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Florida expected an instant impact when Cox took the field after transferring from Georgia. He delivered, with eight tackles, a sack and a pass breakup in last year's opener against Ole Miss. After that, meh. The former five-star recruit had some spectacular moments, but he often faded into the defensive woodwork. That's a problem in Todd Grantham's high-pressure scheme, which needs the BUCK position outside linebacker to be a disruptive menace. Consistent play is largely a focus issue, though that didn't completely explain Cox's problem. It turned out his chronically sore left foot had a crack in the fifth metatarsal. Doctors put a screw in it after the season. Cox was spotted on campus in June in a walking boot and getting around with the aid of a scooter. That sparked reports Cox would miss much of the season due to a "scooter accident," but Cox is expected to be ready by the opening game. He flashed star potential on one good foot. It will be interesting to see what Cox can do on two of them. - Gainesville Sun

(DS#30 DE) rSr/2023

DE Brenton Cox Jr., Florida
News Source: Gainesville Sun
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07/01/21 - *Kaiir Elam, Jr/2022, Florida, 6-2, 192 (DS#5 CB) + More +

Kaiir Elam's on-field play, coupled with his online following, could create more NIL opportunities for him than any Florida player this fall. Elam, whose IG has 21.1K followers, is projected as a top-10 pick in the 2022 NFL draft. Businesses and companies will come calling for an endorsement from a player of that caliber. Elam also has his father, former NFL safety Abram Elam, to help brand himself. - Gainesville Sun

(DS#5 CB) Jr/2022

CB *Kaiir Elam, Florida
News Source: Gainesville Sun
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07/01/21 - Trey Dean III, Sr/2023, Florida, 6-2, 200 (DS#10 SS) + More +

No one on the roster rocks sweatbands, sleeves and other Gator gear with more style and swag than Trey Dean III. In fact, the senior safety has developed his own clothing line, TD3, and launched a website to sell merchandise. Dean has more than 40K combined followers on Instagram (29.4K) and Twitter (11.2K) to promote his new apparel and more. - Gainesville Sun

(DS#10 SS) Sr/2023

SS Trey Dean III, Florida
News Source: Gainesville Sun
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06/29/21 - Graham Mertz, rSr/2025, Florida, 6-3, 212 (DS#19 QB) + More +

University of Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz jumped into the NIL waters Monday, unveiling a trademark symbol. Mertz - a redshirt sophomore who became the team's starter last season - tweeted the image with the caption "Coming soon..." College athletes are set to begin earning money on their name, image and likenesses this week as state laws go into effect. NCAA President Mark Emmert told member schools last week that "interim solutions" to allow all student-athletes to profit from NIL opportunities will be in place by July 1 as the organization waits for a federal law to govern to be passed on the matter. Mertz has a Twitter following of nearly 25,000 users and an Instagram following of over 51,000 accounts. He'll be a test case for how Badgers athletes can profit from NIL sponsorships and endorsements when they're allowed later this week. - Wisconsin State Journal

(DS#19 QB) rSr/2025

QB Graham Mertz, Florida
News Source: Wisconsin State Journal
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06/14/21 - DJ Douglas, rSr/2025, Florida, 6-0, 213 (DS#74 SS) + More +

The Tulane football team has picked up Alabama transfer defensive back D.J. Douglas. Douglas, a 6-foot-0, 190-pound prospect who walked on to the Crimson Tide in 2019, will be on scholarship with the Green Wave and is expected to play cornerback and nickelback. After redshirting in 2019, he participated in Alabama's two playoff games en route to the national championship this past season. A product of Alabaster, Alabama, he received offers from Alabama State and Tuskegee out of high school according to 247Sports.com. - New Orleans Times Picayune

(DS#74 SS) rSr/2025

SS DJ Douglas, Florida
News Source: New Orleans Times Picayune
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06/05/21 - Harrison Bailey, rSr/2026, Florida, 6-5, 230 (DS#56 QB) + More +

The University of Tennessee is getting ahead of a landmark NCAA decision. UT has instituted a program with the aim of teaching athletes how to gain value from their Name, Image and Likeness. The NCAA later this month is expected to vote on proposed legislation that would allow athletes to benefit from their NIL. The state of Tennessee recently passed legislation allowing athletes to profit off of their personal business ventures, which is set to go into effect in 2022. In response, the university is developing a set of for-credit courses that will "deliver education related to brand development, marketing, communications/messaging, personal finance/financial planning and several other key elements of NIL maximization."

"Educating our student-athletes is the key to helping them maximize their opportunities relative to NIL," athletic director Danny White said in a news release. "As an institution of higher learning, it was important that our NIL program include a comprehensive educational component. This program assures current and future Vols and Lady Vols that the University of Tennessee is prepared to guide them in effectively managing, expanding and enhancing the value of their personal brands." Tennessee is also partnering with Altius Sports Partners, which will allow the athletes to confer with a number of consultants and professionals from around the nation. - Knoxville News Sentinel

(DS#56 QB) rSr/2026

QB Harrison Bailey, Florida
News Source: Knoxville News Sentinel
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05/10/21 - Tyrone Truesdell, rSr/2022, Florida, 6-2, 347 (DS#65 DT) + More +

The way Truesdell went about his decision shouldn't come as a surprise, though. He isn't a flashy player, and he has always been a quieter presence on Auburn's defense. Still, his return was a significant one for the Tigers during an offseason that saw a coaching change and the departure of several key players on that side of the ball. "I think it's great that he came back," first-year defensive line coach Nick Eason said this spring. "…Having him here and having his leadership, he's kind of the silent leader. He's not a vocal guy but he just shows up and works. That's one of the things that I admire about him." Truesdell heads into this season as Auburn's most experienced defensive player, having appeared in 44 games over the last four years while making 19 starts at tackle. During that time, he has totaled 67 tackles, including nine for a loss and three sacks, while also recovering a pair of fumbles.

The numbers haven't been gaudy, but they rarely are for a 6-foot-2, 335-pound interior defensive lineman. Still, Truesdell has been a key piece to the puzzle for Auburn up front during his career, often tasked with doing the dirty work inside to try to open things up for those around him - whether it was Bryant, Newkirk, Colby Wooden or Derick Hall last season, or the likes of Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson in 2019. Truesdell's role will again have importance for Auburn this season, as he exited the spring with a firm grip on the starting nose tackle spot in defensive coordinator Derek Mason's 3-4 front. - Birmingham News

(DS#65 DT) rSr/2022

DT Tyrone Truesdell, Florida
News Source: Birmingham News
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05/05/21 - *Kyle Pitts, Jr/2021, Florida, 6-6, 245 (DS#1 TE) + More +

This past week's NFL Draft was an SEC reunion of sorts. There were 65 players picked out of the SEC, the most of any conference in the country. The next closest was the Big 10 with 44. The SEC set an all-time record, breaking the previous record of 64 set by, yes, the SEC. It should be no surprise the list of states with the most players in the NFL per capita is dominated by those in the south. Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida round out the top five. South Carolina and Texas come in at No. 8 and No. 10, respectively. The stranglehold the SEC has on being the top conference in the country in producing NFL players should continue for years to come. Three of the top five 2021 recruiting classes - No. 1 Alabama, No. 3 LSU and No. 4 Georgia - belonged to SEC schools, according to 247Sports. The SEC's slogan is "It Just Means More." That might as well be in reference to NFL Draft picks. - The Clarion Ledger

(DS#1 TE) Jr/2021

TE *Kyle Pitts, Florida
News Source: The Clarion Ledger
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05/02/21 - *Kyle Pitts, Jr/2021, Florida, 6-6, 245 (DS#1 TE) + More +

Kyle Pitts and Kadarius Toney on Thursday night became the first pair of Florida offensive skill players drafted in the opening round since Ike Hilliard and Reidel Anthony in 1997. Pitts played his final collegiate game in Atlanta, and will now begin his NFL career there. The Falcons selected the Mackey Award winner fourth overall, making him the highest-drafted tight end in NFL history. Toney became the first UF receiver since Percy Harvin to go in the first round, heading to the New York Giants with the 20th pick. "I've been waiting for that call my whole life," Pitts told ESPN. "When I saw my phone ring, I felt my heart drop. It's just step one in the right direction." Prior to Pitts, Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (1961) and former Denver Broncos All-Pro Riley Odoms (1972) were the only tight ends taken in the top five. Pitts is the first Gators TE to be a first-round pick and the program's highest-drafted player at the position since Ben Troupe, a second-round selection (40th overall) in 2004. - Gainesville Sun

(DS#1 TE) Jr/2021

TE *Kyle Pitts, Florida
News Source: Gainesville Sun
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05/01/21 - *Kyle Pitts, Jr/2021, Florida, 6-6, 245 (DS#1 TE) + More +

After rewriting the school and SEC record books in his final collegiate season, Mackey Award winner Kyle Pitts made history on the opening night of the 2021 NFL draft. With the Atlanta Falcons selecting him No. 4 overall Thursday, Pitts became the highest tight end taken in the common draft era and the first Gators TE to be a first-round pick. Jordan Reed, who retired in April, was the last UF player drafted at the position (2013) and Ben Troupe had been Florida's highest draftee (second round, No. 40) prior to Pitts. He and Riley Odoms (1972) are the only tight ends to go in the top five of the NFL's common draft era (since 1967). Here's what Pitts will bring to Atlanta, where he played his last college game and broke the UF record for career receiving yards by a tight end - 1,492 yards on 100 catches (second all-time). - Gainesville Sun

(DS#1 TE) Jr/2021

TE *Kyle Pitts, Florida
News Source: Gainesville Sun
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04/10/21 - Graham Mertz, rSr/2025, Florida, 6-3, 212 (DS#19 QB) + More +

Once it was over, Graham Mertz took time to reflect after his first college football season as a starter. It hadn't gone how he wanted - after a record-setting starting debut in which he threw five touchdown passes, challenges started to pile up for the sophomore. He contracted COVID-19, testing positive the day after the Illinois game as part of an outbreak that derailed the University of Wisconsin's season for nearly three weeks. He struggled as his timing and accuracy were sporadic over the final six games of the year and UW finished 4-3. Mertz said as he evaluated the season, he looked inward first, asking himself how he needed to get better in each aspect of his game. He also took stock of how he needed to improve his approach off the field. "I took a couple of days just to kind of take that approach. 'How can I be the best Graham during the season?'" Mertz said Friday. When Mertz did begin studying tape, he broke his play down into particular elements and spent days watching each snap with an eye on that component. From his drop-backs to his understanding of scheme and recognition of defenses, Mertz took note of the strides he needed to make. He didn't specify when it happened, but Mertz also sustained a shoulder injury and had to get a cortisone shot one week. He rejected the idea that it was an explanation for his struggles. "I'm not one to sit here and make excuses for how I played, and having a little banged up shoulder doesn't justify losing three games (in a row) and playing like that," he said. "So I'm not going to sit here and make that an excuse, because it's not." - Wisconsin State Journal

(DS#19 QB) rSr/2025

QB Graham Mertz, Florida
News Source: Wisconsin State Journal
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04/03/21 - *Marco Wilson, rJr/2021, Florida, 6-0, 191 (DS#16 CB) + More +

Cornerback Marco Wilson arrived to Florida's Pro Day all but forgotten. Oh sure, some plays near the end of Wilson's college career will live in infamy for many Gators fans who won't forgive one of the most costly penalties in program history. The 22-year-old has the malicious direct messages and social media screeds directed at him to prove it. But Wednesday was about the future. Representatives from 31 of 32 NFL teams came primarily to watch Wilson's high-profile former teammates - namely Kyle Pitts, Kyle Trask and Kadarius Toney - strut their stuff and state their cases four weeks prior to the April 29-May 1 draft. Many of the intelligentsia on hand left Florida's indoor practice facility aware Wilson might have a bright future himself at the professional level.

Wilson put on a show the 58 NFL decision-makers on hand could not ignore. The Fort Lauderdale native said he never doubted he was capable. But Wilson surprised even himself by rising to the occasion as he did while alleviating questions about the quality of his play and his character. "I'm just proud of putting everything together," Wilson said. "I knew I was going to excel in every drill. I did all these numbers in training, so I wasn't surprised at all. I just have to make sure that I can hit all these numbers in one day." - Sun Sentinel

(DS#16 CB) rJr/2021

CB *Marco Wilson, Florida
News Source: Sun Sentinel
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04/03/21 - *Kyle Pitts, Jr/2021, Florida, 6-6, 245 (DS#1 TE) + More +

Kyle Pitts' All-American brick was put in Thursday ahead of his John Mackey Award ceremony. A day after solidifying himself as a top-10 pick, Kyle Pitts was cemented as a Florida football legend. The unanimous first team All-American received his brick outside of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Thursday, UF's first addition since Vernon Hargreaves III in 2015. Florida players named first team All-Americans are honored with a brick in their name, located on the Gator Walk entrance in front of The Swamp. Inside the stadium at Touchdown Terrace, Pitts was also presented Thursday night with the John Mackey Award during a private event. This comes on the heels of Pitts' dominant performance Wednesday at Florida's Pro Day. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds and posted the longest wingspan for an NFL receiver or tight end in the last 20 years. - Gainesville Sun

(DS#1 TE) Jr/2021

TE *Kyle Pitts, Florida
News Source: Gainesville Sun
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03/30/21 - Graham Mertz, rSr/2025, Florida, 6-3, 212 (DS#19 QB) + More +

Redshirt freshman Graham Mertz struggled to find consistent rhythm after a record-setting performance in his starting debut. Mertz completed just under 57% of his passes, threw four touchdowns and five interceptions the rest of the season after completing 20 of 21 passes against Illinois, tying a program record with five touchdowns. Cutting down on turnovers - Mertz also lost two fumbles last season - is the first step, but doing so will be the result of establishing better timing in the pocket. A majority of Mertz's interceptions last seasons were due to holding the ball too long or trying to throw a pass too late and the window of opportunity closing. Coach Paul Chryst's track record of coaching quarterbacks at UW includes the heights of Russell Wilson's stellar season in 2011 and a through line of consistent, smart play. Spring practices are the time to meld that coaching with Mertz's talent so the quarterback can take a big step forward this fall. - Wisconsin State Journal

(DS#19 QB) rSr/2025

QB Graham Mertz, Florida
News Source: Wisconsin State Journal
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03/30/21 - Richard Gouraige, rSr/2023, Florida, 6-5, 306 (DS#18 OT) + More +

Florida offensive lineman Richard Gouraige received plenty of praise this spring from coach Dan Mullen. This offseason, Florida coach Dan Mullen had the responsibility of replacing starters at the two most important positions on his football team - quarterback and the player protecting his blind side. Both spots appear to be in good hands coming out of spring ball. Mullen acknowledged Emory Jones as QB1 following the final scrimmage, while calling Richard Gouraige one of two offensive linemen he feels most comfortable with. His position coach, John Hevesy, had no reservations about moving Gouraige to left tackle as a redshirt junior to take over for Stone Forsythe. "I feel very comfortable," Hevesy said of Gouraige. "He's done a great job so far, a very knowledgeable kid. Just very meticulous about his work ethic in everything he does."

The position switch was a welcomed change for Gouraige, who started 17 games at left guard the past two seasons. Gouraige said he enjoyed playing in the trenches and had to put his "big boy pants on" against SEC defensive tackles, but sliding outside has always been the goal and plan for him. "Playing left tackle is what I came here for," said Gouraige, a consensus top-100 overall recruit as an offensive tackle. "I like being on that island and going against the best edge rushers in the game. "There's nothing better than playing in the SEC and competing with guys like that. I just love playing tackle. It just feels more natural for me. I still have minor tweaks to fix up." - Gainesville Sun

(DS#18 OT) rSr/2023

OT Richard Gouraige, Florida
News Source: Gainesville Sun
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