 50 yards. He drilled a career-long 55-yard field goal against Ole Miss in the season opener, which is the third-longest kick in school history. He scored 103 points on the year, which led the team.

McPherson made a bit of a surprising move in declaring for the 2021 NFL draft following his junior season. As the all-time leader in career field goal percentage for the SEC, McPherson could be one of the rare specialists selected in the draft.

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Florida’s Stone Forsythe was a mountain on the offensive line in 2020

After starting 28 games in four seasons, former Gators left tackle Stone Forsythe appears to have decided to move on to his next stop.

Name: Stone Forsythe

Number: 72

Position: Offensive Tackle

Class: Redshirt Senior

Height: 6’9″

Weight: 312 pounds

Hometown: Winter Garden, Fla.

High School: West Orange

Twitter: @stone_forsythe

Overview:

Stone Forsythe joined Florida’s 2016 recruiting class as just a three-star recruit and the No. 82 offensive tackle prospect in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite. But Stone’s size (officially listed by Florida as 6-foot-9-inches) made him an intriguing prospect, and former UF coach Jim McElwain locked up his commitment.

He redshirted his first year on campus in 2016, and in 2017, he didn’t appear until the final two games, starting both. His collegiate debut against UAB also marked his first career start.

Heading into his redshirt sophomore season in 2018, he served as a utility player on the offensive line. He appeared in all 13 games, starting the opener against Charleston Southern at right tackle. He saw action at both tackle and guard in 2018. The following season, he entered as Florida’s starter at left tackle. He played and started in all 13 games in 2019, contributing to an offense that ranked 16th in the nation in yards per play.

His final season in 2020, he once again started all 12 games. He provided blind-side protection for quarterback Kyle Trask, who finished as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Though he had the option to return to school for an additional year of eligibility, Forsythe is not listed on Florida’s spring roster, and it is presumable that he will be trying his hand at the draft.

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