Sports | Football - The Independent Florida Alligator

Feleipe Franks scored the game-winning touchdown on a three-yard rush with 8:18 left in the game.

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Gators eke out comeback victory over Miami

By Tyler Nettuno | Aug. 24, 2019

It wasn’t the game Florida’s players hoped it would be.

Saturday's season opener was sloppy for both teams. Florida and Miami combined for five fumbles.

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It’s hard to find any positives from UF’s season opener

By Sam Campisano | Aug. 24, 2019

The Gators won. That’s about the only thing that went right.

Redshirt senior receiver Van Jefferson led the Gators in receiving yards (503) and receiving touchdowns (6) last season. He faces a Miami secondary that only returns one starter on Saturday.

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Previewing UF's Week 0 opener against the Hurricanes

By Kyle Wood | Aug. 22, 2019

Florida opens its season against Miami on Saturday night. Here are several key positional matchups to keep an eye on as the Gators and Hurricanes renew their rivalry.

The Gators and 'Canes played annually from 1944-1987. They've played six times since then, with UM taking every game except for a 26-3 Florida win in 2008.

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alligatorSports predicts Florida-Miami matchup

By Dylan Rudolph | Aug. 22, 2019

Florida takes on the Hurricanes in Orlando on Saturday in the first matchup between the two teams since 2013. Football writers Sam Campisano, Dylan Rudolph, Kyle Wood and Tyler Nettuno give their predictions for the game below.

Redshirt senior center Nick Buchanan is the only returning starter on Florida’s offensive line.

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Ground zero for Week 0: the line of scrimmage

By Kyle Wood | Aug. 20, 2019

The Florida football team is experiencing unfamiliar continuity under center in returning starting quarterback Feleipe Franks. The same cannot be said for the offensive line, the unit charged with protecting the focal point of the Gators offense.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart looks on during an NCAA college football practice at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019.

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The blueprint UF can follow to the College Football Playoff

By Sam Campisano | Aug. 20, 2019

Making a good team a great team is rarely cut and dry. Florida won 19 games in former coach Jim McElwain’s first two years, but failed to reach the ultimate stage.

Receiver Trevon Grimes (8) shined in Florida's spring game with four catches for 195 yards.

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Three storylines to know heading into Florida-Miami clash

By Dylan Rudolph | Aug. 18, 2019

Florida and Miami will meet in Orlando five days from now to commence the 2019 college football season. Both teams had a lot of turnover during the offseason. Here are three storylines to know about this Gators team heading into this weekend’s contest:

Tim Tebow is expected to sign a one-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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UF, UM agree to home-and-home

By Sam Campisano | Aug. 18, 2019

Saturday’s season opener will not be the last chapter written in the Florida-Miami rivalry.

Tight end Kyle Pitts caught his first career touchdown pass last year against Idaho. The sophomore was a four-star recruit before enrolling at UF.

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Position-by-Position: Evaluating Florida's tight ends

By Sam Campisano | Aug. 11, 2019

The final edition of alligatorSports' Position-by-Position series focuses on the most inexperienced unit on UF's depth chart: tight end.

Former UF football player John Huggins allegedly choked a female tutor in October.

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John Huggins dismissed from football team

By Dylan O'Shea | Aug. 11, 2019

Florida sophomore defensive back John Huggins has been dismissed from the football program.

Florida and Georgia players scuffle in this Alligator file photo from 2014.

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Former five-star Brenton Cox transfers to UF

By River Wells | Aug. 9, 2019

Florida didn’t have a single five-star recruit for 2019, but a new transfer might just make up for it.

Linebacker Jeremiah Moon (7) recorded 31 tackles in 13 games last year. He figures to play a more important role this year.

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Position-by-Position: Evaluating Florida's linebackers

By Evan Lepak | Aug. 7, 2019

The group that raises the most question marks on the defensive side of the ball for UF is the one that usually brings the most stability to a defense.

UF defensive back John Huggins did not play in five games last year after he was accused of choking a tutor. Huggins has been absent from fall camp as well.

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UF football player was accused of choking woman last year

By Sam Campisano | Aug. 7, 2019

Sophomore UF defensive back John Huggins was accused of choking a female tutor in October, according to a UPD report uncovered this week by the Tampa Bay Times.

Kicker Evan McPherson was a major contributor to the Gators' offense last season, netting a team-high 101 points and only missing two field goals.

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An ode to UF's special teams

By River Wells | Aug. 5, 2019

Gators coach Dan Mullen always makes a big point to emphasize special teams. They eat first at meals, and Mullen has also been known to hand scholarships to walk-on contributors on special teams.

Center Nick Buchanan (66) is the sole returning starter on UF's offensive line, which gave up just 18 sacks in 13 games last year.

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

By Bryan Matamoros | July 31, 2019

One of the oldest maxims in football has to do with perhaps the most underappreciated players on the field: the offensive linemen.

Michael Thomas' 2018 campaign, which included 125 receptions, 1,405 yards and nine touchdowns, earned him a $100 million contract extension with the Saints.

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NFL players deserve every cent

By River Wells | July 31, 2019

You may have heard the news by now.

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.

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Biggest takeaways from media day

By Sam Campisano | July 30, 2019

Optimism was abounded at UF football media day on Thursday.

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Biggest takeaways from media day

By Sam Campisano | July 29, 2019

Optimism was abounded at UF football media day on Thursday.

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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.

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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: