Sports | Football - The Independent Florida Alligator

In the team’s final five games, UF running back Adarius Lemons registered 136 yards on 19 carries for an average of 7.2 yards per attempt.

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Column: Four Florida players primed for breakout seasons in 2018

By Dylan Dixon | Nov. 29, 2017

There’s no other way to say it, folks.

UF offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier participates in Florida's Gator Walk prior to the Orange & Blue Debut on April 8, 2016, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

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Randy Shannon, Doug Nussmeier reportedly fired from coaching staff

By Ethan Bauer | Nov. 28, 2017

After two days as Florida’s head coach, Dan Mullen is already sorting out which assistants will join him on the sidelines in 2018.

New England Patriots' Julian Edelman eyes the ball before making the catch as Atlanta Falcons' Robert Alford, left, and Keanu Neal defend, during the second half of Super Bowl 51 in Houston. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

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Neal’s friendly fire and other Gators in the NFL: Week 12 Edition

By Sam Campisano | Nov. 27, 2017

Keanu Neal has become known for his big hits.

Coach Dan Mullen announced Feleipe Franks as the Gators' starting quarterback heading into Saturday's game against Charleston Southern.

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‘We’re going to be back’: Gators reflect on a forgettable football season

By IAN COHEN | Nov. 26, 2017

The room is quiet. You can go in.

Dan Mullen has been hired as the next head coach of Florida's football program, the school confirmed on Sunday evening. Mullen was the offensive coordinator at UF from 2005 to 2008 and spent the past nine seasons as head coach at Mississippi State.

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Dan Mullen hired as Florida's next head coach

By Dylan Dixon | Nov. 26, 2017

Less than one decade after helping Florida win two national championships over a three-year span, Dan Mullen is coming back to Gainesville.

While the Gators (4-7) stumbled to a 38-22 loss on Saturday, falling to the Seminoles (5-6) for a fifth consecutive season, many players are eager to see how UF will move on from a forgettable 2017 campaign

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Forget 4-7: Three things that matter for Florida’s 2018 season

By Matt Brannon | Nov. 25, 2017

UF receiver Josh Hammond spent about 11 words reflecting on Florida’s 2017 season.

Feleipe Franks threw a career-high three interceptions and also lost one fumble in Florida's 38-22 defeat to Florida State.

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Turnovers maim Florida in season-ending defeat to FSU

By Dylan Dixon | Nov. 25, 2017

As Feleipe Franks watched his third interception of the day land in the arms Matthew Thomas, the only thing Florida’s quarterback could do was stare.

While Chauncey Gardner struggled in areas like tackling at the beginning of the year, he’s come into his own as a safety, grabbing interceptions in each of Florida’s past two games.

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Gators in position to snap Florida State’s 35-game bowl streak

By Matt Brannon | Nov. 20, 2017

Something was different when Josh Hammond showed up to practice on Monday.

The Gators haven’t beaten the Seminoles since 2012, meaning both last year's and this year's seniors never did. “We just want to send those guys out with a good win,” sophomore running back Lamical Perine said. “There’s going to be a whole lot of fans coming out for that game. It’s going to be a nice game.”

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With newfound momentum, Gators can save sinking ship of a season vs. FSU

By Ethan Bauer | Nov. 19, 2017

Sentimentality crept through Florida’s locker room after the team’s win over UAB on Saturday. Finally, after six weeks and five games without a win, the Gators could celebrate. And they did.

Chauncey Gardner Jr.'s 42-yard interception return set up Florida's first touchdown of the game on Saturday in its 36-7 win over UAB.

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Gators end five-game skid with 36-7 victory over UAB

By Dylan Dixon | Nov. 18, 2017

As Kylen Binn’s pass soared 35 yards through the air, Chauncey Gardner Jr. stopped dead in his tracks.

Adarius Lemons rushed for a team-high and career-high 89 yards on 11 carries during Florida’s 36-7 win on Saturday.

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Notebook: Lemons has career day, offensive line solid despite injuries

By IAN COHEN | Nov. 18, 2017

After a season of limited playing time, Adarius Lemons had a breakout game on Saturday.

As a player, you’re not supposed to criticize your teammates. You’re definitely not supposed to question their effort after a loss. And you’re absolutely not supposed to do it in public in front of reporters. But David Reese wasn’t punished and his teammates weren’t angry. Everyone knew he was right.

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David Reese was tired of being the hardest-working player on UF’s defense. So he let his teammates know.

By Matt Brannon | Nov. 17, 2017

Distracted is an understatement.

With just two games left before his college career comes to a close, UF running back Mark Thompson isn’t holding back from expressing his opinion. “I really wish they would just stop looking and give (Shannon) the head coaching job,” he said. “He’s a great coach. He knows what he’s doing.”

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Players voice support for Shannon as coaching rumors swirl

By Dylan Dixon | Nov. 15, 2017

Mark Thompson knows that it’s inevitable.

After practice on Tuesday, Randy Shannon said offensive lineman Antonio Riles likely won’t play this week, adding to an already extensive injury list. Among the players out for the season are safety Marcell Harris, defensive lineman Jordan Sherit, center T.J. McCoy, running back Malik Davis, quarterback Luke Del Rio and offensive lineman Brett Heggie, all of whom were starters.

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Gators’ list of injuries grows, shrinks UF’s roster

By IAN COHEN | Nov. 14, 2017

Randy Shannon is familiar with coaching just 53 players.

Interim coach Randy Shannon announced on Monday that receiver Dre Massey (9) will step in as second-string quarterback behind Feleipe Franks for Saturday's game against UAB.

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Interim coach Randy Shannon promotes receiver Dre Massey to second-string quarterback

By Matt Brannon | Nov. 13, 2017

Florida quarterbacks are dropping like open passes this season.

The Gators football team faces the possibility of ending the season with a losing record for just the second time in 38 years.

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With bowl-game hopes gashed, Gators are playing for pride

By IAN COHEN | Nov. 12, 2017

Taven Bryan was wearing a blue collared shirt. He had stripped off the bulky shoulder pads that he wore about 30 minutes before, pulled off the white jersey that had been covered with dirt and sweat, and, for just a moment, unburdened himself of what was running through his mind.

Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks (left) completed 10 of 25 passes for 174 yards, no touchdowns and one interception on Saturday against South Carolina. UF fell to the Gamecocks, 28-20, sending its losing streak to five straight games.

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Gators losing streak continues in 28-20 defeat to Gamecocks

By Dylan Dixon | Nov. 11, 2017

By the time Florida’s defense realized Jake Bentley still had the ball in his hands, there was nothing any of its players could do.

Taven Bryan, a redshirt junior, was a freshman when Florida fired the current South Carolina head coach. Saturday at noon, Will Muschamp and his second-place Gamecocks will host a vulnerable Florida team still marred by the loss of its most recent sideline chief, Jim McElwain.

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Gators’ battle to make a bowl game starts in South Carolina

By Matt Brannon | Nov. 10, 2017

Gators defensive tackle Taven Bryan smirked, realizing he still had Will Muschamp’s old playbook.

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Ja'Marr Chase, top-20 receiving recruit, decommits from the University of Florida

By Matt Brannon | Nov. 8, 2017

Ten days after the firing of former Florida coach Jim McElwian, the Gators have their first decommitment.

Missouri head coach Barry Odom, right, talks with Florida head coach Randy Shannon, left, before the start of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

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Three things UF coach Randy Shannon wants to change before South Carolina game

By IAN COHEN | Nov. 7, 2017

As interim coach Randy Shannon ended Florida’s practice Tuesday and walked to the south end zone of UF’s indoor practice facility, he made one request.