The end of the NFL lockout sent the league into a frenzy Monday evening as teams were officially allowed to contact and agree to contracts with undrafted free agents who were not selected in the 2011 NFL Draft. With only four Florida Gators picked in the seven-round draft back in April, a number of well-known players remained available heading into one of the most questionable offseasons in pro football history.

With contracts now being signed as names continue to roll in, a number of former Gators have already been picked up to join NFL squads this year.

Everything started Monday evening as linebacker Duke Lemmens chose to stay out west and play for the Arizona Cardinals, defensive tackle Terron Sanders got a call from the Baltimore Ravens, and running back Emmanuel Moody decided to join 2010 undrafted free agent wide receiver David Nelson with the Buffalo Bills.

On Tuesday, punter Chas Henry chose to team up with wide receiver Riley Cooper and tight end Cornelius Ingram on the Philadelphia Eagles, defensive end Justin Trattou decided to play close to home with the New York Giants, and offensive lineman Carl Johnson joined up with DE Alex Brown on the New Orleans Saints.

Wednesday brought two more signings as LB A.J. Jones found a spot with the Denver Broncos and LB Brandon Hicks [unconfirmed] signed with the Bills. Jones joins quarterback Tim Tebow in Denver, while Hicks teams up with Moody and Nelson in Buffalo.

Safety Will Hill was originally reported to have agreed to a deal with the Washington Redskins; however, it surfaced Tuesday that those reports were premature and the two sides have not spoken about a contract.

OGGOA spoke with Sanders early Tuesday morning, and he related to us that former Florida defensive coordinator now Baltimore defensive backs coach Teryl Austin had a lot to do with him getting this opportunity with a top-tier franchise.

“Coach Austin, he’s up there now, and he put in a good word for me and told them that I can plug the hole and knock people back,” Sanders said. “He convinced them to take a shot at me. They called my agent, my agent called me and asked me if I’d be interested in going to Baltimore. I told them, ‘Yeah,’ and the deal is done.”

Though he has been hoping the lockout would end and has been keeping in shape, Sanders also kept himself busy with a regular job until his future was known.

“I haven’t put on a pair of shoulder pads in a while,” he said. “I’ve been working out, doing some running, and I started working at U-Haul about two weeks ago just to get some money in my pocket until this was decided.”

Other players who could be signed include WR Carl Moore and defensive lineman Brandon Antwine and Lawrence Marsh.

OGGOA will update this post as additional signings are announced.

» With the NFL lockout now in the books, the Florida Gators four selections in the 2011 NFL Draft will be reporting to work for the first time on Thursday. Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey (first round, No. 15), Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Marcus Gilbert (second round, No. 63), Tampa Bay Buccaneers strong safety Ahmad Black (fifth round, No. 151 and Washington Redskins guard Maurice Hurt (seventh round, No. 217 are all on teams who will be eligible to workout immediately.

» While that foursome is ready and raring to go, Florida also has a number of undrafted free agents hoping to be picked up by teams looking to supplement their roster. Among those available are defensive linemen Terron Sanders and Justin Trattou, running back Emmanuel Moody and wide receiver Carl Moore. OGGOA will update you if and when these players are picked up by teams.

» The WNBA held its 2011 All-Star game over the weekend and also announced its Top 15 Players of All Time at the event. Though she was nominated and up for selection to the list, former Gators forward DeLisha Milton-Jones was not picked by fans for the honor. The six-time champion (two Olympic gold medals, two WNBA titles, two Euroleague titles) is currently averaging 12.5 points and 5.1 rebounds in 26.6 minutes per game with the Los Angeles Sparks.

There are 11 more Gator Bites including updates on Calathes, UF-FSU, Beal, Alvarez, Wambach, LeCount, ultimate Frisbee and Bostic…after the break!

» Competing in the 2011 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships over the weekend in Miramar, FL, Florida sophomore hurdler Eddie Lovett set an event record in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.14 seconds. He was one of three Gators to win (and one of four to place) at the Pan Am Games with sophomore runner Cory McGee also winning the women’s 1,500-meters in 4:35.46 and sophomore sprinter Ebony Eutsey taking a gold as part of the women’s 4×400-meter relay team (3:34.71).

» Former Florida point guard Nick Calathes, currently playing for Panathinaikos in Greece as well as the Greek National Team, will miss the EuroBasket event in Lithuania after fracturing his right ankle while working out back home in the United States. “The doctors told me that in three to four weeks, I’d be ready,” he told FIBA.com. “I am working hard to be able to come back and help the national team.”

» Gators sophomore forward Will Yeguete claimed a bronze medal as part of France’s U20 time at the 2011 FIBA European Championships on Monday. Yeguete, who averaged 6.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in nine contests with France, had two of his best games in the quarterfinals and semifinals where he posted totals of 13 points, six rebounds and 10 points, nine rebounds, respectively. His team was undefeated until the semifinals, and he earned plenty of praise for his outstanding defense throughout the tournament. “Playing for the French national team is something I didn’t have a chance to do before and coming here is a big excitement for me,” he told FIBA.com. “I wasn’t fortunate to be part of the team in the last years, but I joined the squad in late April and since then we practiced together and it’s such a great group of guys we have here, that it made me feel even more excited about this opportunity.”

» On the air with Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel, Florida State Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher once again said that he would ideally like to move his clash with UF to the beginning of the season. “I love the end-of-the-year game, it’s not that,” he said. “It’s just that you’ve got conference championship games now and you’re playing your biggest rival in an emotional game (the week before). […] That’s a tough thing for both schools to do.” Florida holds a 6-1 record against Florida State since 2004 and is 7-4 against them this century.

» The Gators are stacked at guard heading into the 2011-12 basketball season, something head coach Billy Donovan is undoubtedly aware of. Speaking with Yahoo! Sports’ Jason King recently, he related some thoughts about his team’s make-up and composition heading into next year. “It’s a great situation to have,” Donovan said of his talented group of guards, “but I realize there are a lot of people out there saying, ‘OK, how is this going to work?’ [...] There may even be times when all four of them are on the court together. What’s encouraging is that their chemistry is good. They really have a desire to make each other better.” As far as how five-star incoming freshman Brad Beal will fit in? “Our guys already know Brad Beal is a good player,” he said. “The way a freshman earns respect from veterans is by working hard every day and leaving the high school stuff behind. [...] Brad really understands that part of it. I think he’s coming in with a great deal of humility.”

» Former Florida wide receiver Carlos Alvarez is still accepting the fact that he was named a first-ballot entry into the College Football Hall of Fame as announced in May. Always humble and gracious, he explained his thoughts on the matter in an interview with the Miami Herald. “I’m not known for being out of words when I speak, but when I was told about it, I really was speechless. Truly so,” Alvarez said. “It’s quite a moment for me and my family, especially when I think back to the sacrifices that my family made to get me here. It is an emotional thing for me.” He also praised a former teammate who he said is the reason for much of his success. “When all is said and done, I wouldn’t be here without John Reaves,” he said. “My name and his name are forever tied.”

» Fresh off an impressive performance in the 2011 Women’s World Cup, former Gators striker Abby Wambach returned to the United States and, after a bit of fanfare, rejoined her Women’s Professional Soccer team, magicJack. Wambach, a starting striker for the club, will also spend the remainder of the season as the team’s coach after the squad lost their original coach and his replacement due to resignation and suspension, respectively. Read more about Wambach’s promotion to player-coach at ESPNW.com.

» Once a quarterback at Florida, Terry LeCount spent his career in the NFL as a wide receiver with the Minnesota Vikings. After only six years in the league, LeCount ended his career early after getting involved with and becoming addicted to cocaine and alcohol. For the last seven years, LeCount has been working as a paraprofessional, assisting a kindergarten teacher as an educator for special children. The Florida Times-Union recently sat down with LeCount, who was happy to talk about his new life while recognizing the mistakes he made previously. “I never fulfilled my NFL potential,” he said. “I could have played 15 years if I hadn’t done [drugs]. I got caught up doing the wrong thing. […] I’ve been through a lost time, but that’s also helped me reach some kids as a para pro. You never know who you’re going to reach, but you’re touching somebody. When I leave this earth, the biggest thing I can say is someone is going to take what I said and make a difference.”

» Gators two-time national champion ultimate Frisbee player Brodie Smith has been compiling a number of impressive trick shot videos that are making their rounds on YouTube and drawing rave reviews. A friend of OGGOA, Smith sent over some shorts for our readers to check out. View them here and here, and you can also check out some highlights from his successful career here.

» Former Florida Hall of Fame basketball player Dan Cross and his company Athlete Connections will be hosting an All Fundamentals Camp at Florida Gym from Aug. 2-5. Designed for kids in grades 3-10, it is packed with indispensable teachings from an entire staff that will help campers work on dribbling, shooting, passing, teamwork, respect, discipline, leadership, agility, footwork and more. Registration is $185 (spaces are limited) and there is also a parent-camper day on Friday so adults can see how much their kids and teens have improved throughout the course of the vent. For more information or to register for the event, please click here.

» Gators junior linebacker Jon Bostic participated in a podcast with CBSSports.com and spoke about both the 2010 season and upcoming 2011 season. Listen to it below:

As fans of the 32 NFL teams look on nationwide, those supporting Florida’s players may not be as excited about the event this time around considering there will be a significant drop-off from the nation-leading nine players that were selected in 2010 (including a school-record three in the first round and six in the first two rounds).

Few things are certain when it comes to the NFL Draft – trades can occur at any moment and each team views its most pressing needs and what each player brings to the table differently than analysts and commentators do. Rather than try to predict the unknown variables and tell you what could happen, we will stick with what likely will happen.

» Center/guard Mike Pouncey will be the only first-round pick, selected before his brother was and headed to one of five teams.

Unless a team decides that they desperately need a center and plans to trade into the top half of the first round in order to jump a handful of other teams, Pouncey will likely be headed to either the Miami Dolphins (15) or New York Giants (19) at their respective draft slots or to one of three teams that would have to trade down/up for him: Dallas Cowboys (9), Chicago Bears (29) or Pittsburgh Steelers (31). The top-rated interior lineman in the draft, Pouncey continues to garner high praise and has plenty of teams around the league looking in his direction.

» Florida will not have another player selected until at least the third round.

There was talk for a while that tackle Marcus Gilbert may be moving into the category of a late second-round selection but that has died down recently. However, he is the only player on the team who has actually climbed up draft boards since the season ended. His size is undeniable and scouts were impressed with his agility and strength. Gilbert projects as either a right tackle or guard in the NFL with many scouts believing he might perform better in the latter position. He will likely be selected sometime in the third round and may very well be one of only two Gators picked in the first two days of the draft.

Click to expand and read the remainder of this post.

1 » Rutgers Scarlet Knights sophomore quarterback Tom Savage, who decided to transfer after the season when head coach Greg Schiano permanently gave his starting job to freshman Chas Dodd, will be allowed to pursue opportunities with the Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes, according to ESPN’s Joe Schad. Schiano had previously blocked Savage from speaking with Florida and Miami. It appears as if Savage is primarily interested in joining the Hurricanes, though the Gators could be an option for him should Miami sign a QB in their 2011 recruiting class. Considering four-star QB recruit Jacoby Brissett (West Palm Beach, FL) is also considering UF and UM (in addition to Wisconsin and Washington), his decision to go to one school or the other could, theoretically, dictate where Savage winds up.

Starting all but one game in 2009, Savage threw for 2,211 yards, 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 52.3 percent of his passes. He also started Rutgers’ first three games of the 2010 season and finished the year with 521 yards, two TDs and three INTs along with a 51.8 completion percentage. Why did Schiano change his mind? Savage’s grandparents live in South Florida, hence the reason he is interested in attending college in the stat.e “I have a better understanding of his reasons for wanting to contact those schools after speaking with him,” Schiano told the Newark Star-Ledger. “Because of my relationship with Tom and everything he has meant to the program I have given him permission to contact the University of Miami and Florida.”

2 » After having a pin taken out of his injured thumb, Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah had a cast removed from his hand on Monday and will begin non-contact drills on Tuesday, ESPNChicago.com reports. “I just want to come back as soon as possible,” Noah said. “As soon as my hand is healthy, I want to be back there, regardless of what game it is.” He will begin traveling with the team this week and hopes to be active after the NBA All-Star break. “He’ll start the non-contact part of practice, and from there once he clears that he can practice with contact,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Once he practices with contact then he’ll be able to play. He’s still pretty much on schedule. He’s probably, the way we’re looking at it right now, right after the All-Star break.”

3 » According to the Austin American-Statesman, Texas Longhorns head coach Mack Brown was planning on hiring none other than new Florida offensive coordinator Charlie Weis for the same position prior to then-defensive coordinator Will Muschamp taking the Gators head coaching job. The paper notes that two sources believe Weis-to-Texas was “all but considered a done deal” until Muschamp took the Florida gig.

4 » Two former Gators – wide receiver Carl Moore and defensive lineman Brandon Antwine – will be participating in the 2011 Dixie Grid Iron Classic on Saturday at noon. The event, which like many of its kind allow graduating seniors the opportunity to showcase their talents for NFL scouts, is mostly made up of players from western states.

SENIOR BOWL PARTICIPANTS

A source close to the players told OGGOA on Saturday that senior safety Ahmad Black, senior center/guard Mike Pouncey and redshirt senior offensive lineman Marcus Gilbert will all participate in the 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl.

UPDATE: When rosters were officially announced on Sunday, punter/kicker Chas Henry has also accepted an invitation to play on Jan. 29.

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Tim Tebow – the No. 25 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft – and Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper both participated in the game last year.

JUNIORS DECLARING FOR THE DRAFT

Though nothing has been officially confirmed, most close to the program believe junior cornerback Janoris Jenkins will indeed declare for the 2011 NFL Draft. Jenkins, considered to be one of the top three defensive backs (cornerbacks and safeties) available, is projected as a first round pick even though he is coming off surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder (an injury he played with most of the season).

Also expected to declare is junior S Will Hill, who was projected to be a high pick before the season but has failed to live up to the expectations of both analysts and fans. ESPN grades Hill out as a 68 in its “draftable defensive backs” projections, eight points below Black (76) and 24 under Jenkins (92). In addition to his on-the-field problems, Hill is believed to have a poor attitude off the field and has been disciplined numerous times this past season. People he has spoken with personally have been told he will not be returning to Florida for his senior year.

WALKING OFF THE FIELD BEFORE CELEBRATING

Though a number of the Gators’ injured players – including those who were hurt during the game – remained on the field to celebrate after Florida’s 37-24 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions, a few healthy players ran directly into the locker room instead. Hill, redshirt senior wide receivers Carl Moore and Justin Williams and redshirt freshman WR Andre Debose all hurried off the field. Though Hill is likely to declare for the draft and both Moore and Williams are leaving/graduating, Debose’s departure was curious.

Checking in on Debose, OGGOA has learned that he has been quite disappointed with his time at UF thus far, a feeling that is not surprising considering he missed his first season due to injury and was only used sparingly in 2010 as a kick returner even though he showed explosive ability and the Gators struggled offensively. A source close to the team told us that Debose does not practice nearly as hard as the other young receivers and truly does not have a full grasp of the playbook, something head coach Urban Meyer noted early in the season. Not to make a mountain out of a mole hill – Debose simply could have been exhausted or sick or feeling down after being benched due to muffing two kickoffs – his exit from the field so suddenly is worth noting.

With a new coaching staff coming in and the ability to get a fresh start with an offensive coordinator and position coach, Debose may be getting exactly what he needs.

TWO OTHER CURRENT COACHES ARE GONE

In addition to offensive coordinator Steve Addazio and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin moving on, the Palm Beach Post has confirmed that co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach Chuck Heater (surprisingly) and wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni (not surprisingly) will not be retained. “I will not be back next year,” Heater told the paper. With reports that Florida has hired former player Aubrey Hill as their new WR coach, Azzanni’s departure is not as much of a shock as Heater’s.

QUARTERBACKING YOUR 2011 GATORS IS…

Perhaps the most important position on the field – quarterback – is the Gators biggest question from a personnel perspective going into next season. Though redshirt freshman QB Jordan Reed said he was perfectly fine with moving to tight end to start the season, he has showed some ability behind center and may hope to get that opportunity in a spread offense elsewhere. Redshirt junior QB John Brantley, who has publicly acknowledged he is considering transferring, will have a pro-style offense in place at Florida should he choose to stay. Their decisions could be independent or related depending what Muschamp has to say and what Brantley’s family helps him decide.

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LONG LIST OF INJURY UPDATES

Though even more Florida players are currently dealing with injuries, Meyer updated the status of a number of guys. Redshirt freshman wide receiver Andre Debose (ankle), redshirt sophomore cornerback Jeremy Brown (hamstring) and redshirt senior linebacker A.J. Jones are all listed as probable for Saturday. Freshman defensive tackle Dominique Easley (ankle) is questionable and redshirt sophomore defensive end Earl Okine (concussion) is doubtful. Florida should receive preliminary word on junior CB Janoris Jenkins’ status on Monday after he suffered what was initially deemed a minor concussion over the weekend.

Meyer also noted that the Gators are indeed seeking a medical hardship waiver for kicker Caleb Sturgis, who has already missed seven games this year with a back injury. If it is granted, Sturgis will enter next season as a redshirt junior.

CHAMPIONS

Meyer announced Monday that 19 Gators had earned the designation of Champions after Saturday’s win over the Appalachian State Mountaineers. Offensively, Meyer named senior center Mike Pouncey as his player of the game along with redshirt senior tackle Marcus Gilbert, redshirt senior T Maurice Hurt, redshirt senior guard Carl Johnson, redshirt junior quarterback John Brantley, sophomore running back Mike Gillislee, redshirt junior fullback Steven Wilks, redshirt freshman G Jon Halapio, redshirt junior WR Chris Rainey, redshirt freshman tight end Jordan Reed, redshirt sophomore WR Frankie Hammond, Jr., redshirt junior WR Deonte Thompson and freshman QB Trey Burton as his champions. On the defensive side of the ball, senior LB Brandon Hicks won the POG award, while senior safety Ahmad Black, redshirt junior CB Moses Jenkins, senior DE Duke Lemmens, redshirt senior DT Terron Sanders and freshman DT Sharrif Floyd were champions.

NO MORE PUNISHMENT FOR MOORE

Redshirt senior WR Carl Moore was ejected from Saturday’s game after retaliating during a fight with an opposing player. Meyer said Monday that Florida would not impose another penalty on the player seeing as the standard punishment is missing half of a game and he has already done that. “I had a meeting with him yesterday. We don’t do that, and I’m going to reemphasize that with the team,” Meyer said. The NCAA also decided not to pursue the issue further.

HELPING BRANTLEY IMPROVE

Asked how Brantley needs to improve from this point forward as a quarterback, Meyer said his two biggest issues are getting rid of the ball quickly and knowing when to “burn it” when being blitzed or having no open men downfield. Meyer cited the fact that Brantley being sacked causing a 2nd and 17 puts the Gators in a deeper hole than a simple incompletion on 2nd and 10 would.

He also noted, like he has previously this year, that Brantley (as a dropback passer) needs a strong, big running back and solid tight end play to compliment him. “When you have a quarterback like that, he’s got to be able to hand the ball off. It’s nothing new – it’s been like that for 100 years,” Meyer said. “When you’re limited at tight end and you’re limited at fullback [and you don’t have a big running back], you’re in quicksand. Hand the ball off – play action pass – and then utilize the dropback passing game.”

QUOTES (After the break…)

On Florida State QB Christian Ponder: “This guy’s a tough cat. He’s athletic; he throws the ball very well.”

On if this is a must-win like vs. FSU in 2005: “Sure. Sure.”

On UF-FSU in the 1990s: “Both of them were the fastest teams in college football. Everybody watched that game. You wouldn’t miss it – a lot like the Florida-Georgia game.”

On this game being significant for recruiting: “That’s absolutely correct. The last two years we have kind of done well, but make no mistake about it the quality of athlete on that team is as good as any in the country. They get theirs, we get ours and there’s a lot of guys on the fence right now.”

On senior DT Gary Beemer using the word “progenitor“ in his press conference: “That’s why I gave him the ball.”

On the second-team offensive line’s play: “We out-manned them. I watched very little of it to be quite frank with you. I think we got some young linemen.”

On all seven of Florida’s touchdowns coming when a dual-threat QB/multiple QB system was used: “I guess we got to get some dual threat quarterback in here. I think that threat is real, especially the quality player that they are and the threat that they give you. That’s interesting.”

On using the “rivalry” edge when motivating the team this week: “It’s all team-to-team. I just go back to the ’08 team, the ’08 team didn’t need to be told it was a rivalry. The ’08 team was executing at an extremely high level, so the focus was on executing at an extremely high level. […] This one’s a little different. We’re obviously not executing at an extremely high level. So we may need to focus more on the rivalry than other [times] with the young guys.”

On the priority of improving kickoff hang time and distance: “1A or 1B. You’re trying to get four-second hang time between the five yard line and the goal line, and we’re nowhere near that.”

BLACK AND POUNCEY REDUCED MEYER TO A “WHIMPER”

After watching his seniors put on a stellar performance as a class on Saturday, head coach Urban Meyer gushed about two guys in particular – safety Ahmad Black and center Mike Pouncey.

“You [go] start-to-finish with guys; you see the growth not only as football players,” Meyer said after the game. “Ahmad – I have never been around a football player that has made such a progress from day one until day four years later. He’s the best strong safety in college… I can’t say that because I don’t know all of them, but if I had my draft pick of a strong safety, I’m taking Ahmad Black.

“And then Mike Pouncey – him and his brother and I saw his mom break down before the game crying – what those two meant for this program… To think there’s not going to be a Pouncey playing for us next year, that’s real hard to deal with right now.”
Asked after the game if he cried like his players did when they came out of the tunnel before the contest, Meyer tried to act tough but then let down his guard. “I don’t use the word ‘cry’ – that’s soft,” he said. “Whimper? Eye moisture and whimper. [Does] ‘whimper’ sound tough enough? Balled my eyes off then. I was emotional, those are good guys.”

MEYER RECOGNIZES THAT DEFENSE IS STILL STRUGGLING

Though Florida’s defense had a decent day, Meyer continues to notice that it is not playing near the level it did the last two seasons. “I think we could have played better, I really do. I think they played well, but there’s a style of play that’s been a tradition set way before these guys and that is just dominant changing-line-of-scrimmage defense,” he said. “I think we’ll get there eventually; we’re not there right now.”

TAKING BACK GIVING UP THE SWAMP

When Meyer took over in 2005, two of his main goals were dominating the Gators’ natural rivals and reclaiming The Swamp as a land of dominance. Though Meyer is 2-0 (and going for 3-0) against Florida’s traditional rivals this season, his team had previously lost three-straight games at home. “Awful. It’s not back. We’re going to work all offseason to get that thing back. It’s not,” Meyer said. “To say you’re going to go beat Appalachian State and say you got homefield advantage [back], that’s something… We beat it into them when we first got here and we’re going to re-beat… We lost more games [at home] I believe this year than we did the whole previous five years. That’s absolutely unacceptable. That will be a major discussion in the offseason.”

HIS NAME IS GARY…GARY BEEMER

A redshirt senior walk-on who has been specializing in defensive end on the Gators’ practice team, Gary Beemer is a player who may be unknown to most coaches. Not Meyer, who went out of his way to make sure he scored a touchdown on Senior Day. “Gary Beemer is one of my favorite players on our team,” he said. “He’s a guy that is about as unselfish a guy as you’re going to get. Our players love him because he goes every day. He’s going to go into a career of coaching. I grabbed him in the third quarter and said, ‘If we get close enough, I’d like to hand you the ball.’ We did that to Javier [Estopinan] a couple of years ago – just out of respect for the kid.”

INJURY UPDATES

» Redshirt freshman WR Andre Debose – ankle – tweaked it before the game warming up, held out as a precaution; should be ready next week
» Redshirt sophomore cornerback Jeremy Brown – hamstring – pulled it earlier in the week and was held out; should be ready next week
» Junior CB Janoris Jenkins – concussion – suffered a “slight” concussion during the game and was held out from that point forward; should be ready next week
» Redshirt sophomore defensive end Earl Okine – concussion – suffered one during the game; next week’s status is unknown
» Freshman defensive tackle Dominique Easley – ankle – left on crutches and may be out for the season if it is a high ankle sprain
» Sophomore linebacker Dee Finley – broken collarbone – will return next week

QUOTES (Some good stuff after the break…)

Meyer’s opening statement: “Gator Walk was fantastic for a noon game and obviously for the last several weeks what have transpired here. Awful grateful or that because I have coached at places where that wouldn’t have happened. I’m very grateful for our senior class – the leadership they provide especially through some ups and downs. I love those guys, those guys you’ll hear a lot from them in the future even if it’s not in football.”

Meyer on Appalachian State: “[Head coach] Jerry Moore is one of my close friends – real close friend. He’s got a fine football team, and I hope they go on to win that national championship.”

Meyer on if the win was a confidence builder: “Everybody associated with our program needed that one. I was horrified about this game going into it.”

Meyer on redshirt freshman tight end Jordan Reed’s growth in the offense: “He’s close, isn’t he? We got one game left and then a bowl game, but he’s really improving. He hurt himself and he was hurt for at least 30 days in training camp, so he was way behind. I still don’t know if he’ll stay at quarterback. I don’t know if that’s what’s best for our team. We just got to find a way to have a good week this week.”

Meyer on his love for the senior class: “We’ve had senior classes that have gone on and done great things, we’ve had a couple senior classes that haven’t. The disintegration of a senior class is what really wrecks a team. And this team is not wrecked. We’re not real good in some areas, but there’s not a play hard issue, there’s not an attitude issue or anything like that. That’s because these seniors, I don’t have to motivate them, they’re just good people. They’re good, solid Gators. You can always tell a senior class when they come back. Some senior classes don’t come back. And really, why should they? And then other senior classes you just see them all the time. [19]96 Gators are always back here – always showing up. The last several years are always showing up. This group will always come back.”

Meyer on saying goodbye: “I’ve been ill-prepared to talk about what it really means to say goodbye to a senior. I always look at the football part of it. Now that I’m a parent and get I see one of my kids play college sports, that’s going to be a tough deal someday to see ‘Meyer’ on the back of someone’s jersey and to say, ‘That’s the last game I’m ever going to get to watch.’ That’s a chapter of their life that is now closed. Getting up and driving to Gainesville, Florida, and tailgating and watching your kid play in The Swamp. That’s a tough deal.”

Meyer on the freshman class’ emergence: “If you had to evaluate this freshman class, you wish it would have happened quicker. I would not put this class in that… Now that we’re playing you’re seeing Ron [ald] Powell and Sharrif Floyd and you’re seeing Cody Riggs, you’re seeing Trey Burton who came on from the beginning. Some of these guys – Matt Elam – have really accelerated play here in the last four or five weeks. We were hoping that was going to be much sooner than later, but I’m glad it’s later that it’s happening now because that’s our future.”

Meyer on redshirt junior quarterback John Brantley’s touchdown catch: “We’ve had that for a while, and I actually saw the corner just disregarding him so we called it and hit it. Might be his last one.”

Meyer on the rivalry with the School Out West: “Biggest rivalry in college football…because it’s this week, you know?”

Meyer on redshirt senior wide receiver Carl Moore’s fight and ejection: “Very upset. You don’t throw a… [The official] even said, ‘Your guy retaliated.’ They’ve only been told that, I don’t know, 6-7-8,000 times that you don’t do that.”

Meyer on winning the game: “It was a must. That was kind of our message. You had no choice on this one. It was a must.”

Meyer on redshirt junior WR Deonte Thompson’s career day: “He had a career day today? I hope he has a career day next week. He’s just coming, you know. He’s been here for a while, but he’s still coming on. He’s a great guy that works extremely hard and he’s got talent. So we’re going to work real hard so we can have another really good day next week.”

Black on his final game in The Swamp: “To think about all the things that we’ve been through, all the things that I’ve been through to get to this point. It’s an honor.”

Black on the importance of the game: “We needed a game like this for many reasons. One – to send the seniors out on a great note. Two – for the team, to try and get us back up. We suffered a tough loss last week, but today was a great day for the Gators.”

Black on how he’s progressed over four years: “[Laughing] As a freshman, I got told to go get Gatorades for the whole position group. Trying to get a rep at practice was like pulling teeth. To go from that, where I was, to where I’m at now is just a tremendous opportunity. I thank God for everything I got. I thank the coaches: Coach [Chuck] Heater for sticking by me and Coach Meyer for being there from day one.”

Black on advice to kids who want to be like him: “First of all, I’m going to tell them to try and be better than me. You don’t want to be like me, you always want to be better. Especially go hard. Every time you get a rep, lay like it’s your last.”

Black on his family’s emotion: “My momma hasn’t said anything yet, she’s still crying. She might be still crying right now.”

Black on leadership now and in the future: “There was a lot of leaders on the team, so I’m not the clear-cut leader. But there’s a lot of candidates that can take leadership roles. Even the younger guys. For instance Trey Burton, he’s a guy that could be a leader real quick.”

Black on the freshmen improving: “It’s like night and day for the class that just came in from where they were the beginning of the season to now. I just appreciate everything they’re doing so far, and I just want them to finish strong. They looked great out there when we got out of the game, so it’s a bright future for them.”

Black on Beemer’s touchdown: “I almost ran on the field and picked him up.”

Pouncey on : “I didn’t want to show everybody I was crying. It was an emotional day. I gave my life to this program. It paid off today by getting a win out there. More than any other win, this one meant the most to me. Just because it was Senior Day. Obviously we didn’t have the season we wanted to, but we had a bunch of guys rally together – especially the younger guys rallied behind the seniors and pulled this victory out. It meant the world to me, and it meant the world to win that game, too.”

Pouncey on the youngsters: “We got a lot of great young players. Obviously you see flashes of them every weekend. They’ll get their act together. Florida ain’t going nowhere. It’ll be here forever. It’ll be back to one of the premier programs in the nation again next year.”

Pouncey on Beemer’s touchdown: “He works harder than anybody on the team. He gave his life to this program, too. He doesn’t get all the fame and all the glory. He’s one of the guys who just works hard. He gives the defense a great look every day in practice. He’s a special guy to us, we love him like a brother, and it meant a lot for him to get in there and be on the field for the Gators.”

Pouncey on beating the School Out West: “It’s really important. I’ve never lost to them, and it’s a rivalry game. You always want to play good in rivalry games because those are the ones you are going to always remember. We’re going to bust our behind[s] this week in practice and let it pay off this weekend.”

Pouncey on what he will miss the most: “I’ll miss the Gator Walks. I’ll miss running out in front of them fans. It’s just amazing playing here. I feel like I made the best decision of my life by coming to Florida.”

Beemer on getting help from Reed: “Yes, he did. Thank goodness he did. Now I have a great memory to cherish for the rest of my life. I’ll forever be indebted to him for not only giving me a little push but keeping me out there for those three plays. Thanks Jordan.”

Beemer on what he did: “I grabbed the ball and I lowered my head and I ran and I closed my eyes and when I opened them, I had scored a touchdown. It was pretty sweet.”

Beemer on what he said to Meyer: “’Thank you.’ Sometimes things that aren’t spoken are more important than those that are. It was a ‘thank you’ and an embrace and silence pretty much.”

Beemer on losing his helmet: “I don’t know where my helmet is at this moment right now.”

Beemer on where the ball will go: “It’s with my brother right now and it’s probably going to go home and go on my family mantle and stay there probably forever.”

Beemer on the emotion he felt: “Overwhelming. When you’re a kid you dream of something like this. And I’m a lineman, so the chance that – if I was a starter here – to score a touchdown as a defensive lineman is astronomical in itself. For them to just come up to me with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter and say, ‘Hey, would you like the ball on the goal line?’ I’m still trying to process it and make it a reality right now.”

Beemer on the last time he scored: “My last touchdown was never ago. I’ve never scored a touchdown. I never played pee wee football.”

Beemer on coaching in his future: “I have no clue yet. The coaches have been kind enough to give me some sort of a makeshift strength coach and I guess [graduate assistant] position here after I’m done. I’m just going to be real quiet, work really hard and just see where God wants me to go. I just want to coach. Wherever I can help kids the most is where I’m going to go.”

Beemer on his teammates: “Fantastic. Our team is not selfish at all. I got hugs from guys that have been with me for years and I got hugs from guys like Ronald Powell – the No. 1 recruits out of high school that have been here for a couple months. Everybody was pumped, so it was pretty awesome. It wasn’t a special one-time thing; we’re always like that, which I think was pretty neat.”

Brantley on catching a touchdown: “I saw that corner bit and knew it was coming to me. So I was like, ‘Don’t drop it.’ I had no idea where I was in the end zone.”

Reed on the extra push for Beemer: “Nah, that was all him. I just gave him the ball. He did it. That was his touchdown. It was all him.”

Reed on if he prefers quarterback or tight end: “I’m just playing whatever they put me at and keep working hard at whatever they put me at. Football – I like playing football.”

Reed on his red zone success: “That’s all the linemen. I’m just following my blocks and they’re getting me in the end zone. It’s all them.”

Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – Gainesville, FL [Capacity: 88,548]
Weather Forecast: 76°F, clear skies
Time: 12:30 p.m. (EST)

TV: PPV [Information]
TV Replays: Sun Sports – Sun., Nov. 21 at 8:30 a.m.; Tues., Nov. 23 at 11:00 p.m.
Online Video: ESPN3.com (Outside of Florida only.)
Sirius/XM: 215/200
Online Audio: Yahoo!
Live Updates: @OnlyGators

Odds: Florida -23.5

HISTORY and STREAKS

» Florida and Appalachian State have never squared off before, but the Gators are 24-2 all-time against Southern Conference opponents.
» Since 2005, UF and ASU have combined for five national championships. The Gators have won two FBS titles (2006, 2008), while the Mountaineers have captured three-straight FCS championships (2005-07).
» Florida has faced three FCS schools since 2006, beating them a combined 194-22. However Appalachian State is easily the best of the bunch, having won six-straight conference titles (2005-10) under Moore’s leadership.
» UF is tied for the national lead with 17 interceptions on the season. Seven have been returned for more than 30 yards – three for touchdowns.
» Florida is back out of the BCS, Associated Press and USA Today top 25 after returning to the rankings two weeks ago. This season is the first time the Gators have been unranked in all three under Meyer. Florida had been listed in every poll since he took over in 2005 until they lost to Mississippi State three weeks ago.
» The Gators’ offense has seen 15 different players overall score a touchdown this year – including defense and special teams.
» Florida is the only school in the nation that has four players with at least three interceptions. Overall, eight Gators have at least one interception.
» UF under Meyer is 41-1 when holding an opponent under 16 points, 29-3 when shutting an opponent out in the fourth quarter, 38-3 when holding an opponent to 35 percent or less on third down, 38-2 when giving up two or less big plays (15-yard run/25-yard pass) and 33-3 when the Gators defense scores or creates three turnovers.
» Florida redshirt senior guard Carl Johnson and sophomore right tackle Xavier Nixon are both from North Carolina, while Appalachian State boasts five players from the state of Florida. ASU defensive coordinator Dale Jones was a former UF assistant (1991).

SENIOR DAY

The Gators’ 2010 senior class is one of the winningest classes in SEC history with a 41-10 record in their time in the Orange and Blue. However, that is not the only accomplishment the class has made in the last four years. The senior class also has:

Two National Championships – Three BCS bowl game wins (2010 Sugar Bowl) – Two SEC Championships (three appearances) – Three SEC Eastern Division titles – 29-5 record at The Swamp – 15-1 record vs. rivals (Tennessee, Georgia, FSU and Miami)

* Brandon Antwine – #47 – DT – Garland, Tex.
* Ahmad Black – #35 – SS – Lakeland, Fla.
* Lorenzo Edwards – #26 – LB – Orlando, Fla.
* John Fairbanks – #59 – LS – Celebration, Fla.
* Marcus Gilbert – #76 – LT – Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
* Chas Henry – #17 – P/K – Dallas, Ga.
* Brandon Hicks – #40 – LB – Jacksonville, Fla.
* Maurice Hurt – #74 – T/G – Milledgeville, Ga.
* Carl Johnson – #57 – G – Durham, N.C.
* A.J. Jones – #16 – LB – Tampa, Fla.
* Duke Lemmens – #44 – DE/LB – Westlake Village, Calif.
* Lawrence Marsh – #90 – DT – Augusta, Ga.
* Emmanuel Moody – #21 – RB – Coppell, Tex.
* Carl Moore – #9 – WR – Rancho Cordova, Calif.
* Mike Pouncey – #55 – C – Lakeland, Fla.
* Terron Sanders – #92 – DT – Bradenton, Fla.
* Justin Trattou – #94 – DE – Ramsey, N.J.
* Justin Williams – #7 – WR – Folkston, Ga.
————————————————————————
* Gary Beemer – #61 – DT – Valrico, Fla.
* Miguel Carodine – #41 – S – Gainesville, Fla.
* Eugene Minchin – #33 – LB – Gainesville, Fla.
* Shawn Schmieder – #70 – DT – Jacksonville, Fla.
* Solomon Schoonover – #29 – WR – Aventura, Fla.

KEEP AN EYE ON…

FLORIDA
» Redshirt junior quarterback John Brantley…who had thrown 156 consecutive passes without an interception dating back to 2009, now has a 8-7 TD/INT ratio this season after throwing an interception last week. He has completed 172-of-282 passes (61.0 percent) for 1,746 yards and has a passer rating of 117.4.
» Freshman QB Trey Burton and redshirt freshman tight end Jordan Reed…both of whom will spell Brantley at quarterback in Florida’s new three-QB system. Burton set a school record and SEC freshman record by scoring six touchdowns in a single game against Kentucky. He has 10 scores on the season, has played five positions and is second on the team in rushing (56 carries for 279 yards). Reed got his first meaningful snaps behind center two weeks, going 11-of-19 for 120 yards with a touchdown and a pick. He also ran 16 times for 84 yards with another score.
» Junior running back Jeff Demps…who is averaging 6.3 yards per carry and still leads the Gators in rushing (488 yards) after missing two full games and being limited in five others. He was Florida’s leading rusher in its first five games of the season.
» Redshirt junior wide receiver Chris Rainey..who returned to action for the first time in over a month against Georgia and has 28 carries for 140 yards (along with 16 receptions for 150 yards) and three touchdowns this year.
» Redshirt freshman WR/kick returner Andre Debose…who set a school single-season record with his second kickoff return touchdown last week. With an 88-yard return against LSU and a 99-yard return against South Carolina, he is the only freshman nationally with two in 2010 and one of only two players nationally with two in 2010. He is one of the reasons why the Gators rank No. 5 nationally and No. 1 in the SEC in kickoff returns with a 26.1 average.
» Sophomore WR Frankie Hammond, Jr.…who is quickly becoming one of Florida’s most important pass catchers. He was the team’s leading receiver against Mississippi State and caught three passes for 46 yards against Georgia and another three passes for 49 yards and a touchdown against Vanderbilt the following week.
» Senior punter Chas Henry…who is the end-all be-all of Florida’s kicking game now that he has taken over for junior Caleb Sturgis (back) as the team’s field goal kicker. Henry had missed five-straight field goal attempts (one negated by penalty) before nailing back-to-back kicks in the fourth quarter and overtime three weeks ago.
» Florida’s secondary…which has intercepted 13 balls this season. Starters senior safety Ahmad Black (three), junior CB Janrois Jenkins (three), redshirt sophomore CB Jeremy Brown (three), and junior S Will Hill (three) have accounted for all but one of the unit’s picks.
» Black…who has led Florida in tackles seven times this season: vs. South Carolina (career-high 16), LSU (13), Georgia (12), Miami (10), Mississippi State (10), USF (8) and Vanderbilt (4). He is tops on the team overall with 93 tackles, including nine for loss.

APPALACHIAN STATE
» QB DeAndre Presley…who has passed for 2,066 yards and 17 touchdowns with only four interceptions this season while simultaneously leading his team on the ground with 727 rushing yards.
» WR Brian Quick…who has a team-high 36 catches for 685 yards and seven TDs.
» Linebacker D.J. Smith, defensive tackle Jabari Fletcher and CB Mark LeGree…who lead the team with 108 tackles, seven sacks and five interceptions, respectively.

INJURIES

Active/Probable: Junior RB Jeff Demps (foot), sophomore RB Mike Gillislee (hamstring), redshirt sophomore DT Jaye Howard (ankle), sophomore LB Jon Bostic (bruised sternum)
Inactives: Redshirt senior LB A.J. Jones, redshirt sophomore LT Matt Patchan (broken wrist), junior K Caleb Sturgis (back), sophomore LB Dee Finley (fractured collarbone), freshmen RB Mack Brown, WRs Quinton Dunbar and Chris Dunkley (hamstrings)

Catch the Gators’ 11th game of the season live on television on pay-per-view, via the radio or through OGGOA‘s live updates on Twitter.
 

QUARTERBACKS: B+
Was redshirt junior John Brantley spectacular on Saturday? Certainly not. His 16-of-25 performance for 193 yards and an interception proves that. However, if you combine his offensive contributions with his willingness to share the starting quarterback role, ability to operate in Florida’s no-huddle offense and the output of freshman Trey Burton (2-of-2 for 26 yards, 17 carries for 110 yards and two touchdowns), you have a top-notch performance from this unit. Throw out Brantley’s interception as a miscue from sophomore wide receiver Omarius Hines and you have a mistake-free showing that also included a perfect clutch pass to redshirt junior WR Deonte Thompson and his second longest throw of the year – a 40-yard dart. With an increased ability to see the field, healthy backfield and more streamlined offense, Brantley should only improve as the season continues – something to keep an eye on week-to-week.

RUNNING BACKS: B+
Head coach Urban Meyer noted leading up to the Georgia game that Florida must have explosive home run plays in its running game in order to succeed with their plan to win from an offensive perspective. That was achieved Saturday, though the biggest play came on a 51-yard option keeper by Burton. Junior running back Jeff Demps (at around 90 percent health) and redshirt junior WR Chris Rainey (running the ball due to depth issues) got all the work in the backfield with Rainey getting the majority of the carries (16 to Demps’ nine). For not having played in five weeks and practicing the entire offseason mostly at WR, Rainey had a more than respectable performance averaging 5.2 yards per carry and totaling 89 on the game. Demps ran the ball for 38 yards (4.2 average). The duo certainly exceeded expectations but was certainly not stellar comparative to what the unit has done in the past.

Read the rest of Florida’s grades from the Georgia game after the jump…

WIDE RECEIVERS: B+
He may have only notched two catches, but redshirt junior Deonte Thompson had one of his best games in the orange and blue. In addition to a fantastic reception to save a drive at set-up Florida’s second touchdown, Thompson’s edge-blocking was much improved even if he did get flagged for a phantom holding call on that same drive. Sophomore Omarius Hines and redshirt sophomore Frankie Hammond, Jr. combined for seven receptions for 96 yards and were the only Gators receivers (aside from Thompson and Rainey) to catch passes; redshirt senior Carl Moore was held catchless once again. Though the yardage may not be there, what the receivers have accomplished from a blocking standpoint earns them a high grade in our book with points deducted for Hines clearly giving up on a route which led to Brantley’s interception.

TIGHT ENDS: I
Incomplete.

OFFENSIVE LINE: A-
Say what you will about the false start penalties, Florida’s offensive front also played one of its best games of the season. In addition to opening up solid running lanes for Demps, Rainey and Burton, the line provided good protection at times for Brantley. Perhaps most importantly, it was able to keep up in the no-huddle offense without getting winded. When multiple offensive linemen tell you after the game that the opposing front seven were trying to catch their breath but they themselves were well-conditioned, that is impressive. Aside from the false starts, which should be corrected in time, the line has to provide Brantley with a bit more protection as three sacks, even against some good pass rushers, are three too many.

DEFENSIVE LINE: B-
Evaluating the defensive line can be done by reviewing its two core goals – pressuring the quarterback and stopping the run. Florida got some pressure on QB Aaron Murray, which is one of the reasons why he threw three interceptions and got sacked twice by non-defensive linemen. However, even rotating in some of the younger players, the line has been unable to get penetration for most of the season and that trend continued. Senior defensive end Justin Trattou grabbed eight tackles (seven solo, one for a loss), but the rest of the line was basically or completely silent. In the running game, the Gators held Washaun Ealey to 3.4 yards per carry on 11 rushes but gave up good yardage to Caleb King, who ran for 69 yards on only 12 carries (5.3 average).

LINEBACKERS: B+
Though he may not have filled up the stat sheets, the way redshirt freshman Jelani Jenkins played against Georgia was simply impressive. In addition to a great pass breakup and fumble recovery, Jenkins was all over the field with four tackles (one solo) and good coverage. He continues to get better game-by-game and is clearly becoming that needed presence recently represented by names like Brandon Spikes and Brandon Siler. Redshirt senior A.J. Jones and freshman Ronald Powell (who is filling in for depth purposes) also had nice games, as did sophomore Jon Bostic. Jenkins’ performance was too much to overlook – even though we did when listing our poll choices for most valuable player of the game.

SECONDARY: B+
It’s hard to criticize a unit like the secondary when junior cornerback Janoris Jenkins picks off the very first pass of the game (putting his team in amazing field position), senior safety Ahmad Black leads the team in tackles (12 total, 10 solo) and forces a fumble, and junior S Will Hill intercepts two balls (including a near game-winner in overtime) and doesn’t get credit for a third which ended a two-point conversion effort. However, the play of redshirt sophomore CB Jeremy Brown, lack of depth behind him, Hill’s coverage mistake and the inability of the secondary to get Georgia off the field (especially on third down) almost spelled doom for Florida. For as many mistakes as Murray made, he still completed 18 passes for 313 yards and three touchdowns including a long of 63 yards. And in a game where, big-play wise, you could not ask for more, there were plenty of miscues and things to improve on. Hill and Black’s outstanding performances give them a break here, but this unit cannot expect a more experienced player like South Carolina QB Stephen Garcia to make nearly as many mistakes. Just the fact that the secondary gave up 100-yard receiving games to two separate pass catchers should have this grade lowered more than it has been.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A
Chas Henry. The senior punter/kicker deserves as much credit as he can possibly be given even though he missed a 42-yard field goal in the first quarter and had been shaky filling in for junior Caleb Sturgis prior to Saturday. His game-winning 37-yard field goal, clutch 34-yard field goal in the fourth quarter and six punts for 281 yards (46.8 average, long 61, two inside the 20) were enough alone to give this unit an “A.” Combine that with solid blocking for Rainey in the return game (six kickoffs run back for 148 yards with a long of 45) and the stage was set for a dominant special teams performance. Then, with the game on the line, the coverage unit allowed the Bulldogs’ Brandon Boykin to run back a kickoff 51 yards just seconds after the Gators went up 31-24. Can’t imagine Meyer was happy about that – and neither were we. However, sometimes exceptions can be made, and when a guy like Henry comes along and saves the game like he did, well, we’re going to be soft not going to dock what is mostly his grade.

COACHING: A / C+
Normally it is easy for us to group the entire coaching staff together, but when a clear disparity is noticed between the performance of the offense and defense, a separation has to be made. When it comes to preparation, playcalling and inventiveness, Meyer, offensive coordinator Steve Addazio and wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni (who was credited with helping install the no-huddle) get an easy “A.” However, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and co-defensive coordinator Chuck Heater are obviously struggling a bit with the defense. Sure, the unit is young and lost perhaps its three best players from a year ago, but it has clearly been unable to stop its opposition for the last four games. Florida’s defense was worked against Alabama, beat by LSU, manhandled by Mississippi State (running that many consecutive times without being stopped is unacceptable) and nearly exposed by Georgia. Murray’s forced miscues (three interceptions, fumble, pick on a two-point conversion) were all nice to see – turnovers is one area that was lacking over the last few contests – but the defense continues to give up the big play and not get teams off the field when it counts.

OVERALL: B+
Considering half of the grades given out were of this variety, we felt it was an appropriate evaluation of the overall game. There is a difference between the quality and excitement a game provides and how the players performed in said contest. Saturday’s version of Florida-Georgia had it all – big plays, turnovers, top-notch performances, “wow” moments, “I can’t believe that just happened” moments, failed performances, miscues and mistakes. The Gators did a lot of things right on Saturday plenty was done wrong as well. Grades seem to be softer when a team wins – and that is probably what happened in this case – but if you look at the improvement in performance comparative to two weeks ago, it was certainly vastly above average.