Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida running back Lamical Perine said that the Gators are “for sure” a College Football Playoff team at UF’s media day on Thursday. Perine rushed for 826 yards and seven touchdowns last season as UF won 10 games and a New Year’s Six bowl.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Biggest takeaways from media day

By Sam Campisano | July 29, 2019

Optimism was abounded at UF football media day on Thursday.

Duarte Vale had a breakout year in 2019, going 15-1 in dual singles play.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

From benchwarmer to hero: Duarte Vale’s comeback

By Noah Ram | July 29, 2019

Florida had been in this situation before.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Position-by-Position: Evaluating UF’s defensive line

By River Wells | July 24, 2019

Florida isn’t just known for its secondary.

Third-round draft pick Jachai Polite will make his professional debut with the New York Jets on Aug. 8.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators in the NFL: Preseason edition

By Joseph Salvador | July 24, 2019

The NFL returns Aug. 1 with the Hall of Fame Game, which means training camp is right around the corner. It’s the perfect time for draft picks and players on the bubble to prove themselves. Here are some former Gators to look out for as NFL training camps get underway:

Pete Alonso, one of the few bright spots of this Mets season, looks down in frustration after striking out earlier this month.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

The agony of being a Mets fan (and why I am one)

By Sam Campisano | July 24, 2019

The cruelest thing my parents ever did was take me to Shea Stadium. Child services should’ve taken me away right there.

Defensive back CJ Henderson was one of two Gators selected to the Preseason All-SEC First Team. Henderson registered 38 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions last year.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

SEC Media Days: Where things stand for the Gators

By Sam Campisano | July 22, 2019

In case you needed any more proof that expectations are higher for coach Dan Mullen’s UF football team this year, here you go:

Head Coach Dan Mullen, of Florida, speaks during the NCAA college football Southeastern Conference Media Days, Monday, July 15, 2019, in Hoover, Ala.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Don’t underestimate Miami

By River Wells | July 22, 2019

Seven points.

Ireland's Shane Lowry reacts after making a birdie on the 15th green during the final round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Sunday, July 21, 2019.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Appreciate The Open for what it was

By Jack Braverman | July 22, 2019

Too often are sporting events touted for their drama and quickly forgotten for lack thereof.

Gators receiver Van Jefferson averaged 14.4 yards per catch in the 2018-19 season, the most in his career. He has 1502 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns over his collegiate career.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Position-by-Position: Evaluating UF’s wide receivers

By Bryan Matamoros | July 17, 2019

In his first season at the helm, Dan Mullen revitalized a Florida offense that seemed to lack an identity under former head coach Jim McElwain.

Quarterback Feleipe Franks was drafted by the Boston Red Sox with the 947th pick in the MLB Draft despite not having pitched since his junior year of high school.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Feleipe Franks agrees to terms with Boston Red Sox

By Dylan O'Shea | July 15, 2019

Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks is now a professional athlete. He’s not getting paid by a football team, however.

Former UF first baseman Pete Alonso was the only Gator to make it to the MLB All-Star Game this year, where he went 1-2 with 2 RBIs in the National League’s 4-3 defeat.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators in MLB: June and July

By Dylan O'Shea | July 10, 2019

A month has passed since the last review of Gators around the majors, but there is still a strong UF presence in Major League Baseball. Now that the league has reached the All-Star break, let’s look at how some former Gators are doing at the halfway point.

Florida running back Lamical Perine was the team's leading rusher last year with 826 yards, seven touchdowns and 6.2 yards per carry.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Position-by-position: Evaluating UF’s running backs

By River Wells | July 10, 2019

There’s been much talk in Gainesville about UF’s quarterback situation. Supporters and detractors of starting quarterback Feleipe Franks have often discussed whether his impact on Florida’s offense is a positive or a negative one, and any good or bad day it has is typically analyzed through the lens of the quarterback position.

Grant Holloway became just the fifth Gator to ever be named SEC Male Athlete of the Year for his performances in 2019. The junior took home four individual NCAA titles.

SPORTS

Alligator Awards: University of Florida Athlete of the Year

By Dylan O'Shea and Bryan Matamoros | July 8, 2019

For our third installment of this summer’s Alligator Awards, four of our writers go head-to-head and debate which UF athlete deserves to be named alligatorSports Athlete of the Year. Lacrosse player Lindsey Ronbeck, track athlete Grant Holloway and softball players Kelly Barnhill and Amanda Lorenz are the contenders.

Havana Solaun, pictured in 2014, scored Jamaica's first-ever World Cup goal in a loss to Australia. Solaun played for UF from 2011-2014.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Solaun's historic goal highlights Gators at World Cup

By Joseph Salvador | July 8, 2019

One current Gator and three former UF soccer players represented their countries at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which concluded on Sunday with a victory for the United States.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

DB Brian Edwards to transfer from Florida

By Sam Campisano | July 8, 2019

Florida’s secondary depth took another hit on Monday when defensive back Brian Edwards announced his intention to transfer.

United States forward Jozy Altidore reacts after missing a shot against Mexico during the first half of the CONCACAF Gold Cup final soccer match at Soldier Field in Chicago, Sunday, July 7, 2019.

SPORTS | SOCCER

The USMNT must get younger

By Bryan Matamoros | July 8, 2019

The United States Men’s National Team’s stunning 2-1 loss to Trinidad and Tobago on Oct. 10, 2017, put the organization in a state of disarray.

Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot ran for 1,434 yards and six touchdowns last season as Dallas captured its second NFC East title in three years.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Predicting every NFL division

By River Wells | July 8, 2019

The National Football League always has surprises. Divisions change hands, great teams regress and squads come out of nowhere to make improbable playoff runs. It’s nearly impossible to predict the parity of the NFL year in and year out.

Tampa Bay Rays Principal Owner Stuart Sternberg greets people before a press conference at the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Fla., Tuesday, June 25, 2019. Sternberg spoke about exploring the prospect of playing some future home games in Montreal.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Stuart Sternberg is a disgrace

By Sam Campisano | July 1, 2019

I’m going to try my best not to contradict myself.

Power forward Kerry Blackshear Jr. (24) averaged 14.9 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game last year with Virginia Tech.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Blackshear brings extra element to UF team

By River Wells | July 1, 2019

The Gators men’s basketball team already had a top-10 class to look forward to this fall. On Friday, it made yet another huge addition.

Virginia Tech forward Kerry Blackshear Jr. (24) and Georgia Tech forward James Banks III (1) vie for a rebound during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Atlanta.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Grad transfer Blackshear chooses Florida

By Evan Lepak | June 26, 2019

The Florida men’s basketball team’s final scholarship spot has now been filled.