P Johnny Townsend: commit No. 30 | OL/TE Trevon Young: commit No. 29 | DT Jay-nard Bostwick: commit No. 27 | Muschamp discusses class; assistants evaluate signees | 30 new player bios | Video interviews with coaches | “Closing”, quarterback situation

The Florida Gators doubled up on defensive tackle prospects Wednesday during National Signing Day as three-star junior college transfer Jarran Reed (Scooba, MS) chose to continue his career in Gainesville, FL.

A 6’4”, 305-pound prospect who spent last year at East Mississippi Community College, Reed was heavily recruited by the Gators with Florida getting on him even more after he recently decommitted from Ole Miss.

Reed also had Alabama in his final two but instead decided to join fellow JUCO teammate and four-star 2013 DT pledge Darious Cummings (Scooba, MS), who enrolled early at UF in January and has two years of eligibility remaining.

Both players are following in the footsteps of former EMCC teammate and fellow DT Damien Jacobs, who made an impact with the Gators as a junior in 2012 and will be returning in 2013 for his senior season.

Reed is the 28th overall commitment for Florida this cycle and the fifth defensive tackle to make a pledge for the Gators (second on Wednesday). Florida is likely done adding players to its 2013 recruiting class barring an unforeseen surprise.

Check out OGGOA’s live coverage of National Signing Day – click here!

Tags: Damien Jacobs, Darious Cummings, Jarran Reed

Florida Gators head football coach Will Muschamp met with the media on Friday to wrap up the 2012 season, look ahead to the upcoming spring practice and discuss some of the recent changes and issues within the program.

PUNISHMENT HANDED DOWN

Muschamp announced Friday that freshman offensive lineman Jessamen Dunker has been suspended indefinitely from all team activities pending the outcome of his legal affairs. Dunker was arrested Monday on a third-degree felony charge of grand theft of a motor vehicle as well as a second-degree misdemeanor charge of driving with a suspended license. He was released on his own recognizance on Thursday and claims that he paid $600 for the scooter not knowing it had been reported stolen.

“I met with Jessamen Dunker [Friday] morning. I have suspended him from all team activities until we get more information,” he said. “I just met to him face-to-face [Friday] morning for the first time for 15 minutes. Once we get a little bit more information, then we’ll move forward, but he’s suspended from the team at this time. We’ll address that further when I know more.”

THREE MORE GATORS LEAVING PROGRAM

It was also announced Friday by Muschamp that redshirt juniors wide receiver Stephen Alli and defensive lineman Kedric Johnson will both be graduating in the spring and moving on from the Florida football program.

Muschamp said that Alli plans to go to graduate school; should he remain at UF, he will have the opportunity to join the team as a graduate assistant. Johnson “may play somewhere [else] next fall,” Muschamp said, and the two are planning to discuss it.

Furthermore, redshirt freshman offensive lineman Tommy Jordan, who never stepped on the field for the Gators due to nagging shoulder problems, has applied for a medical exception to remain on scholarship but no longer play football.

CLEANING UP SOME INJURIES

Muschamp once again noted that redshirt junior right guard Jon Halapio (knee), redshirt sophomore right tackle Chaz Green (ankle) and redshirt sophomore linebacker Neiron Ball (ankle) all had scopes on their various injuries this month.

“We expect all three of those [players] to participate at some point in spring. I don’t know when that will happen, how much contact there will be. I’ll know more as we move forward,” he said.

Junior WR Solomon Patton (broken arm) is “doing really well,” according to Muschamp. He has already been cleared for non-contact work during the spring.

Additionally, sophomore punter Kyle Christy had minor shoulder surgery and will be fine for spring football. “He played pretty well with it. I don’t know why we did surgery, but they felt like he needed it,” Muschamp said.

Read the rest of what Muschamp had to say…after the break!
Continue Reading » 1/18: Dunker suspended, more Gators leave, injury updates, Sugar Bowl review, 2013 preview

Tags: Andre Debose, Bernie Machen, Chaz Green, Cody Riggs, D.J. Durkin, Damien Jacobs, Darious Cummings, Dominique Easley, Draft, Jabari Gorman, Jacoby Brissett, Jaylen Watkins, Jelani Jenkins, Jessamen Dunker, Jon Halapio, Jordan Reed, Kedric Johnson, Kyle Christy, Leon Orr, Louisville Cardinals, Marcus Maye, Matt Elam, Neiron Ball, NFL, Omar Hunter, Quinteze Williams, Rhaheim Ledbetter, Sharrif Floyd, Skyler Mornhinweg, Solomon Patton, Stephen Alli, Sugar Bowl, Tommy Jordan, Tyler Murphy, Valdez Showers, Will Muschamp

The last time the Florida Gators saw a handful of juniors move on to the NFL Draft was the 2009 season and fans have certainly not forgotten how the team looked in the two years subsequent to those departures.

And while Florida now has four junior starters having declared for the 2013 NFL Draft to go along with the nine senior starters departing the program, the Gators are in a better position to move forward next season even if there may be a few bumps in the road.

On offense, Florida will lose five starters including left tackle Xavier Nixon (senior), left guard James Wilson (redshirt senior), running back Mike Gillislee (senior), wide receiver Frankie Hammond, Jr. (redshirt senior) and tight end Jordan Reed (draft).

Continue Reading » Gators must replace 13 starters from 2012 team

Tags: Antonio Morrison, Austin Hardin, Colin Thompson, D.J. Humphries, Damien Jacobs, Daniel McMillian, Dante Fowler, De'Ante Saunders, Dominique Easley, Draft, Frankie Hammond, James Wilson, Jelani Jenkins, Jon Bostic, Jonathan Bullard, Jordan Reed, Josh Evans, Kent Taylor, Leon Orr, Matt Elam, Michael Taylor, Mike Gillislee, NFL, Omar Hunter, Ronald Powell, Sharrif Floyd, Trey Burton, Will Muschamp, Xavier Nixon

Despite being overwhelming favorites and the team with the BCS pedigree, the No. 3 Florida Gators (11-2) were blasted on Wednesday evening by the No. 21 Louisville Cardinals (11-2), which pulled off a 33-23 upset victory at the 2013 Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA.

Louisville scored on the first play from scrimmage of each half, overwhelmed Florida’s defense throughout the game and capitalized on each one of its opponent’s miscues to pull off the greatest victory in program history and biggest upset in BCS bowl game history. The Gators also snapped their streak of four-straight bowl wins and fell in a BCS game for the first time since 2000.

Florida put itself in an early hole on the very first play from scrimmage as sophomore quarterback Jeff Driskel’s pass was tipped off the hands of redshirt junior wide receiver Andre Debose only to be intercepted by Louisville cornerback Terrell Floyd and returned for a touchdown just 15 seconds into the game. The defensive score was the Cardinals’ first of the season.

The Gators then went three-and-out on the ensuing possession and allowed UL QB Teddy Bridgewater to convert three third downs before running back Jeremy Wright carried the ball in for a one-yard touchdown. The 12-play, 83-yard drive ended with 6:47 left in the first quarter and gave UF its largest deficit of the season.

Continue Reading » No. 21 Louisville stuns No. 3 Florida in Sugar Bowl

Tags: Andre Debose, BCS, Big East, Caleb Sturgis, Charlie Strong, Chris Johnson, Damien Jacobs, Dominique Easley, Jeff Driskel, Kent Taylor, Loucheiz Purifoy, Louisville Cardinals, Matt Jones, Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Mike Gillislee, Quinton Dunbar, SEC, Sharrif Floyd, Sugar Bowl, Teddy Bridgewater

With the team beginning preparations for the 2013 Sugar Bowl against the Louisville Cardinals in New Orleans, LA on Jan. 2, No. 3 Florida Gators defensive coordinator Brent Pease and redshirt senior defensive tackle Omar Hunter sat down with the media to discuss the team’s defense and how it is shaping up for the bowl game.

FOWLER IS “SPECIAL,” POOLE IS IMPRESSING

Head coach Will Muschamp has propped up sophomore cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy all season for making great strides in his game during practices leading up to the 2012 Gator Bowl. Asked Wednesday who has made similar strides so far in these bowl practices, Quinn pointed to two players in particular.

“In the front seven, one that is really coming on that you can see is [Buck linebacker] Dante Fowler. He’s played all year. He’s playing really at a high level right now and to me you can see the momentum, the confidence and the understanding at a faster rate. That part has been exciting,” Quinn said. “On the back end, one guy that has caught my attention that is doing a good job right now is [CB] Brian Poole. I’d say those two players are really ones to me that have caught my eye, and I thought they’ve had a good camp in terms of the work and stuff they’ve put in.”

For players like Purifoy last year and Poole this year, Quinn said it is all about growth and development. Freshmen may not pick up terminology or technique in the few practices before the season begins, so the coaching staff may not have the necessary confidence in them to play them early. As the season goes on, the players are able to pick up a lot more and are then able to display the improvements they have made in bowl practices when younger players get more time on the field.

Asked to point out players that have impressed him in bowl practice, Hunter named Purifoy, Fowler, junior DT Damien Jacobs, freshman defensive end Jonathan Bullard and sophomore CB Marcus Roberson. He had plenty of praise for Fowler in particular.

“That kid’s special. He’s special. He’s what I wanted to be my freshman year. He is very special. He’s going to be a great player here. Quick, powerful guy,” Hunter said. “I think he can play inside at three-technique; I think he can play outside at the end. He can cover tight ends. He’s just a special athlete, special football player. He’s learning the system more than anything. He’s getting smarter. He’s a smarter football player than he was when he first came in. These practices [are] where the coaches can help the younger guys more because the seniors know everything.”

Read the rest of this post…after the break!
Continue Reading » 12/19: Quinn and Hunter talk practice, juniors

Tags: Brian Poole, Bryant Young, Damien Jacobs, Dan Quinn, Dante Fowler, Dominique Easley, Draft, Jelani Jenkins, Jonathan Bullard, Loucheiz Purifoy, Louisville Cardinals, Marcus Roberson, Matt Elam, NFL, Omar Hunter, Ronald Powell, Sharrif Floyd, Sugar Bowl, Tyler Murphy

Three of the eight early enrollees scheduled to join the Florida Gators as part of the 2013 recruiting class signed and submitted their National Letters of Intent to the school on Wednesday.

Four-star JUCO defensive tackle Darious Cummings (Scooba, MS), three-star JUCO offensive tackle Trenton Brown (Milledgeville, GA) and four-star transfer OT Tyler Moore (Clearwater, FL) signed and faxed in their letters as they prepare to enroll and join the Gators for spring practice.

None of the three players will be forced to take a redshirt season in 2013 as Cummings and Brown are junior college transfers and Moore spent 2012 at St. Petersburg College, a community school without a football program.

Moore started some games as a true freshman at Nebraska and would have started at left tackle this season had he not decided to take the year off for personal reasons.

All three will be competing for playing time right away at their respective positions.

Cummings, a member of the Rivals250 in 2009, will benefit from the likely departure of junior DT Sharrif Floyd as he looks to follow in the footsteps of JUCO teammate junior DT Damien Jacobs and make an impact right away as a member of the rotation.

Brown and Moore (Rivals100 in 2009) will try to find their places in a suddenly crowded and deep group of talented offensive linemen. Redshirt juniors center Jonotthan Harrison and Jon Halapio are entrenched as starters at center and right guard, respectively, but the other three positions are certainly up for grabs.

What Brown holds as an advantage over other players is his huge frame (6’8”, 350 lbs.). Moore has experience playing major college football but will have to work his way back after a semester off.

At least six other offensive linemen already on the roster will be competing for major playing time up front in 2013. Freshman D.J. Humphries, junior transfer Max Garcia and redshirt sophomore Chaz Green are the early favorites to start at left tackle, left guard and right tackle, respectively.

Tags: Chaz Green, D.J. Humphries, Damien Jacobs, Darious Cummings, Jon Halapio, Jonotthan Harrison, Max Garcia, Sharrif Floyd, Trenton Brown, Tyler Moore

Florida Gators football has added its second junior college transfer commitment in as many seasons, learning Sunday that former four-star defensive tackle Darious Cummings (Titusville, FL) decided to switch his pledge from Ole Mis and verbally commit to continuing his career in Gainesville, FL.

At 6’3” and 292 lbs., Cummings adds much needed size and explosiveness along the Gators’ defensive line. He will be able to play right away as he is spending the 2012 season playing for East Mississippi Community College after originally committing to play for Florida State out of high school.

Cummings is following the same path as junior defensive tackle Damien Jacobs, who also committed to FSU but played for EMCC last season before joining UF for the 2012 campaign. The two are close friends and will be able to finish their college football careers together in Gainesville.

Ranked as the 11th-best defensive end and 169th-player nationally by Rivals back in 2010, Cummings had gained nearly 50 lbs. since high school and is expected to contribute right away as a reserve.

“Now I’m a Florida Gator! #GladToBeBackHome,” he tweeted after committing. “It is a better fit for me and what’s I’m trying to get done in 2 years! To the #OleMissFam I would like to thank y’all for taking me in but I would also like to apologize, this is just a better fit! #ThankYou”

In multiple interviews he has conducted since committing, Cummings cited Florida’s coaching staff and its ability to get players prepared for the NFL as two important factors in his change of heart. He visited Gainesville for Saturday’s game against Jacksonville State and left knowing where he wanted to continue his career.

He is technically the 20th player to join the Gators’ 2013 recruiting class. Florida will also be receiving a transfer from 2011 four-star offensive lineman Tyler Moore (Clearwater, FL), who is spending 2012 attending St. Petersburg College and will also be eligible to play right away.

Tags: Damien Jacobs, Darious Cummings, Tyler Moore

No. 7 Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp met with the media on Monday to review the team’s sloppy 17-9 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs and preview Saturday’s game against the No. 10 Missouri Tigers.

OPENING STATEMENT

Muschamp had plenty to say when he stepped up to the microphone on Monday. Below is how he began his weekly press conference.

“Obviously the turnovers were the killer in the game. Self-inflicted. When you turn the ball over six times, you’re going to have a hard time beating anyone. That was disappointing really at the end of the game. Really inconsistent offensively in the run game and in the pass game. Never really got some continuity going from different issues. [...]

“I thought we were really good on third down against a good third-down defense. The inconsistencies and then the turnovers really were doomsday for us offensively. Defensively, disappointed with some of the first-half run fits. I thought we missed some things that we don’t normally miss. Got those things cleaned up. The last drive obviously we had an opportunity to win the game and don’t get it done. Red zone defense, third-down defense and really in the second half up until the last drive we played pretty solid. I thought we were solid in special teams, just nothing spectacular. We didn’t do anything to really change the game, which we have for the most part this season and we need to.

“Disappointed with the results but not the effort. Our guys played hard. It’s very evident as you watch the film, we played hard. We played extremely hard in the game. We laid a lot on the line out there on the field. Very pleased with the effort. We have a very resilient group of young men in the locker room. You turn the ball over six times, you face a lot of adversity in the game and we’re driving to win the game on the last drive of the game. That says a lot about our football team. That says a lot about the guys in the locker room, that they were able to overcome a lot of self-inflicted issues to continue to fight to win the game and have the opportunity. Six turnovers, you should have walked out of there losing by four touchdowns, honestly. That says a lot about the character on our football team and what we’ve got going on in that locker room.

“It’s not the result we wanted, and I’m disappointed, that falls on my shoulders and I’ll handle that and we’ll move forward and refocus as we go but that’s all on me. No different when we win, we need to focus on Florida, be technical in our approach. I told the staff yesterday and today again, obviously there was some things we did well in the game and there are some things we need to have corrected. That’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to focus on us and what we need to do to get better. [...]

“That’s the tough thing about football – you got to wait seven days, you know? Billy [Donovan] and them may lose on a Wednesday and they get to go back Saturday and play, or [Kevin O'Sullivan and the baseball team], they play a double-header, they play in the morning and then in the afternoon. They can get a win and get it out of their system, and we can’t. It is what it is. I’m disappointed again with the results, not the effort of our football team. I’m very proud of the resiliency, guys continuing to fight and battle in the game. It’s just unfortunate we didn’t get the results we wanted and that’s on me.”

Read the rest of what Muschamp had to say…after the break!
Continue Reading » 10/29: Muchamp on loss, injuries, running game

Tags: Andre Debose, Damien Jacobs, Georgia Bulldogs, James Wilson, Jeff Driskel, Jelani Jenkins, Jordan Reed, Lerentee McCray, Missouri Tigers, Solomon Patton, Will Muschamp, Xavier Nixon