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The Golf Coaches Association of America (GCCA) honored the 2023 Jan Strickland Outstanding Assistant Coach of the Year award upon Gator Great and accomplished assistant coach, Dudley Hart. This well-deserved recognition was announced on Tuesday, marking a significant achievement for both Hart and the University of Florida's golf program. Florida assistant coach Dudley Hart and player John Dubois. Photo via UAA/FloridaGators.com The accolade places Hart among an elite few, as he becomes only the second Gator in the program's history to receive this honor. This year's recognition holds particular significance as it compliments the acknowledgment of head coach J.C. Deacon, who has garnered the national coach of the year title. Together, Hart and Deacon have brought success to Florida's golf program, marking the first time in history that the university has secured both the national assistant and head coach of the year awards in the same season. Hart's journey to this achievement has been paved with dedication and commitment. Prior to his current role as an assistant coach, he served as a volunteer assistant coach from 2017 to 2020 before officially assuming his position as an assistant coach on September 15, 2021. His influence and expertise were pivotal in guiding the Gators to their fifth National Championship in program history, a remarkable achievement that had been elusive for 22 years. Additionally, Hart played a role in Florida's sweep at the NCAAs, with golfer Fred Biondi securing the individual title. Under Hart's guidance, the Gators achieved another notable milestone by reaching match play at the national championships for the first time in the program's history. Last year, they secured their best finish in the match play era, reinforcing Hart's invaluable contributions. Florida's performance in stroke play further attests to Hart's coaching. The team secured a second-place finish, posting a score of 1,118 (-2), which stands as the program's lowest all-time score at Grayhawk and the first under par team score at the NCAAs since 2006. Notably, the 1,118 round score marked a new record in the history of the National Championships. Hart's dedication to excellence extended beyond national competitions. He played a pivotal role in propelling Florida to their 16th SEC Championship victory, breaking a 12-year drought. The Gators' victory came after a rematch against No. 1 Vanderbilt. The 2023 season also saw Florida achieve an unprecedented feat, clinching the NCAA team and individual titles as well as the conference championship in the same season for the first time in the program's history. Throughout the season, Florida's dominance was evident in their six-team titles and six individual titles. Notably, the six-team victories marked a notable resurgence, flashing back to the days of 2003-04 when the Gators secured seven wins in a single season. The six medalist honors tied a program record and were achieved only twice before, in 1989-90 and 2010-11. Hart's coaching was also reflected in the numerous honors earned by his players. Four golfers—Fred Biondi, Ricky Castillo, John DuBois, and Yuxin Lin—garnered PING All-American honors. This remarkable achievement tied the record for the most selections by a school in that year. "I'm very happy that Coach Hart's tireless work ethic and dedication to our players and the University of Florida is being rewarded. He has been a tremendous addition to our golf program and his impact on and off the golf course has been incredible. I have a great deal of trust and appreciation for Dudley. He's a great friend and model college golf coach," said Head Coach J.C. Deacon. Assistant Coach Dudley Hart, humbled by the recognition, expressed his gratitude, stating, "Thank you for the honor of being selected as the 2023 Jan Strickland Award winner. I am humbled to be considered for this Award along with the other finalists… At this stage in my life, it is a special experience for me to be able to help the student-athletes on the Gator Golf Team improve as golfers and to grow as young men." This historic year for Gator Men's Golf keeps on getting better.

Buddy and Brenden Martin kick off the week by breaking down Billy Napier's Monday Press Conference and muuc more on THIS Meldon Law Monday! Shane Mathews, Franz Beard with special guest Edgar Thompson join the boys on GatorBait TV. MAKE SURE TO CLICK THE SUBSCRIBE "BELL" TO GET UPDATES ON NEW VIDEOS.

The USA TODAY Sports AFCA football coaches poll was released on Tuesday and finds the Gators unranked entering the 2023 season opener against No. 14 Utah.

August 8, 2023

It was like old times at The Swamp for me. After a long absence from Florida football practice, I attended the first open session of the 2023 season at the University of Florida's Fan Day — only as a media member. As a trained videographer and photographer, my storytelling is usually done through moving pictures and stills. But Saturday’s practice prompted me to share some observations. Firstly, the weather was pleasant in The Swamp, overcast, but not as hot as anticipated, making it truly a great day for football. Attendance was unexpectedly low, however, with only a few thousand die-hard fans present in the stands. As a member of the press corps, we were limited to shooting at specific times, affording me the opportunity to observe and take notes. Having covered many home and away games over the past 25 years, I've developed a keen sense of size from the sideline perspective. Echoing Head Coach Billy Napier's remarks, the Gators appear larger this year, particularly on defense. Watching Jason Marshall Jr. in the secondary was a highlight, indicative of a more bulked-up defense. Austin Armstrong's enthusiasm as the new defensive coordinator is impressive. His vocal commands, instruction and ability to energize the defense are encouraging signs, especially considering the Gators' defensive struggles last season. The day's most significant revelation was the performance of redshirt freshman Max Brown, who took second-string QB snaps from the outset. The 6'2 multi-sport athlete from Oklahoma demonstrated quickness and reactivity, with several notable passes early in the scrimmage. His style, reminiscent of a young Bernie Kosar, may well position him as second-string on the depth chart. “Max has made improvement,” Napier said of Brown. “I think he’s a classic example of a really good athlete and just started playing quarterback a couple of years in high school.” Brown's accurate throwing and his ability to execute quick passes are crucial to Napier's offense, characterized by short throws and frequent runs. Napier also noted that Brown "has come along nicely," and his work ethic has impressed both the staff and players this summer. Though unconfirmed, the early signs indicate that Max Brown could be next in line if Graham Mertz is unavailable. His performance Saturday certainly felt like a strong affirmation of that possibility, with several weeks left to see how it all unfolds. The practice also revealed broader changes in the Gators' approach to the season, particularly on defense. Observations from the sideline showed a commitment to renewed strength and tactics, aligned with Napier's vision for the team. The evident improvements in size and skill have fostered optimism for the coming year. Overall, the practice offered a promising glimpse of what's to come for the Gators. The blend of veterans and young talents, such as Brown, seems to resonate well. With the new defensive strategies under Armstrong and Napier's emphasis on athleticism and hard work, there's a strong sense of anticipation for the upcoming season. The University of Florida's Fan Day turned out to be more than a casual practice; it was a window into the evolving dynamics of a team hoping to reclaim its place in college football. Check out the live show with Buddy and I where we talk all about yesterday's practice on our new YouTube channel. Lots of special offers coming only for GatorBait members! Giveaways and discounts on future merch! Let's Go Gators 🔗👇 Make sure you subscribe to get all the updates! https://youtube.com/live/T2Kkyc_6daQ?feature=share

Florida baseball squad made additions to their roster on Saturday with the commitment of former FAU infielder Armando Albert, who transferred to the Gators after a two-season stint at Florida Atlantic. Albert completed back-to-back seasons as a starter for the Owls. He assumed the role of shortstop and leadoff hitter for almost all but two games in 2023, following his participation in 55 games in 2022. Before entering the transfer portal, Albert concluded the season on a 31-game streak of reaching base. During his time at FAU, he made his presence felt on the field, including setting a new FAU single-game record with 11 assists against Western Kentucky. After attending Belen Jesuit Prep, Albert joined Santa Fe College in Gainesville prior to the 2021 season. His sole season with the Saints saw him achieve a .312 batting average and a .417 on-base percentage. As a left-handed hitter, Albert maintained a .312 average in his debut season at Santa Fe, garnering ten doubles and a triple, often batting at the top of the lineup. He ranked third in runs scored (37) and hits (44) for the team, and fourth in RBI (27). His contributions extended to stolen bases, ranking second on the team with nine. On the defensive front, Albert turned 11 double plays for the Saints. During the FCSAA State Tournament, Albert recorded hits in five of the six games and replicated his season-high four RBIs in an 8-7, 11-inning victory against Indian River State College. He was subsequently named to the All-Tournament Team at the FCSAA State Tournament, where Santa Fe secured the runner-up position. Albert's addition to the Florida baseball team follows Jaylen Guy's decision the previous Friday to join the program. Guy, an outfielder who transferred from Liberty, made his college debut in 2019, ranked as the No. 90 outfielder in the 2018 class by Perfect Game. Guy's batting average started at .257 during his initial Liberty season, but underwent a gradual decline in the subsequent two years, reaching .245 and .198 respectively. Notably, the 2020 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a premature halt in March. Guy's 2022 season was interrupted by an arm injury, but he made a strong comeback in 2023. In 2021, he achieved a career-high .309 batting average, with 12 doubles, two triples, two home runs, and a team-leading 23 stolen bases. Known for his glove, Guy was named the ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year prior to the 2022 season. Guy's addition is big for the Gators, as they sought outfield reinforcement following the departure of star player Wyatt Langford. While players like Tyler Shelnut, Michael Robertson, and Ty Evans possess the potential to contribute consistently, their performance in the 2023 season lacked the desired stability. With the recent commitment from Guy, the Gators have secured another notable addition by incorporating infielder Armando Albert, who has local ties to the region. The reload of the Gator Baseball program is well underway.

In a college sports climate largely driven by football, it's difficult to look beyond football when making decisions and judgements about conference realignment.

https://www.youtube.com/live/T2Kkyc_6daQ?feature=share Catch the Buddy Martin Show, live on YouTube every Monday through Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, and don't miss our special Thursday show, "The Orange and Blue Bloods." Of course, there's our weekend highlight, "Martin & Martin," with all the latest from the Fall practice field. Now, we know you're excited about yesterday's fan day – that unique Saturday event where Gator fans get an exclusive look at practice. We've made a video all about it, and we want you to be part of the action! Watch the show, get involved in the conversation, and if you haven't already, hit that subscribe button on the Buddy Martin Show Channel on YouTube. Your subscription keeps you at the forefront of when Buddy and the Gang go live. Don't miss out! Here's the link to the show discussing Fan Day at the University of Florida: [Watch the Buddy Martin Show discussing Fan Day](https://youtube.com/live/T2Kkyc_6daQ?feature=share) See you there, Gator Nation! 🎉

For more than two hours the Gators went through their practice paces at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Saturday, an open practice attended by a few thousand fans. Practice was fast paced with plenty of on-field teaching moments. It was limited contact so it’s difficult to gauge just how far some of these guys have come, but a couple of things for certain: Anything less than full focus isn’t tolerated and on-field discipline is very, very good. 1. QUARTERBACK: Graham Mertz may not throw 99 mph laser beams, but the ball gets there on time and with better accuracy than we saw in the spring game. He made a terrific throw to the sideline that freshman Aidan Mizell grabbed with one hand for something like an 18-yard gainer. It was the catch of the day and the throw of the day since Mizell is the only one who had a chance to make the catch. Mertz had a nice throw to Kaliel Jackson and a couple to Caleb Douglas as well, plus touchdown passes to Andy Jean that were impressive. One of the best throws Mertz made was a sideline route to tight end Arlis Boardingham. Mertz was rolling right and could have tried to make a spectacular throw farther down the field, but that would have been a 50-50 pass at best. Instead, he kept rolling, and hit Boardingham with a 12-yard pass that would have moved the chains. Probably the best thing Mertz showed was a willingness to make the kind of plays that extend drives. He doesn’t shy away from deep passes. He’s not looking to dink and dump and showed Saturday that he knows how to extend drives with good decisions. He made three or four mediocre throws and two bad ones, but overall, he had a good day both in terms of throwing and decision making. 2. RUNNING BACK: Watching Montrell Johnson Jr., Trevor Etienne and Cam Carroll brings back memories of 1984 when the 3-man rotation of future first rounders Neal Anderson, John L. Williams and Lorenzo Hampton used to rip off one big play after another. Montrell and Etienne are known quantities and both look leaner and quicker out of their cuts than they did a year ago. Both have that innate ability to find open space and accelerate. Carroll just runs through people. He’s got the size of a real between the tackles pounder (6-0, 231) but he’s got a burst and he’s got some shiftiness that makes him hard to hit. Freshman Treyaun Webb is physically impressive but he’ll have to fight for carries this year. All the backs are involved in the passing game. 3. O-LINE: Probably the most impressive thing seen all day was the lack of false starts or blown assignments. After a year in which the Gators had four games with double-digit penalties that’s a very good sign of progress. The first unit offensive line was LT Austin Barber, LG Richie Leonard IV with Knijeah Harris also getting reps with the ones, C Kingsley Eguakun with backup Jake Slaughter getting some reps with the ones, RG Micah Mazzccua although in non-contact black jersey, and RT Damieon George Jr. Mazzccua (6-5, 337) will play RG where O’Cyrus Torrence played last year and team with George (6-6, 371) for a monster right side. This figures. It’s a right-handed QB so the bulk of the running carries will probably go right side behind the two big guys. Barber is quicker than Richard Gouraige was at LT last year and Gouraige wasn’t bad at all. Good job today by both Eguakun and Slaughter making all the line calls and adjustments. It’s easy to see that both of them have a real command of the offense. Jalen Farmer has definitely slimmed down. Jordan Herman is a walking eclipse. He is so big he blocks out the sun. Kamryn Waites (still recovering from an Achilles) and freshman Caden Jones (boot) didn’t participate. Lyndell Hudson Jr. (concussion protocol) missed practice. 4. WIDE RECEIVER: Ricky Pearsall missed practice with an undisclosed illness, but that gave Caleb Douglas, Marcus Burke, Kaliel Jackson and freshmen Aiden Mizell, Andy Jean and Eugene Wilson III opportunities. There was noticeable consistency in their route-running that wasn’t there a year ago, largely attributable to the coaching of Billy Gonzales. Billy G is such a technician. Watching him teach route running down to precise steps (“Seven steps, not 6-and-a-half” he yelled out several times during one drill) is like watching a master craftsman. He’s a teacher and he’s got kids who are really paying attention to the coaching. Douglas is very smooth and playing with a lot of confidence right now. Burke is a long strider who’s moving faster than he looks. He will definitely be in the rotation in the fall. Mizell is going to burn a lot of people deep, seriously fast. Jean is explosive coming out of a cut once he plants his foot. Wilson showed off some speed and moves on a jet sweep when he found another gear turning the corner. None of Kaliel Jackson’s genes (he’s the son of Willie Jr., grandson of Willie Sr.) got drowned in the pool. He will be a contributor. He’s very physical. Thai Chaiokhao-Bowman runs a lot of routes from the slot, probably where he will get most of his reps. 5. TIGHT END: Keon Zipperer (ACL) is out for the year. Jonathan Odom (still in a knee brace and almost recovered from his ACL) was limited in what he could do. Dante Zanders got most of the first team reps. He’s slimmed down from last year and maybe that will help him get open more often. Right now, he’s more of a blocker than anything else. Arlis Boardingham runs that tight end slant to perfection and he does a good job of using his body to shield defenders. Very nice route runner and really good hands. Can he block? Hayden Hansen is physically very impressive but we didn’t see him get the ball thrown his way much. Tony Livingston looks like a real specimen. Will be interesting to watch his development. 6. D-LINE: Despite plenty of attempts by Mertz and the other quarterbacks to get these guys to jump, there were only a couple of instances when the D-line got into the neutral zone. It’s obvious the Gators are much bigger up front than last year. If the big guys can hold their ground, the D-line should do a better job against the run this year. There is no shortage of size. Imagine a goal line front that features Desmond Watson (6-5, 439), Cam Jackson (6-6, 371), Caleb Banks (6-6, 323) and Chris McClellan (6-3, 325). It could happen. Since the contact was limited it’s hard to tell just how quick the big guys will be getting off the ball and into a gap while hand-fighting with the O-line, but size and strength are evident. Banks really had a good practice. Jackson is so physical in the middle. Freshman Kelby Collins played some DE with the first unit and didn’t seem the least bit lost. Freshman Kamran James looks bigger than the 6-6, 272 he’s listed. The 20 pounds of muscle makes Chris McClellan capable of playing both inside and outside. 7. LINEBACKER: Teradja Mitchell is a tree trunk. He looks the part of an SEC middle linebacker. He also hits the part of an SEC middle linebacker even though this was limited contact. The way he squares up and attacks the runner lets you know he brings the juice when he strikes someone. Mannie Nunnery can run and cover. He has to be on the field. Very impressive physical specimen. Scooby Williams spent a lot of time on the outside where his quickness is evident both in coverage and stringing plays out. Freshman Jaden Robinson is very physical and responds well to coaching. Princely Umanmielen is a lean 254, but such a strong upper body. He is 254 but would look skinny at 275. Justus Boone spent a lot of practice in the right place at the right time. The way his body has transformed, he looks like an SEC player now. Quicker than last year. Got the first look at juco transfer Quincy Ivory, who is still learning the ropes. He’s really quick. Shemar James (leg injury) is in a knee brace but the injury is supposedly not significant. 8. SECONDARY: R.J. Moten (6-0, 220) looks like a clone of his dad, former Gator linebacker Ron Moten (6-1, 230). Ron would strike you. R.J. seems to have the headhunter instincts you want of a strong safety. Looked good in coverage but there was constant rotation at all the secondary positions. Kamari Wilson played at 209 last year. He’s listed 220 now and it’s all muscle. Jalen Kimber and Jason Marshall Jr. were the No. 1 corners but they gave way to freshmen Dijon Johnson and Ja’Keem Jackson a lot as there was constant rotation. Miguel Mitchell is a good 15-16 pounds heavier than last year, all of it seemingly upper body. Former wide receiver Ja’Markis Weston is transforming to safety but with his size (6-3, 232) he might end up at linebacker when all is said and done. Devin Moore missed practice with an undisclosed injury. 9. SPECIAL TEAMS: Jeremy Crawshaw unloaded a missile toward the end of practice, more than 70 yards from scrimmage and high enough to bring rain. He was consistent all day. Even his shorter punts seemed at the level or higher than the BHG lights. Trey Smack and Adam Mihalek are fighting for the starting PK job. Smack is so smooth that it’s like a golf swing when his foot hits the ball. He was very accurate. Mihalek hit a rather long bomb from 40-something that would have been good from 55. 10. COACHING: There seems to be good understanding and rapport between Mertz and head coach Billy Napier, who coaches the QBs and calls the plays. You see Napier diagram something with hand in the air, Mertz picks it up in a hurry. Billy Gonzales will be a difference-maker with the wide receivers. If you saw last year when receivers couldn’t separate or get off the line, well, that shouldn’t be a problem this year. It’s easy to see why the O-linemen love playing for Rob Sale. Great teacher of technique and knows which buttons to push with his troops. It seems that Corey Raymond is far more comfortable coaching the entire secondary than he is with just the corners. If he sees something wrong he doesn’t hesitate to correct immediately. Austin Armstrong looks younger than a lot of the guys he coaches but he definitely knows what he’s doing. It’s very impressive watching him work the defensive unit. Always encouraging and always teaching. He seems to be a we’re fine if you don’t make the same mistake twice in a row kind of coach.

The Florida Gators football program took a big hit in November 2022 as then-backup quarterback Jalen Kitna was arrested in Gainesville after the Gainesville Police Department received a tip that he had shared child pornography. For the first time since the Nov. 30 incident, Kitna has broken his silence.