Buccaneers exploring options for successor to Tom Brady
Long before Tom Brady called it quits, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers began contemplating a future without the seven-time Super Bowl winner. Brady announced his retirement Tuesday, ending an unparalleled career that began with a two-decade stint with the New England Patriots followed by two seasons with the Bucs, who went from missing the playoffs 12 consecutive years before his arrival to winning the NFL title in his first season in a new uniform. The decision was not a surprise to general manager Jason Licht and coach Bruce Arians, who assembled an all-star roster around Brady with an understanding that it would be difficult to keep an ultra-talented lineup together for 2022 — with or without the 44-year-old quarterback.
news.yahoo.comQB debate continues as No. 13 Florida routs USF 42-20
No. 13 Florida tuned up for the start of Southeastern Conference play with a 42-20 rout of overmatched South Florida that did little to answer the question of whether starter Emory Jones or backup Anthony Richardson is best suited to run the Gators offense.
Pitts puts on show at Florida’s pro day for NFL evaluators
(AP Photo/John Raoux, File)GAINESVILLE, Fla. – There was no shortage of Kyle Pitts highlights at Florida’s pro day Wednesday, from his measurables to his moves to even his mindset. It was a refresher course for anyone who watched the versatile tight end play last season. Pitts and several teammates — most notably quarterback Kyle Trask, cornerback Marco Wilson and receivers Kadarius Toney and Trevon Grimes — worked out for talent evaluators from 31 of 32 NFL teams. AdIt’s still entirely possible for Pitts to be the highest-drafted tight end in the modern era (since 1970). “He’s a different bird than what a traditional tight end has been or certainly has been when I played,” said Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell, a tight end who played 11 NFL seasons.
Mullen focuses on Florida amid college football concerns
Ad“I think there are concerns with coaches (regarding) what the future of college football is going to look like. Former Florida and Ohio State coach Urban Meyer left the broadcast booth to join the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, becoming the third college coach in as many years to make the move. Mullen has spent nearly three decades in the college ranks, including the last 16 years in the powerhouse SEC. Ad“There are probably some times I said things that, you know, maybe regrettable, maybe didn’t come off the right way, maybe got interpreted a different way," Mullen said. He has three years remaining on a six-year, $36.6 million contract that makes him the 10th-highest-paid coach in college football.
Alabama QB Mac Jones heads into Senior Bowl on gimpy ankle
The next game he plays is for his NFL draft stock, provided the Alabama quarterback's gimpy left ankle is good to go. Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy said the plan is for Jones to dress out and see how his ankle feels. “Just being in that room, I already learned so much about NFL football,” he said. Mond started 44 games for the Aggies, Ehlinger logged 43 starts for the Longhorns,Mond led the Aggies into College Football Playoffs contention in his final season. I just wanted to come and kind of learn more about NFL football and learn a new playbook, which I thought I did a good job with.
Gators Breakdown: 2021 Offense Early Preview
Kyle Trask, Kyle Pitts, Kadarius Toney, Trevon Grimes, Stone Forsyth, Brett Heggie. Those are important pieces from the 2020 offense that won’t suit up in orange and blue in 2021. David Waters, Will Miles (Read and Reaction) and Nick Knudsen (American Football Stories, Read and Reaction) discuss just how different the 2021 Gators’ offense will look led by Emory Jones and a stable of running backs. Get Gators Breakdown merchandise at https://www.ebay.com/str/gatorsbreakdownLISTEN: Catch up on previous episodes of Gators BreakdownFollow David Waters on Twitter @GatorDave_SEC to stay plugged in, or click one of the following to tune in:Megaphone | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Podcasts | Stitcher
Gators Breakdown: Last look at 2020 and a look ahead to 2021
Florida running out of tunnel during the Gators' game against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, October 3, 2020 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Hannah WhiteThe 2020 college football season is over. A season that was in doubt at one point, had some good and some bad for the Florida Gators. David Waters and Will Miles (Read and Reaction) take one last look back at the 2020 season as they review their preseason predictions. Also, the guys where various publications rank the 2021 Florida squad in early rankings for next season. Get Gators Breakdown merchandise at https://www.ebay.com/str/gatorsbreakdownLISTEN: Catch up on previous episodes of Gators BreakdownFollow David Waters on Twitter @GatorDave_SEC to stay plugged in, or click one of the following to tune in:Megaphone | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Podcasts | Stitcher
Heisman Trophy Preview: Loads of offense in four finalists
Two Alabama teammates, quarterback Mac Jones and wide receiver DeVonta Smith, join Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Florida quarterback Kyle Trask as the finalists for the 86th annual Heisman Trophy. Passed for 3,739 yards and 32 touchdowns against just four interceptions in the Tide’s 11 games heading into the playoff. His four 400-yard passing games this season are more than any other Alabama quarterback has produced in an entire career. TREVOR LAWRENCE, junior, QB, ClemsonBIO: Lawrence has looked ready for a Heisman Trophy moment ever since arriving at Clemson before the 2018 season. He really shined this season, leading the nation in passing yards (375 a game) and touchdowns.
Alabama, Ohio State travel different paths to title game
Ohio State won 49-28. “This team, this program, we persevered through so much,” Ohio State running back Trey Sermon said Monday. In addition to Sarkisian's imminent departure, Alabama has to take care of some Heisman Trophy business while preparing for the matchup with Ohio State. Ohio State (7-0) won that meeting en route to the national title. OHIO STATEOverview: Like many teams, Ohio State faced major obstacles during the pandemic.
Clemson star QB Lawrence sputters in Superdome again
And with that, Lawrence’s bid to finish an extraordinary college football career with his second national championship in three seasons slipped away. 2 Clemson in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Sugar Bowl on Friday night. “Obviously they kicked our butt tonight," Lawrence said. Lawrence is one of four finalists, along with Alabama QB Mac Jones, Crimson Tide receiver Davonta Smith and Florida QB Kyle Trask. Still, he'll be remembered as one of the faces of college football — on the field and off — during a tumultuous junior year.
Florida QB Trask officially turns pro after record season
(AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida quarterback Kyle Trask made his future plans official Thursday, formally announcing he’s declining an opportunity to return to school and entering the NFL draft. No one thought Trask would stick around following a record-breaking season that included being named a Heisman Trophy finalist. He led the nation in passing yards and TD passes. He broke the previous school record (39) for TD passes (39) set by 1996 Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel. Fellow defensive tackle Zachary Carter, meanwhile, announced plans to return to school for his senior season.
Gators’ Kyle Trask declares for NFL draft
In this Dec. 12, 2020, photo, Florida quarterback Kyle Trask throws a pass against LSU during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Gainesville. University of Florida’s star quarterback Kyle Trask posted on Twitter on Thursday that he was declaring early for the NFL draft. Trask is also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy -- a daunting task for the three-star recruit who fought to get a starting job with the Gators. He passed 1996 Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel for the school’s single-season touchdown record with No. Wuerffel called Trask after the crushing loss and reminded him that the Gators lost their regular-season finale in 1996 before rebounding to win it all.
Gators Breakdown: Instant Reaction | Oklahoma 55 Florida 20
David Waters gives instant reaction to Florida’s blowout loss to the Oklahoma Sooners. Get Gators Breakdown merchandise at https://www.ebay.com/str/gatorsbreakdownLISTEN: Catch up on previous episodes of Gators BreakdownFollow David Waters on Twitter @GatorDave_SEC to stay plugged in, or click one of the following to tune in:Megaphone | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Podcasts | Stitcher
Gators rattled: No. 8 Oklahoma routs Florida in Cotton Bowl
8 Oklahoma beat 10th-ranked SEC runner-up Florida 55-20 on Wednesday night in the Cotton Bowl. Back in the same NFL stadium where 11 days earlier they won their sixth consecutive Big 12 title, the Sooners (9-2, No. The 55 points were their most ever in a bowl game, while piling up a Cotton Bowl-record 684 total yards. 1 Alabama in the SEC title game, and had averaged nearly 42 points a game. Oklahoma: With Rattler and Mims among the young standouts coming back, the Sooners could again be favored to win another Big 12 title.
Florida-Oklahoma in Cotton Bowl dozen years after title game
That BCS National Championship game 12 seasons ago was the only meeting between the No. While outside of the College Football Playoff, it will be the first New Year's Six bowl game played in this pandemic-affected season. 6 CFP) are back in the NFL stadium where they won their sixth consecutive Big 12 championship earlier this month. 12 Iowa State in the Big 12 title game on Dec. 19, opted out to focused on the NFL draft. Rattler was the first-team AP All-Big 12 quarterback after throwing for 2,784 yards and 25 TDs, the most nationally for a freshman.
Facing Florida in bowl, Oklahoma defense sees an opportunity
Florida head coach Dan Mullen speaks with players before the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game between Florida and Alabama, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in Atlanta. 8 Sooners (8-2) will again end the season in a New Year's Six bowl game against a high-powered SEC offense. 10 Florida, which leads the nation in passing though its offense suddenly looks quite different because of some late departures. The Sooners go into the Cotton Bowl game at AT&T Stadium having allowed only a combined 57 points their last four games — their best such stretch in six seasons. They have recorded nearly five sacks a game in that span while holding opponents to 303.8 total yards per game.
Alabama’s Jones, Smith, Harris lead 6 Tide AP All-Americans
Lawrence, the likely first pick in the next NFL draft, made AP All-America for the first time in his career. ___The 2020 AP All-America team:FIRST TEAMOffenseQuarterback — Mac Jones, junior, Alabama. Running backs — Najee Harris, senior, Alabama; Breece Hall, sophomore, Iowa State. Guards — Ben Cleveland, senior, Georgia; Tommy Kraemer, senior, Notre Dame. Safeties — Kyle Hamilton, sophomore, Notre Dame; Tykee Smith, sophomore, West Virginia.
Gators Breakdown: Florida vs Oklahoma Cotton Bowl Preview
Gators take on Sooners in DallasDavid Waters breaks down the Cotton Bowl match-up between Florida and the surging Oklahoma Sooners. Get Gators Breakdown merchandise at https://www.ebay.com/str/gatorsbreakdownLISTEN: Catch up on previous episodes of Gators BreakdownFollow David Waters on Twitter @GatorDave_SEC to stay plugged in, or click one of the following to tune in:Megaphone | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Podcasts | Stitcher
Alabama teammates Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith among Heisman Trophy finalists
Alabama teammates Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith along with Clemson's Trevor Lawrence and Florida's Kyle Trask have been named finalists for the Heisman Trophy. Jones and Smith are the eighth set of teammates to be finalists together since the tradition started in 1982. Smith is trying to become the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Michigan's Desmond Howard in 1991. Jones or Smith would become Alabama's third Heisman winner, but first that is not a running back. Iowa State running back Breece Hall was sixth, followed by Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, BYU quarterback Zach Wilson, Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book and Florida tight end Kyle Pitts.
cbsnews.comFormer Bolles Star Mac Jones named Heisman finalist
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)Alabama teammates Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith along with Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Florida’s Kyle Trask have been named finalists for the Heisman Trophy. Jones, a former Bolles star and Jacksonville native, and Smith are the eighth set of teammates to be finalists together since the tradition started in 1982. Jones leads the nation in efficiency rating (202.34), completion percentage (76.5) and yards per pass (11.4), with 32 touchdown passes. Jones or Smith would become Alabama’s third Heisman winner, but first that is not a running back. Iowa State running back Breece Hall was sixth, followed by Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, BYU quarterback Zach Wilson, Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book and Florida tight end Kyle Pitts.
Gators Breakdown: Florida is close, but still a ways to go | Gators vs Oklahoma in Cotton Bowl
Florida Gators wide receiver Kadarius Toney (1) pushes off Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back DeMarcco Hellams (29) during a return in the fourth quarter of the 2020 SEC Football Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA on Saturday, December 19, 2020. [Matt Pendleton/Special to the Sun]2020 showed just how close Florida and Dan Mullen are to winning a SEC Championship, but at the same time, it showed just how far Florida has to go as well. David Waters is joined by Will Miles (Read and Reaction) to discuss just how far the Gators are. Also, the two share their first thoughts on the Cotton Bowl matchup vs Oklahoma. Get Gators Breakdown merchandise at https://www.ebay.com/str/gatorsbreakdownLISTEN: Catch up on previous episodes of Gators BreakdownFollow David Waters on Twitter @GatorDave_SEC to stay plugged in, or click one of the following to tune in:Megaphone | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Podcasts | Stitcher
Gators Breakdown: Game Reaction | Alabama 52 Florida 46
Florida Gators quarterback Kyle Trask (11) is consoled after the Gator loss by Florida Gators quarterback Emory Jones (5) at the 2020 SEC Football Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA on Saturday, December 19, 2020. [Matt Pendleton/Special to the Sun]It was a valiant effort against the number one team in the country, but the Gators fall to the Crimson Tide 52-46 in the SEC Championship. David Waters is joined by Nick de la Torre (Gators Territory) and Graham Hall (Gainesville Sun) to look back at the Gators effort and just how close they were in upsetting Alabama. Get Gators Breakdown merchandise at https://www.ebay.com/str/gatorsbreakdownLISTEN: Catch up on previous episodes of Gators BreakdownFollow David Waters on Twitter @GatorDave_SEC to stay plugged in, or click one of the following to tune in:Megaphone | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Podcasts | Stitcher
Cotton Bowl: Big 12 champ Oklahoma vs SEC runner-up Florida
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)ARLINGTON, Texas – Oklahoma is going right back to the stadium where the Sooners just won their sixth Big 12 championship in a row to play SEC runner-up Florida in the Cotton Bowl. Oklahoma is in the Cotton Bowl for only the third time, its first since a 41-13 loss to Texas A&M on Jan. 4, 2013. The Cotton Bowl will be played two days before Alabama faces No. Pitts announced is turning pro and won't play in the Cotton Bowl. Tim Tebow was the Florida quarterback for the national championship win over Oklahoma on Jan. 9, 2009, in Miami.
Kyle Pitts turns pro less than 12 hours after SEC title game
Florida tight end Kyle Pitts (84) makes the catch ahead of Alabama linebacker Christian Harris (8) during the second half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida standout Kyle Pitts, the team’s best player and the top tight end in the country, is turning pro and skipping a potential bowl game. Pitts made his announcement on social media Sunday, less than 12 hours after the 11th-ranked Gators lost to No. He's expected to be the first tight end selected in the 2021 NFL draft and quite possibly a top-10 pick. He's expected to win the Mackey Award given annually to college football’s top tight end and surely will get some Heisman Trophy votes.
Harris scores 5 TDs, No. 1 Bama escapes No. 11 Florida 52-46
11 Florida in a 52-46 shootout for the Southeastern Conference championship Saturday night. “The resiliency this team has shown this season to win 11 games is pretty phenomenal.”After trailing 35-17 at halftime, Florida (8-3, No. The Alabama senior also knocked off a couple of school records, setting new standards for career rushing TDs (44) and overall TDs (54). Florida: The Gators might’ve pulled off the upset if not for some crucial mistakes in the first half. But Florida also had two silly penalties on apparent third-down stops, extending a pair of drives that turned into touchdowns.
Harris scores 5 TDs, No. 1 Bama escapes No. 11 Florida 52-46
11 Florida in a 52-46 shootout for the Southeastern Conference championship Saturday night. “The resiliency this team has shown this season to win 11 games is pretty phenomenal.”After falling behind 35-17 by halftime, Florida (8-3, No. Alabama had won every game in the pandemic-affected season by at least 15 points until Florida gave the Tide a scare. Florida: The Gators might’ve pulled off the upset if not for some crucial mistakes in the first half. But Florida also had two silly penalties on apparent third-down stops, extending a pair of drives that turned into touchdowns.
Alabama edges Florida in SEC championship game
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 19: Quarterback Kyle Trask #11 of the Florida Gators rushes in for a touchdown in the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 19, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)Top-ranked Alabama was too much for Florida. 1 Crimson Tide won the SEC championship on Saturday night, holding on to edge No. The last time the teams met in the SEC championship, the Crimson Tide rolled 54-16 in 2016. Najee Harris had five total touchdowns for Alabama (three receiving, two rushing) and Bolles product Mac Jones threw five touchdown passes for the Crimson Tide.
Halftime: Gators Trail Alabama 35-17
It didn’t take the Gators long to respond on their first drive Kyle Trask found Kadarius Toney for A 51-yard touchdown to knot the game at 7. The Gators defense didn’t have an answer for the Crimson tide Offense. Former Bolles Star Mac Jones picked apart the gators defense in the first half throwing for over 250 yards and 4 touchdowns. Trask Helped the Gators engineer a Touchdown drive just before halftime keeping the game close. Gators Trail Alabama 35 to 17