Just wanted to share a few notes behind the scenes for our Friday Free-for-All. *Staff is out of the office until Wednesday. I am always watching and will be around but will try and take it easy for a few days - especially this weekend. I want to give a HUGE thanks to all the members for being part of the best online UF community you can find!!! We will continue to grow one member at a time with valuable posters & insiders.
Friday Free-for-All: Post Inside Access:
Raw & unedited
May 10, 2020
Kamari Wilson tried to commit
January 31, 2021
Rashod Dubinion
Yeah he tried to commit to us but we didn’t accept it. So I don’t know who it will be.
Sophomore video was better than his Junior Video. We still like him but not enough to accept his commitment.
February 2, 2021
First day they told me about Nick Evers and Sam Horn at QB with Jacurri Brown slipping down the QB board.
February 3, 2021
Was told WR Isaiah Horton wants to commit right now. 6-3, 190-Pounds from Murfreesboro TN Oakland HS. UF wanted to wait for some others ahead.
Was also told that UF will land Francois Nolton at DE and Daniel Lyons at DT
February 15, 2021 Virtual Tours.
Did Jamarion Miller and Omarion Hampton yesterday. Have Qae’Shon Sapp this evening. Jamari Lyons on Tuesday.
February 16, 2021 got a call saying the Jamari Lyons VT went great they think they can lock him up. Also Cade K.
February 17, 2021 Virtual Tour with Addison Nichols.
We are doing a virtual with multiple members of IMG’s team in a group session tonight after practice.
Guys who we would take right now = *
22’s
Kaytron Allen *
Alou Bah
Tyler Booker *
Malik Bryant *
Kamari Wilson *
Jihaad Campbell *
Daylen Everette
Dominick James
Drew Shelton *
Keon Sabb
23’s
Francis Mauigoa DT
Jordan Hall ILB
Knijeah Harris OL *
Malik Bryant OLB *
February 19, 2021 Devin Moore VIrtual Tour
February 22nd spoke to Cooper to wish him well at Louisville. Told me Christen Miller would end up at UF in his opinion. Based on the Dawgs not going to have room in their class.
February 23, 2021
VT with WR Isaiah Horton
And McGee speaking with Nick Evers again
February 24, Wednesday they will have a BIG zoom VT with Cade
March 1st, day after McCall announces for FSU and Horn to Missouri.
the guys who I have shared with Mullen that are must gets if we are going to get this recruiting dominance thing going in state are:
Julian Armella
Tyler Booker
Terrance Gibbs or Kaytron Allen
Shemar Stewart
Devin Moore
Kamari Wilson
Kenyatta Jackson
Tony Livingston
Jamari Lyons
Nyjalik Kelly
Throw in some out of state guys we lead for like Jaleel Skinner, Christen Miller and Shemar James and all of a sudden you have a pretty good class.
March 1, 2021
Nick Evers two days before his UF VT and after his Texas Tech and TCU offers told me this.
yes sir it’s been a little bit. they said i’m at the top of their board but i don’t see it. it’s all good...if they don’t want to have me i have been blessed with many more opportunities!!
March 2, 2021
Was told former Clemson CB wanted to come to UF badly, it was done, our communication with him indicated we wanted him badly but coaches wanted him to wait until the summer so then when we had to go back and communicate that message to him the decision for him to pass on UF was easy. Dan did not feel he was better than Jaydon Hill. Forgot the kids name!!
March 3, 2021
Have someone working on Horton edit leading up to his announcement date of March 15th.
March 10, 2021
Was told tonight that TE CJ Hawkins told Dan on the 9th he committed to UF, supposed to go public very soon, as in next few days or so.
March 30, 2021
ILB Board
Omar Graham Behind all these:
Jihaad Campbell
Harold Perkins
Shemar James
Shawn Murphy
Jaron Willis
Jeremiah Alexander
Malaki Starks
EJ Lightsey
Horton may have missed his chance at announcing for UF. Staff wants to slow him down tremendously
April 5th VV
Terrance Brooks 6-0, 185 John Paul HS in Plano Texas
April 6th VV
Shemar James ILB 6-3/210 Mobile AL Faith Academy
Nick Cull CB 6-1/180 Donalsonville GA Seminole County
April 8th-Board already set for 2023
Shawn Russ
Cedrick Hawkins
Sharif Denson
Antonio Robinson
Cormani McClain
Joenel Aguero
Tony Mitchell
Malik Mhuammad
AJ Harris
April 11th, 2021
Jules Montinar
Devin
Azareyeh
Earl
Terrance
I’m looking into Julian Humphrey from clear lake Texas fast kid. I can get him now if I want it.
April 29th, 2021
Jules Monitar
Devin Moore
Azarayeh Thomas
Julian Humphrey
Earl little JR
Terrance Brooks
May 27th, 2021
DL board
Walter Nolen
Jamari Lyons
Chris McClellan
Daniel Lyons
Shemar Stewart
Francois Nolton
Quency Wiggins
Nyjalik Kelly
June 4th, 2021 OV Weekend Chatter
Walter Nolen told everyone he was coming to UF done deal he said to recruits coaches and players.
Evan Stewart, Gentry Williams, Chris McClellan kept saying we are going to turn this into Alabama.
Tyler Booker said yes but all these kids want to take their OV’s
June 7th
Jaheim Singletary makes surprising visit to UF spends the day with Ratliff, will be either UF or Miami in the end.
June 10th
Walter Nolen secret trip UF asked me to keep it quiet and not to write about it.
June 30th
I was told by Dan that Jaheim Singletary will ink with UF on NSD. Also, Dan mentioned again they will land Devin Moore and Ryan Turner
July 4th prior to Devin Moore announcing.
Told me this prior to publicly announcing.
Yeah I felt that the coaching staff at notre dame had more family vibes and there able to connect a lot with recruits and also my whole family lives a hour to 3 away from notre dame. i’ve also wanted to venture out of florida to expiernce different climate.
Florida still says he inks with the Gators though
Also, Walter Nolen mom arrived at UF Tuesday prior to today (July 4) had two interviews and checked out a local HS for her other kid or kids not sure if they have more than one in addition to Walter.
July 13 RB situation
We’re working;
Gibbs
Glover
Etienne
Allen
Alston
Pettaway
And still working Miller and don’t worry about Alston he told me we are not in his top three
July 27th, 2021
Jamarion Miller - been told he is not going to Texas. Either A&M or us. Mom liked us
Julian Armella - Don’t feel good but got to try.
Evan Stewart - Coming to FNL
Jayden Gibson - Coming to Saturday cookout. All Gator
Gentry Williams - Don’t know what he is waiting for. Been told by reliable source, us or USC.
Chris McClellan - Us or Ohio State. Loved OSU visit but family likes UF
Jamari Lyons - What’s he waiting on?
Quincy Wiggins - Could be a beast.
Marvin Jones - Going to the wire but I like us in this one
Shemar Stewart - Don’t feel good about it.
EJ Lightsey - Under rated and way better than people think. Remember I told you that in 3 years.
Kamari Wilson - kid is going to Jack around and then want to come to UF in the end and may get the Terrion Arnold treatment, may be full
Devin Moore - kid wants to be a Gator, Dad wants ND
Azareyeh Thomas - People are struggling to handicap this one. A lot of folks think Ga. Tech. A lot LSU. Some UF. Watch what I am saying all UF here.
Jaheim Singletary - I think he is a Gator when it’s all said and done. We just need to keep on him
July 28
The first day I was told about running back Leviton Moss Not ending up at Alabama and Florida having a real chance they reached out to Florida on their own
August 8th, 2021
regarding TJ Shanahan
He wasn’t at FNL, he didn’t come because an internet guy posted a list of top prospects coming to FNL 3 days before it and his feelings got hurt and said to me “I guess I’m not a top priority for you at Florida”
September 2nd, 2021
I think so, want to see Lewis play this year 1st, he’s wanted to commit for a month. Feel good with farmer, Falentha feel good with. Trying to get him down this weekend to get eyes on.
Agbo and Neto are 2 I have to keep working hard, feel we have a legit shot at both
September 8th, 2021 - Wednesday
Jordan Phillips will end up a Gator and DeCarlo Donaldson and Jaylon Glover/Jayden Gibson..first one of Glover/Etienne by the way.
September 20, 2021
Got the call saying Jaleel Skinner would silent to UF soon and go public in a few weeks possibly. Strange deal for sure bc I keep being told how his date hates the TE Coach and will not come to UF in a million years
October 15th, 2021
I just got my 4 2022s right now:
Shemar
EJ
Wesley
Jaron
2023s wide open but I love
Jaiden Ausberry
Grayson Howard
October 30th.
Great shape with McCoy
Devon, Jaheim, and Azareyeh and Devon is Dan top guy.
1pm zoom call for commitments yesterday. Gibbs/Lyons we’re working couldn’t attend.
November 8th, 2021
Jaheim Singletary visited Florida for practice and spent time with coaches after..no one has a clue he visited but I decided to report it to the Board the following night
November 9th, 2021
They continue to tell me things are perfectly fine with Chris McClellan even though he continues to push back his announcement date. I had a great guy with the kids last night and seems he’s good to go with Florida but something doesn’t quite feel 100% right.
November 17, 2021
Troy Bowles
Grayson Howard
Jaiden Ausberry
Malik Bryant
Are the best response kids so far and consistent.
December 1st 2021
New staff did not want Terrance Gibbs as we saw. They also aren’t pushing for and haven’t talked with LB Wesley Bissainthe and he’s announcing this upcoming Saturday if Napier calls he’s a Gator if not he won’t. New coaching staff thinks he’s stiff.
I was told about the Napier Plan to surpass Bama and Georgia with the largest staff in the Nation
Azareyeh Thomas - staff wanted him to workout. He decided to visit FSU on the 10th instead.
December 8th, 2021
Crazy to think what our class would have been
Nick Evers
Terrance Gibbs
Trevor Eitienne
Tony Livingston
Mason Taylor
Jalen Farmer
Julian Armella
David Conner
Matt McCoy
Isaiah Bond
CJ Smith
Jayden Gibson
Evan StewrT - possibly
Chris McClellan
Jamari Lyons
Nyjalik Kelly
EJ Lightsey
Wesley Bissainthe
Shemar James
Austin Ausberry
Devin Moore
Jamarrien Burt
Just to name a few
Also, first day I heard about Jack Miller. Family being tight with Urban/Tebow. Jack grew up a Gator. Multiple zoom calls….locked up for UF
This, That, & More:
No. 4 Florida Gymnastics at No. 11 Missouri Friday
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - There are two top-12 gymnastics duals across the nation this weekend and both are within the Southeastern Conference.
No. 4 Florida at No. 11 Missouri is the first and kicks off SEC Network's Friday Night Heights coverage from the Hearnes Center at 7 p.m. ET. The second top dual of the weekend is Saturday's No. 6 Auburn at No. 8 LSU meet.
How to Follow the Gators:
Florida at Missouri is the first of a SEC Network Friday Night Heights double-header. Olympians John Roethlisberger and Alicia Sacramone Quinn call the action.
On the go Friday? Follow the action on SEC Network
In the Gators' Last Meet:
Team high totals on the first three events along with a pair of 10.0s by Trinity Thomas and Leanne Wong boosted Florida to the nation's leading total (198.25) for 2022 in its win Friday over No. 13 Arkansas. Arkansas, coming off a week off due to COVID protocol, posted a 196.475. Friday's Gators Link to Pink meet sponsored by UF Health was held in front of a sellout Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center crowd of 9,173. It was Florida's second consecutive sellout.
Florida opened the evening with season-high totals for both vault (49.55) and uneven bars (49.725). The bars total equals the program's record set in 2019. It was a Gator vault and uneven bars sweep. Trinity Thomas won vault with her near perfect 9.975. She was followed by fellow seniors Savannah Schoenherr (9.95) and Nya Reed (9.90). Leanne Wong anchored the uneven bars lineup with the nation's first and only 10.0 on the event this season. Schoenherr equaled her collegiate best to take second at 9.975. Freshman Riley McCusker and Thomas shared third at 9.925.
The nation's first balance beam 10.0 of 2022 was posted by Thomas. It was her third on the event and first since 2020. Fellow senior Leah Clapper was runner-up with her near-perfect 9.975 and the beam total of 49.70 equaled UF's record. Reed used a 9.95 to earn her second floor exercise win of 2022. Wong won her first all-around with a team season best 39.625. Arkansas' Kennedy Hambrick was runner-up (39.475) and UF senior Megan Skaggs took third at 39.40.
SEC Award for Trinity Thomas:
Her beam 10.0 along with win on vault (9.975) earned Thomas her third consecutive SEC Specialist of the Week honor. Thomas is the nation's only gymnast with 10.0s in multiple events this season (vault, beam, floor).
About the Missouri Tigers:
Missouri dropped its first meet of 2022 Saturday at then No 12 Kentucky, 197.45 - 196.875. The Tigers turned in their season high in the 197.45 - 196.875 loss in Lexington. Junior Sienna Schreiber set MU's season all-around high of 39.50 to win the quad meet at North Carolina.
Series History:
Florida leads 28-1. .
Last meeting: UF was third(196.975) at 2021 SEC Championships and Missouri was sixth (196.125).
Rankings:
Florida: No. 4 on the Week 4 Road to Nationals site
Missouri: No. 11
Gainesville, Fla. - The Florida Gators men's and women's Swim and Dive team send 36 to the Auburn Last Chance Invitational.
Last Time Out
The Florida Gators Men's and Women's Swim and Dive team swept the Auburn Tigers with scores 201-99 of and 184-116 respectively.
Florida won 23 out of the 32 events and had a total of 13 athletes hit B-cuts.
Senior Bobby Finke took home first place in the men's 200 Back with a time of 1:46.25. Mason Laur was right behind Finke with a time of 1:49.04, finishing in fourth. Joaquin Gonzalez Pinero finished in fifth and Miguel Cancel placed in sixth.
Kieran Smith a Ridgefield, Conn. native, swam a 4:18.16 clinching himself first place in the Men's 500 free.
A pair of Gators took home first in both the men's 3-meter and women's 1-meter. Leonardo Garcia finished with a score of 413.03 and Maha Amer finished with a score of 284.55. This marks Garcia's fifth win on the 3-meter springboard and is his season's best score.
The Gators swept the men's 100 fly, as Eric Friese came in first for the men with a time of 47.56. Isaac Davis came in second by less than half a second clocking a time of 47.99, Jace Crawford placed third with a 48.01 and Will Davis< came in fourth with a 48.61.
Amanda Ray notched a time of 54.86 logging her a first-place finish for the women's 100 fly.
Talia Bates came away with two wins, one in the 100 free and the other in the 100 fly. Bates also notch two second place finished in the 400 free relay and the 200 medley relay.
New comer, Alberto Mestre notched his first win as a Gator in the 100 free with a time of 44.38. Mestre also finished third in the 50 free.
Following their meet at Auburn, the Gators will begin final preparations for the Southeastern Conference Championships on Feb. 15-19 in Knoxville, Tenn.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - For just the fifth time in program history, Florida women's basketball knocked-off Tennessee, downing the No. 7 ranked Lady Volunteers, 84-59, inside of Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Thursday night.
Handing the Lady Vols (19-3, 8-2 SEC) their largest loss to an unranked opponent since the debut of the AP Poll in 1976, Florida (16-6, 6-3 SEC) put the clamps down defensively, forcing Tennessee into 18 total turnovers while holding the opposition to 24-of-64 shooting (37.5%) from the floor. The opposition was also held scoreless over the last 5:10 of the game.
Led by veteran guard Kiara Smith with four steals, the Gators tallied 11 total on the evening, helping them to a 26-5 advantage in points-off-turnovers and 24-1 advantage in fast break points. Both numbers were the largest margins of the season for the Gators.
Perhaps just as important, the No. 7 Lady Vols entered the contest out-rebounding their opponents by over 16 rebounds per game. Rising to the challenge, the Orange & Blue ended up outrebounding Tennessee, 40-38, led by Nina Rickards with a season-high eight. Zippy Broughton pulled-down six of her own while Emanuely de Oliveira and Smith each grabbed five.
Offensively, Smith was once again the leader with 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting to go along with five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Rickards also stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, eight rebounds and two assists while Merritt added 13 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Broughton also contributed to the strong offensive evening, ending with 10 points, six boards, six assists and two steals.
For the game, UF shot 33-of-62 (53.2%) from the floor, including three quarters where the team shot above 60%. In the second half alone, the Gators ended 19-of-29 (65.5%) from the field and 4-of-7 (57.1%) from deep.
Tennessee was led by Alexus Dye with 10 points and six rebounds.
Tennessee got the scoring started right away, knocking down a triple on their first possession. The Gators, however, would respond with a 9-0 run to claim a 9-3 lead at the 6:54 mark. The Orange & Blue extended their lead to 15-5 following another 6-0 run, capped off by a pair of free throws from Rickards, with 5:26 on the clock.
A 7-0 response from the Lady Vols closed the gap to three, but once again UF would respond, this time with an 8-2 flurry to push their advantage back to nine following a Broughton triple. The Gators went on to hold a 25-18 advantage at the end of one, forcing seven first quarter turnovers in the process.
Both squads exchanged buckets to start the second frame, but a Rickards and-one would serve as a spark to give the home team their largest lead of the night through the first two periods at 12. With the lead peaking at 34-22 after Smith managed to slice her way through the lane for an easy two, the Lady Vols would battle back to shrink the deficit to seven, 36-29, going into halftime.
Tenacious defense played a key role in the first half success for the Gators, as UF forced No. 7 Tennessee into 13 first half giveaways, translating into nine steals. A defensive team effort, a quartet of Gators recorded two steals each in the first half helping to a 15-0 advantage in fast break points and 19-3 edge in points off of turnovers.
Smith started the third period with four-consecutive points for the Gators, pushing the lead to 40-29 early before both squads would trade buckets through the 5:08 mark of the quarter. Florida would blow the game wide-open following an 8-0 run before using another 6-0 spurt, with a triple from Merritt, to extend the lead to 58-31 with 1:02 on the clock. The UF lead sat at 59-41 with one quarter to play.
Back-to-back buckets from long range by Smith and Merritt to start the final frame helped give Florida breathing room at 65-43 with 8:40 remaining. The Lady Volunteers, however, would not go down without a fight. Offensive flurries of five points, followed by another 5-2 stretch, helped Tennessee pull back within 15 at 73-58 with 5:32 remaining in the game.
That's as close the opposition would get however, as the Orange & Blue ended the game on an 11-1 run, with six points coming from Smith, while holding Tennessee scoreless for the last 5:10 of the game to win running away, 84-59.
The schedule doesn't get any easier for the Gators, as they hit the road for Athens, Ga., on Sunday for a matchup with No. 14/11 Georgia at 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
Quotables
Head Coach Kelly Rae Finley
On defensive strategy...
"I mean our advantage is our quickness and our speed. I also think our advantage is in our next-play mentality, both within the possession and from offense to defense, defense to offense. I think that we have grown a lot in that and it's something that we really focus on. But as far as defensive strategy, we knew that's where our advantage was. Their advantage was their size, like Kiki said. So, if we allowed them to play their offense at the three-point line and post up our guards, it was going to be a long night. So, we bought into that. We understood the assignment and I thought we executed pretty much to perfection."
On no longer being the underdog...
"Nah we like that, we'll keep it. We're good, but we don't need everybody else to tell us we're good. That's not arrogance either, it's not. It's a belief that you are enough and listen, everybody is beating everybody in our league, that's why you come to the SEC to play the best of the best and the way that we prepare any night, we don't look at the rank. What is that going to help us? If you can tell me how that's going to help us then we'll fixate on it, but it's not. I think that's made a huge difference for our team."
On their physical performance...
"I mean we believe that we're in really good shape. We have an excellent strength coach. She has us prepared. Our trainer is very, very good. They have us healthy and prepared to play at the pace we want to play at and that usually results in a pace that most teams don't play at, right. Not to be redundant, but we know that if we can speed the game up that can hopefully lead to our advantage down the stretch."
Graduate Guard Kiara Smith
On their confidence level...
"For me, it's another game. SEC, the conference is pretty much winnable. Every game is winnable for us, so we just go into each game with the same mindset. Like Coach Kelly said, our defense won this game for us tonight, we did a lot of focus on that, so I think that it definitely boosts our confidence but our confidence, we don't need wins to boost it."
On shots falling early...
"We knew. We talked a lot about it. We don't stop playing our game until the buzzer goes off. So, we knew being an SEC team, it's not just going to let down and give up. Like they said, we kept our same pace, we wanted a fast pace, and that's what we did. And like she said we knock down those shots every single day and it definitely helps when you get to see the ball go in and that but it's not a surprise when it does go in and that, we just get back and play defense."
Sophomore Forward Jordyn Merritt
On the team pulling together...
"I just think that we are really good at facing adversity and just overcoming it together. At the end of the day, we have each other and we know that we can rely on each other to uphold a commitment and just be dedicated and buy into the program. I just think that that is what has brought us this far for sure."
On what "we are enough" means to her...
"I think for me, not to sound really arrogant, but we don't really need validation from anybody. I think that we believe in ourselves, and we just go into every game knowing that you know we are enough, we can compete with anybody in the country."
Postgame Bites
- Florida's win over Tennessee was just their fifth in the series and third in Gainesville.
- Thursday was Florida's largest margin of victory over a top-10 team in program history.
- Not only was Thursday's win the largest margin of victory over Tennessee, it was the first time ever that the Gators have defeated UT by more than 10 points.
- It was also just the second time in the 59-meetings that Tennessee has scored under 60 points (57 on Feb. 8, 2009).
- Thursday marked the highest-rated SEC victory since Jan. 5, 2014 when Florida defeated No. 6 Kentucky, 83-73.
- It was the highest-rated victory over Tennessee since Feb. 26, 2006 when UF defeated No. 5 Tennessee, 95-93, in Knoxville.
- The 84 points scored by Florida were the most the Lady Vols have given up this season.
- Florida handed Tennessee their worst loss against an unranked opponent since the AP Poll debuted in 1976.
Friday Free-for-All: Post Inside Access:
Raw & unedited
May 10, 2020
Kamari Wilson tried to commit
January 31, 2021
Rashod Dubinion
Yeah he tried to commit to us but we didn’t accept it. So I don’t know who it will be.
Sophomore video was better than his Junior Video. We still like him but not enough to accept his commitment.
February 2, 2021
First day they told me about Nick Evers and Sam Horn at QB with Jacurri Brown slipping down the QB board.
February 3, 2021
Was told WR Isaiah Horton wants to commit right now. 6-3, 190-Pounds from Murfreesboro TN Oakland HS. UF wanted to wait for some others ahead.
Was also told that UF will land Francois Nolton at DE and Daniel Lyons at DT
February 15, 2021 Virtual Tours.
Did Jamarion Miller and Omarion Hampton yesterday. Have Qae’Shon Sapp this evening. Jamari Lyons on Tuesday.
February 16, 2021 got a call saying the Jamari Lyons VT went great they think they can lock him up. Also Cade K.
February 17, 2021 Virtual Tour with Addison Nichols.
We are doing a virtual with multiple members of IMG’s team in a group session tonight after practice.
Guys who we would take right now = *
22’s
Kaytron Allen *
Alou Bah
Tyler Booker *
Malik Bryant *
Kamari Wilson *
Jihaad Campbell *
Daylen Everette
Dominick James
Drew Shelton *
Keon Sabb
23’s
Francis Mauigoa DT
Jordan Hall ILB
Knijeah Harris OL *
Malik Bryant OLB *
February 19, 2021 Devin Moore VIrtual Tour
February 22nd spoke to Cooper to wish him well at Louisville. Told me Christen Miller would end up at UF in his opinion. Based on the Dawgs not going to have room in their class.
February 23, 2021
VT with WR Isaiah Horton
And McGee speaking with Nick Evers again
February 24, Wednesday they will have a BIG zoom VT with Cade
March 1st, day after McCall announces for FSU and Horn to Missouri.
the guys who I have shared with Mullen that are must gets if we are going to get this recruiting dominance thing going in state are:
Julian Armella
Tyler Booker
Terrance Gibbs or Kaytron Allen
Shemar Stewart
Devin Moore
Kamari Wilson
Kenyatta Jackson
Tony Livingston
Jamari Lyons
Nyjalik Kelly
Throw in some out of state guys we lead for like Jaleel Skinner, Christen Miller and Shemar James and all of a sudden you have a pretty good class.
March 1, 2021
Nick Evers two days before his UF VT and after his Texas Tech and TCU offers told me this.
yes sir it’s been a little bit. they said i’m at the top of their board but i don’t see it. it’s all good...if they don’t want to have me i have been blessed with many more opportunities!!
March 2, 2021
Was told former Clemson CB wanted to come to UF badly, it was done, our communication with him indicated we wanted him badly but coaches wanted him to wait until the summer so then when we had to go back and communicate that message to him the decision for him to pass on UF was easy. Dan did not feel he was better than Jaydon Hill. Forgot the kids name!!
March 3, 2021
Have someone working on Horton edit leading up to his announcement date of March 15th.
March 10, 2021
Was told tonight that TE CJ Hawkins told Dan on the 9th he committed to UF, supposed to go public very soon, as in next few days or so.
March 30, 2021
ILB Board
Omar Graham Behind all these:
Jihaad Campbell
Harold Perkins
Shemar James
Shawn Murphy
Jaron Willis
Jeremiah Alexander
Malaki Starks
EJ Lightsey
Horton may have missed his chance at announcing for UF. Staff wants to slow him down tremendously
April 5th VV
Terrance Brooks 6-0, 185 John Paul HS in Plano Texas
April 6th VV
Shemar James ILB 6-3/210 Mobile AL Faith Academy
Nick Cull CB 6-1/180 Donalsonville GA Seminole County
April 8th-Board already set for 2023
Shawn Russ
Cedrick Hawkins
Sharif Denson
Antonio Robinson
Cormani McClain
Joenel Aguero
Tony Mitchell
Malik Mhuammad
AJ Harris
April 11th, 2021
Jules Montinar
Devin
Azareyeh
Earl
Terrance
I’m looking into Julian Humphrey from clear lake Texas fast kid. I can get him now if I want it.
April 29th, 2021
Jules Monitar
Devin Moore
Azarayeh Thomas
Julian Humphrey
Earl little JR
Terrance Brooks
May 27th, 2021
DL board
Walter Nolen
Jamari Lyons
Chris McClellan
Daniel Lyons
Shemar Stewart
Francois Nolton
Quency Wiggins
Nyjalik Kelly
June 4th, 2021 OV Weekend Chatter
Walter Nolen told everyone he was coming to UF done deal he said to recruits coaches and players.
Evan Stewart, Gentry Williams, Chris McClellan kept saying we are going to turn this into Alabama.
Tyler Booker said yes but all these kids want to take their OV’s
June 7th
Jaheim Singletary makes surprising visit to UF spends the day with Ratliff, will be either UF or Miami in the end.
June 10th
Walter Nolen secret trip UF asked me to keep it quiet and not to write about it.
June 30th
I was told by Dan that Jaheim Singletary will ink with UF on NSD. Also, Dan mentioned again they will land Devin Moore and Ryan Turner
July 4th prior to Devin Moore announcing.
Told me this prior to publicly announcing.
Yeah I felt that the coaching staff at notre dame had more family vibes and there able to connect a lot with recruits and also my whole family lives a hour to 3 away from notre dame. i’ve also wanted to venture out of florida to expiernce different climate.
Florida still says he inks with the Gators though
Also, Walter Nolen mom arrived at UF Tuesday prior to today (July 4) had two interviews and checked out a local HS for her other kid or kids not sure if they have more than one in addition to Walter.
July 13 RB situation
We’re working;
Gibbs
Glover
Etienne
Allen
Alston
Pettaway
And still working Miller and don’t worry about Alston he told me we are not in his top three
July 27th, 2021
Jamarion Miller - been told he is not going to Texas. Either A&M or us. Mom liked us
Julian Armella - Don’t feel good but got to try.
Evan Stewart - Coming to FNL
Jayden Gibson - Coming to Saturday cookout. All Gator
Gentry Williams - Don’t know what he is waiting for. Been told by reliable source, us or USC.
Chris McClellan - Us or Ohio State. Loved OSU visit but family likes UF
Jamari Lyons - What’s he waiting on?
Quincy Wiggins - Could be a beast.
Marvin Jones - Going to the wire but I like us in this one
Shemar Stewart - Don’t feel good about it.
EJ Lightsey - Under rated and way better than people think. Remember I told you that in 3 years.
Kamari Wilson - kid is going to Jack around and then want to come to UF in the end and may get the Terrion Arnold treatment, may be full
Devin Moore - kid wants to be a Gator, Dad wants ND
Azareyeh Thomas - People are struggling to handicap this one. A lot of folks think Ga. Tech. A lot LSU. Some UF. Watch what I am saying all UF here.
Jaheim Singletary - I think he is a Gator when it’s all said and done. We just need to keep on him
July 28
The first day I was told about running back Leviton Moss Not ending up at Alabama and Florida having a real chance they reached out to Florida on their own
August 8th, 2021
regarding TJ Shanahan
He wasn’t at FNL, he didn’t come because an internet guy posted a list of top prospects coming to FNL 3 days before it and his feelings got hurt and said to me “I guess I’m not a top priority for you at Florida”
September 2nd, 2021
I think so, want to see Lewis play this year 1st, he’s wanted to commit for a month. Feel good with farmer, Falentha feel good with. Trying to get him down this weekend to get eyes on.
Agbo and Neto are 2 I have to keep working hard, feel we have a legit shot at both
September 8th, 2021 - Wednesday
Jordan Phillips will end up a Gator and DeCarlo Donaldson and Jaylon Glover/Jayden Gibson..first one of Glover/Etienne by the way.
September 20, 2021
Got the call saying Jaleel Skinner would silent to UF soon and go public in a few weeks possibly. Strange deal for sure bc I keep being told how his date hates the TE Coach and will not come to UF in a million years
October 15th, 2021
I just got my 4 2022s right now:
Shemar
EJ
Wesley
Jaron
2023s wide open but I love
Jaiden Ausberry
Grayson Howard
October 30th.
Great shape with McCoy
Devon, Jaheim, and Azareyeh and Devon is Dan top guy.
1pm zoom call for commitments yesterday. Gibbs/Lyons we’re working couldn’t attend.
November 8th, 2021
Jaheim Singletary visited Florida for practice and spent time with coaches after..no one has a clue he visited but I decided to report it to the Board the following night
November 9th, 2021
They continue to tell me things are perfectly fine with Chris McClellan even though he continues to push back his announcement date. I had a great guy with the kids last night and seems he’s good to go with Florida but something doesn’t quite feel 100% right.
November 17, 2021
Troy Bowles
Grayson Howard
Jaiden Ausberry
Malik Bryant
Are the best response kids so far and consistent.
December 1st 2021
New staff did not want Terrance Gibbs as we saw. They also aren’t pushing for and haven’t talked with LB Wesley Bissainthe and he’s announcing this upcoming Saturday if Napier calls he’s a Gator if not he won’t. New coaching staff thinks he’s stiff.
I was told about the Napier Plan to surpass Bama and Georgia with the largest staff in the Nation
Azareyeh Thomas - staff wanted him to workout. He decided to visit FSU on the 10th instead.
December 8th, 2021
Crazy to think what our class would have been
Nick Evers
Terrance Gibbs
Trevor Eitienne
Tony Livingston
Mason Taylor
Jalen Farmer
Julian Armella
David Conner
Matt McCoy
Isaiah Bond
CJ Smith
Jayden Gibson
Evan StewrT - possibly
Chris McClellan
Jamari Lyons
Nyjalik Kelly
EJ Lightsey
Wesley Bissainthe
Shemar James
Austin Ausberry
Devin Moore
Jamarrien Burt
Just to name a few
Also, first day I heard about Jack Miller. Family being tight with Urban/Tebow. Jack grew up a Gator. Multiple zoom calls….locked up for UF
This, That, & More:
No. 4 Florida Gymnastics at No. 11 Missouri Friday
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - There are two top-12 gymnastics duals across the nation this weekend and both are within the Southeastern Conference.
No. 4 Florida at No. 11 Missouri is the first and kicks off SEC Network's Friday Night Heights coverage from the Hearnes Center at 7 p.m. ET. The second top dual of the weekend is Saturday's No. 6 Auburn at No. 8 LSU meet.
How to Follow the Gators:
Florida at Missouri is the first of a SEC Network Friday Night Heights double-header. Olympians John Roethlisberger and Alicia Sacramone Quinn call the action.
On the go Friday? Follow the action on SEC Network
In the Gators' Last Meet:
Team high totals on the first three events along with a pair of 10.0s by Trinity Thomas and Leanne Wong boosted Florida to the nation's leading total (198.25) for 2022 in its win Friday over No. 13 Arkansas. Arkansas, coming off a week off due to COVID protocol, posted a 196.475. Friday's Gators Link to Pink meet sponsored by UF Health was held in front of a sellout Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center crowd of 9,173. It was Florida's second consecutive sellout.
Florida opened the evening with season-high totals for both vault (49.55) and uneven bars (49.725). The bars total equals the program's record set in 2019. It was a Gator vault and uneven bars sweep. Trinity Thomas won vault with her near perfect 9.975. She was followed by fellow seniors Savannah Schoenherr (9.95) and Nya Reed (9.90). Leanne Wong anchored the uneven bars lineup with the nation's first and only 10.0 on the event this season. Schoenherr equaled her collegiate best to take second at 9.975. Freshman Riley McCusker and Thomas shared third at 9.925.
The nation's first balance beam 10.0 of 2022 was posted by Thomas. It was her third on the event and first since 2020. Fellow senior Leah Clapper was runner-up with her near-perfect 9.975 and the beam total of 49.70 equaled UF's record. Reed used a 9.95 to earn her second floor exercise win of 2022. Wong won her first all-around with a team season best 39.625. Arkansas' Kennedy Hambrick was runner-up (39.475) and UF senior Megan Skaggs took third at 39.40.
SEC Award for Trinity Thomas:
Her beam 10.0 along with win on vault (9.975) earned Thomas her third consecutive SEC Specialist of the Week honor. Thomas is the nation's only gymnast with 10.0s in multiple events this season (vault, beam, floor).
About the Missouri Tigers:
Missouri dropped its first meet of 2022 Saturday at then No 12 Kentucky, 197.45 - 196.875. The Tigers turned in their season high in the 197.45 - 196.875 loss in Lexington. Junior Sienna Schreiber set MU's season all-around high of 39.50 to win the quad meet at North Carolina.
Series History:
Florida leads 28-1. .
Last meeting: UF was third(196.975) at 2021 SEC Championships and Missouri was sixth (196.125).
Rankings:
Florida: No. 4 on the Week 4 Road to Nationals site
Missouri: No. 11
Gainesville, Fla. - The Florida Gators men's and women's Swim and Dive team send 36 to the Auburn Last Chance Invitational.
Last Time Out
The Florida Gators Men's and Women's Swim and Dive team swept the Auburn Tigers with scores 201-99 of and 184-116 respectively.
Florida won 23 out of the 32 events and had a total of 13 athletes hit B-cuts.
Senior Bobby Finke took home first place in the men's 200 Back with a time of 1:46.25. Mason Laur was right behind Finke with a time of 1:49.04, finishing in fourth. Joaquin Gonzalez Pinero finished in fifth and Miguel Cancel placed in sixth.
Kieran Smith a Ridgefield, Conn. native, swam a 4:18.16 clinching himself first place in the Men's 500 free.
A pair of Gators took home first in both the men's 3-meter and women's 1-meter. Leonardo Garcia finished with a score of 413.03 and Maha Amer finished with a score of 284.55. This marks Garcia's fifth win on the 3-meter springboard and is his season's best score.
The Gators swept the men's 100 fly, as Eric Friese came in first for the men with a time of 47.56. Isaac Davis came in second by less than half a second clocking a time of 47.99, Jace Crawford placed third with a 48.01 and Will Davis< came in fourth with a 48.61.
Amanda Ray notched a time of 54.86 logging her a first-place finish for the women's 100 fly.
Talia Bates came away with two wins, one in the 100 free and the other in the 100 fly. Bates also notch two second place finished in the 400 free relay and the 200 medley relay.
New comer, Alberto Mestre notched his first win as a Gator in the 100 free with a time of 44.38. Mestre also finished third in the 50 free.
Following their meet at Auburn, the Gators will begin final preparations for the Southeastern Conference Championships on Feb. 15-19 in Knoxville, Tenn.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - For just the fifth time in program history, Florida women's basketball knocked-off Tennessee, downing the No. 7 ranked Lady Volunteers, 84-59, inside of Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Thursday night.
Handing the Lady Vols (19-3, 8-2 SEC) their largest loss to an unranked opponent since the debut of the AP Poll in 1976, Florida (16-6, 6-3 SEC) put the clamps down defensively, forcing Tennessee into 18 total turnovers while holding the opposition to 24-of-64 shooting (37.5%) from the floor. The opposition was also held scoreless over the last 5:10 of the game.
Led by veteran guard Kiara Smith with four steals, the Gators tallied 11 total on the evening, helping them to a 26-5 advantage in points-off-turnovers and 24-1 advantage in fast break points. Both numbers were the largest margins of the season for the Gators.
Perhaps just as important, the No. 7 Lady Vols entered the contest out-rebounding their opponents by over 16 rebounds per game. Rising to the challenge, the Orange & Blue ended up outrebounding Tennessee, 40-38, led by Nina Rickards with a season-high eight. Zippy Broughton pulled-down six of her own while Emanuely de Oliveira and Smith each grabbed five.
Offensively, Smith was once again the leader with 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting to go along with five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Rickards also stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, eight rebounds and two assists while Merritt added 13 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Broughton also contributed to the strong offensive evening, ending with 10 points, six boards, six assists and two steals.
For the game, UF shot 33-of-62 (53.2%) from the floor, including three quarters where the team shot above 60%. In the second half alone, the Gators ended 19-of-29 (65.5%) from the field and 4-of-7 (57.1%) from deep.
Tennessee was led by Alexus Dye with 10 points and six rebounds.
Tennessee got the scoring started right away, knocking down a triple on their first possession. The Gators, however, would respond with a 9-0 run to claim a 9-3 lead at the 6:54 mark. The Orange & Blue extended their lead to 15-5 following another 6-0 run, capped off by a pair of free throws from Rickards, with 5:26 on the clock.
A 7-0 response from the Lady Vols closed the gap to three, but once again UF would respond, this time with an 8-2 flurry to push their advantage back to nine following a Broughton triple. The Gators went on to hold a 25-18 advantage at the end of one, forcing seven first quarter turnovers in the process.
Both squads exchanged buckets to start the second frame, but a Rickards and-one would serve as a spark to give the home team their largest lead of the night through the first two periods at 12. With the lead peaking at 34-22 after Smith managed to slice her way through the lane for an easy two, the Lady Vols would battle back to shrink the deficit to seven, 36-29, going into halftime.
Tenacious defense played a key role in the first half success for the Gators, as UF forced No. 7 Tennessee into 13 first half giveaways, translating into nine steals. A defensive team effort, a quartet of Gators recorded two steals each in the first half helping to a 15-0 advantage in fast break points and 19-3 edge in points off of turnovers.
Smith started the third period with four-consecutive points for the Gators, pushing the lead to 40-29 early before both squads would trade buckets through the 5:08 mark of the quarter. Florida would blow the game wide-open following an 8-0 run before using another 6-0 spurt, with a triple from Merritt, to extend the lead to 58-31 with 1:02 on the clock. The UF lead sat at 59-41 with one quarter to play.
Back-to-back buckets from long range by Smith and Merritt to start the final frame helped give Florida breathing room at 65-43 with 8:40 remaining. The Lady Volunteers, however, would not go down without a fight. Offensive flurries of five points, followed by another 5-2 stretch, helped Tennessee pull back within 15 at 73-58 with 5:32 remaining in the game.
That's as close the opposition would get however, as the Orange & Blue ended the game on an 11-1 run, with six points coming from Smith, while holding Tennessee scoreless for the last 5:10 of the game to win running away, 84-59.
The schedule doesn't get any easier for the Gators, as they hit the road for Athens, Ga., on Sunday for a matchup with No. 14/11 Georgia at 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
Quotables
Head Coach Kelly Rae Finley
On defensive strategy...
"I mean our advantage is our quickness and our speed. I also think our advantage is in our next-play mentality, both within the possession and from offense to defense, defense to offense. I think that we have grown a lot in that and it's something that we really focus on. But as far as defensive strategy, we knew that's where our advantage was. Their advantage was their size, like Kiki said. So, if we allowed them to play their offense at the three-point line and post up our guards, it was going to be a long night. So, we bought into that. We understood the assignment and I thought we executed pretty much to perfection."
On no longer being the underdog...
"Nah we like that, we'll keep it. We're good, but we don't need everybody else to tell us we're good. That's not arrogance either, it's not. It's a belief that you are enough and listen, everybody is beating everybody in our league, that's why you come to the SEC to play the best of the best and the way that we prepare any night, we don't look at the rank. What is that going to help us? If you can tell me how that's going to help us then we'll fixate on it, but it's not. I think that's made a huge difference for our team."
On their physical performance...
"I mean we believe that we're in really good shape. We have an excellent strength coach. She has us prepared. Our trainer is very, very good. They have us healthy and prepared to play at the pace we want to play at and that usually results in a pace that most teams don't play at, right. Not to be redundant, but we know that if we can speed the game up that can hopefully lead to our advantage down the stretch."
Graduate Guard Kiara Smith
On their confidence level...
"For me, it's another game. SEC, the conference is pretty much winnable. Every game is winnable for us, so we just go into each game with the same mindset. Like Coach Kelly said, our defense won this game for us tonight, we did a lot of focus on that, so I think that it definitely boosts our confidence but our confidence, we don't need wins to boost it."
On shots falling early...
"We knew. We talked a lot about it. We don't stop playing our game until the buzzer goes off. So, we knew being an SEC team, it's not just going to let down and give up. Like they said, we kept our same pace, we wanted a fast pace, and that's what we did. And like she said we knock down those shots every single day and it definitely helps when you get to see the ball go in and that but it's not a surprise when it does go in and that, we just get back and play defense."
Sophomore Forward Jordyn Merritt
On the team pulling together...
"I just think that we are really good at facing adversity and just overcoming it together. At the end of the day, we have each other and we know that we can rely on each other to uphold a commitment and just be dedicated and buy into the program. I just think that that is what has brought us this far for sure."
On what "we are enough" means to her...
"I think for me, not to sound really arrogant, but we don't really need validation from anybody. I think that we believe in ourselves, and we just go into every game knowing that you know we are enough, we can compete with anybody in the country."
Postgame Bites
- Florida's win over Tennessee was just their fifth in the series and third in Gainesville.
- Thursday was Florida's largest margin of victory over a top-10 team in program history.
- Not only was Thursday's win the largest margin of victory over Tennessee, it was the first time ever that the Gators have defeated UT by more than 10 points.
- It was also just the second time in the 59-meetings that Tennessee has scored under 60 points (57 on Feb. 8, 2009).
- Thursday marked the highest-rated SEC victory since Jan. 5, 2014 when Florida defeated No. 6 Kentucky, 83-73.
- It was the highest-rated victory over Tennessee since Feb. 26, 2006 when UF defeated No. 5 Tennessee, 95-93, in Knoxville.
- The 84 points scored by Florida were the most the Lady Vols have given up this season.
- Florida handed Tennessee their worst loss against an unranked opponent since the AP Poll debuted in 1976.
