Senior Day 2020

[Escambia94]

Today’s game will be the last home game for several of our Gators.


2020 Florida Seniors

• Austin Perry
• Brad Stewart Jr.
• Brett DioGuardi
• Brett Heggie
• Clifford Taylor IV
• Donovan Stiner
• Erik Askeland
• Jack Ruskell
• Jacob Finn
• Jean Delance
• Jeremiah Moon
• Kadarius Toney
• Kyle Trask
• Kyree Campbell
• Marco Wilson
• Marlon Dunlap Jr.
• Michael Weir
• Nick Oelrich
• Nicolas Sutton
• Quaylin Crum
• Rick Wells
• Shawn Davis
• Stewart Reese
• Stone Forsythe
• Tedarrell Slaton
• Trevon Grimes
• Trey Thompson

 

[DRU2012]

Today’s game will be the last home game for several of our Gators.


2020 Florida Seniors

• Austin Perry
• Brad Stewart Jr.
• Brett DioGuardi
• Brett Heggie
• Clifford Taylor IV
• Donovan Stiner
• Erik Askeland
• Jack Ruskell
• Jacob Finn
• Jean Delance
• Jeremiah Moon
• Kadarius Toney
• Kyle Trask
• Kyree Campbell
• Marco Wilson
• Marlon Dunlap Jr.
• Michael Weir
• Nick Oelrich
• Nicolas Sutton
• Quaylin Crum
• Rick Wells
• Shawn Davis
• Stewart Reese
• Stone Forsythe
• Tedarrell Slaton
• Trevon Grimes
• Trey Thompson

Thankyou, E—...
What a ride—for ALL of us!!!

 

[Escambia94]

Now let us examine the Gator seniors from the recruiting classes of 2016 and 2017.

The senior classes of 2016 and 2017 included the following (seniors highlighted in blue, NFL draft picks and free agents in bold, members no longer part of the Gator program in italics.).

The class of 2016 was second class, and finished #13 in the nation. 1 member of this class was dismissed, 1 was suspended and reinstated after the credit card scandal, 1 failed to academically qualify, 1 medically retired, 3 transferred in good standing, and 1 is in the transfer portal as of December 2020. Trask, Moon, and Heggie stand a chance of joining 6 NFL draft picks and 6 undrafted free agents from this class. Wells and Forsythe could possibly land on a team as free agents. This class is considered to be the backbone of Dan Mullen's success (29-6 to this point) these past three years, and they will be sorely missed.

1. WR Rick Wells 6-1 185 Raines High School, Jacksonville FL. 3* 1.26.2015 Commitment. Suspended 1 game in 2016 (disorderly conduct in dorms, pellet gun). Suspended 2017 season (credit card fraud). Reinstated 2018 season. Graduated 2019.
   
2. WR Vosean Joseph 6-2 210 Norland High School, Miami FL. 3* 2.18.2015 Commitment. 2019 NFL Draft, 5th round, Buffalo Bills.
   
3. S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson 6-0 197 Cocoa High School, Cocoa Beach FL. 4* 3.14.2015 Commitment. EE. Outback Bowl 2017 MVP. 2019 NFL Draft, round 4, New Orleans Saints.
   
4. CB Christopher McWilliams 6-0 170 Southwest Miami Senior High School, Miami FL. 3* 5.3.2015 Commitment. Medical redshirt 2019.
   
5. OT Stone Forsythe 6-6 315 West Orange High School, Winter Garden FL. 3* 5.7.2015 Commitment. EE.
   
6. RB Mark Thompson 6-2 230 of Dodge City Community College, Dodge City KS. 4* 5.13.2015 Commitment. EE. 2018 NFL Draft, UDFA, Baltimore Ravens.
   
7. RB Lamical Perine 5-11 211 of Theodore High School, Theodore AL. 3* 5.29.2015 Commitment. 2020 NFL Draft, 4th round, New York Jets.
   
8. WR Joshua Hammond 6-0 180 of Hallandale High School, Hallandale FL. 4* 6.4.2015 Commitment. EE. 2020 NFL Draft, UDFA, Jacksonville Jaguars.
   
9. DB Quincy Lenton 6-0 195 of Meridan High School, Meridian MS. 3* 7.24.2015 Commitment. Transfer portal 2020.
   
10. C/OL Brett Heggie 6-4 290 of Mount Dora High School, Mount Dora FL. 3* 7.24.2015 Commitment.
11. OLB Jeremiah Moon 6-4 205 of Hoover High School, Birmingham AL. 4* 7.25.2015 Commitment.
12. QB Kyle Trask 6-6 212 off Manvel High School, Manvel TX. 2* 7.26.2015 Commitment. Graduated 2019.
    
13. S Jeawon Taylor 6-2 192 Park Crossing High School, Montgomery AL. 4* 8.5.2015 Commitment. 2019 graduate. 2020 NFL Draft UDFA.
    
14. WR Freddie Swain 6-1 174 North Marion High School, Citra FL. 4* 10.9.2015 Commitment. EE. 2020 NFL Draft, round 6, Seattle Seahawks.
    
15. DB/ATH McArthur Burnett 6-1 180 Pahokee High School, Pahokee FL. 4* 10.3.2015 Commitment. EE. 2018 Graduate. Transferred to USF in 2018.
    
16. DE Antonneous Clayton 6-4 220 Dooly County High School, Vienna GA. 4* 10.28.2015 Commitment. Transferred to Georgia Tech in 2018 (family medical).
    
17. DE Jachai Polite 6-4 230 Mainland High School, Daytona Beach FL. 3* 11.11.2015 Commitment. 2019 NFL Draft, 3rd round, New York Jets.
    
18. CB/S Antonio Nelson 6-3 190 Carver High School, Montgomery AL. 3* 11.23.2015 Commitment. Failed to academically qualify. Transferred to Coahoma CC.
    
19. WR Dre Massey 6-0 185 Holmes Community College, Goodman MS. 3* 11.29.2015 Commitment. EE. 2019 NFL Draft. Undrafted. Arrested in 2019.
    
20. OL Jawaan Taylor 6-5 350 Cocoa High School, Cocoa FL. 3* 11.29.2015 Commitment. 2019 NFL Draft, round 2, Jacksonville Jaguars.
    
21. QB Feleipe Franks 6-6 220 Wakulla High School, Crawfordville FL. 4* 11.29.2015 Commitment. EE. Injured in 2019. Graduated 2019. Transferred to Arkansas at end of 2019.
    
22. DE Jordan Smith 6-6 220 of Lithonia High School, Lithonia GA. 4* 12.13.2015 Commitment. EE. Suspended 9/1/2017 (credit card fraud). Transfer 1/22/2018.
    
23. K Eddy Pineiro 6-1 180 of ASA College, Miami FL. 3* 12.15.2015 Commitment. EE. 2nd team All-American 2017. 2018 Graduate. 2018 NFL Draft, UDFA. Signed with Oakland Raiders.
    
24. OLB David Reese 6-1 238 Farmington High School, Farmington MI. 4* 12.18.2015 Commitment. EE. 2020 NFL Draft, UDFA, Carolina Panthers.
    
25. DB Joseph Putu 6-2 195 Providence, R.I. Mount Pleasant JUCO. 2.4.2016 signee. 2019 NFL draft. UDFA.

The class of 2017 was McElwains's third and last class, and finished #19 in the nation. 3 members of this class were dismissed, 2 were suspended and reinstated after the credit card scandal, 2 failed to academically qualify, 1 medically retired, and 2 transferred out on a positive note. Toney is the one Gator from this class garnering the most attention from teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, possibly as a mid-to-late pick or an undrafted free agent.

1. QB Jake Allen 6'3" 195 St Thomas Aquinas Fort Lauderdale FL 4-star 7/1/15. Transferred to Dartmouth.
2. OL Kadeem Telfort OL 6'6" 300 Norland Miami FL 4-star 7/7/15 EE. Suspended 9/1/17 (credit card fraud). Transfer to Garden City CC 1/22/2018.
3. WR Daquon Green 6'1" 186 Tampa Bay Tech Tampa FL 4-star 7/24/15. Transferred to Murray State in 2019.
   
4. TE Kemore Gamble TE 6'4" 220 Miami Southridge Miami FL 4-star 4/8/16 EE
5. ATH Kadarius Toney ATH 6'1" 185 Blount Prichard AL 4-star 5/4/16 EE
6. DL Zachary Carter DL 6'5" 250 Hillsborough Tampa FL 4-star 6/23/16
7. LB Ventrell Miller LB 6'1" 225 Kathleen Lakeland FL 4-star 6/23/16. Suspended 9/1/17 (credit card fraud). Reinstated 2018.
8. LB James Houston LB 6'1" 225 American Heritage Plantation FL 3-star 7/22/16 EE*. Suspended 9/1/17 (credit card fraud). Reinstated 2018.
   
9. CB Marco Wilson CB 6'0" 180 American Heritage Plantation FL 4-star 8/1/16
10. TE Zechariah Byrd 6'6" 235 Stenhope Millbrook AL 4-star 8/6/16. Failed to academically qualify. Transferred to Garden City CC in 2017. Transferred to East Carolina in 2019.
    
11. DB Shawn Davis 6'0" 185 Southridge Miami FL 4-star 8/27/16
12. RB Malik Davis RB 5'11" 190 Jesuit Tampa FL 4-star 10/26/16. Medical redshirt 2017.
13. DT Kyree Campbell DT 6'4" 310 Wyoming Seminary Kingston PA 4-star 12/11/16 EE
14. OT TJ Moore 6'5" 290 Mallard Creek Charlotte NC 4-star 12/25/16
15. CB Brad Stewart 6'0" 194 McDonogh New Orleans, LA 4-star 1/28/17
16. OLB Nick Smith 6'3" 198 Dr. Phillips Orlando FL 3-star 1/30/17. Medically retired from football in 2019.
    
17. S Donovan Stiner S 6'2" 185 Bellaire Bellaire, TX 3-star 1/30/17
18. SDE Elijah Conliffe 6'4" 305 Hampton Hampton VA 4-star 1/31/17
19. CB Brian Edwards 6'3" 195 Miramar Hollywood, FL 3-star NSD. Dismissed from team after being accused of sexual assault. Transferred to Central Michigan in 2019.
    
20. RB Adarius Lemons 6'1" 195 Clearwater Clearwater, FL 4-star NSD. Dismissed from team after sexual assault in 2018. Transferred to East Mississippi CC in 2018. Transferred to Garden City CC in 2019.
    
21. OG Tedarrell "TJ" Slaton 6'6" 341 American Heritage Fort Lauderdale, FL 4-star NSD
22. CB CJ Henderson 6'0" 175 Columbus Miami, FL 4-star NSD. 1st team All-SEC. 2020 NFL Draft, round 2 to Jacksonville Jaguars.
    
23. LB Lacedrick Brunson 6'2" 210 Jackson Miami, FL 2-star NSD
24. CB Elijah Blades 6'3" 170 Muir Pasadena CA 4-star 6/21/16. Withdrew commitment 1/25/17. Failed to academically qualify at Florida or Nebraska. Transferred to Arizona Western College. Transferred to Texas A&M in 2019.

 

[Escambia94]

Where are they now? Here are some of the members of the 2016 and 2017 classes who are no longer with the Gators.

• Feleipe Franks is having a great year at Arkansas. It is unknown whether he will take free COVID year or enter the NFL draft. [TWEET]https://twitter.com/GatorsFB/status/1327818823118929925?s=20[/TWEET]
  
• Jake Allen's Dartmouth team did not play football due to the Ivy League cancelling sports for the 2020 season. [TWEET]https://twitter.com/JakeAllen_14/status/1280990704643256330?s=20[/TWEET]
  
• Daquon Green graduated from Murray State and has entered the transfer portal for his final year of eligibility. [TWEET]https://twitter.com/IamDG8/status/1318654390803304448?s=20[/TWEET]
  
• Kadeem Telfort is quietly getting his life back on track after the credit card scandal. [TWEET]https://twitter.com/TellyB76/status/1324354971991756800?s=20[/TWEET]
  
• Zechariah Byrd is having a quiet year at East Carolina with a grand total of 1 reception for 2 yards vs USF, bringing his career total to 12 receptions for 132 yards.
• Elijah Blades initially declared for the NFL draft and opted out of the season, but opted back in on December 7th.
  
• Antonneus Clayton is a RS senior at Georgia Tech under former Gator defensive coordinator and Rambling Wreck head coach, Geoff Collins. He has opted out of the 2020 season.
  
• Adarius Lemons has disappeared from Garden City Community College and is likely laying low back home in Clearwater, FL (unconfirmed).

 

[DRU2012]

Meanwhile, looking FORWARD rather than back, so far (albeit early in game) Feleipe and Arkansas giving Bama all they want and more so far. But they damn well need to go after the TD more aggressively if they wanna pull the upset—but they ARE “holding their own”:
3-3 half way through first qrtr with squeezing through the fg to match the tide. I can’t see sweating through a whole SATURDAY’S worth of either tense close ones or confirmed mismatches as the case may be (have already given up on the Georgia...and we may be about to witness Alabama’s first “take charge point” now here against the Razorbacks). Going on 4th down: MISSED on the pass. Well, hardly invinvible, at any rate.
Yeah, at some point I’ll go for a ride, hit the bank and do some grocery shopping...Talk to y’all later!

 

[DRU2012]

Where are they now? Here are some of the members of the 2016 and 2017 classes who are no longer with the Gators.

• Feleipe Franks is having a great year at Arkansas. It is unknown whether he will take free COVID year or enter the NFL draft. [TWEET]https://twitter.com/GatorsFB/status/1327818823118929925?s=20[/TWEET]
  
• Jake Allen's Dartmouth team did not play football due to the Ivy League cancelling sports for the 2020 season. [TWEET]https://twitter.com/JakeAllen_14/status/1280990704643256330?s=20[/TWEET]
  
• Daquon Green graduated from Murray State and has entered the transfer portal for his final year of eligibility. [TWEET]https://twitter.com/IamDG8/status/1318654390803304448?s=20[/TWEET]
  
• Kadeem Telfort is quietly getting his life back on track after the credit card scandal. [TWEET]https://twitter.com/TellyB76/status/1324354971991756800?s=20[/TWEET]
  
• Zechariah Byrd is having a quiet year at East Carolina with a grand total of 1 reception for 2 yards vs USF, bringing his career total to 12 receptions for 132 yards.
• Elijah Blades initially declared for the NFL draft and opted out of the season, but opted back in on December 7th.
  
• Antonneus Clayton is a RS senior at Georgia Tech under former Gator defensive coordinator and Rambling Wreck head coach, Geoff Collins. He has opted out of the 2020 season.
  
• Adarius Lemons has disappeared from Garden City Community College and is likely laying low back home in Clearwater, FL (unconfirmed).

...But I DO wanna acknowledge my appreciation of the positives inherent in most of the stories recounted above. These young men, former-GATORS ALL, have seemed to have landed on their feet and in most cases redoubled their efforts to rebuild their lives and dreams.
We wish them well (and frankly, appreciate EVEN MORE the many changes in our program under the latest regime—changes that seem to in so many ways now preclude what for a time came to be seen as outright endemic to the whole atmosphere behind the scenes at UF).

 

[Leakfan12]

Good for Green (we went to the same High School, different years of course). I wonder if he'll go to Indiana and team up with his High School QB Penix.

 

[Escambia94]

Good for Green (we went to the same High School, different years of course). I wonder if he'll go to Indiana and team up with his High School QB Penix.

Tampa Bay Tech?

Jacob Copeland and Emmitt Smith went to my high school, Escambia, home of the Fightin’ Gators.

 

[Leakfan12]

Tampa Bay Tech?

Jacob Copeland and Emmitt Smith went to my high school, Escambia, home of the Fightin’ Gators.

Yep. Green was the first player from Tech to go to Florida. We had Deon Cain from Clemson and on the Steelers practice squad, Ted Washington who had a long career in the NFL, and a Medal of Honor winner.

 

[Leakfan12]

Tampa Bay Tech?

Jacob Copeland and Emmitt Smith went to my high school, Escambia, home of the Fightin’ Gators.

How many titles did EHS win? I know at least two during the Emmitt years. Also, doesn't Green have TWO YEARS LEFT? Guessing he doesn't go back to UF (he was a coach Mac recruit not a Mullen one). I did say, Indiana which would be a good choice for him (again his HS QB is there). I'm sure he'll go back to FBS.

 

[DRU2012]

Tampa Bay Tech?

Jacob Copeland and Emmitt Smith went to my high school, Escambia, home of the Fightin’ Gators.

I graduated before Emmit arrived a coupla years later, when I’d already moved out to LA to go to grad school on a Fine Arts Fellowship at SC Film school (LOVED the facility, experience and EDUCATION I got there—DIDN’T think much of the rest of the school, its student population or attitude and especially its fans, IN and/or OUTSIDE the student body—they all reminded me in far too many ways of MIAMI fans!)...
...but ANYWAY we’d already been HEARING about Emmit while he was a JV player back in YOUR neck-o’-the-woods, E—!
You talk about a kid getting advance “buzz” throughout a State YEARS in advance of his actual recruitment and eventual arrival: Emmit was still physically quite small (and deceptively, “SNEAKY fast” as they say) at the end of the 70s, still at best a couple of years away from getting to UF, but we had already heard PLENTY about him, even that his mama REALLY wanted him to be a Gator so we had the inside track—but there was SOME muttered concern that maybe we wasn’t gonna “develop”, wasn’t gonna be big or fast enough for the SEC, as late as his senior year of high school such whispers dogged him, can you believe it? Of course, by the time he actually got here he hadn’t grown a whole lot but they were already talking about him as a potential Heisman candidate as a freshman (in a time when even a Junior being formally considered for it was rare)—in any event he didn’t make it past his sophomore season before gathering clouds over our program, looming NCAA sanctions, and the Dallas Cowboys comin’ acalling in a year with an NFL “Supplemental Draft” then snapping him up right then and there...the rest being HISTORY...

 

[Escambia94]

The Escambia Gators won the 3A state championship in 1984 and the 4A state championship in 1985. They were 4A runners up in 2009 and 6A runners up in 2019. Yes, their only titles were with Emmitt.

How many titles did EHS win? I know at least two during the Emmitt years. Also, doesn't Green have TWO YEARS LEFT? Guessing he doesn't go back to UF (he was a coach Mac recruit not a Mullen one). I did say, Indiana which would be a good choice for him (again his HS QB is there). I'm sure he'll go back to FBS.

 

[DRU2012]

Yep. Green was the first player from Tech to go to Florida. We had Deon Cain from Clemson and on the Steelers practice squad, Ted Washington who had a long career in the NFL, and a Medal of Honor winner.

That Ted Washington story is another really good one—heart-stirring.
We don’t see too many like him!