Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Receiver Dre Massey participates in Florida's 2016 Spring practice at the Sanders Practice Fields.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

After two years in junior college, receiver finds home at Florida

By Patrick Pinak | Aug. 25, 2016

Steve Spurrier didn’t forget about Dre.

UF's Antonio Callaway (81) returns a punt 85 yards for a touchdown during Florida's 29-15 loss to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game on Dec. 5, 2015, in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: Season-opener status for three receivers remains unclear

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Aug. 25, 2016

Antonio Callaway has been taking reps with the first-team offense during practice over the last three weeks.

UF offensive lineman Fred Johnson (74) screams in excitement as he runs out of the tunnel prior to Florida's 14-9 win against Kentucky on Sept. 19, 2015, at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Youth along offensive line will prove critical to UF’s success

By Ethan Bauer | Aug. 25, 2016

At 6-foot-6 with piercing green eyes, Fred Johnson is a man who walks into a room and demands attention.

UF midfielder Sarah Troccoli dribbles past an Iowa State defender during Florida's 5-2 win against Iowa State on Aug. 19, 2016, at James G. Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

After two straight wins, No. 6 Florida faces first real test

By Lauren Staff | Aug. 25, 2016

The last time Florida played Stanford in the 2014 NCAA quarterfinals, the game ended in a 2-2 tie and came down to a penalty kick decision.

UF coach Mary Wise calls out instructions during Florida's 3-0 win against Auburn on Oct. 11, 2015, in the O'Connell Center. On Friday, Wise earned her 800th win as the coach of the Gators.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

UF volleyball opens season against No. 1 Nebraska

By Ray Boone | Aug. 25, 2016

After a 2015 season that ended in agonizing defeat, the Florida volleyball team finally has a shot at redemption.

Cornerback Jalen Tabor (31) celebrates after successfully defending wide receiver Josh Hammond (10) during the Orange & Blue Debut on April 8, 2016, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

AlligatorSports Roundtable: Predicting the Florida Gators football season

Aug. 24, 2016

With UF’s season opener against UMass fast approaching, alligatorSports football writers Ethan Bauer, Ian Cohen, Jordan McPherson and Patrick Pinak take their best shots at predicting how the 25th-ranked Gators will fare this year.

UF forward Savannah Jordan takes a shot on goal during Florida's 5-2 win against Iowa State on Aug. 19, 2016, at James G. Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Florida soccer has tough road ahead

By Lauren Staff | Aug. 24, 2016

Two matches into the season, No. 7 Florida has dominated its opponents.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Column: Fall in Gainesville means more than just football

By IAN COHEN | Aug. 24, 2016

Fall is here.

Johnny Townsend punts during Florida's 20-14 overtime win against Florida Atlantic on Nov. 21, 2015, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

One town, two Townsends: UF’s punting brothers helping each other grow

By Patrick Pinak | Aug. 23, 2016

There weren’t many players the Gators leaned on as much as Johnny Townsend last year.

Safety Marcell Harris (26) tackles running back Mark Thompson during the Orange & Blue Debut on April 8, 2016, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

With time running out, UF defensive back wants to be great

By Ethan Bauer | Aug. 23, 2016

The top two safeties in Florida’s 2013 recruiting class have taken strikingly different paths so far in their young careers.

Florida center Cameron Dillard prepares to snap the ball during the 2016 Orange and Blue debut on April 8, 2016, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Dillard is among UF's veterans tasked with leading the next generation of offensive linemen.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Veterans looking to patch up Florida’s porous offensive line

By IAN COHEN | Aug. 23, 2016

When Bryan Cox walks up to the left side of the line of scrimmage and squares his 6-foot-3, 269-pound frame toward the quarterback, he has his eyes set on one player: sophomore offensive lineman Fred Johnson.

Former University of Florida teammates, Jacksonville Jaguars' Dante Fowler, left, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Vernon Hargreaves, right, pose for a photo after they signed and exchanged jerseys after an NFL preseason football game in Jacksonville, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators in the NFL: Hargreaves hauls in two interceptions

By Matt Brannon | Aug. 22, 2016

The NFL preseason is back in session, which means it's time for four weeks of almost-football: the grace period for rookies to get their feet wet and veterans to get back in form for Week 1. Halfway through the preseason, let’s take a look at how Florida’s former Gators are competing at the next level.

UF defensive back Quincy Wilson (6) celebrates after catching an interception in the waning seconds of Florida's 24-14 win against South Carolina on Nov. 14, 2015, at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Column: Tabor isn't only corner to fear on UF's defense

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Aug. 22, 2016

Last season, Jalen Tabor cast shadows over opposing wide receivers.

Florida defensive lineman CeCe Jefferson participates in a drill during a Spring practice on March 21, 2016, at the Sanders Football Field.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Defensive lineman balances football with fatherhood

By Ethan Bauer | Aug. 22, 2016

There’s meaning behind each of the tattoos that paint CeCe Jefferson’s right arm, and to begin to understand him, you need to understand them.

UF right-side hitter Alex Holston (3) celebrates during Florida's 3-0 win against St. John's on Sept. 17, 2015, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida volleyball poised for rebound

By Ray Boone | Aug. 22, 2016

It was a rough year for Florida volleyball in 2015.

Florida's Caeleb Dressel reacts after winning the 100-yard freestyle at the NCAA men's swimming and diving championships Saturday, March 26, 2016, in Atlanta. The initials on his face are in honor of a former teacher. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Men’s swimming and diving seeks fifth straight SEC title

By Sean Doty | Aug. 22, 2016

Much of UF’s men’s swimming and diving team’s potential success this season will likely be due to Olympic gold medalist Caeleb Dressel.

UF midfielders Meggie Dougherty Howard (28) and Mayra Pelayo celebrate after Pelayo scores the first goal in Florida's 5-2 win against Iowa State on Aug. 19, 2016, at James G. Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

UF’s defense stymies Florida Atlantic in shutout

By Dylan Dixon | Aug. 22, 2016

One of the biggest uncertainties facing the 2016 Florida soccer team this offseason was how it would fare defensively following the loss of All-American defenders Christen Westphal and Claire Falknor to graduation.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Incoming recruits have UF volleyball buzzing

By Alejandro López | Aug. 22, 2016

Roster turnover can stunt a program’s growth.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Breaking down UF’s defense two weeks before opener

By IAN COHEN | Aug. 21, 2016

With the Florida football team several weeks into preseason camp, alligatorSports Editors Ian Cohen and Ethan Bauer take a look at UF's position groups on defense and special teams and provide analysis from the first few weeks of Fall practice.

Gordon Neale lines up a shot during the SunTrust Gator Invitational on Feb. 21 at the Mark Bostick Golf course.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators look to continue strong play behind Horsfield, Neale

By Jake Dreilinger | Aug. 21, 2016

The biggest story for the Florida men’s golf team was the emergence of two young talents in sophomores Sam Horsfield and Gordon Neale.