Florida’s defensive coordinator is on the move.
Geoff Collins will be named Temple’s next head coach, according to ESPN’s Brett McMurphy. It isn’t immediately clear when Collins will assume the role or who will fill his void for the Gators, but UF coach Jim McElwain said Tuesday he was unsure if Collins would coach in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 2.
In his two-year stint at UF, Collins led one of the nation’s elite defenses.
The Gators have been ranked among the top 10 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision in yards per game allowed in 2015 and 2016, mostly thanks to a premier passing defense over that time.
Additionally, three Florida players were drafted under Collins this year — cornerback Vernon Hargreaves and safety Keanu Neal in the first round, and defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard in the third round.
Running back facing new charges
It didn’t take Mark Thompson long to find himself involved in another run-in with the law.
The UF running back is facing a misdemeanor charge of trespassing on posted property for an event that happened last Thursday, according to a sworn complaint affidavit filed in the Alachua County Court Records website Monday.
At about 2 a.m. on Thursday, Thompson was found inside a fenced compound lot at Ultimate Towing, located at 907 SW 3rd St. Per the description in the sworn complaint, Thompson slipped through a gap in the fence in an attempt to contact employees. Thompson showed a GPD officer the gap, which “was passable but still clearly meant to bar entry.”
Less than two months ago, Thompson was cited for marijuana possession that led to him not playing in the team’s matchup against Georgia.
A JUCO transfer, Thompson has amassed 295 rushing yards and two touchdowns in his first year at UF.
Contact Patrick Pinak at ppinak@alligator.org or follow him on Twitter @pinakk12
Florida's Mark Thompson (24) runs with the ball during UF's 45-7 win over Kentucky on Sept. 10, 2016, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
UF defensive coordinator Geoff Collins speaks during a press conference at the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 30, 2015, in Orlando.
