Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Former UF receiver and current Cleveland Brown Antonio Callaway has totaled seven receptions in the last two games. Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield targeted him 19 times.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators in the NFL: Alumni excel in Week 4

By Chris O'Brien | Oct. 3, 2018

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Antonio Callaway continued his rookie season in a solid fashion. He’s only totaled seven receptions in his last two games, but Browns QB Baker Mayfield keeps looking his way — Callaway has 19 targets in those same two games. The wide receiver grabbed three receptions for 54 yards Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.

Wide receiver Trevon Grimes (8) is a former teammate of LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. "Before I left Ohio State, me and him were kind of close," he said.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Grimes faces old teammate, O-line ready for another dogfight

By Jake Dreilinger | Oct. 3, 2018

There’s not a lot that followed Florida receiver Trevon Grimes from his time at Ohio State.

Middle blockers Rachael Kramer (pictured) and Taelor Kellum combined for 22 kills in Florida’s sweep over Alabama.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators sweep Alabama in Tuscaloosa

By Dylan Rudolph | Sep. 30, 2018

Freshman Thayer Hall and junior Rachael Kramer jumped up simultaneously in the final rally of the match, rejecting yet another Alabama strike. Florida’s front row held firm from the continuous attacks from the Crimson Tide, who were trying to win its first set over Florida since 2008.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

At what point do we start giving Feleipe Franks credit?

By The Lost city of Alanis | Sep. 30, 2018

Now seems as good a time as any to say it: I told you so.

Florida safety Donovan Stiner (13) sacked Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald at the end of the game, forcing a turnover on downs and sealing the win for the Gators.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators defense showing physicality, improvement Mullen wants to see

By Jake Dreilinger | Sep. 30, 2018

Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald never saw Donovan Stiner coming.

McClain Kessler will be in action today at the ITA All-American Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida struggles in pre-qualifying round

By Kyle Wood | Sep. 30, 2018

The Florida men’s tennis team did not fare well in the pre-qualifying round of the ITA All-American Championships.

Sophomore McCartney Kessler defeated UC Santa Barbara's Elizaveta Volodko in straight sets (6-1, 7-5) during the Gators' ITA Kickoff Weekend Saturday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Jarlskog, Kessler fall short of qualifying rounds

By Brendan Farrell | Sep. 30, 2018

McCartney Kessler and Ida Jarlskog needed just one more win to reach the doubles qualifying rounds of the ITA All-American Championships. They had already defeated Texas’ Marta Perez-Mur and Tijana Spasojevic earlier in the day, and were eight games away from escaping the pre-qualifying rounds.

Kadarius Toney threw his first pass of the season for the Florida Gators in its 13-6 win over Mississippi State, a 20-yard strike to Moral Stephens for the game's only touchdowns.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Sidebar: UF won by getting the ball to its playmakers

By Mark Stine | Sep. 30, 2018

Feleipe Franks completed a nine-yard screen pass to Kadarius Toney on Florida’s first drive of the third quarter in its low-scoring war of attrition at Mississippi State.

Sophomore John Axelsen (-7) is in a three-way stalemate for first place at the Trinity Forest Invitational. The Gators sit in eighth overall.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators middle of pack at Nike Collegiate

By Brendan Farrell | Sep. 30, 2018

Opening days for fall tournaments have been a mixed bag for the Gators. A miserable first day at the Carpet Capital Collegiate set the tone for a disappointing 13th-place finish. John Axelsen’s 64 on the opening round at last week’s Trinity Forest Invitational sparked a fourth-place finish for both Axelsen and the Gators.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Kessler and Jarlskog move on to kick off ITA All-American Championships

By Brendan Farrell | Sep. 29, 2018

The Gators’ doubles team of Ida Jarlskog and McCartney Kessler were to set the tone at the ITA Tennis All-American Championships in their opening match against Utah's Leah Heimuli and Whitney Turley. They were, after all, the first two Gators to play a match at this year’s tournament.

Safety Donovan Stiner (13) sacked MSU quarterback Nick Fitzgerald on the Bulldogs' last play of the game Saturday. The Gators defense finished with six sacks.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators dominate Mississippi State in physical matchup

By Jake Dreilinger | Sep. 29, 2018

Quarterback Feleipe Franks took the snap in the third quarter and immediately threw it to Kadarius Toney on his left.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators dispatch Miami, win second meet in as many days

By Evan Lepak | Sep. 28, 2018

The UF women's swimming and diving team built upon the momentum it received from the season-opening triumph over FAU Thursday, taking it out on the Miami Hurricanes in Coral Gables on Friday.

Senior midfielder Mayra Pelayo hit the crossbar in the 16th minute of UF's 0-0 tie at Mississippi State. “I think we need to be sharper in our execution, but other than that, I'm really proud of the team," she said in a release.

SPORTS | SOCCER

UF’s offensive momentum stalled in draw at Mississippi State

By Sam Campisano | Sep. 28, 2018

Maybe it was the long bus ride. Maybe it was the Mississippi State defense. Maybe it was the absence of two of its best players.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida travels to ITA All-American Championships

By Kyle Wood | Sep. 28, 2018

The Florida men’s and women’s tennis teams have no time to rest on their laurels following successful opening weekends. Both Gators teams will be competing in their respective ITA All-American Championships beginning this weekend.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida swimming and diving open season with stellar performance at FAU

By Evan Lepak | Sep. 28, 2018

The Florida Gators took to the water for the first time on Thursday afternoon to open up their 2018-2019 campaign against Florida Atlantic at the FAU Aquatic Center.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

‘A QB away’ might be happening this season, folks

By Morgan McMullen | Sep. 28, 2018

Feleipe Franks makes mistakes.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

alligatorSports Picks Column: Week 5

Sep. 28, 2018

The Dan Mullen hot takes are among us. The alligatorSports staff travels to Starkvegas this weekend to see for ourselves the alleged anti-Mullen outrage. And among all of that clanga clanga, we’ll all bare witness to some of the maroon-faced hatred.

Midfielder Lais Araujo leads the Gators in goals (5) and points (13). She’s also tied for second on the team in assists (3).

SPORTS | SOCCER

Gators face tough competition on the road against Bulldogs

By River Wells | Sep. 28, 2018

The Gators have scored 10 goals in their past two games after going on a six-game scoreless streak earlier in the year. Florida is riding the momentum for the moment, but a certain team from Starkville, Mississippi, may just be the test UF needs to entirely confirm that reports of the Gators’ demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Florida right tackle Jawaan Taylor (65) said the team is going to try to block out the infamous cowbells at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville. "We just have to keep our head in the game," he said.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Dan Mullen returns to Starkville for Florida’s second straight road game

By Alanis Thames | Sep. 28, 2018

Bulldogs fans have been foaming at the mouth awaiting Dan Mullen’s return.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Open Letter to Mullen: Mississippi State will be your ultimate test

By Mark Stine | Sep. 27, 2018

Cowbells ring.