Tag: Rocco Underwood

Florida’s long snapper enters transfer portal

Long snapper Marco Ortiz is the most recent Florida Gator to enter the transfer portal, per reports.

There figured to be some turnover after the first year of the [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] era in Gainesville, but the dominos are beginning to fall a bit earlier than expected for the Florida Gators. On Wednesday, long snapper [autotag]Marco Ortiz[/autotag] became the second player to announce his midseason decision to enter the transfer portal, according to Gators Online.

Last week, offensive lineman [autotag]Josh Braun[/autotag] stepped away from the team with intentions to enter the portal on Dec.  5, when he’ll have earned his degree from UF. Ortiz’s situation is a bit different. As a fifth-year redshirt junior who was put on scholarship during the 2021 season, Ortiz already has his bachelor’s degree in health education. That means he can enter the portal immediately and search for a new home without delay.

Ortiz started the year off as Florida’s starting long snapper after winning the job a year ago, but the staff has included him on the weekly injury report since the season opener. A medical waiver could grant him another year of eligibility, but he has at least one more year in college unless he opts to go pro like his brother.

Redshirt freshman [autotag]Rocco Underwood[/autotag] will continue to serve as Florida’s long snapper with Ortiz’s season effectively finished. Underwood signed in 2020 as one of the nation’s top long snappers and made his debut against UCF in the Gasparilla Bowl last season.

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Florida updates depth chart ahead of Week 2 matchup with Kentucky

Florida’s week two depth chart looks pretty similar to what Billy Napier submitted ahead of the Utah game, but there are a few key changes that could make a difference on Saturday.

Florida football released its Week 2 depth chart on Wednesday, and [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] has made very few changes following an upset win over then No. 7 Utah.

Long snapper [autotag]Marco Ortiz[/autotag] joined the injury report this week and is one of five Gators out for Saturday’s contest against Kentucky. Replacing him is [autotag]Rocco Underwood[/autotag], and [autotag]Chase Whitfield[/autotag] is the backup. Other than that, Florida stayed relatively healthy through week one and returns all offensive and defensive starters for Week 2.

The one addition to the depth chart is running back [autotag]Lorenzo Lingard[/autotag] in the fourth-string spot behind [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright[/autotag], [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag]. He didn’t receive a carry after being left off the Week 1 chart, but was back in the gym the night of the victory. This could be a sign that he’ll be in the mix this week against the Wildcats.

Another minor change worth noting is [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] has lone possession of the starting slot receiver spot. [autotag]Trent Whittemore[/autotag] previously received an “OR” designation, but Pearsall was Richardson’s favorite target in Week 1 and is the clear No. 1 there.

Cornerback [autotag]Jaydon Hill[/autotag] could be coming off the injury report in the next few weeks. Napier said he returned to practice and is expected to be back soon.

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2021 Gators Football Recruiting Profile: Rocco Underwood

This is a prospect player profile for long snapper Rocco Underwood of the Florida Gators football recruiting class of 2021.

Name: Jonathan Rocco Underwood

Position: Long Snapper

Height: 6’4″

Weight: 220 lbs

Hometown: Lake Mary, Fla.

High School: Lake Mary High School

Twitter: @rocco_4015

247Sports Composite: ⭐⭐⭐

Rivals.com: ⭐⭐

Overview:

While he does not possess the high-notoriety or name recognition of classmates Trevonte Rucker and Tyreak Sapp, Underwood is one of the more important commits in Florida’s 2021 class.

Special teams represent one-third of a football game and, simply, Underwood is one of the best in the business. The Rubio Long Snapping camp, America’s longest-running camp at the position, ran by former UCLA Bruin Chris Rubio, ranked him the No. 1 prospect in the class.

“Underwood was on fire at the Rubio Long Snapping Fall Camp in Georgia on November 24, 2019,” the company said in their breakdown.

“He ended up winning the whole camp and left no doubt he is the top long snapper (in the class). His size is fantastic, he moves well on his feet and his snapping motion is so smooth that it doesn’t even look like he is doing anything.

“The more he continues to finish his follow through, the more he simply will not miss his target. Ball is ready right now for the next level. Underwood is a flat out stud.”

The 14th in-state commit out of the Gators’ 22 in the class, Underwood plays his prep football for the Lake Mary Rams, located about 130 miles southeast of Gainesville. He also plays tight end on the high school gridiron, which is where 247Sports lists him positionally.

Underwood chose to pledge to running backs coach Greg Knox and tight ends coach Tim Brewster over offers from the Alabama Crimson Tide and Arkansas Razorbacks, plus three Group of Five schools.

Exemplifying the type of young man Florida has placed an emphasis on recruiting since Dan Mullen assumed control, he also excels in the classroom, owning a 3.9 grade point average.

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One of the top long snappers in the 2021 class Rocco Underwood commits to Florida

The Rubio Long Snapping Camp, the nation’s longest-running long snapping camp rates Underwood as a five-star prospect at the position.

The program’s fourth commit in a one-week span and their second of the day, the Florida Gators added Lake Mary long snapper Rocco Underwood to their 2021 class on July 24.

Underwood broke the news on his Twitter account.

The Rubio Long Snapping Camp, the nation’s longest-running long snapping camp, run by former UCLA Bruin Chris Rubio, rates Underwood as a five-star prospect at the position.

“Underwood was on fire at the Rubio Long Snapping Fall Camp in Georgia on November 24, 2019,” the camp’s website, rubiolongsnapping.com, began in their prospect breakdown.

“He ended up winning the whole camp and left no doubt he is the top long snapper (in) his class. His size is fantastic, he moves well on his feet and his snapping motion is so smooth that it doesn’t even look like he is doing anything.

“The more he continues his follow through, the more he simply will not miss his target. Ball is ready right now for the next level. Underwood is a flat out stud.”

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, the long snapper also held offers from two other Southeastern Conference (SEC) programs, the Alabama Crimson Tide and Arkansas Razorbacks, but chose to pledge his allegiance to running backs coach Greg Knox, tight ends coach Tim Brewster and the Gators.

Using the 247Sports Composite, which lists Underwood as a tight end, he is the lowest-rated of Florida’s 22 current commits in the upcoming class. Given he does not project to contribute in the receiving game in Gainesville, not much stock should be put in this ranking.

Head coach Dan Mullen’s staff has placed an emphasis on securing in-state talent in the 2021 cycle, as 14 (64-percent) of the commits hail from the Sunshine State.

While sometimes overlooked by fans, games are often won and lost on special teams. By snagging one of, if not the top, long snapper in the class, the Gators took a step toward improving this third of the game moving forward on Friday.

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