(Photo by Chris Spears) That wasn’t a hurricane-force gust of wind felt as far north as Atlanta and as far south as Miami. It was the exhale of Florida basketball coach Todd Golden now that Alex Condon has decided to return for a senior season with the Gators rather than declare for the NBA Draft.   Twice an All-SEC second team selection, Condon (6-11, 236) was considered a borderline first round selection. Most of the pre-draft evaluations ranked him somewhere between 34-38 as a prospect. Given that NBA second rounders rarely get multi-year contracts and make the NBA rookie minimum, Condon made what most will consider a very wise decision. In coming back, he gets another year to work with Florida associate head coach Carlin Hartman, who is one of the best in the entire country at developing big men, plus he gets another shot at a second NCAA championship because Florida’s roster next season is going to be loaded.   By returning, Condon also gets another year to work on developing a reasonably consistent jump shot. He’s very good around the rim and in the second half of last season showed a lethal floater from inside eight feet. He needs to extend his range to the foul line at least. If he could hit an occasional three, that would be like icing on the cake.   A native of Perth, Australia, Condon has started two of his three seasons at Florida. Coming off the bench as a freshman, he averaged 7.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while being selected to the SEC all-freshman team. During Florida’s run to the 2025 NCAA championship, he improved to 10.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while making second team All-SEC.   There is a lasting image of Condon that etched his name forever in Gator basketball lore. On the final play of the 2025 NCAA championship game with Houston, Emmanuel Sharpe dropped the basketball on the court when Walter Clayton Jr. came flying by, preventing him from taking what might have been a game-winning 3-pointer. With the ball rolling on the court, Condon sprinted past Joseph Tugler to corral the loose ball, sealing Florida’s 65-63 win over the Cougars.   This past season, his numbers improved to 15.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. He finished second in the SEC in field goal percentage (55.6 percent), fourth in rebounds, 12 th in assists and eighth in blocked shots.   From February onward, Condon was the best and most consistent big man in the SEC, averaging 17.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.   Condon is a member of Florida’s 1,000-point club (1,181). Already with 762 rebounds, he should become one of three Gators with more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds for a career. Neal Walk (1,600 points/1184 rebounds) and Eugene McDowell (1,565 points/1,063) are the other two.   Condon is the first domino to fall in Golden’s roster reconstruction for next season. He awaits a final decision from Rueben Chinyelu, the national defensive player of the year. Chinyelu (6-11, 265) is expected to forego the NBA to return for his senior season. Like Condon he’s projected as a second round, and, like Condon, stands to make more NIL money at Florida than he would as an NBA second rounder.   The other domino is Tommy Haugh (6-9, 215), who is projected as an NBA lottery selection. Most evaluations have him going somewhere between 12 and 16. ESPN ranks him as the 13 th -ranked draft prospect while CBS ranks him No. 12.   Most of the too early top 25s have the Gators solidly in the top three, but with Condon and Chinyelu, the Gators might elevate to the No. 1 position. If Haugh joins, then it would be the upset of the century if the Gators aren’t the top ranked preseason team.   Florida currently has 10 returning players (Chinyelu counted), one freshman signee and Denzel Aberdeen returning to the Gators from the portal after a one-year hiatus to Kentucky. That leaves three available scholarships of which Golden is likely to bring in two from the portal and one international.   Currently, the Gators are one of the favorites to land Iowa State sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic (6-8, 225, JR), who shot an amazing 48.7 percent from the 3-point line last season.     Here is where the Florida roster stands today:   Seniors/graduated (1): Xaivian Lee (6-4, 185) NBA expected (1): Tommy Haugh (6-9, 215, JR) Portal (2): Olivier Rioux (7-9, 305, RFR); Micah Handlogten (7-1, 260) Returning (10): Alex Condon (6-11, 236, JR); Rueben Chinyelu (6-11, 265, JR); Urban Klavzar (6-1, 195, JR); AJ Brown (6-5, 210, RJR); Alex Kovatchev (6-5, 195, RSO); Boogie Fland (6-3, 185, SO); Isaiah Brown (6-5, 210, SO); Viktor Mikic (6-11, 260, SO); CJ Ingram (6-7, 210, FR); Alex Lloyd (6-4, 180, FR) Signed (1): Jones Lay (7-0, 230) From the portal (1): Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 190, SR, from Kentucky)   THE REST OF THE SEC Alabama Seniors (3): Latrell Wrightsell (6-3, 189); Houston Mallette (6-5, 185); Noah Williamson (7-0, 244) NBA (2): Labaron Philon (6-4, 177, SO); Amari Allen (6-7, 205, FR) Legal issues (1): Aden Holloway (6-1, 178, JR) Portal (3):  Taylor Bol Bowen (6-10, 195, JR); Aiden Sherrell (6-10, 240, SO, to Indiana ); Jalil Bethea (6-5, 190, SO, to Pittsburgh ) Returning (5): London Jemison (6-8, 205, FR); Keitenn Bristow (6-8, 190, SO); Davion Hannah (6-6, 190, FR); Preston Murphy (6-1, 175, JR); Collins Onyejiaka (6-11, 265, FR) Signed (3): Tarris Bouie (6-4, 175); Quayden Samuels (6-6, 200); Jaxson Richardson (6-6, 200) From the portal (2): Brandon Garrison (6-11, 245, JR, from Kentucky); Jamarion Davis-Fleming (6-10, 240, FR, from Mississippi State)   Arkansas Seniors (2): Nick Pringle (6-9, 220); Trevon Brazille (6-9, 215) NBA (2): Darius Acuff Jr. (6-3, 190, FR); Meleek Thomas (6-5, 185, FR) Portal (4): Karter Knox (6-6, 211, SO, to Louisville ); DJ Wagner (6-3, 175, JR); Kaim Rtail (6-7, 205, FR); Elmir Dzafic (7-0, 285, FR) Returning (5): Maliq Ewin (6-10, 220, JR); Billy Richmond (6-5, 205, SO); Jaden Karuletwa (6-5, 185, SO); Isaiah Sealy (6-7, 200, FR); Paulo Semedo (7-1, 225, FR) Signed (3): Jordan Smith Jr. (6-2, 180); JaShawn Andrews (6-4, 195); Abdou Toure (6-6, 200) From the portal: Cooper Bowser (6-11, 210, JR, from Furman); Jeremiah Wilkinson (6-1, 185, SO, from Georgia)   Auburn Seniors (2): Keyshawn Hall (6-7, 250); Keyshawn Murphy (6-10, 245) Portal (4): Filip Jovic (6-8, 225, FR, to UCLA ); Kaden Magwood (6-2, 175, FR); Elyjah Freeman (6-8, 185, SO); Abdul Bashir (6-7, 195, JR) Returning (5): Kevin Overton (6-5, 180, JR); Tahaad Pettiford (6-1, 175, SO); Emeka Opurum (7-0, 205, SO); Sebastian Williams-Adams (6-8, 230, FR); Simon Walker (6-4, 195, FR) Signed (2): Caleb Williams (6-5, 195); Narcisse Ngoy (6-11, 220)   Georgia Seniors (2): Justin Bailey (6-3, 195); Justin Abson (6-9, 235) Portal (6): Jeremiah Wilkinson (6-1, 185, SO, to Arkansas ); Dylan James (6-9, 235, JR); Somto Cyril (6-11, 260, SO, to Miami ); Jackson McVey (7-1, 240, FR); Jordan Ross (6-3, 175, JR); Jake Wilkins (6-9, 185, FR, to California ) Returning (4): Blue Cain (6-5, 190, JR); Marcus Millender (5-11, 180, JR); Kanon Catchings (6-9, 190, SO); Kareem Stagg (6-8, 230, FR)   Kentucky Seniors (1): Otega Oweh (6-5, 210) NBA (2): Jayden Quaintance (6-9, 225, SO); Malachi Moreno (7-0, 250, FR) Portal (7): Jaland Lowe (6-2, 170, JR, to Georgetown ); Brandon Garrison (6-11, 245, JR, to Alabama ); Jasper Johnson (6-5, 180, FR); Mouhamed Dioubate (6-7, 215, JR); Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 190, SR, to FLORIDA ); Andrija Jelavic (6-11, 225, FR, to Ohio State ); Collin Chandler (6-5, 202, SO , to BYU ) Returning (4): Reece Potter (7-1, 210, JR); Kam Williams (6-8, 190, SO); Trent Noah (6-5, 220, SO); Brayden Hawthorne (6-8, 190, FR) Signed (1): Mason Williams (6-2, 185) From the portal (1): Zoom Diallo (6-3, 190, SO, from Washington)   LSU Seniors (5): Max Mackinnon (6-5, 205); Marquel Sutton (6-7, 205); Pablo Tamba (6-6, 210); Rashad King (6-6, 198); PJ Carter (6-5, 175) Portal (8): Dedan Thomas Jr. (6-1, 178, JR, to Houston ); Jalen Reed (6-10, 230, SR); Mazi Mosley (6-5, 169, FR); Matt Gilhool (6-11, 213, FR, to Kansas State ); Ron Zipper (6-5, 209, FR); Marcus Vaughns (6-8, 221, FR, to Arizona State ); Mike Nwoko (6-10, 245, JR, to Xavier ); Robert Miller III (6-10, 220, JR) Returning (1): Jalen Reece (6-0, 185, FR) Signed (2): Kevin Thomas (6-6, 195); Herly Brutus (6-5, 180)   Mississippi State Seniors (3): Jayden Epps (6-2, 190); Ja’Borri McGhee (6-0, 200); Quincy Ballard (6-11, 240) Portal (6): Jamarion Davis-Fleming (6-10, 240, FR, to Alabama ); Dellquan Waren (6-1, 160, FR); Sergej Macura (6-9, 220, FR, to UCLA ); Amier Ali (6-8, 185, SO); Brandon Walker (6-8, 255, SR); Achor Achor (6-9, 222, SR) Returning (5): Josh Hubbard (5-10, 185, JR); Gai Chol (6-11, 245, JR); King Grace (6-5, 195, FR); Cameren Paul (6-7, 210, FR); Tee Bartlett (6-11, 290, FR) Signed (3): Tristan Reed (6-9, 230); Jalyn Collingwood (6-5, 190); Willie Burnett III (6-4, 175) From the portal (1): RJ Johnson (6-4, 225, SO, from Kennesaw State)   Missouri Seniors (5): Mark Mitchell (6-8, 220); Jayden Stone (6-4, 180); Shawn Phillips (7-0, 245); Jevon Porter (6-11, 220) Portal (3): Anthony Robinson II (6-2, 175, JR); Sebastian Mack (6-3, 195, JR); T.O. Barrett (6-4, 200, SO); Jacob Crews (6-7, 210) Returning (6): Trent Pierce (6-10, 210, JR); Luke Norweather (6-11, 232, JR); Trent Burns (7-5, 235, SO); Annor Boateng (6-6, 215, SO); Nicholas Randall (6-9, 240, FR); Aaron Rowe (6-2, 155, FR) Signed (3): Jason Crowe Jr. (6-3, 170); Aidan Chronister (6-7, 180); Toni Bryant (6-9, 215) From the portal: Jaylen Carey (6-8, 245, JR, from Tennessee); Jamier Jones (6-6, 218, FR, from Providence)   Oklahoma Seniors (5): Nijel Pack (6-0, 180); Tae Davis (6-9, 204); Mohamed Wague (6-10, 225); Jadon Jones (6-5, 190); Kirill Elatontsev (6-11, 240) Portal (4): Andreas Holst (7-0, 200, FR); Kuol Atak (6-9, 190, FR, to Virginia Tech ); Jake Hansen (6-0, 170, FR); Jeff Nwankwo (6-6, 220, SR, to Youngstown State ) Returning (5): Xzayvier Brown (6-2, 165, JR); Dayton Forsythe (6-2, 187, SO); Derrion Reed (6-8, 220, SO); Kai Rogers (6-10, 247, FR); Alec Blair (6-7, 192, FR) Signed (1): Gage Mayfield (6-7, 200) From the portal: Khani Rooths (6-8, 205, SO, from Louisville)   Ole Miss Seniors (3): AJ Storr (6-6, 200); Malik Dia (6-9, 240); Kezza Giffa (6-2, 165) Portal (8): Eduardo Klafke (6-5, 190, SO, to Butler ); Ilias Kamardine (6-5, 185, JR); Hobert Grayson IV (6-4, 205, SR); Corey Chest (6-8, 210, RSO); Koren Johnson (6-2, 175, RJR); Augusto Cassia (6-8, 220, JR); Tylis Jordan (6-9, 215, FR, to Georgia Tech ); Travis Perry (6-1, 188, SO) Returning (3): James Scott (6-11, 210, JR); Patton Pinkins (6-5, 200, FR); Niko Bundalo (6-10, 215, FR) Signed (1): Yohance Connor (6-2, 170) From the portal (1): Roman Siulepa (6-6, 220, FR, from Pittsburgh)   South Carolina Seniors (5): Meechie Johnson (6-2, 175); Mike Sharavjamts (6-8, 180); Kobe Knox (6-5, 185); Myles Stute (6-7, 215, SR); Nordin Kapic (6-8, 245) Portal (7): Eli Ellis (6-0, 192, FR); Elijah Strong (6-8, 225, JR); EJ Walker (6-7, 253, FR); Jordan Butler (7-0, 240, JR); Christ Essandoko (7-0, 285, RJR); Abu Yarmah (6-6, 209, FR); Cam Scott (6-6, 170, RFR) Returning (2): Grant Polk (6-6, 197, FR); Hayden Assemian (6-6, 230, FR) Signed (1): Marcus Johnson (6-2, 180) From the portal (1): Kory Mincy (6-2, 185, JR, from George Mason)   Tennessee Seniors (3): Ja’Kobi (6-0, 175); Felix Okpara (6-11, 220); Amaree Abram (6-4, 190) NBA (1): Nate Ament (6-10, 205, FR) Portal (7): Cade Phillips (6-9, 212, JR); Clarence Massamba (6-5, 192, FR); JP Estrella (6-11, 241, RSO, to Michigan ); Bishop Boswell (6-4, 203, SO, to Maryland ); Jaylen Carey (6-8, 245, JR, to Missouri ); Troy Henderson (6-1, 186, FR); Amari Evans (6-5, 220, FR) Returning (2): Ethan Burg (6-3, 199, SO); DeWayne Brown II (6-8, 251, FR) Signed (3): Ralph Scott (6-8, 195); Manny Green (6-6, 205); Marquis Clark (6-1, 175) From the portal (4): Tyler Lundblade (6-5, 195, SR, from Belmont ); Dai Dai Ames (6-1, 185, JR, from California); Miles Rubin (6-10, 205, JR, from Loyola Chicago); Jalan Haralson (6-7, 220, FR, from Notre Dame)   Texas Seniors (4): Tramon Mark (6-5, 190); Jordan Pope (6-2, 165); Chendall Weaver (6-3, 164); Lassina Traore (6-9, 215) NBA (1): Dailyn Swain (6-7, 200, JR) Portal (4): Nic Codie (6-8, 200, SO); Simeon Wilcher (6-4, 180, JR, to Seton Hall ); Camden Heide (6-7, 205, JR); Declan Duru Jr. (6-8, 235, FR) Returning (4): Matas Vokietaitis (7-0, 245, SO); Anthon McDermott (6-4, 200, FR); John Clark (6-8, 200, FR); Lewis Obiorah (7-0, 250, FR) Signed (4): Austin Goosby (6-5, 186); Bo Ogden (6-5, 195); Joe Sterling (6-4, 180); Coleman Elkins (6-10, 240) From the portal (2): Isaiah Johnson (6-1, 170, FR, from Colorado); David Punch (6-7, 245, SO, from TCU)   Texas A&M Seniors (7): Rashaun Agee (6-7, 210); Rylan Griffen (6-5, 180); Marcus Hill (6-4, 185); Zach Clemente (6-10, 225); Jacari Lane (6-0, 178); Federiko Federiko (6-11, 220); Ali Abdou Dibba (6-5, 185) Portal (3): Josh Holloway (6-1, 178, JR); Pop Isaacs (6-2, 170); Ruben Dominguez (6-6, 213, FR, to Xavier ) Returning (4): McKenzie Mgbako (6-8, 217, JR); Jamie Vinson (6-11, 225, SO); Chris McDermott (6-7, 225, SO); Jeremiah Green (6-3, 189, FR) Signed (1): Josh Irving (6-10, 200) From the portal (1): PJ Hagerty (6-3, 192, JR, from Kansas State)   Vanderbilt Seniors (5): Duke Miles (6-2, 175); Tyler Nickel (6-7, 200); AK Okereke (6-7, 220); Devin McGlockton (6-7, 220); Jalen Washington (6-10, 225);   Portal (6): Frankie Collins (6-1, 185, SR); Jaylon Dean-Vines (6-4, 181, FR); Tyler Harris (6-8, 190, JR); George Kimble III (6-2, 184, SO); Mike James (6-5, 198, RSR); Mason Nicholson (6-10, 280, SR)  Returning (4): Tyler Tanner (6-0, 170, SO); Chandler Bing (6-5, 211, FR); Jayden Leverett (6-11, 245, FR); Jaylon Dean-Vines (6-4, 181, FR) Signed (3): Ethan Mgbako (6-6, 215); Anthony Brown (6-1, 160); Jackson Sheffield (6-9, 240)

Onis Konanbanny hauls in an interception of a Will Griffin pass during Saturday's Orange and Blue game. The statistics all even out if you’re a Gator fan. Would a dormant offense have portended something dire for the season, or will it have signaled a defense that is ready to flex its muscle this season? How would anyone know? By CARLTON REESE GatorBaitMedia.com   GAINESVILLE -- To draw any conclusions from Saturday’s Orange and Blue scrimmage would be as foolish as determining a life strategy following the first date of a potential courtship. As such, there will be neither chest thumping nor doldrums resulting from what transpired at The Swamp.   A nice-sized crowd of around 47,000 watched the Gators tie the Gators in some pseudo card-game scoring methodology. When a Gator made a spectacular play on a deep ball, the excitement could only be tempered with the understanding that it was also a Gator who got burned on the play. Every time a Gator broke a tackle at the line, there also was a Gator missing a tackle. When a Gator linebacker showed great instincts in picking off a pass, there too was a Gator quarterback having made a poor decision to cost his team.   It's up to the coaching staff to evaluate individual efforts and performances, something above my pay grade and so I won’t try to impress anyone with some faux insight as to who looked good and who didn’t. Tape reveals that the next day to Jon Sumrall and his staff.   What most fans are looking for in such a scrimmage is for a new breakout star to emerge. We saw Jadan Baugh break through in this game several years ago, and there always seems to be someone, usually on the offensive side of the ball, that punches his ticket to the fast line up the depth chart. Today, it was hard to find such a player.   My hope in the Orange and Blue game is to get more acquainted with the roster, which has more turnover than the Danish Bakery. The statistics all even out if you’re a Gator fan. Would a dormant offense have portended something dire for the season, or will it have signaled a defense that is ready to flex its muscle this season? How would anyone know?   The low-hanging fruit in these games is the quarterback position where the DJ Lagway saga has moved to what he hopes are greener pastures (quite literally in this case, Waco, Texas) and a new gunslinger must emerge. The battle looks to be between redshirt freshman Tramell Jones, Jr., and redshirt sophomore Aaron Philo, the Georgia Tech transfer. If you were hoping for some fireworks and a second-coming of Sammy Baugh, you will have to wait.   Early on, both Jones and Philo could only showcase short dinks and dumps – something we’ll likely see much of this year with Florida’s playmakers on the edge. During the early moments, the Gator defense dominated and gave the fans very little to phone home about. Philo would throw two interceptions, one into the arms of senior linebacker DJ Coleman, a Baylor transfer, and another that caromed off the hands of a receiver to junior safety and Kentucky transfer Cam Dooley. Admittedly, the Coleman interception came about as a great instinctive defensive play, but Philo earns a share of blame for his decision on what was essentially a run/pass option. All in all, a non-descript performance for Philo, who did later connect with a wide-open Vernell Brown, Jr., on a deep touchdown. His numbers, for whatever they’re worth, read 21-for-28 passes for 193 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He seemed comfortable throwing to his former Rambling Wreck teammate Bailey Stockton and senior Auburn transfer Eric Singleton, Jr., who looks ready to round out what should be a solid UF receiving corps despite losing Aidan Mizell and Eugene Wilson III.   In seven possessions, Philo directed two TD drives, one field goal and two turnovers. He showed promise, but by no means dazzled anyone.   Jones might have taken a slight lead in the QB race with his performance Saturday, but marginally at best. He looks like a stud in waiting, and for now we wait. Saturdays’ scrimmage felt like the time for Jones to rip the QB role away and put on a show that would have Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler reminding everyone throughout the season. While Jones turned in a good performance, there were no ‘oohs!’ and ‘aahs!’ to create water cooler discussions during the week.   On his first pass, Jones threw behind Stockton on a crossing route and on his second possession lost his footing on a scramble for an 11-yard loss. In the second quarter, following two impressive first down runs by Byron Louis, Jones went to the air to connect his first downfield throw, a beautiful pass to Singleton for the game’s first touchdown. The next play after Philo connected with Brown for a TD, Jones hooked up with Micah Mays, the redshirt sophomore transfer from Wake Forest, on a 75-yard bomb that turned some heads.   Jones’ final line was 13-for-17 for 210 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.   We’ve seen Aidan Warner before, and of all the QBs he may have looked the most comfortable, but only attempted seven passes. His 20-yard scoring run was indeed beautiful, but who was really trying their best to go after the quarterback anyway? Warner led two drives, both that ended in points, and that certainly works in his favor.   Many curious eyes fell upon freshman Will Griffin, who was unable to produce much thanks to a pass rush that seemed more fierce when he was on the field. He did seem poised and confident, sans one call for intentional grounding, but he remains a work in progress. Griffin’s best moment came when he fired a sidearm bullet to junior Jaylen Lloyd, an Oklahoma State transfer, for a first down late in the game. If there is going to be water cooler talk from this game, it will most likely come from the receivers. Brown electrified the way everyone is accustom, but Singleton brings a fair amount of hype with him from Auburn and at the Orange and Blue game he lived up to the talk. Mays could be the sleeper in that no one really expects much from someone transferring in from Wake Forest, but as a state champion sprinter with reliable hands, he looks to be a very dangerous weapon for the Gator offense. The two transfer wide receivers stole the show: Mays finishing with four receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns, while Singleton made six catches for 92 yards and a touchdown. Throw in redshirt sophomore TJ Abrams, who finished with six catches for 56 yards and we’re talking about a seriously deep unit. Keep in mind, Dallas Wilson did not play, but he was seen walking the field – albeit gingerly – without a boot. With a healthy Wilson, Brown, the two transfers mentioned, Abrams, Stockton and Oklahoma State transfer Jaylen Lloyd, this unit could make whoever wins the starting QB job look pretty good.   The Florida defense which dominated the first part of the game, showed no signs of tackling deficiencies, something that has plagued it in the past. Ball carriers were wrapped up and taken down, and even stacked up Baugh early on.   I’m looking at character, and I did notice one thing that caught my attention, and it came in the form of redshirt freshman cornerback Onis Konanbanny. Early in the second half, Konanbanny blasted the Gator receiver on an incomplete pass then went to high-fiving teammates. No one told him it was just a scrimmage, but Konanbanny was told to go play football on this day and that’s exactly what he did.   Not long after, Konanbanny was beat on a play by Kamir Jackson, leading to a pass interference in the end zone. The kid wasn’t done making his presence felt, as he then picked off a Will Griffin pass on a deep ball. It’s only a scrimmage, but I love to see a player like Konanbanny just go out there and ball. If that’s the spirit of a Sumrall-coached team, that's a good reason to get me excited.

Jon Sumrall seems to have what it takes to lead the Gators back to national prominence (Photo by Chris Spears) The lights are flashing yellow, reminding me that Jon Sumrall still hasn’t coached his first game at the University of Florida. I want to be cautious. I should be cautious. Yet everything about Sumrall indicates that after four straight misfires, the Gators might have finally found a coach who is truly capable of leading them back into national prominence.   He is confident, not cocky. He doesn’t think he knows everything, therefore he has hired excellent assistant coaches, whom he allows to coach. He recruits well. He understands that football is a violent game whose champions and contenders are just the right blend of boy scouts and borderline psychopaths.   Jon Sumrall has me willing to believe again even though I’ve been burned four times since Urban Meyer retired after the 2010 season. The Gator in me had me believing the previous four coaches had what it takes to win championships. I admit it. I drank the Kool-Aid, believing Will Muschamp, Jim McElwain, Dan Mullen and Billy Napier were made of the right stuff.   Well, I was wrong.   In the immortal words of Harvard professor turned parody song writer Tom Lehrer: “Get into that long processional, step into that small confessional; There the guy who’s got religion’ll tell you if you’re sin’s original.”   My sin? It’s not original, but years of being a Gator have seen too many times when optimism overwhelmed my sense of logic. Einstein said insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results. Muschamp, McElwain, Mullen and Napier all had their quirks that made them unique, but in reality they were the same coach over and over again. The fact that Sumrall is now Florida’s fifth football coach since 2011 is all the proof you need that we have endured 15 straight years of total insanity.   My heart and emotions tell me that Sumrall can and will do it. Of course, there were times during the tenures of the previous four guys that my heart and emotions were telling me the exact same thing. Now it’s time to confess reason and accountability were blanketed by heart and emotions. I should have, but didn’t speak out in all four cases until it was too late. There were warning signs for Muschamp, McElwain, Mullen and Napier that I ignored. I think most Gator fans did the same thing, ignoring the speed bumps that constantly prevented anything but a smooth ride.   So, Father forgive me. I thought I knew what I was doing. Turned out I didn’t and now I must confess: I was wrong. Big time.     Self-assessment is good for the soul, so here goes.   1. Will Muschamp: Urban Meyer was 65-15 with two national championships the previous six years. Why replace a coach who put up legendary numbers with a coach with absolutely zero head coaching experience. Didn’t Jeremy Foley learn his lesson years before when he hired Ron Zook to succeed the retiring Steve Spurrier?   I was convinced that Muschamp was going to get it done when he went 11-2 in 2012, losing only to Georgia and then in the Sugar Bowl to Louisville. Then came 2013 with all the quarterback injuries and the loss to Georgia Southern followed by 2014 with three critical losses (LSU, South Carolina, Florida State) by a combined 11 points. The Gators were so close to 10-2, but 7-5 got Muschamp fired.   What went wrong? Three years of bad offensive coordinators – Charlie Weis year one, Brent Pease years two and three. Great defenses but terrible offenses for four straight years.   2. Jim McElwain: I thought he would be a good coach since he had been Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator for two national championship team. In retrospect, I should have waved red flags at his opening press conference when he said he could “win with his dog Clarabelle playing quarterback.” He actually said that. Come to think of it, I’m not sure Clarabelle wouldn’t have been better than Treon Harris, Luke Del Rio and Austin Appleby. Mac won 19 games his first two seasons, both times making it to the SEC Championship Game, largely because Muschamp left behind what amounted to an NFL defense. When Muschamp’s players graduated and moved on to the pros, the wins ran out for Big Mac. The losses and the lies caught up to him in 2017 and he got fired.   During his tenure at UF, McElwain couldn’t give a straight answer which should have been another ginormous red flag. He gave the impression that he was trying to emulate the cool kid from high school who drove a Mustang convertible and never wore socks with his loafers. Unlike Muschamp, McElwain did have some head coaching experience, but in no way was he prepared for a job as complex and demanding as Florida.   What went wrong? No backup plan for when the Muschamp recruits departed and three years of terrible offense. The Gators never averaged 30 points a game and this guy was supposed to be an offensive genius. Hardly.   3. Dan Mullen: Mullen was Plan B. Chip Kelly was Plan A but he played Scott Stricklin for a contract offer that was used to leverage into the UCLA job. He won 21 games (lost five) in his first two years and had the Gators on the verge of the College Football Playoff in the COVID year of 2020 when Marco Wilson’s shoe began a losing cycle that was never broken.   Mullen gave us four years of scoring at least 30 points a game and three straight New Year’s Eve Six bowl games. What he didn’t do right was hang on to defensive coordinator Todd Grantham who turned third downs into predictable disasters. He also didn’t replace lazy recruiters with hungry assistants who understand you can’t win at Florida with players best suited for Mississippi State. Sub-standard recruiting on the lines of scrimmage turned what could have been into the disaster it was.   What went wrong? Not encouraging Grantham to take a pro job when offered after 2019. A lack of team discipline in 2020 and 2021. Too much reliance on his belief that he could dial up an offense that could outscore anyone the Gators played.   4. Billy Napier: The Gators could have hired Lane Kiffin to replace Mullen. Lane wanted the job but Scott Stricklin zeroed in on Billy Napier and never considered anyone else. File that one under it seemed like a good idea at the moment.   It took three years for Napier to produce a winner. Eight wins in 2024 had a lot to do with the impact Graham Mertz had on freshman QB DJ Lagway. When Mertz – no relation to Fred and Ethel – went to the pros, there was no one left to mentor DJ, who reverted back to his bad habits. A bad, predictable offense prone to interceptions and a defense that had too many no show games, not to mention way too many boy scouts and not enough borderline psychopaths. Disaster again.   What went wrong? Napier was fantastic from Sunday through Friday, but never seemed to grasp that good citizens during the weekdays don’t necessarily translate to wins on Saturday and you get paid to win on Saturday. Napier also believed he was immensely qualified to call the offensive plays. Maybe it would have worked if Clarabelle had been his QB.   Now consider this: Since Will Muschamp’s first year in 2011 until Billy Napier’s last season in 2025, the Gators are 118-84. That’s the 43 rd best record in the country. In the SEC, the Gators have the seventh best record. Middle of the pack. From 1990-2025 Florida had the best record in all of college football – 210-57-1, which is eight more wins than second place Nebraska, 17 more than Ohio State and 34 more than Georgia.   In the last 15 years Florida has become what Florida was during the Bob Woodruff years, which is to say dull, predictable and treading water while Alabama, Georgia and LSU have won national championships. Should you elect to point fingers at the responsible culprits for Florida’s demise, look beyond Muschamp, McElwain, Mullen and Napier. They were offered multi-year, multi-million contracts and they did the smart thing by taking the job even though they weren’t nearly ready for it.   The people responsible are Jeremy Foley and Scott Stricklin, neither of whom was willing to pay the big bucks to bring in a coach capable of carrying the Florida torch while making the Gators relevant nationally once again. Florida went cheap and now it’s up to Jon Sumrall to not only elevate the Gators back into the national limelight but to save Stricklin’s job. Yes, if Jon Sumrall is overwhelmed by the job and goes belly up, you can bet the ranch Stricklin won’t survive either. Something about Sumrall tells me that this time – finally – Stricklin got the right football coach.   In the eyes of the Gator Nation, Jon Sumrall is either another Moses leading UF to the promised land or Jonah getting swallowed up by a whale. He comes across like Moses but he still hasn't coached a game and it will be months before we see what he's accomplished in the months leading up to the season opener. There is a lot of pressure on Sumrall, but something about his demeanor indicates that he’s more than ready to take on a task this monumental and able to deliver the goods.   If not, then it’s another glass filled with Kool-Aid

Keagan Rothrock was theRock again. UAA photo) After the weekend, the Gators are in third place with a 14-4 record trailing Alabama by one game and Oklahoma by two in the loss column.   By EDDIE GILLEY GatorBaitMedia.com The Gators needed to take at least two of three to keep pace with the other leaders at the top of the SEC. Alabama swept Auburn in Auburn who has been struggling of late. Oklahoma two of the three games at Texas. Florida did them one better and swept the Gamecocks.  After the weekend, the Gators are in third place with a 14-4 record trailing Alabama by one game and Oklahoma by two in the loss column.  Florida got a gem in the circle from ace Keagan Rothrock on Friday night. She walked 5 Gamecocks and struck out 8 while throwing a complete-game no-hitter! It’s been almost 7 years since that had been done against an SEC opponent for the Gators.  The last time a Gator pitcher had done that in Columbia was 26 years ago.  The offense was led by Townsen Thomas who went 3-4 at the plate. She also hit her third home runs of the season in the 7th with Kenleigh Cahalan on to pad the Gator’s margin to 5 runs which made the final 5-0.  The Gator bats got hot on Saturday in Columbia. They  got 16 hits and scored 15 runs in the 5-inning run rule shortened game.  The Gators trailed 2-0 going into the third inning after starter Katelynn Oxley gave up the two runs in the second. On the day the Gators hit 4 three-run homers. Two by Jocelyn Erickson including her first one in the third that put the Gators up 3-2.  In that same inning Cassidy McLellan hit a laser shot to right field for the second three- run homer by the Gators in the inning. In a case of déjà vu, Erickson blasted another three-runbomb in the fourth.  Kenleigh Cahalan joined the three-run bomb squad with one of her own in the 5th inning. The Gators scored 15 unanswered runs to win the series and take the heart out of the Gamecock squad.  Olivia Miller came in to relieve Oxley to pick up the win by finishing the next three innings with 4 hits and 1 strike out.  The Gators swept the Gamecocks by winning the getaway game,  6-1. After the Gators scored in the first inning on a Jocelyn Erickson single that scored Taylor Shumaker who led off the game with a double that just missed clearing the fence in left field, SC tied the game with a solo shot in the 3rd.  The Gators scored twice in the fourth on a Madison Walker double and a fielding error by the Gamecocks’ first baseman on a ball hit hard by Gabi Comia. In the 5th, Kendall Grover hit a double in the gap to score Thomas, Cahalan, and Erickson to wrap up the scoring for the weekend.  Keagan Rothrock picked up the win, going 5.2 innings, giving up only 4 hits and the one earned run. Miller came in to seal the deal by going the final 1.1 innings. Rothrock moves to 21-4 on the season. Cassidy McLellan paced the Gators with a .625 batting average and three walks for the series. Erickson had one more hit and went 6-10 for the weekend with five extra base hits including the two home runs on Saturday. Each of them drove in 7 runs for the weekend.

Tramell Jones (9) helped himself on soft touches and deep throws (Chris Spears photo) Not so fast! It took a minute or two to reveal itself but this Gator team looks to be on track and possibly emerging. They called it the Orange and Blue Game, but for the first quarter and a half, it could’ve been mistaken for a meeting of the Dink & Dunk Society. If there’s such a thing as the “Air Dink and Dunk” offense, well, Buster Faulkner looked briefly like he might be a new disciple — but that’s wrong as we would find out.   For a moment, I thought the Gators had traded in their Air Raid manuals for the Pamphlet of Prudence — all screens, checkdowns, and just enough three-yard outs to make Danny Wuerffel roll his eyes from the press box. Then, mercifully, something resembling an offense unclogged itself. It took a third of the game to get the wraps off, but when they did — pop! — the ball started flying, the offense started breathing and the 47,000 fans in attendance finally exhaled. A little air got back into the Air Raid. I know, I know — football’s a game of inches. But I didn’t realize that meant every down. Maybe I expected too much, but the first quarter and a half looked like two hours of dress rehearsal at a marching band show. New coaches, new players, new hopes — all fair, all understandable. But even with “reasonable expectations,” I wanted to see a spark. By halftime, we got a few — enough to stir even the most cynical old Gator in the stands. Receivers? Promising. Quarterback play? Competitive and capable — both Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones showed flashes. Running back Jadan Baugh? Still the brightest bulb in that backfield box. Defense? Well, let’s file that under “developing storyline,” but there’s promise if you squint a little. Somewhere along the way, somebody in charge started acting like, well, he was in charge. And that starts with Jon Sumrall. The man’s got presence — that unmistakable “I just cleaned out the junk drawer” energy. He’s made it clear this is his program now, and he’s not shy about it. When Sumrall says, “It’s not whether we’ll win — it’s when,” I’m inclined to believe him. (After all, that’s about as much swagger as you can fit into one sentence without channeling Spurrier.) And speaking of Spurrier — somewhere out there, the Head Ball Coach smiled when he saw Philo hit VB3 on a rope, followed by Jones tossing a 75-yard strike to Micah Mays that finally put a little snap, crackle, and pop back into this Rice Krispie offense. Just like that, Hallelujah! No need for Spurrier to hang his visor in shame. By the game’s conclusion, the Gators somehow had more points than the scoreboard could count — 80, 90, maybe 45 for each team depending on which alumni scoring system you tried to decipher. At that point, I quit trying to figure out who was Orange and who was Blue and just started enjoying myself. One name worth mentioning: Aidan Warner. Once a forgotten walk-on, the kid reappeared like a ghost from spring games past — calm, commanding, authoritative. The kind of quarterback who doesn’t need a nameplate to earn your attention. So here we are again — New Era No. 17 (or is it 18?) in Gatorland. Sumrall clocked out at Tulane, clocked in at Florida, assembled his staff, and addressed his new locker room with a simple truth: Roughly half the team is brand new. And with the revolving door of NIL and the portal, that’s about par for the course these days. We’ve seen this movie before, sure — but maybe this time the ending’s different. Patience, Gator faithful, patience. Or as Sumrall might say, it’s not a matter of if winning Florida football will return … but WHEN.

Denzel Aberdeen is returning to UF if he can get an NCAA waiver (Photo by Chris Spears) Denzel Aberdeen is back. Well, sort of.   Earlier in the week Aberdeen placed his name in the transfer portal. Friday he announced he is committed to return to Florida where his college career started. On paper, this sounds great. He already knows Todd Golden’s offense and defensive schemes. He was a valuable reserve on the Gators’ national championship team in 2025, the player who scored the final point at the foul line in Florida’s 65-63 win over Houston in the title game.   He also bolted for Kentucky where he played last season, averaging 13.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Wildcats, who made it to the second game of the NCAA Tournament. He wasn’t supposed to be the starting point guard at Kentucky.  That’s why the Wildcats Jaland Lowe, a pure point who had an outstanding year at Pittsburgh but when Lowe suffered a season-ending injury in game nine, Denzel moved over to the point and stayed there the rest of the season. The results were mixed. He had some very good games, but the longe the season progressed the more obvious it became that he’s a combo guard, more wing than point.   Now Kentucky is undergoing a complete roster overhaul with only four players – none of them starters – returning and just one freshman signee. With its traditions and willingness to spend in the portal ($22 million last year), Kentucky believes it can do what Dusty May did at Michigan and assemble a championship roster through transfers.   Will it work for the Wildcats? Aberdeen obviously wasn’t sold on the idea so he went into the portal. Now he has committed to return to Florida where he is still good friends with Tommy Haugh, Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu, Isaiah Brown and Viktor Mikic.   He seems to be an instant fit at Florida, but there is just one teensy little problem. Aberdeen has already played four years of college basketball but he only appeared in 12 games as a freshman, averaging 3.3 minutes per appearance. Per NCAA rules Aberdeen is ineligible for another year but he has applied for a waiver that will grant him one more year.   Judging by the inconsistencies within the NCAA it’s a coin flip whether or not Aberdeen will get the waiver. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was denied an eligibility waiver by the NCAA, but he’s won twice in court. Will the NCAA continue to fight or give in? Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia fought the NCAA in court and won even though he played two years of juco and two years at New Mexico State before playing two at Vandy. Prior to playing his final year of college basketball at Vandy last season, Duke Miles played three years at Troy, one year at High Point and one year at Oklahoma. He got an extra year because of COVID (2021) and an injury waiver for 2023 when he played six games prior to injury.   The NCAA won in court against Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar, who took a redshirt his freshman year at a California juco, didn’t get to play in 2021 because of Covid, then spent two years at another juco. He went on to play two years at Appalachian State and last season at Tennessee.   Considering Aberdeen is only asking for a fifth year, it would seem his case is a slam dunk yes from the NCAA, but remember, it is the NCAA we’re talking about here. In its infinite wisdom, the NCAA tends to be all over the place when it comes to selectively enforcing its own rules so there are no guarantees. But, it seems doubtful Todd Golden would have approved of Aberdeen’s return if it seemed unlikely that the waiver would be rejected.   While Aberdeen awaits a decision from the NCAA, Golden waits decisions by Tommy Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu. Haugh seems most likely to leave for the NBA since most draft projections have him going in the final third of the first round lottery. Condon is borderline first round, but nearly every expert projects him to go in the middle third of the second round (picks 11-20). Chinyelu needs a jump shot so he’s second round at best. Condon and Chinyelu seem likely to return. Based on NIL projections, the two of them would make more money at Florida than they would in the second round of the NBA Draft.   Would the return of Condon and Chinyelu plus the addition of Aberdeen be enough to convince Haugh to come back for his senior season? It would certainly make Florida the odds-on favorite to win the NCAA championship next season. Even without Haugh, the Gators are forecast as a top five team. With him and the security that Aberdeen brings to the table Florida looks scary good.   The current Florida roster Seniors (1): Xaivian Lee (6-4, 185) NBA (1): Tommy Haugh (6-9, 215, JR) Portal (2): Olivier Rioux (7-9, 305, RFR); Micah Handlogten (7-1, 260) Returning (10): Alex Condon (6-11, 236, JR); Rueben Chinyelu (6-11, 265, JR); Urban Klavzar (6-1, 195, JR); AJ Brown (6-5, 210, RJR); Alex Kovatchev (6-5, 195, RSO); Boogie Fland (6-3, 185, SO); Isaiah Brown (6-5, 210, SO); Viktor Mikic (6-11, 260, SO); CJ Ingram (6-7, 210, FR); Alex Lloyd (6-4, 180, FR) Signed: Jones Lay (7-0, 230) From the portal: Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 190, SR, from Kentucky)   THE REST OF THE SEC Alabama Seniors: Latrell Wrightsell (6-3, 189); Houston Mallette (6-5, 185); Noah Williamson (7-0, 244) NBA: Labaron Philon (6-4, 177, SO); Amari Allen (6-7, 205, FR) Legal issues: Aden Holloway (6-1, 178, JR) Portal:  Taylor Bol Bowen (6-10, 195, JR); Aiden Sherrell (6-10, 240, SO); Jalil Bethea (6-5, 190, SO) Returning (5): London Jemison (6-8, 205, FR); Keitenn Bristow (6-8, 190, SO); Davion Hannah (6-6, 190, FR); Preston Murphy (6-1, 175, JR); Collins Onyejiaka (6-11, 265, FR) Signed (3): Tarris Bouie (6-4, 175); Quayden Samuels (6-6, 200); Jaxson Richardson (6-6, 200)   Arkansas Seniors: Nick Pringle (6-9, 220); Trevon Brazille (6-9, 215) NBA: Darius Acuff Jr. (6-3, 190, FR); Meleek Thomas (6-5, 185, FR) Portal: Karter Knox (6-6, 211, SO); DJ Wagner (6-3, 175, JR); Kaim Rtail (6-7, 205, FR); Elmir Dzafic (7-0, 285, FR) Returning (5): Maliq Ewin (6-10, 220, JR); Billy Richmond (6-5, 205, SO); Jaden Karuletwa (6-5, 185, SO); Isaiah Sealy (6-7, 200, FR); Paulo Semedo (7-1, 225, FR) Signed (3): Jordan Smith Jr. (6-2, 180); JaShawn Andrews (6-4, 195); Abdou Toure (6-6, 200)   Auburn Seniors (2): Keyshawn Hall (6-7, 250); Keyshawn Murphy (6-10, 245) Portal (4): Filip Jovic (6-8, 225, FR, to UCLA ); Kaden Magwood (6-2, 175, FR); Elyjah Freeman (6-8, 185, SO); Abdul Bashir (6-7, 195, JR) Returning (5): Kevin Overton (6-5, 180, JR);   Tahaad Pettiford (6-1, 175, SO); Emeka Opurum (7-0, 205, SO); Sebastian Williams-Adams (6-8, 230, FR); Simon Walker (6-4, 195, FR) Signed (2): Caleb Williams (6-5, 195); Narcisse Ngoy (6-11, 220)   Georgia Seniors (2): Justin Bailey (6-3, 195); Justin Abson (6-9, 235) Portal (6): Jeremiah Wilkinson (6-1, 185, SO); Dylan James (6-9, 235, JR); Somto Cyril (6-11, 260, SO); Jackson McVey (7-1, 240, FR); Jordan Ross (6-3, 175, JR); Jake Wilkins (6-9, 185, FR, to California ) Returning (4): Blue Cain (6-5, 190, JR); Marcus Millender (5-11, 180, JR); Kanon Catchings (6-9, 190, SO); Kareem Stagg (6-8, 230, FR)   Kentucky Seniors (1): Otega Oweh (6-5, 210) NBA (2): Jayden Quaintance (6-9, 225, SO); Malachi Moreno (7-0, 250, FR) Portal (7): Jaland Lowe (6-2, 170, JR); Brandon Garrison (6-11, 245, JR); Jasper Johnson (6-5, 180, FR); Mouhamed Dioubate (6-7, 215, JR); Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 190, SR, to FLORIDA ); Andrija Jelavic (6-11, 225, FR, to Ohio State ); Collin Chandler (6-5, 202, SO , to BYU ) Returning (4): Reece Potter (7-1, 210, JR); Kam Williams (6-8, 190, SO); Trent Noah (6-5, 220, SO); Brayden Hawthorne (6-8, 190, FR) Signed (1): Mason Williams (6-2, 185)   LSU Seniors (5): Max Mackinnon (6-5, 205); Marquel Sutton (6-7, 205); Pablo Tamba (6-6, 210); Rashad King (6-6, 198); PJ Carter (6-5, 175) Portal (8): Dedan Thomas Jr. (6-1, 178, JR, to Houston ); Jalen Reed (6-10, 230, SR); Mazi Mosley (6-5, 169, FR); Matt Gilhool (6-11, 213, FR); Ron Zipper (6-5, 209, FR); Marcus Vaughns (6-8, 221, FR, to Arizona State ); Mike Nwoko (6-10, 245, JR, to Xavier ); Robert Miller III (6-10, 220, JR) Returning (1):   Jalen Reece (6-0, 185, FR) Signed (2): Kevin Thomas (6-6, 195); Herly Brutus (6-5, 180)   Mississippi State Seniors (3): Jayden Epps (6-2, 190); Ja’Borri McGhee (6-0, 200); Quincy Ballard (6-11, 240) Portal (6): Jamarion Davis-Fleming (6-10, 240, FR); Dellquan Waren (6-1, 160, FR); Sergej Macura (6-9, 220, FR, to UCLA ); Amier Ali (6-8, 185, SO); Brandon Walker (6-8, 255, SR); Achor Achor (6-9, 222, SR) Returning (5): Josh Hubbard (5-10, 185, JR); Gai Chol (6-11, 245, JR); King Grace (6-5, 195, FR); Cameren Paul (6-7, 210, FR); Tee Bartlett (6-11, 290, FR) Signed (3): Tristan Reed (6-9, 230); Jalyn Collingwood (6-5, 190); Willie Burnett III (6-4, 175)   Missouri Seniors (5): Mark Mitchell (6-8, 220); Jayden Stone (6-4, 180); Jacob Crews (6-7, 210); Shawn Phillips (7-0, 245); Jevon Porter (6-11, 220) Portal (3): Anthony Robinson II (6-2, 175, JR); Sebastian Mack (6-3, 195, JR); T.O. Barrett (6-4, 200, SO) Returning (6): Trent Pierce (6-10, 210, JR); Luke Norweather (6-11, 232, JR); Trent Burns (7-5, 235, SO); Annor Boateng (6-6, 215, SO); Nicholas Randall (6-9, 240, FR); Aaron Rowe (6-2, 155, FR) Signed (3): Jason Crowe Jr. (6-3, 170); Aidan Chronister (6-7, 180); Toni Bryant (6-9, 215)   Oklahoma Seniors (6): Nijel Pack (6-0, 180); Tae Davis (6-9, 204); Mohamed Wague (6-10, 225); Jadon Jones (6-5, 190); Kirill Elatontsev (6-11, 240); Jeff Nwankwo (6-6, 220) Portal (3): Andreas Holst (7-0, 200, FR); Kuol Atak (6-9, 190, FR); Jake Hansen (6-0, 170, FR) Returning (5): Xzayvier Brown (6-2, 165, JR); Dayton Forsythe (6-2, 187, SO); Derrion Reed (6-8, 220, SO); Kai Rogers (6-10, 247, FR); Alec Blair (6-7, 192, FR) Signed (1): Gage Mayfield (6-7, 200)   Ole Miss Seniors (3): AJ Storr (6-6, 200); Malik Dia (6-9, 240); Kezza Giffa (6-2, 165) Portal (8): Eduardo Klafke (6-5, 190, SO, to Butler ); Ilias Kamardine (6-5, 185, JR); Hobert Grayson IV (6-4, 205, SR); Corey Chest (6-8, 210, RSO); Koren Johnson (6-2, 175, RJR); Augusto Cassia (6-8, 220, JR); Tylis Jordan (6-9, 215, FR); Travis Perry (6-1, 188, SO) Returning (3): James Scott (6-11, 210, JR); Patton Pinkins (6-5, 200, FR); Niko Bundalo (6-10, 215, FR) Signed (1): Yohance Connor (6-2, 170) From the portal (1): Roman Siulepa (6-6, 220, FR, from Pittsburgh)   South Carolina Seniors (5): Meechie Johnson (6-2, 175); Mike Sharavjamts (6-8, 180); Kobe Knox (6-5, 185); Myles Stute (6-7, 215, SR); Nordin Kapic (6-8, 245) Portal (7): Eli Ellis (6-0, 192, FR); Elijah Strong (6-8, 225, JR); EJ Walker (6-7, 253, FR); Jordan Butler (7-0, 240, JR); Christ Essandoko (7-0, 285, RJR); Abu Yarmah (6-6, 209, FR); Cam Scott (6-6, 170, RFR) Returning (2): Grant Polk (6-6, 197, FR); Hayden Assemian (6-6, 230, FR) Signed (1): Marcus Johnson (6-2, 180) From the portal: Kory Mincy (6-2, 185, JR, from George Mason)   Tennessee Seniors (3): Ja’Kobi (6-0, 175); Felix Okpara (6-11, 220); Amaree Abram (6-4, 190) NBA (1): Nate Ament (6-10, 205, FR) Portal (7): Cade Phillips (6-9, 212, JR); Clarence Massamba (6-5, 192, FR); JP Estrella (6-11, 241, RSO, to Michigan ); Bishop Boswell (6-4, 203, SO); Jaylen Carey (6-8, 245, JR); Troy Henderson (6-1, 186, FR); Amari Evans (6-5, 220, FR) Returning (2): Ethan Burg (6-3, 199, SO); DeWayne Brown II (6-8, 251, FR) From the portal (1): Tyler Lundblade (6-5, 195, SR, from Belmont ); Dai Dai Ames (6-1, 185, JR, from California)   Texas Seniors (4): Tramon Mark (6-5, 190); Jordan Pope (6-2, 165); Chendall Weaver (6-3, 164); Lassina Traore (6-9, 215) NBA (1): Dailyn Swain (6-7, 200, JR) Portal (3): Nic Codie (6-8, 200, SO); Simeon Wilcher (6-4, 180, JR); Camden Heide (6-7, 205, JR); Returning (5): Matas Vokietaitis (7-0, 245, SO); Declan Duru Jr. (6-8, 235, FR); Anthon McDermott (6-4, 200, FR); John Clark (6-8, 200, FR); Lewis Obiorah (7-0, 250, FR) Signed (4): Austin Goosby (6-5, 186); Bo Ogden (6-5, 195); Joe Sterling (6-4, 180); Coleman Elkins (6-10, 240) From the portal: Isaiah Johnson (6-1, 170, FR, from Colorado)   Texas A&M Seniors (7): Rashaun Agee (6-7, 210); Rylan Griffen (6-5, 180); Marcus Hill (6-4, 185); Zach Clemente (6-10, 225); Jacari Lane (6-0, 178); Federiko Federiko (6-11, 220); Ali Abdou Dibba (6-5, 185) Portal (3): Josh Holloway (6-1, 178, JR); Pop Isaacs (6-2, 170); Ruben Dominguez (6-6, 213, FR, to Xavier ) Returning (4): McKenzie Mgbako (6-8, 217, JR); Jamie Vinson (6-11, 225, SO); Chris McDermott (6-7, 225, SO); Jeremiah Green (6-3, 189, FR) Signed: Josh Irving (6-10, 200) From the portal: PJ Hagerty (6-3, 192, JR, from Kansas State)   Vanderbilt Seniors (6): Duke Miles (6-2, 175); Tyler Nickel (6-7, 200); AK Okereke (6-7, 220); Devin McGlockton (6-7, 220); Jalen Washington (6-10, 225); Mason Nicholson (6-10, 280) Portal (5): Frankie Collins (6-1, 185, SR); Jaylon Dean-Vines (6-4, 181, FR); Tyler Harris (6-8, 190, JR); George Kimble III (6-2, 184, SO); Mike James (6-5, 198, RSR) Returning (4): Tyler Tanner (6-0, 170, SO); Chandler Bing (6-5, 211, FR); Jayden Leverett (6-11, 245, FR); Jaylon Dean-Vines (6-4, 181, FR) Signed: Ethan Mgbako (6-6, 215); Anthony Brown (6-1, 160); Jackson Sheffield (6-9, 240)

Coach Sumrall finishes his first Spring pleased but with more work to do. By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com Football Analyst, Host of the Lowdown with Loren Meadows “It ain’t a matter of if we’re gonna win here it’s how fast were gonna win, it’s coming” Jon Sumrall (GatorBait photo) How was the Orange and Blue Game this afternoon? The pregame atmosphere was great, the crowd was exceptional. Both Aaron Philo and Trammell Jones flashed in different spots, and the defense was up and down as the offense and defense finished the game deadlocked at 45 points in what we will call the Sumrall Scoring System. Spring games rarely give anyone an idea of what is truly to come for the season to follow. Case in point, quarterback Harrison Bailey was the star of the show in last year’s game and proceeded to lose the backup job to Jones and was never heard from again. So with that I caution anyone that is trying to make an educated observation about the first edition of the Sumrall led Gators will look like and go forward with the fact that this coach knows what he wants and is no mood for anything less. If asked what impressed me most on Saturday is that for the first time in four years it felt like Florida’s football coach was ready to talk football and talk about it all day. No philosophical slight of hand, no mention of content nor character, football is our business and we got a long way to go. Going forward everything is up for grabs and on a day where things can be fun and lively Sumrall chose to make some of his players a little uncomfortable. Prospective starter at right tackle Bryce Lovett played some at left tackle, cornerback Cormani McClain played with both the first and second defense, and both units quickly had to change gears after success and failure.  Sumrall plans to be honest with every player on his team because everybody matters, and while questions first turned to the quarterback position he is equally concerned with who is at left tackle, tight end, and running back. Furthermore as spring comes to an end the discretionary period where the players are left to a couple weeks of self-development Sumrall has made it clear that this is yet another part of the process. “I told our team earlier this week I’m gonna learn a lot about this football team in the couple weeks they have.” Meaning guys better come back ready to work for organized activities. Ultimately it all comes down to a coach that has used the spring to find out what he has to work with in a new landscape where your team is set as the spring transfer portal is now obsolete. While ever critical Sumrall did complement the defense stating “we are ahead of where I thought we would be”, particularly in the defensive front where Sumrall thought they had a solid day. Completely dialed in he turned to their counterparts on the offensive line stating that strength coach Rusty Whitt is a “lineman builder” and that unit needs to have a “great summer or we got no chance”. This is a coach that seems to know what this league is about and what is needed to succeed.  Finally, Sumrall talked about waking up the beast that is Florida Football. Championships are the standard and the Gators are in Sumrall’s words are “a sleeping giant”. “It ain’t a matter of if we’re gonna win here it’s how fast were gonna win, it’s coming” Straight at you no filter, all football. Su

Can Denzel get that 5th year? I know, that sounds far fetched 1,000 miles away, but it is in fact, only 527 miles from Gainesville to Augusta. And somewhat similar in quest. But Rory’s  11 years in the making. And right there in that beautiful setting. GAINESVILLE — it’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood. The  Orange and  Blue Neighborhood. On an absolutely perfect lemon-lime April Saturday full of hope and promise and maybe a little bit of Rory McIRoy-style of proclamation. I say that, you think I’m looney,  but there is indeed a parallel between what the Masters champion has done and what the Florida Gators need to do: State your claim about who you are meant to be and get out of your own way. I know, that sounds far fetched 1,000 miles away, but it is in fact, only 527 miles from Gainesville to Augusta. And somewhat similar in quest. But Rory’s  11 years in the making. And right there in that beautiful setting. It’s about finally discovering your identity. Now that Rory McIlroy know who he is and realizes his remarkable skills with a green jacket in his closet. He is able to go forth and be who he is supposed to be. You can see how refreshed he looks. You can see how at home he feels in Augusta and you can tell there are many more great rounds so we played by the young Northern Irishman. The fun is, on the other hand, could be grand. Just as it could be in Gainesville someday soon. We’re waiting to see how new Coach John Sumerall will shake this squad up for 2026. It looks very promising and today is a good day to get started. In body politic, whether it be religious, I political or athletic, it only takes someone to start the believing somewhere at some point in order to get rolling – claiming your rightful place. Someone waking up in this program with an epiphany and saying “you know what, we’re the Florida Gators we can do this!“  I go back all the way to Bear Bryant in the early 60s who was first to say out loud: If they ever wake up and realize what they have at Florida — look out,  the rest of the world is gonna pay! And it was only the next year they started paying as that 1963 team was the first to ever beat him in Tuscaloosa. Remarkably it still ranks as one of the Gators’ great victories  of all time. But that has come and gone. It’s just like these Masters will come and go. But right now in the heart of this whole competition it’s a beautiful thing to experience as a fan or a player, etc.  That’s why I look with some expectation on this Orange and Blue game, which could tell us a little something more about what we want to know of these Gators — and it’s a lot more than who has the edge as the starting quarterback race. And I believe in good karma. Good things happen to good people in good programs.  There is evidence of that in basketball again  upon receiving the news that Denzel Aberdeen is returning to the Gators – widely celebrated by many, including myself – it’s an indication that there’s a certain magnetic field in play. Good coaches a good programs tend to be very lucky. Don’t they? I think Denzel is a perfect fit for Todd Golden’s team and brings about excellent chemistry if he can finalize that fifth year of eligibility. More good things having happened to the good people in Augusta, where Gator graduate Fred Ridley, executive chairman at Augusta, witnessed one of the most spectacular rounds of golf ever played on that beautiful 65 by Rory, which put him up by five after 36 holes. It may not ensure another green jacket, but boy it sure is a leg up – or should we say, an arm up? McIlroy nearly was paired in Saturday’s final group with Patrick Reed, his foil during a memorable Ryder Cup match in 2016 and in the final group of the 2018 Masters, won by Reed. But a bogey on the 18th hole Friday left Reed tied for second with Sam Burns, who will play with McIlroy on Saturday.  —More Masters: it will do about $70 million in merchandise sales this week. -$10 million per day $1 million per hour $16,000 per minute $277 per second That's $25 million more in merchandise sales than the Atlanta Braves did all of last year — in just one week, with no online sales.

Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu will make the Gators a national contender (Photo by Chris Spears) The anticipated return of Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu is the reason nearly every too early top 25 polls for next season place the Florida Gators in the top five. Should Tommy Haugh elect to return instead of going to the NBA where he’s projected in the last third of the lottery, the Gators will have the most experienced roster in the country and certainly a threat to win a second national championship in three years.   With or without Haugh, the Gators will have a powerful roster simply with Condon and Chinyelu returning. The Gators have 10 players returning including three starters (Condon, Chinyelu and Boogie Fland), three experienced guys off the bench (Urban Klavzar, Isaiah Brown and CJ Ingram) and a former starter and double figures scorer at Ohio U in AJ Brown.   Imagine what happens if Todd Golden strikes gold in the transfer portal once again and finds a hidden gem in Europe or Australia as he is prone to do. Counting incoming freshman Jones Lay, a 7-footer from North Carolina, Golden has 11 scholarships accounted for and another four to fill.   Hands down, Florida will be the team to beat in the Southeastern Conference. No one comes close to Florida’s experience and it’s likely that no one will be able to compete with Florida’s size either. The Gators are 87-24 over the past three seasons, which is the best record in the SEC (Tennessee 82-29; Auburn 81-30; Alabama 78-31).   Barring something disastrous, the Gators will have the best record in an SEC which prior to wholesale portal signings figures to be the weakest it has been in the last four years.   FLORIDA Seniors (1): Xaivian Lee (6-4, 185) NBA (1): Tommy Haugh (6-9, 215, JR) Portal (2): Olivier Rioux (7-9, 305, RFR); Micah Handlogten (7-1, 260) Returning (10): Alex Condon (6-11, 236, JR); Rueben Chinyelu (6-11, 265, JR); Urban Klavzar (6-1, 195, JR); AJ Brown (6-5, 210, RJR); Alex Kovatchev (6-5, 195, RSO); Boogie Fland (6-3, 185, SO); Isaiah Brown (6-5, 210, SO); Viktor Mikic (6-11, 260, SO); CJ Ingram (6-7, 210, FR); Alex Lloyd (6-4, 180, FR) Signed: Jones Lay (7-0, 230)   THE REST OF THE SEC ALABAMA (25-10, 13-5 SEC): This will be a huge rebuild for Nate Oats, who loses his entire starting lineup. Losing Labaron Philon and Latrell Wrightsell hurts but the biggest loss of all is center Aiden Sherrill. Alabama has three outstanding freshmen coming in but lacks an inside presence. Oats will have to dip heavily into the portal for big guys. Seven scholarships available.   Seniors: Latrell Wrightsell (6-3, 189); Houston Mallette (6-5, 185); Noah Williamson (7-0, 244) NBA: Labaron Philon (6-4, 177, SO); Amari Allen (6-7, 205, FR) Legal issues: Aden Holloway (6-1, 178, JR) Portal:  Taylor Bol Bowen (6-10, 195, JR); Aiden Sherrell (6-10, 240, SO); Jalil Bethea (6-5, 190, SO) Returning (5): London Jemison (6-8, 205, FR); Keitenn Bristow (6-8, 190, SO); Davion Hannah (6-6, 190, FR); Preston Murphy (6-1, 175, JR); Collins Onyejiaka (6-11, 265, FR) Signed (3): Tarris Bouie (6-4, 175); Quayden Samuels (6-6, 200); Jaxson Richardson (6-6, 200)     ARKANSAS (28-9, 13-5 SEC): John Calipari is losing his top two scorers in Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas, plus two of the three in his big man rotation. He’s got scorers coming in freshmen Jordan Smith Jr., Abdou Toure and JaShawn Andrews. It is imperative that he keep Billy Richmond III. Seven scholarships are open with a need for three bigs from the portal. Keep an eye on former Georgia center Somto Cyril.   Seniors: Nick Pringle (6-9, 220); Trevon Brazille (6-9, 215) NBA: Darius Acuff Jr. (6-3, 190, FR); Meleek Thomas (6-5, 185, FR) Portal: Karter Knox (6-6, 211, SO); DJ Wagner (6-3, 175, JR); Kaim Rtail (6-7, 205, FR); Elmir Dzafic (7-0, 285, FR) Returning (5): Maliq Ewin (6-10, 220, JR); Billy Richmond (6-5, 205, SO); Jaden Karuletwa (6-5, 185, SO); Isaiah Sealy (6-7, 200, FR); Paulo Semedo (7-1, 225, FR) Signed (3): Jordan Smith Jr. (6-2, 180); JaShawn Andrews (6-4, 195); Abdou Toure (6-6, 200)   AUBURN (22-16, 7-11 SEC): The Tigers will enter the 2026-27 season with the longest winning streak (five games) in the SEC after winning the NIT. The Tigers lose two seniors in Keyshawn Hall and Keyshawn Murphy, but they won the NIT without Murphy. Filip Jovic, who projected as a starter next season transferred to UCLA. The good news for Steven Pearl is that Kevin Overton and Tahaad Pettiford return, giving him two scorers in the backcourt to build around. There are six scholarships available with a need for three bigs. Keep an eye on Flory Bidunga, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, who chose Kansas over Auburn out of high school.   Seniors (2): Keyshawn Hall (6-7, 250); Keyshawn Murphy (6-10, 245) Portal (2): Filip Jovic (6-8, 225, FR, to UCLA ); Kaden Magwood (6-2, 175, FR) Returning (7): Kevin Overton (6-5, 180, JR); Abdul Bashir (6-7, 195, JR); Tahaad Pettiford (6-1, 175, SO); Elyjah Freeman (6-8, 185, SO); Emeka Opurum (7-0, 205, SO); Sebastian Williams-Adams (6-8, 230, FR); Simon Walker (6-4, 195, FR) Signed (2): Caleb Williams (6-5, 195); Narcisse Ngoy (6-11, 220)   GEORGIA (22-11, 10-8 SEC): It’s back to square one for Mike White, who loses his big guy (Somto Cyril) and leading scorer (Jerimiah Wilkinson), plus son of the greatest player in UGa history (Jake Wilkins, son of Dominique). White has four returnees including starters Blue Cain, Marcus Millender and Kanon Catchings, but there is only one other returnee and no freshman signees. There are 11 scholarships available with needs everywhere.   Seniors (2): Justin Bailey (6-3, 195); Justin Abson (6-9, 235) Portal (6): Jeremiah Wilkinson (6-1, 185, SO); Dylan James (6-9, 235, JR); Somto Cyril (6-11, 260, SO); Jackson McVey (7-1, 240, FR); Jordan Ross (6-3, 175, JR); Jake Wilkins (6-9, 185, FR) Returning (4): Blue Cain (6-5, 190, JR); Marcus Millender (5-11, 180, JR); Kanon Catchings (6-9, 190, SO); Kareem Stagg (6-8, 230, FR)   KENTUCKY (22-14, 10-8 SEC): The Wildcats spent $22 million on a roster last year that gave them 14 losses. They will probably spend more this year but there are no guarantees they will be any better, which is the cause of much angst in the Big Blue Nation, which has been hit especially hard in the portal with five potential starters out the door. If Malachi Moreno stays in the NBA Draft folks will be thinking to leap off the nearest bridge. Four return, none of them starters and one freshman.   Seniors (1): Otega Oweh (6-5, 210) NBA (2): Jayden Quaintance (6-9, 225, SO); Malachi Moreno (7-0, 250, FR) Portal (7): Jaland Lowe (6-2, 170, JR); Brandon Garrison (6-11, 245, JR); Jasper Johnson (6-5, 180, FR); Mouhamed Dioubate (6-7, 215, JR); Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 190, SR); Andrija Jelavic (6-11, 225, FR); Collin Chandler (6-5, 202, SO) Returning (4): Reece Potter (7-1, 210, JR); Kam Williams (6-8, 190, SO); Trent Noah (6-5, 220, SO); Brayden Hawthorne (6-8, 190, FR) Signed (1): Mason Williams (6-2, 185)   LSU (15-17, 3-15 SEC): Almost the moment LSU named Will Wade head coach, the exit began. Five seniors leaving and seven in the portal, leaving two reserves on the roster. Two freshmen are incoming, neither one with any size. Wade has 11 scholarships to work with. He needs bigs, a point guard and shooters.   Seniors (5): Max Mackinnon (6-5, 205); Marquel Sutton (6-7, 205); Pablo Tamba (6-6, 210); Rashad King (6-6, 198); PJ Carter (6-5, 175) Portal (7): Dedan Thomas Jr. (6-1, 178, JR); Jalen Reed (6-10, 230, SR); Mazi Mosley (6-5, 169, FR); Matt Gilhool (6-11, 213, FR); Ron Zipper (6-5, 209, FR); Marcus Vaughns (6-8, 221, FR); Mike Nwoko (6-10, 245, JR, to Xavier ) Returning (2): Robert Miller III (6-10, 220, JR); Jalen Reece (6-0, 185, FR) Signed (2): Kevin Thomas (6-6, 195); Herly Brutus (6-5, 180)   MISSISSIPPI STATE (13-19, 5-13 SEC): Three seniors and six in the portal leave very little talent to work with for Chris Jans. So far, Josh Hubbard hasn’t gone into the portal. If he leaves the Bulldogs are in deepest and darkest. Five returnees and three freshmen mean seven scholarships are available.   Seniors (3): Jayden Epps (6-2, 190); Ja’Borri McGhee (6-0, 200); Quincy Ballard (6-11, 240) Portal (6): Jamarion Davis-Fleming (6-10, 240, FR); Dellquan Waren (6-1, 160, FR); Sergej Macura (6-9, 220, FR, to UCLA ); Amier Ali (6-8, 185, SO); Brandon Walker (6-8, 255, SR); Achor Achor (6-9, 222, SR) Returning (5): Josh Hubbard (5-10, 185, JR); Gai Chol (6-11, 245, JR); King Grace (6-5, 195, FR); Cameren Paul (6-7, 210, FR); Tee Bartlett (6-11, 290, FR) Signed (3): Tristan Reed (6-9, 230); Jalyn Collingwood (6-5, 190); Willie Burnett III (6-4, 175)   MISSOURI (20-13, 10-8 SEC): Best player Mark Mitchell is gone and so are most of the experienced players. Big rebuild ahead for Dennis Gates, who brings in three freshmen to go with Trent Pierce and five other returnees. Six scholarships available. Point guard and someone who can score in the paint are a requirement.   Seniors (5): Mark Mitchell (6-8, 220); Jayden Stone (6-4, 180); Jacob Crews (6-7, 210); Shawn Phillips (7-0, 245); Jevon Porter (6-11, 220) Portal (3): Anthony Robinson II (6-2, 175, JR); Sebastian Mack (6-3, 195, JR); T.O. Barrett (6-4, 200, SO) Returning (6): Trent Pierce (6-10, 210, JR); Luke Norweather (6-11, 232, JR); Trent Burns (7-5, 235, SO); Annor Boateng (6-6, 215, SO); Nicholas Randall (6-9, 240, FR); Aaron Rowe (6-2, 155, FR) Signed (3): Jason Crowe Jr. (6-3, 170); Aidan Chronister (6-7, 180); Toni Bryant (6-9, 215)   OKLAHOMA (21-16, 7-11 SEC): The Sooners came on strong at the end of the year, too late to make the NCAA Tournament. Porter Moser lost leading scorer Nijel Pack and his experienced inside guys so this is going to be quite a rebuild. Among the five returnees, Xzayvier Brown is back to play the point along with shooter Dayton Forsythe. There is no experienced size. One scholarship freshman, so Moser has nine scholarships to fill and help is needed everywhere.   Seniors (6): Nijel Pack (6-0, 180); Tae Davis (6-9, 204); Mohamed Wague (6-10, 225); Jadon Jones (6-5, 190); Kirill Elatontsev (6-11, 240); Jeff Nwankwo (6-6, 220) Portal (3): Andreas Holst (7-0, 200, FR); Kuol Atak (6-9, 190, FR); Jake Hansen (6-0, 170, FR) Returning (5): Xzayvier Brown (6-2, 165, JR); Dayton Forsythe (6-2, 187, SO); Derrion Reed (6-8, 220, SO); Kai Rogers (6-10, 247, FR); Alec Blair (6-7, 192, FR) Signed (1): Gage Mayfield (6-7, 200)   OLE MISS (15-20, 4-14 SEC): Chris Beard didn’t get things going until the SEC Tournament and by then it was too late. There has been housecleaning. Three seniors gone and eight in the portal. Guard Patton Pinkins is solid, but every place else requires tons of help. Counting the incoming freshmen, four return so 11 scholarships are available.   Seniors (3): AJ Storr (6-6, 200); Malik Dia (6-9, 240); Kezza Giffa (6-2, 165) Portal (8): Eduardo Klafke (6-5, 190, SO, to Butler ); Ilias Kamardine (6-5, 185, JR); Hobert Grayson IV (6-4, 205, SR); Corey Chest (6-8, 210, RSO); Koren Johnson (6-2, 175, RJR); Augusto Cassia (6-8, 220, JR); Tylis Jordan (6-9, 215, FR); Travis Perry (6-1, 188, SO) Returning (3): James Scott (6-11, 210, JR);  Patton Pinkins (6-5, 200, FR); Niko Bundalo (6-10, 215, FR) Signed (1): Yohance Connor (6-2, 170)   SOUTH CAROLINA (13-19, 4-14 SEC): As if the situation in Columbia weren’t bleak enough, five seniors move on and seven are in the portal. Lamont Paris, who barely escaped the axe last year, has two returning players and one signed freshman. There are 12 available scholarships. How many good players want to sign in a lame duck situation. Seniors (5): Meechie Johnson (6-2, 175); Mike Sharavjamts (6-8, 180); Kobe Knox (6-5, 185); Myles Stute (6-7, 215, SR); Nordin Kapic (6-8, 245) Portal (7): Eli Ellis (6-0, 192, FR); Elijah Strong (6-8, 225, JR); EJ Walker (6-7, 253, FR); Jordan Butler (7-0, 240, JR); Christ Essandoko (7-0, 285, RJR); Abu Yarmah (6-6, 209, FR); Cam Scott (6-6, 170, RFR) Returning (2): Grant Polk (6-6, 197, FR); Hayden Assemian (6-6, 230, FR) Signed (1): Marcus Johnson (6-2, 180)     TENNESSEE (25-12, 11-7 SEC): Graduation, the NBA and the portal have wiped out Rick Barnes, who has only two returning players from last year’s Sweet 16 team. He’s got to bring in size and shooters. Wake Forest transfer Juke Harris (6-7, 200, SO, 21.4 points and 6.5 rebounds) is a must get for the Vols, who already have Belmont transfer Tyler Lundblade (15.6 points, 40.3 percent on threes) signed. There are 11 open scholarships of which half will probably be spent on front court players.    Seniors (3): Ja’Kobi (6-0, 175); Felix Okpara (6-11, 220); Amaree Abram (6-4, 190) NBA (1): Nate Ament (6-10, 205, FR) Portal (7): Cade Phillips (6-9, 212, JR); Clarence Massamba (6-5, 192, FR); JP Estrella (6-11, 241, RSO, to Michigan ); Bishop Boswell (6-4, 203, SO); Jaylen Carey (6-8, 245, JR); Troy Henderson (6-1, 186, FR); Amari Evans (6-5, 220, FR) Returning (2): Ethan Burg (6-3, 199, SO); DeWayne Brown II (6-8, 251, FR) Transferred in (1): Tyler Lundblade (6-5, 195, SR, from Belmont) Signed (3): Ralph Scott (6-8, 180); Manny Green (6-6, 205); Marquis Clark (6-1, 175)   TEXAS (21-15, 9-9 SEC): Sean Miller loses his three scorers in Dailyn Swain, Tramon Mark and Jordan Pope but unless there is a change of heart, 7-footer Matas Vokietaitis returns and that’s who the Longhorns will build around. Finding a point guard, a backup to Vokietaitis and shooters on the perimeter will be the priority. Five return and there are four incoming freshmen so six scholarships are open.   Seniors (4): Tramon Mark (6-5, 190); Jordan Pope (6-2, 165); Chendall Weaver (6-3, 164); Lassina Traore (6-9, 215) NBA (1): Dailyn Swain (6-7, 200, JR) Portal (3): Nic Codie (6-8, 200, SO); Simeon Wilcher (6-4, 180, JR); Camden Heide (6-7, 205, JR); Returning (5): Matas Vokietaitis (7-0, 245, SO); Declan Duru Jr. (6-8, 235, FR); Anthon McDermott (6-4, 200, FR); John Clark (6-8, 200, FR); Lewis Obiorah (7-0, 250, FR) Signed (4): Austin Goosby (6-5, 186); Bo Ogden (6-5, 195); Joe Sterling (6-4, 180); Coleman Elkins (6-10, 240)   TEXAS A&M (22-12, 11-7 SEC): Bucky Ball will be in a total rebuild as the top 10 scorers are all departing. The Aggies have to find some size, some shooters and open court defenders who can press for a full 40 minutes. Bucky McMillan has four returnees and a freshman so there are 10 scholarships to fill.   Seniors (7): Rashaun Agee (6-7, 210); Rylan Griffen (6-5, 180); Marcus Hill (6-4, 185); Zach Clemente (6-10, 225); Jacari Lane (6-0, 178); Federiko Federiko (6-11, 220); Ali Abdou Dibba (6-5, 185) Portal (3): Josh Holloway (6-1, 178, JR); Pop Isaacs (6-2, 170); Ruben Dominguez (6-6, 213, FR) Returning (4): McKenzie Mgbako (6-8, 217, JR); Jamie Vinson (6-11, 225, SO); Chris McDermott (6-7, 225, SO); Jeremiah Green (6-3, 189, FR) Signed: Josh Irving (6-10, 200)   VANDERBILT (27-9, 11-7 SEC): If Tyler Tanner declares for the NBA, which is entirely possible, Vanderbilt is going to be rebuilding from the ground up. Six seniors and five transfers have left the Commodores in dire straits. Should Tanner go it could be a very long year in Nashville unless Mike Byington can work some magic in the portal. The Commodores have signed three. Depending on Tanner there are either seven or eight scholarships remaining. Emphasis will be on big guys and shooters.   Seniors (6): Duke Miles (6-2, 175); Tyler Nickel (6-7, 200); AK Okereke (6-7, 220); Devin McGlockton (6-7, 220); Jalen Washington (6-10, 225); Mason Nicholson (6-10, 280) Portal (5): Frankie Collins (6-1, 185, SR); Jaylon Dean-Vines (6-4, 181, FR); Tyler Harris (6-8, 190, JR); George Kimble III (6-2, 184, SO); Mike James (6-5, 198, RSR) Returning (4): Tyler Tanner (6-0, 170, SO); Chandler Bing (6-5, 211, FR); Jayden Leverett (6-11, 245, FR); Jaylon Dean-Vines (6-4, 181, FR) Signed: Ethan Mgbako (6-6, 215); Anthony Brown (6-1, 160); Jackson Sheffield (6-9, 240)

If Condon (21), Chinyelu (9) and Haugh (10) return the Gators would likely project No. 1 (Photo by Chris Spears) Despite their earlier than anticipated exit from the NCAA Tournament, the Gators finished ninth in both the Associated Press and Coaches final top 25 polls. Florida’s 27-8 record also concluded the third best 3-year run of any team in school history – 87-24. The 2005-2007 teams, which included back-to-back national champions, hold the record at 92-19 followed by the 2012-14 teams that went 91-19.   With speculation growing that national Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu and Alex Condon will be returning, the Gators made the top five in four prominent too early top 25 polls that predict next season. The Gators are No. 3 in both the ESPN and Sports Illustrated polls, No. 4 in polls for USA Today and The Athletic. If All-American Tommy Haugh forgoes the draft to return, Florida will likely project as the No. 1 team for next season. That is unlikely since Haugh projects in the lottery, but it is possible. It is far more reasonable that Condon and Chinyelu would return since both are projected second rounders.   If Condon and Chinyelu return instead of leaving for the NBA, Todd Golden will have 11 on scholarship and four that can be filled through the transfer portal and/or international players.   Here is a projected starting lineup: Alex Condon (6-11, 236, SR); Rueben Chinyelu (6-11, 265, SR); Isaiah Brown (6-5, 210, JR); Boogie Fland (6-3, 185, JR) and Urban Klavzar (6-1, 195, SR)   Reserves: AJ Brown (6-5, 210, RJR); CJ Ingram (6-7, 210, SO); Viktor Mikic (6-11, 260, JR); Alex Lloyd (6-4, 180, SO); Alex Kovatchev (6-5, 195, RJR); and Jones Lay (7-0, 230, FR)   Based on these projections, it’s probable that Golden would try to bring in two bigs, a perimeter shooter and a point guard. The Gators have already been linked to New Mexico big man Tomislav Buljan (6-9, 250, FR) and Santa Clara point guard Christian Hammond (6-4, 190, SO). Buljan averaged 13.1 points and 10.3 rebounds, while Hammond was good for 15.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and shot 39.3 percent from three.   Associated Press top 25: 1. Michigan 37-3; 2. UConn 34-6; 3. Arizona 36-3; 4. Duke 35-3; 5. Illinois 28-9; 6. Purdue 30-9; 7. Houston 30-7; 8. Iowa State 29-8; 9. FLORIDA 27-8; 10. St. John’s 30-7; 11. Michigan State 27-8; 12. Tennessee 25-12; 13. Arkansas 28-9; 14. Nebraska 28-7; 15. Iowa 24-13; 16. Alabama 25-10; 17. Virginia 30-6; 18. Gonzaga 31-4; 19. Vanderbilt 27-9; 20. Kansas 24-11; 21. Texas Tech 23-11; 22. Texas 21-15; 23. Louisville 24-11; 24. Miami 26-9; 25. Wisconsin 24-11   Coaches top 25: 1. Michigan 37-3; 2. UConn 34-6; 3. Arizona 36-3; 4. Duke 35-3; 5. Illinois 28-9; 6. Houston 30-7; 7. Purdue 30-9; 8. Iowa State 29-8; 9. FLORIDA 27-8; 10. St. John’s 30-7; 11. Michigan State 27-8; 12. Tennessee 25-12; 13. Arkansas 28-9; 14. Nebraska 28-7; 15. Virginia 30-6; 16. Alabama 25-10; 17. Vanderbilt 27-9; 18. Gonzaga 31-4; 19. Iowa 24-13; 20. Kansas 24-11; 21. Texas Tech 23-11; 22. Miami 26-9; 23. Louisville 24-11; 25. Texas 21-15   PROJECTING NEXT SEASON ESPN: 1. Michigan; 2. Duke; 3. FLORIDA; 4. UConn; 5. Arizona; 6. Michigan State; 7. Arkansas; 8. Illinois; 9. Virginia; 10. Houston; 11. St. John’s; 12. Iowa State; 13. Texas; 14. Purdue; 15. Saint Louis; 16. TCU; 17. Southern California; 18. Nebraska; 19. North Carolina; 20. Alabama; 21. Gonzaga; 22. BYU; 23. Missouri; 24. Vanderbilt; 25. Iowa   USA Today: 1. Michigan State; 2. Duke; 3. Michigan; 4. FLORIDA; 5. Arizona; 6. Illinois; 7. Alabama; 8. Houston; 9. Arkansas; 10. Virginia; 11. Gonzaga; 12. UConn; 13. Iowa State; 14. St. John’s; 15. BYU; 16. Purdue; 17. Miami; 18. Nebraska; 19. Iowa; 20. Kansas; 21. Tennessee; 22. North Carolina; 23. Louisville; 24. Wisconsin; 25. VCU   The Athletic: 1. Illinois; 2. Michigan; 3. Arizona; 4. FLORIDA; 5. Duke; 6. UConn; 7. Michigan State; 8. Iowa State; 9. Arkansas; 10. Nebraska; 11. Iowa; 12. Gonzaga; 13. Purdue; 14. Houston; 15. Kansas; 16. Saint Louis; 17. TCU; 18. Texas; 19. Kentucky; 20. Virginia; 21. Miami; 22. St. John’s; 23. Vanderbilt; 24. North Carolina; 25. Tennessee   Sports Illustrated: 1. Michigan; 2. UConn; 3. FLORIDA; 4. Arizona; 5. Michigan State; 6. Duke; 7. Virginia; 8. Illinois; 9. Arkansas; 10. Houston; 11. Alabama; 12. Gonzaga; 13. St. John’s; 14. Iowa State; 15. Vanderbilt; 16. Nebraska; 17. Texas; 18. Purdue; 19. Kansas; 20. Saint Louis; 21. Iowa; 22. UCLA; 23. Texas Tech; 24. TCU; 25. Southern California   SEC IN THE PORTAL Alabama: Taylor Bol Bowen (6-10, 195, JR); Aiden Sherrell (6-10, 240, SO); Jalil Bethea (6-5, 190, SO)   Arkansas: Karter Knox (6-6, 211, SO); DJ Wagner (6-3, 175, JR); Kaim Rtail (6-7, 205, FR); Elmir Dzafic (7-0, 285, FR)   Auburn: Filip Jovic (6-8, 225, FR)   FLORIDA: Olivier Rioux (7-9, 305, RFR); Micah Handlogten (7-1, 260, SR)   Georgia: Jeremiah Wilkinson (6-1, 185, SO); Dylan James (6-9, 235, JR); Somto Cyril (6-11, 260, SO); Jackson McVey (7-1, 240, FR); Jordan Ross (6-3, 175, JR); Jake Wilkins (6-9, 185, FR)   Kentucky: Jaland Lowe (6-2, 170, JR); Brandon Garrison (6-11, 245, JR); Jasper Johnson (6-5, 180, FR); Mouhamed Dioubate (6-7, 215, JR); Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 190, SR); Andrija Jelavic (6-11, 225, FR)   LSU: Dedan Thomas Jr. (6-1, 178, JR); Jalen Reed (6-10, 230, SR); Mazi Mosley (6-5, 169, FR); Matt Gilhool (6-11, 213, FR); Ron Zipper (6-5, 209, FR); Marcus Vaughns (6-8, 221, FR); Mike Nwoko (6-10, 245, JR)   Mississippi State: Jamarion Davis-Fleming (6-10, 240, FR); Dellquan Waren (6-1, 160, FR); Sergej Macura (6-9, 220, FR); Amier Ali (6-8, 185, SO)   Missouri: Anthony Robinson II (6-2, 175, JR); Sebastian Mack (6-3, 195, JR); T.O. Barrett (6-4, 200, SO)   Oklahoma: Andreas Holst (7-0, 200, FR); Kuol Atak (6-9, 190, FR); Jake Hansen (6-0, 170, FR)   Ole Miss: Eduardo Klafke (6-5, 190, SO); Ilias Kamardine (6-5, 185, FR); Hobert Grayson IV (6-4, 205, SR); Corey Chest (6-8, 210, RSO); Koren Johnson (6-2, 175, RJR); Augusto Cassia (6-8, 220, JR)   South Carolina: Eli Ellis (6-0, 192, FR); Elijah Strong (6-8, 225, JR); EJ Walker (6-7, 253, FR); Jordan Butler (7-0, 240, JR); Christ Essandoko (7-0, 285, RJR); Abu Yarmah (6-6, 209, FR)   Tennessee: Cade Phillips (6-9, 212, JR); Clarence Massamba (6-5, 192, FR); JP Estrella (6-11, 241, RSO); Bishop Boswell (6-4, 203, SO); Jaylen Carey (6-8, 245, JR); Troy Henderson (6-1, 186, FR); Amari Evans (6-5, 220, FR). Incoming: Tyler Lundblade (6-5, 195, SR, from Belmont)   Texas A&M: Josh Holloway (6-1, 178, JR); Ruben Dominguez (6-6, 213, FR)   Vanderbilt: Frankie Collins (6-1, 185, SR); Jaylon Dean-Vines (6-4, 181, FR); Tyler Harris (6-8, 190, JR); George Kimble III (6-2, 184, SO)

(Photo by Chris Spears) Micah Handlogten, whose decision to burn his redshirt was essential in Florida’s national championship run in 2025, is entering the NCAA transfer portal. While the move probably caught Gator fans by surprise, it doesn’t shut the door on a return to UF.   A 7-1, 260-pound senior, Handlogten averaged 4.1 points and 5.9 rebounds this past season while playing in 34 games with two starts. A starter as a sophomore when he transferred to UF from Marshall, Handlogten fractured his leg in the 2024 Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game. He was planning to redshirt the 2024-25 season when he responded to a rash of injuries in February by electing to play out the season, becoming a critical piece in the big man rotation that helped the Gators to the NCAA title.   From an eligibility standpoint, last season was Handlogten’s fourth but he has appealed to the NCAA, asking for a waiver that will grant another year since he missed Florida’s NCAA Tournament game in 2024 and the first 24 games of 2024-25. Given the seemingly erratic responses the NCAA has to waiver requests it is thought that Handlogten has a better than 50 percent chance to get approved.   When Handlogten put his name in the portal it raised speculation that some or all of the NBA draft eligible Gators might be returning. Tommy Haugh is projected as a first rounder who could be taken in the last third of the lottery, but he has a season of eligibility remaining so he could come back to play one more season for the Gators. Both national Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu and Alex Condon are projected as second rounders. They may choose to return for their senior seasons where, thanks to NIL, they stand to make more money than they would as second rounders.   If two of the three elect to return, it would mean another year of coming off the bench for Handlogten, whose size alone makes him an NCAA prospect. He needs more playing time, therefore transferring out makes sense if perhaps Chinyelu and Condon return.   Handlogten does have time to make a decision about what’s next. Due to his size and experience, he has plenty of options available if he remains in the portal. However, if Haugh, Chinyelu and Condon all elect to stay in the draft, the door remains wide open for Handlogten to return as the only Florida big with experience.   Handlogten is the third departure from last season’s team which finished 27-8, losing to Iowa in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Xaivian Lee is out of eligibility. Handlogten and Olivier Rioux have placed their names in the portal.   Here is a preview of the Florida roster as it stands without any declarations of future intentions by Haugh, Chinyelu or Condon.   Bigs: Tommy Haugh (6-9, 215, JR); Rueben Chinyelu (6-11, 265, JR); Alex Condon (6-11, 236, JR); Viktor Mikic (6-11, 260, SO)   Perimeter: AJ Brown (6-5, 210, RJR); Urban Klavzar (6-1, 195, JR); Alex Kovatchev (6-5, 195, RSO); Boogie Fland (6-3, 185, SO); Isaiah Brown (6-5, 210, SO); CJ Ingram (6-7, 205, FR); Alex Lloyd (6-3, 180, FR)   Signed: Jones Lay (7-0, 230)   With 12 scholarships accounted for, Todd Golden has three available for the portal, international players or freshmen who opt out of scholarships due to coaching changes. Whether or not Haugh, Condon and Chinyelu decide to return, Golden has to prioritize bringing in big guys. Should they all three stay in the draft, Handlogten could return but Golden would still need to bring in at least two more big guys, preferably with size and college experience. Since Fland is the only true point guard on the roster, adding another point guard is a necessity.   Here are a few transfers the Gators might have an interest in recruiting:   Ben Defty (7-0, 255, SO, Boston University): German native who played high school basketball at a New England prep school. Legitimate size, serious rim protector. Averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots per game.   Christian Hammond (6-4, 195, SO, Santa Clara): There is a lot of talk that Florida is already in the mix. As a sophomore he averaged 15.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game for an NCAA team while shooting 39.3 percent from the 3-point line.   Andrew McKeever (7-3, 285, SO, Saint Mary’s): You can’t teach tall (7-3) and he’s got aircraft carrier size. Averaged 8.2 points and 9.2 rebounds. Will he follow Randy Bennett to Arizona State?   Sam Orme (6-9, 220, SO, Belmont): First and foremost, Florida’s last transfer from Belmont (Will Richard) turned out pretty well, didn’t he? Averaged 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and shot 39.7 percent on 3-pointers as a sophomore.     Neoklis Avdalas (6-9, 215, FR, Virginia Tech): He can play all three wing positions quite well, but is most comfortable at the point. As a freshman, he averaged 12.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. He’s 20 years old and from Greece.   Flory Bidunga (6-9, 220, SO, Kansas): The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year averaged 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots per game. Declared for the NBA Draft but doesn’t have a jumper and is No. 44 on the ESPN board.   Oswin Erhunmwunse (6-10, 225, SO, Providence): Raw offensive skills but rebounds and blocks shots. Averaged 6.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots per game.   Acaden Lewis (6-2, 180, FR, Villanova): Pure point who averaged 12.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. Overall shot 58.3 percent, but only 27 percent from three. Played AAU ball with Team Durant out of DC.   Bryson Tiller (6-10, 240, FR, Kansas): Played extensively as a freshman, averaging 7.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. From Atlanta, he was a top 100 recruit out of high school in Atlanta.   Shon Abaev (6-8, 210, FR, Cincinnati): He’s a Fort Lauderdale kid who played at Calvary Christian where he was a 4-star recruit. Averaged 7.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game. Had an offer from the Gators out of high school.   SEC IN THE PORTAL Alabama Taylor Bol Bowen (6-10, 195, JR); Aiden Sherrell (6-10, 240, SO)   Arkansas Karter Knox (6-6, 211, SO); DJ Wagner (6-3, 175, JR)   Florida Olivier Rioux (7-9, 305, RFR ); Micah Handlogten (7-1, 260, SR)   Georgia Jeremiah Wilkinson (6-1, 185, SO); Dylan James (6-9, 235, JR); Somto Cyril (6-11, 260, SO); Jackson McVey (7-1, 240, FR); Jordan Ross (6-3, 175, JR); Jake Wilkins (6-9, 185, FR)   Kentucky Jaland Lowe (6-2, 170, JR); Brandon Garrison (6-11, 245, JR); Jasper Johnson (6-5, 180, FR); Mouhamed Dioubate (6-7, 215, JR); Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 190, SR)   LSU Dedan Thomas Jr. (6-1, 178, JR); Jalen Reed (6-10, 230, SR); Mazi Mosley (6-5, 169, FR); Matt Gilhool (6-11, 213, FR); Ron Zipper (6-5, 209, FR)   Mississippi State Jamarion Davis-Fleming (6-10, 240, FR); Dellquan Waren (6-1, 160, FR)   Missouri Anthony Robinson II (6-2, 175, JR); Sebastian Mack (6-3, 195, JR); T.O. Barrett (6-4, 200, SO)   Ole Miss Eduardo Klafke (6-5, 190, SO); Ilias Kamardine (6-5, 185, FR); Hobert Grayson IV (6-4, 205, SR); Corey Chest (6-8, 210, RSO)   South Carolina Eli Ellis (6-0, 192, FR); Elijah Strong (6-8, 225, JR); EJ Walker (6-7, 253, FR); Jordan Butler (7-0, 240, JR); Christ Essandoko (7-0, 285, RJR)   Tennessee Tyler Lundblade (6-5, 195, SR, from Belmont); Cade Phillips (6-9, 212, JR); Clarence Massamba (6-5, 192, FR); JP Estrella (6-11, 241, RSO); Bishop Boswell (6-4, 203, SO); Jaylen Carey (6-8, 245, JR)   Texas A&M Josh Holloway (6-1, 178, JR)   Vanderbilt Frankie Collins (6-1, 185, SR)

Keagan Rothrock pitched an outstanding game of her own and was able to work around a lead-off single in the 7th to shut the door on the Bulldogs and get the win. The Florida Gator softball team did just enough this past weekend to take the series from a scrappy Mississippi State Bulldog team 2-1.  MSU pitcher Peja Goold tossed a complete game one hitter and lost! The Gator offense was held hitless through the first 5 innings on Friday night after a two-hour weather delay. In the bottom of the sixth both Taylor Shumaker and Gabi Comia had grounded out. Goold walked Jocelyn Erickson on four straight pitches. With a 1-2 count on her, Kenleigh Cahalan delivered a day early birthday present to herself when she blasted the pitch from Goold over the right-center field wall for the only Gator hit of the game to give them a 2-0 lead. Keagan Rothrock pitched an outstanding game of her own and was able to work around a lead-off single in the 7th to shut the door on the Bulldogs and get the win. The Gators dropped the Sunflower Saturday game by a score of 9-5 to even the series. Katelynn Oxley suffered her first loss of the season. She gave up 2 runs through 4 innings. Allison Sparkman and Leah Stevens were unable to keep the Bulldog offense in check giving up 3 runs each. Olivia Miller finishedthe game with the last 1.2 innings and also gave up a run. The Gators failed to score in the first four innings. They pulled to within 2 runs with a four spot in the fifth but were unable to rally after giving up three runs in the top of the sixth.  The Gators jumped on Bulldog starter Leila Ammon early in the rubber game of the series scoring 4 runs, three earned, in the first two innings. Florida led 1-0 after Taylor Shumaker scored on a Kenleigh Cahalan double in the first. MSU tied the score of a home run in their half of the second. A single from Ava Brown, who returned from injury to play in this series, started the Gator offense in the second. A walk and an error allowed Kalie Matsuno who had entered as a pinch runner for Brown to score. A Comia bunt single marked the end of the day for the Bulldog starter. Saturday’s starter for the Bulldogs, Alyssa Faircloth entered the circle. Shumaker singled to right to score Grover. Erickson delivered a sac fly to score Wesolowski who had reached on the error. Strike outs of Cahalan and Madison Walker would end the inning. Rothrock would give up home runs number 2 and 3 on the day in the top of the 3rd inning to cut the score to 4-3. The score would remain the same until the top of the 7th. A lead-off walk and a wild pitch put the tying run at second with no outs. A ground ball to the second baseman allowed that runner to move to third with one out. A sac fly allowed the Bulldogs to tie the game at 4 each. Taylor Shumaker was hit by a pitch with the count full to start the bottom of the seventh. Erickson was out on a fly to the left fielder. Cahalan singled to center field to move Shumaker to second. Giula Desiderio was inserted as a pinch hitter to replace Madison Walker. She delivered a single to left field to load the bases. Townsen Thomas hit a two hop ground ball to the left of the Bulldog shortstop who caught the ball and fired to the plate. Shumaker was just quick enough to beat the throw by inches. The call of safe was challenged and ultimately upheld to secure the walk-off victory by the Gators. The Gators did just enough to win the series. Give the Bulldog pitchers some credit. They have great records and very low eras coming into the series and much the same as they head back to the Magnolia state. Some weekends are just like that. Especially in the middle of the conference season. To win the championship, you have to find a way to battle through and get the wins when you don’t play your best softball. That Gators did just that this past weekend.