Sports | Football - The Independent Florida Alligator

Redshirt sophomore Feleipe Franks is engaged in a competition to retain his role as Florida's starting quarterback.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Everything you missed about UF football over the summer

By alligatorSports Staff Report | Aug. 23, 2018

A new coaching staff, a frying pan and an AR-15.

Florida running back Malik Davis was leading the Gators in rushing last season before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the year.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

PREDICTION: Who's slated for a breakout season in 2018?

By Alligator Staff report | Aug. 21, 2018

The UF football team kicks off its season on Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m. The Alligator's football writers — Mark Stine, Alanis Thames, Morgan McMullen and Jake Dreilinger — debate who will have the biggest breakout season on the team.

Coach Dan Mullen (right) evaluates his quarterbacks and running backs during fall camp. At Monday's press conference, he said he'll be evaluating the starting quarterback contenders over the next couple of days.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Biggest takeaways from Mullen’s press conference

By Mark Stine | Aug. 20, 2018

A quarterback decision is coming soon Florida and Charleston Southern kick off in under two weeks at the Swamp, and according to UF head coach Dan Mullen, the quarterback that starts on Sept. 1 will be the guy he goes with for the SEC opener against Kentucky on Sept. 8.

Senior running back Jordan Scarlett is returning from a suspension that spanned the 2017 season. "He’s (Scarlett's) in that process of getting himself back to where he was in the past conditioning wise and physically," said running backs coach Greg Knox.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Focuses in camp at each position group on offense

By Mark Stine | Aug. 8, 2018

The UF offensive coaches spoke to the media Tuesday, and each of them talked about their evaluations of fall camp so far.

A unit of Florida wide receivers, including transfers Van Jefferson (12) and Trevon Grimes (8), rests during Day 1 of fall camp after catching passes from the quarterbacks.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

QBs with lots to learn, transfer receivers settling in

By Mark Stine | Aug. 6, 2018

The Florida Gators will take the field for the first time in full pads today.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Quarterbacks were on display during Day 1 of fall camp

By Mark Stine | Aug. 3, 2018

After the first practice of camp, UF coach Dan Mullen stressed that mental effort will be one of the most important focuses for his players this fall.

Junior defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson said that West Virginia transfer is sleeping on his couch. “That’s my boy. Me and him grew up probably like 20 minutes from each other,” he said.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Transfers and veterans getting along, Gators learning new system

By Mark Stine | Aug. 2, 2018

Transfer wide receivers Trevon Grimes (Ohio State) and Van Jefferson (Ole Miss) were ruled eligible to play at UF this fall by the NCAA Thursday.

UF head coach Dan Mullen shared his team weapons policy at UF Media Day on Thursday. "I have a no-weapons policy, but it’s not like you’re not allowed to have a gun," he said.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Dan Mullen’s got a confusing gun policy

By Mark Stine | Aug. 2, 2018

UF head football coach Dan Mullen has one of the most interesting policies about his players having weapons.

Will Kadarius Toney be suspended for his offseason shenanigans?

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Football offensive position battles

By Chris O'Brien and Mark Stine | July 25, 2018

When fall camp starts on Aug. 3, many of the players on the UF football team will begin duking it out to see who will be in the starting lineup this fall.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

UF football player charged with 2 felonies, suspended

By Mark Stine | July 24, 2018

Justin Watkins, incoming freshman and four-star recruit of the UF football team, was in Alachua County jail Tuesday on four criminal charges.

Wide receiver Van Jefferson figures to be one of the most impactful newcomers for the UF football team.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Top incoming recruits/transfers rundown for fall sports

By Chris O'Brien , Andrew Huang and Alligator Staff report | July 10, 2018

There are many incoming freshmen and transfers joining UF Athletics for the 2018-19 season. With the first sporting event of the 2018 fall sports season under one month away (soccer exhibition match at Florida Gulf Coast on Aug. 7), it’s time to get acquainted with some of the new faces of the Florida Gators. Sports writers Chris O’Brien, Andrew Huang and Mark Stine highlight newcomers to watch for the upcoming football, volleyball and soccer campaigns.

Graduate transfer Adam Shuler announced that he will be attending Florida. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

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Florida lands graduate transfer Adam Shuler

By Dylan Rudolph | June 11, 2018

Coach Dan Mullen will have another defensive lineman to work with next season.

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Incoming football recruit Justin Watkins arrested

By Mark Stine | May 10, 2018

Justin Watkins, incoming freshman and 4-star recruit of the UF football team, was arrested in Marion County, Florida, Wednesday and is being charged with a misdemeanor count of “trespassing upon grounds of a public school facility.”

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida Gators sign assistant coaches, Grantham given $4.47 million

By Mark Stine | May 8, 2018

The Florida Gators football program signed 10 assistants to head coach Dan Mullen’s staff on Monday. UF will pay its assistants $4.74 million in 2018, and $5.44 in 2019.

Uf quarterback Feleipe Franks went 8 of 12 for 117 yards and two rushing touchdowns during Florida's Orange and Blue game on Saturday. Franks is fighting to retain the starting role for 2018.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Orange and Blue game leaves quarterback situation unclear

By Jake Dreilinger | Apr. 15, 2018

The uncertainty surrounding the Florida football team’s quarterback situation is almost as murky as Jim McElwain’s prospects of ever landing another head coaching job.

Running back Jordan Scarlett is expected to be the bell-cow back by our sports editors.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Jordan Scarlett impresses during Florida’s spring game

By Jake Dreilinger | Apr. 15, 2018

When UF quarterback Kyle Trask handed the ball off to running back Jordan Scarlett at the 45-yard line, it appeared he was going to be tackled immediately.

Feleipe Franks threw for 117 passing yards and recorded three total touchdowns in UF's Orange and Blue Game on Saturday.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators put on a show for fans at Orange and Blue Game

By Benjamin Brandt | Apr. 15, 2018

The Florida football team filled Ben Hill Griffin Stadium with fun on Saturday afternoon.

Florida tight end C'yontai Lewis overcame everything from his mother getting run over by two trucks to his father being sentenced to life in prison to him being ruled ineligible to play high school football.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

AGAINST ALL ODDS: C’yontai Lewis overcame misfortunes in journey to joining Florida Gators

By Dylan Dixon | Apr. 13, 2018

Sophomore Marco Wilson led the Gators with 10 pass breakups last season.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Wilson motivated to elevate defense to new level

By Benjamin Brandt | Apr. 12, 2018

Marco Wilson has escaped the pressure of rising expectations. No matter what the headlines read as he and fellow Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson continue to garner offseason attention, Wilson’s plans are much greater.