Sports | Football - The Independent Florida Alligator

Tre’Vez Johnson (16), Jesiah Pierre (40) and Rashad Torrence II (22) celebrate in the Gators game against Kentucky in The Swamp on Nov. 28.

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You want ‘Bama? Don’t play like Saturday

By River Wells | Nov. 29, 2020

So far, Dan Mullen cleared his biggest hurdle.

Tight end Kyle Pitts celebrates after catching a touchdown pass versus Kentucky Nov. 28. Pitts projects as a top-10 pick in Thursday's NFL Draft.

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Florida bests Kentucky in lackluster fashion

By Payton Titus | Nov. 28, 2020

UF beat UK 34-10 at The Swamp Saturday afternoon. It was Kyle Pitts' first game back since UGA.

Gators kicker Evan McPherson said that holidays away from home is one of the sacrifices he makes to play Division I football at UF.

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Turkey or Pigskin?: How the Gators are spending their Thanksgiving during COVID-19

By Payton Titus | Nov. 25, 2020

How do you like your turkey: oven-cooked, fried or served up nice and hot with a little pigskin on the side?

Gators backup quarterback Emory Jones zig zags between Vanderbilt defenders in Nashville, Tennessee, on Nov. 21. Jones threw Florida’s final touchdown pass in their 38-17 win over the Commodores Saturday.

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What’s the deal with Emory Jones?

By Brendan Farrell | Nov. 22, 2020

Gators backup QB Emory Jones has mostly been used by UF to run the ball. When he's brought in, he's been successful.

Gators safety Trey Dean III reaches for the football in Florida's game against Vanderbilt. The Gators hung 38 points on the Commodores in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday, winning their sixth game of the season.

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Gators still sluggish despite Vanderbilt win

By Christian Ortega | Nov. 22, 2020

Florida's defense got off to a slow start in its football game vs. Vanderbilt. UF still managed to beat the Commodores by 21.

Tight end Kemore Gamble runs with the football in Florida's game against Vanderbilt on Nov. 21. Gamble contributed three receptions for 66 yards and one touchdown to the Gators' win over the Commodores.

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Florida sails past Commodores in skittish victory

By River Wells | Nov. 21, 2020

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tight end Kemore Gamble did his best impression of teammate Kyle Pitts Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee, during the latter’s absence.

Gators quarterback Kyle Trask winds up to throw the football during Florida’s game versus Arkansas at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Nov. 14. After Saturday night’s performance, many media members and Gators fans see Trask as the frontrunner for the 2020 Heisman Trophy award.

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Joe, Shmoe: Move over Burrow, there’s a new Heisman in town

By Payton Titus | Nov. 15, 2020

There are three bronze statues outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium near the skybox entrance: one for each Heisman Trophy winner at UF. Three statues made to scale, yet somehow larger than life.

Florida wide receiver Trevon Grimes at Saturday night’s game versus Arkansas at The Swamp. Grimes led the team in reception yards on Nov. 14, amassing 109 yards on six catches.

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Gators prove offense is more than just “Kyle to Kyle”

By Brendan Farrell | Nov. 15, 2020

“Kyle to Kyle” has been the talk of the town in Gainesville ever since tight end Kyle Pitts’ breakout year in 2019 with Kyle Trask under center.

Gators quarterback Kyle Trask prepares to throw the football in Florida's game versus Arkansas at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Nov. 14, 2020.

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Gators wallop Arkansas in Franks’ return to Gainesville

By Christian Ortega | Nov. 14, 2020

Musician Paul Simon repeated himself at the risk of being crude, saying there must be 50 ways to leave your lover. The Gators put Feleipe Franks and their history in the past and found more than 60.

Wide receiver Trevon Grimes stretches to catch the football ball thrown by Gators quarterback Kyle Trask and score a touchdown for Florida against Georgia at TIAA Bank Field on Nov. 7, 2020.

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Gators offense hasn’t been as electric in the second half

By Brendan Farrell | Nov. 13, 2020

Wide receiver Trevon Grimes brushed past Georgia cornerback Tyson Campbell’s press coverage and streaked toward the end zone. Quarterback Kyle Trask identified that Grimes had a step on his man and lobbed a pass toward the end zone.

Then-UF quarterback Feleipe Franks at the Gators' game versus UT Martin last season. Franks will make his return to The Swamp Nov. 14 in a Razorbacks uniform.

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Feleipe Franks: Same QB1, different jersey

By Christian Ortega | Nov. 11, 2020

There’s no love lost between defenses and quarterbacks.

Defensive back Kaiir Elam (5) at the Gators game versus UGA Nov. 7.

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Cocktail party over for Mullen, Gators after beating Georgia. Now it’s back to work

By Christian Ortega | Nov. 11, 2020

What’s worse than an unreachable itch that no contortionist can scratch? Like a parasite digging into a reptile’s nooks and crannies to satisfy its bloodlust?

Gators quarterback Kyle Trask daps up linebacker Andrew Chatfield Jr. at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida, on Nov. 7. Florida beat Georgia for the first time since 2016 on Saturday 44-28.

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So, you’ve just beaten the Georgia Bulldogs…

By River Wells | Nov. 8, 2020

…What do you do now?

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UF Football adds three recruits in two weeks

By Sara Kate Dyson | Nov. 7, 2020

UF has come up big in the recruiting game lately, adding three commitments in two weeks. The commitments came from outside linebacker Jeremiah Williams, ranked No. 5 in Alabama, safety Sam McCall, ranked No. 5 in Florida and offensive tackle Yousef Mugharbil, ranked No. 17 in North Carolina, according to 247 Sports.

Florida quarterback Kyle Trask hypes up the crowd at TIAA Bank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, Saturday. The Gators defeated the Bulldogs in the most recent rivalry game on Nov. 7.

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Gators’ lethal offense takes down Bulldogs in Jacksonville

By Brendan Farrell | Nov. 7, 2020

Down 14-0 in the first quarter, the Mullen-era narrative of a Gators loss in Jacksonville thrived.

Kyle Trask darts through Missouri defenders in Florida's game versus Missouri on Oct. 31. He and senior Kadarius Toney will lead the Gators in their charge against Georgia this weekend.

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Gators’ electrifying offense faces its toughest test against Georgia

By Christian Ortega | Nov. 6, 2020

Recent history shows the winner of the Florida-Georgia game has a one-way ticket to Atlanta.

Kaiir Elam at the Gators' game against the Missouri Tigers last Saturday. Florida' defense will face its greatest challenge yet in Georgia this weekend.

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Defense finding the right spots midseason

By Christian Ortega | Nov. 6, 2020

Expectations for Florida’s offense act more like hurdles in front of Grant Holloway than mountains.

Kadarius Toney (1) and receiver Justin Shorter (89) celebrate a score in Saturday's win against Missouri.

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From gadget player to human joystick: Kadarius Toney is now the complete package

By Brendan Farrell | Nov. 1, 2020

Florida’s offense looked rusty and lifeless for most of the first half against Missouri on Saturday. It looked like a team that had barely practiced, let alone played a game, in three weeks.

Senior Kadarius Toney had three touchdowns Saturday night in Florida's drubbing of Missouri at home.

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Florida spooks Mizzou on Halloween night in return to the gridiron

By Payton Titus | Oct. 31, 2020

Playing football at night on Halloween with about 15% of your roster unavailable against an in-conference foe is frightening.

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Questions remain as Gators return to practice

By Brendan Farrell | Oct. 26, 2020

The Gators have returned to practice following their team-wide COVID-19 outbreak that included 31 positive cases in the month of October. Florida has five days to prepare for Missouri after athletic activities have been at a standstill since Oct. 13.