Florida Gators News

UF receiver Freddie Swain just wanted to play football, catch passes, score touchdowns.

Easy enough, the four-star recruit from Ocala figured.

At the big-time college level, Swain’s casual approach was not going to cut it. Swain was sure-handed, a smooth route-runner and a fierce competitor, but...

Growing up in rural Cross City, UF defensive back Duke Dawson had to dig deep within himself for everything.

Back home there is a saying to describe Dawson’s climb, expressed fittingly in the 21-year-old’s homespun vernacular.

“Where I came from, hey, you have to get it from a can of paint,” he...

The 2017 Florida Gators expected to field their deepest receiving corps in years.

And that was before freshman Daquon Green showed up.

The 6-foot-1, 187-pound Green has been sure-handed and assignment sound for a first-year player, earning him snaps with the first-team offense.

“Boy, he's done...

UF redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks hangs up the phone each day, reminded of what he needs to do.

Some days, the Gators’ quarterback competition can become overwhelming for a 19-year-old going against a couple of 22-year-olds, each hoping to win one of the most high-profile starting jobs in the...

UF DL Jordan Smith is being investigated by the Gainesville Police Department. He is the only player under investigation thus far among seven Gators suspended Sunday by coach Jim McElwain.

Spokesman Ben Tobias said in an e-mail GPD opened an investigation Thursday into Smith, a redshirt freshman...

UF fifth-year senior Malik Zaire cannot remember a time he was not embroiled in a quarterback competition.

“This is nothing new to me,” he said on Friday.

One thing Zaire has learned during four seasons at Notre Dame and two months at UF is the competition can be both good and bad for a team.

Zaire...

UF junior Tyler Jordan has started 10 games at right guard and lined up when needed at center for the Gators.

But Jordan’s versatility now is being put to the test.

With freshman reserve OT Kadeem Telfort among seven players suspended for the season opener against Michigan, Jordan has lined up...

Two seasons ago, senior WR Brandon Powell was supposed to be Antonio Callaway.

Now is Powell’s chance.

In 2015, Powell was one of three Gators at SEC Media Days. It was a rare invitation for a sophomore, but a sign of Powell’s potential in first-year coach Jim McElwain’s eyes.

Instead, Callaway...

UF tailback Jordan Scarlett is all about teamwork, but he’s even more about winning.

For the Gators to win more, Scarlett believes he needs to carry the football more.

Using a running-back-committee approach last season, UF ranked last in the SEC and better than just 14 teams nationally in rushing...

On the first day of his new job at Sirius XM, Steve Spurrier did not waste anytime sharing his thoughts on Antonio Callaway’s suspension.

The Head Ball Coach asked the question on everyone’s minds about Callaway.

“People are wondering when he’s going to straighten up,” Spurrier said. “I get the...

Monday, it was Feleipe Franks. Tuesday, it was Luke Del Rio. One day soon, it will be Malik Zaire.

Every day, someone different lines up at quarterback with UF’s first-team offense.

As the second week of preseason camp nears its conclusion, the Gators’ quarterback race has no end in sight.

Left tackle...

Don’t you just wish Florida Gators coach Jim McElwain would be honest and transparent when asked why his talented-but-troubled wide receiver Antonio Callaway is still on the team?

Instead, on a day when Callaway was in hot water yet again and among seven UF players suspended for the monumental...

UF coach Jim McElwain said troubled Gators’ receiver Antonio Callaway was making strides prior to his latest off-the-field incident and suspension.

Now, McElwain said his star receiver is running out of chances.

“Absolutely,” McElwain said. “The one thing I will do is I'll continue to help. I'll...

If you want to see what’s wrong with big-time college sports, cast your eyes toward Gainesville.

There you have a football player who has no interest in being in college, and a college that is keeping him around against all of its best interest.

All except one, of course: Winning football games.

The Florida Gators responded to the troubles of star receiver Antonio Callaway with “an unbelievable scrimmage “ on Friday, coach Jim McElwain said.

“Sometimes through some adversity, it’s really interesting how you kind of see your team kind of jell together,” McElwain said. “Some guys really...

UF star receiver Antonio Callaway is among seven Gators suspended for the team’s high-profile Sept. 2 opener against Michigan for violating team rules.

The school announced Sunday that Callaway, the team’s top playmaker, will be joined by offensive lineman Kadeem Telfort; linebackers James Houston...

Steve Spurrier stands on the sideline wearing his trademark visor as his Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel drops back to pass and floats a perfect spiral to a streaking Chris Doering in the zone.

Except on this particular Saturday afternoon, Doering and Wuerffel are shirtless and...

UF freshman tailbacks Malik Davis and Adarius Lemons joined a crowded, experienced Gators’ backfield.

But neither first-year player has deferred or waited his turn to make a strong impression.

“Ahead of where maybe I thought they'd be,” coach Jim McElwain said. “I think both these guys will make...

Mount Dora’s Brett Heggie used to read in the newspaper about Martez Ivey’s many exploits and square off against South Lake’s T.J. McCoy each season.

Heggie admired the other top linemen in the Central Florida area. He never expected Ivey and McCoy one day would be lined up on either side of him.

Electrifying first-year freshman Kadarius Toney arrived last January as a quarterback, but his future likely was elsewhere.

One week into preseason practices, Toney has found a new home at wide receiver.

“Every day he gets better,” coach Jim McElwain said.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Toney was one...

UF defensive line coach Chris Rumph has proven himself a valuable assistant for one of the nation’s best defenses and a top recruiter for the Gators.

Coach Jim McElwain wants to make sure Rumph will stick around for awhile.

Rumph received a three-year contract extension through the 2019 season...

UF left tackle Martez Ivey practiced Thursday after sitting out earlier this week due to swelling in his knee.

Ivey worked with the first-team offense, but exited after two snaps in favor of first-year freshman Kadeem Telfort. Ivey seemed to be fine. Telfort worked with the first team because he...

The whistle had not blown yet, but UF sophomore defensive end Antonneous Clayton had to just stop, stand and watch.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Jeremiah Moon was doing something again only he could do.

Fleet-footed, 5-foot-9 slot receiver Brandon Powell was breaking out of his cut on a slant route...

The Florida Gators have re-established themselves in the Swamp during coach Jim McElwain’s two seasons — on the field and in the ticket office.

McElwain’s Gators are 11-1 at home. Entering 2017, the Gators are on pace to sell 50,000 season tickets for the first time since 2013, on the heels of...

An interesting poll came out Tuesday that should not warm the hearts of SEC fans everywhere.

Coaches do not believe cheating is rampant in college football. But if there’s cheating going on, you know who is guilty.

The SEC.

“Out of the 130 FBS schools in FBS, I would say, in the SEC, 80 percent...