Tag: Trevon Grimes

Revisiting Florida football’s 2018 recruiting class with The Athletic

Here’s what The Athletic thinks about Florida’s 2018 recruiting crop.

Once upon a time, Florida football was among the top destinations in the nation for college recruits, regularly bringing in some of the top classes back in the aughts. However, over the past decade since the departure of Urban Meyer, the program has been mired in a streak of mediocrity on the recruiting front that has permitted the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs to seize control of the Southeastern Conference.

Max Olsen at The Athletic recently took a look back at the top 25 recruiting classes of the 2018 cycle to reassess where he went right and wrong in his initial take four years ago. The Gators came in at No. 14 back then and, thanks in part to having the highest-picked tight end in NFL draft history along with some other solid professional talent, were bumped up to No. 13 in the update.

Utilizing a consistent scoring system based on a 0-to-5 scale, Olsen assessed scholarship players and walk-ons who earned scholarships based on their achievements over four years, rather than projecting what they could do in the future. Take a look at how things broke things down below.

Adjusted average: 2.67
Class rank in 2018: 14th
Four-year record: 35-16
Attrition: 50%

Top signees: TE [autotag]Kyle Pitts[/autotag], WR [autotag]Van Jefferson[/autotag], OL [autotag]Richard Gouraige[/autotag], K [autotag]Evan McPherson[/autotag], RB [autotag]Dameon Pierce[/autotag]

When Pitts made his decision in the summer of 2017, the four-star recruit announced his Florida pledge on a roller-coaster ride.

Three months later, the head coach to whom he committed was abruptly fired. [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag] replaced [autotag]Jim McElwain[/autotag] and Pitts stuck to his pledge. Fortunately, the future All-American and Pro Bowler was able to get off the ride before it got rough.

Mullen inherited Pitts, Gouraige, Pierce and some solid players in the class. He and his staff made some big splashes by flipping quarterback [autotag]Emory Jones[/autotag] away from Ohio State and upgrading at wide receiver with [autotag]Jacob Copeland[/autotag] and touted transfers Jefferson and [autotag]Trevon Grimes[/autotag].

They helped the program win a lot of games in their first three seasons together before the Gators slid in 2021. Ten members of the class ended up leaving the program, which is not uncommon for a transition class. But it’s probably worth noting that among the 2018 signees who’ve become full-time starters, only one (cornerback [autotag]Trey Dean III[/autotag]) plays on defense.

There were a lot of familiar names in that passage, several of whom were significant contributors to the team over the past few seasons. That the program could remain steady amidst the coaching turnover that season is a positive sign for Gators fans this season as their beloved Orange and Blue are currently facing the same challenge. A recruiting class like that in 2018 would be a solid first step for new head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and his staff.

[mm-video type=video id=01g3sq65b67sdvptkjw2 playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g3sq65b67sdvptkjw2/01g3sq65b67sdvptkjw2-197c62ebc9982f7edd4c3c0204fbd77d.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=84358,84337,84321,84318,84311]

[listicle id=84232]

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!

Eagles waive UDFA WR Trevon Grimes off of injured reserve with an injury settlement

Eagles waived UDFA WR Trevon Grimes off IR with an injury settlement

The future of Trevon Grimes is uncertain in the NFL, and it looks like his time in Philadelphia has come to an end.

According to NFL communications, the Eagles waived the undrafted free agent off of the injured reserve with an injury settlement of his partially guaranteed contract.

Grimes underwent a knee procedure in early June and the injury was not believed to be serious in nature.

[listicle id=649332]

[lawrence-related id=650543,650537,650532,650528,650525,650510]

Former Florida wide receiver Trevon Grimes placed on Eagles injured reserve

Trevon Grimes, an undrafted free agent, was waived from the Eagles Thursday and will be placed on injured reserve after he cleared waivers.

Many Florida fans were shocked when former Gators wide receiver Trevon Grimes went undrafted in the NFL draft. The Philadelphia Eagles then signed the Florida wideout as an undrafted free agent where he linked up with his old offensive coordinator Brian Johnson.

Philadelphia hired Johnson as its new quarterbacks coach who understood how talented Grimes was. However, Grimes’ dream to play in the NFL has suffered another setback.

He sustained a knee injury. The Eagles waived Grimes Thursday and after going unclaimed Philadelphia placed him on injured reserve.

Mike Kaye for NJ Advance Media reported that his injury does not seem to be serious.

[exco_embed id=”e5869bc6-faf6-4b7a-8c06-b5610c96a8fe”]

Grimes won’t count against the Eagles 90-man roster, and he’ll be a player to watch on their practice squad when he becomes fully healthy.

Entering college out of high school, the St. Thomas Aquinas product signed to play football at Ohio State. He then transferred back to his home state to UF in 2018.

He played three seasons with the Gators and recorded 97 catches for 1,444 yards and 14 touchdowns. His senior year Grimes shined despite being the clear third star in the passing game behind tight end Kyle Pitts and Kadarius Toney.

[lawrence-related id=44773,44712,44678,44647,44598]

[vertical-gallery id=35124]

Trevon Grimes placed on Eagles injured reserve after passing through waivers

Eagles place Trevon Grimes on IR after he passes through waivers

Trevon Grimes appears to have a future in Philadelphia after all and after being waived with a knee injury, the former Florida star will now revert to the Eagles injured reserve after going unclaimed through waivers.

Grimes won’t count against the Eagles 90-man roster and he could be a player to watch on the Eagles practice squad once he’s able to get himself fully healthy.

[listicle id=650282]

[lawrence-related id=650260,650266,650264,650254,650233,650230]

First Look: DeVonta Smith at Eagles’ rookie minicamp

DeVonta Smith looking smooth at Eagles’ rookie minicamp

The Eagles have a new number one wide receiver on the roster and Nick Sirianni got his first taste of DeVonta Smith on the outside and the Heisman Trophy winner looks as smooth as advertised.

Former Gators receiver Trevon Grimes signs with Eagles as UDFA

The former Gators receiver went undrafted this weekend, but he reached a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles as a UDFA.

It was quite a bit of a surprise when Florida receiver Trevon Grimes went unselected during this weekend’s 2021 NFL draft. A former five-star recruit who played two seasons at Florida after transferring from Ohio State, Grimes elected not to use his extra season of eligibility hoping to be a mid-round pick in the draft.

But now, the UF standout has landed on a roster, signing a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent. With the Eagles, he will be reunited with his former offensive coordinator in Brian Johnson, who is now Philly’s quarterback coach.

Grimes’ production was a bit limited as a senior despite Florida’s success in the passing game, as the play of guys like Kadarius Toney and Kyle Pitts overshadowed him a bit. Still, he finished the year with 589 yards and nine touchdowns.

[lawrence-related id=41906]

Philadelphia is a team that still could use some help at the receiver spot despite using a first-round pick on Alabama‘s Devonta Smith. Grimes is a big-bodied receiver with good ball skills, and the Eagles could use someone like him.

Though making the roster as an undrafted guy is always an uphill battle, Grimes seems to have a pretty good chance.

[lawrence-related id=42040,41985,41971,41952,41944,41930,41867,41786,41764]

[listicle id=42050]

[listicle id=41742]

A look at the winners and losers among former Gators in the 2021 NFL draft

For some former Florida football players, the draft couldn’t have gone better. But for others, it was a very disappointing affair.

The 2021 NFL draft is fully in the books, and the months of reading mock drafts and attempting to predict the whims of fickle talent evaluators and executives have finally reached their close.

When the dust settled, Florida had eight players selected in the draft (its most since 2016). For some former UF athletes, the draft couldn’t have gone better. But for others, it was a major disappointment.

Let’s make something very clear right here: There is no one who woke up this morning on an NFL roster that is a “loser.” Whether you were an undrafted signing, a late-round pick or the first-overall pick, you’ve joined one of the most exclusive clubs on the planet.

But there’s more to the draft than just good feelings and the culmination of years of hard work. There’s a good amount of strategy and game theory involved, as well, and sometimes betting on yourself doesn’t pay off.

With that in mind, here are the winners and losers from the draft for Florida.

Former Ohio State and Florida receiver signs with Philadelphia Eagles

Former Ohio State Buckeye, Trevon Grimes was snatched up by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent.

The 2021 NFL draft is now completed and there is a mad dash fury to sign the best of the rest of the undrafted free agent pile. The Ohio State football program had an impressive amount of prospects get selected, but there were a few that went undrafted.

Former highly regarded recruit, Trevon Grimes, went undrafted but was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles immediately following the draft. The contract details are not released, but all signs point towards Grimes being there day one in training camp.

Grimes was only with the Ohio State program a short time as he failed to see much action and eventually transferred to Florida. Grimes had an explosive 2020 season, but was not selected during the draft.

Here’s where every former Gator lands in CBS Sports’ updated seven-round mock draft

Nine former Florida players are projected to be selected in this CBS Sports seven-round mock draft. Here’s where they each end up.

The 2020 season may have been the worst of the Dan Mullen era on paper, as the Gators went 8-4 in the shortened season. But that’s a bit deceiving; the team played an entirely SEC schedule, and Florida won the SEC East for the first time since 2016.

It was six points away from a potential College Football Playoff berth in the SEC Championship against Alabama, and the team that came closest to knocking off the national champion Crimson Tide is projected to put a good number of players into the NFL at the draft later this month.

At the top of the draft, tight end Kyle Pitts and receiver Kadarius Toney are projected as first-round picks and expected to end UF’s 10-year drought of offensive skill position players taken in the first round. But beyond that, projections are much more fluid.

This mock draft from CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards is favorable toward a number of Florida players considered fringe draft prospects. Here’s where each of them end up in this projection.

Here’s where each former Gator lands in CBS Sports’ seven-round mock

Florida hasn’t had an offensive skill position player drafted in the first round since Tebow in 2010 but that’s likely to change this year.

After only having five players drafted in 2019 (and no first-round picks for the first time since 2012), the Gators had seven players selected in last year’s draft, including cornerback C.J. Henderson, who went in the top 10.

UF’s 8-4 record in 2020 can be a bit deceiving, as it took a major leap forward on offense despite closing the season on a three-game losing streak. Florida was very productive this season, as quarterback Kyle Trask had a record-setting season, in large part thanks to the play of his supporting cast like tight end Kyle Pitts and receiver Kadarius Toney.

Some of the stars from that team are projected to go early in this month’s NFL draft. Florida hasn’t had an offensive skill position player drafted in the first round since Tim Tebow in 2010, but that seems bound to change this year. Here’s where each Florida prospect lands in the CBS Sports seven-round mock draft, which has the team matching its seven players drafted from last year.