Football finally returned for current and former Gators this past weekend. With Week 1 of the 2014 NFL season along with the first official and complete University of Florida football game of 2014 in the books, it’s time to review how UF football grads are doing in the pros.
Power of three: A different set of three Gators made powerful contributions in Sunday afternoon’s Cincinnati Bengals vs Baltimore Ravens game.
As for the Bengals, UF alum Carlos Dunlap had three tackles and one sack, while fellow Gator Reggie Nelson’s 10 tackles—seven of which were solo—contributed to a strong Cincinnati defense that held the Ravens to only 16 points. The Bengals’ offense put up 23 points for the win.
Matt Elam three tackles and one defended pass was not enough to secure the Ravens a win, in what would turn out to be a not-so-great start to the season on and off the field for Baltimore.
Fellow Florida grad and teammate Will Hill remains on the reserve-suspended list, where he will remain for the next five weeks as punishment for repeatedly violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Former Gator wide receiver Deonte Thompson did not record any statistics for the Ravens.
Sturgis, Jenkins make impact for ‘Fins: Many former Gators had a hand in the most surprising game of the week. The Miami Dolphins defeated the New England Patriots 33-20 at Sun Life Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Five former Gators took to the field in Miami Gardens, Fla.—four for the Dolphins and one for the Patriots.
Jelani Jenkins had six tackles for the Dolphins in Sunday’s game—five of which were solo tackles. Caleb Sturgis went 4-for-4 on field goals with a long of 38 yards. The second year NFL veteran made all three extra points for the Dolphins.
Among the former Gators and current Dolphins who did not compete Sunday were Mike Gillislee (injured reserve, hamstring) and Mike Pouncey (offseason hip surgery). Pouncey is expected to miss eight weeks while Gillislee’s season is over before it could begin.
On the other side of the field, former Gator Dominique Easley made one tackle for the Patriots in his regular season debut.
The first round draft pick also committed a neutral-zone infraction, which put New England back five yards to the 26-yard line with seven minutes left in the second quarter.
Success in Seattle: Percy Harvin was arguably the most successful Gator in the NFL this past week.
In the first NFL regular season game, Harvin totaled 160 all-purpose yards for the reigning champion Seattle Seahawks, whom defeated the Green Bay Packers 36-16 Thursday night.
Harvin started off his second year with the Seahawks strong, catching seven balls for 59 yards, returning three kicks for 60 yards and rushing four times for 41 yards.
"We had a ton of different ways to show how we’re fitting him into our offense," said Pete Carroll, Seahawks coach after Thursday’s game. "It’s what we’ve been hoping for. There’s a bunch of other stuff that we’ll do. We’re just getting started."
Closer to home: Former Gator Jeff Demps remains on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad. UF alum Solomon Patton returned two kicks for 52 yards and four punts for 56 yards in his NFL debut.
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Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith (89) is stopped by Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Terence Newman (23) and free safety Reggie Nelson (20) during the Bengals' 23-16 win at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Sunday.
