• 2021 3-Star S Donovan McMillon commits to Florida
    Photo by Mark Brennan / 247Sports

    One day after losing a defensive back commit in the 2021 recruiting cycle, Florida has rebounded with the verbal commitment of another.

    A composite three-star prospect out of Canonsburg, PA, Donovan McMillon announced his commitment to the Gators via Twitter on Saturday.

    McMillon is a 6’2, 193 lb prospect that has accumulated 54 offers. 247Sports has McMillon listed as the No. 145 overall prospect and the No. 7 safety in the 2021 class.

    The Keystone State prospect has been primarily recruited by safeties coach, Ron English.

    With McMillon’s commitment, the Gators now have twenty committed prospects in the 2021 class. The class is currently ranked No. 10 in the nation.

  • Boston College flips Clinton Burton, Jr. from Florida
    Photo by Andrew Ivins / 247Sports

    Boston College just landed their highest rated commitment ever. The commitment of Clinton Burton, Jr. does, however, come at the expense of the Florida Gators.

    Burton originally committed to Florida in September 2019 and attended Junior Day in Gainesville in March.

    The 5’11, 170 lb cornerback is rated a four star prospect according to the 247Sports composite rankings of the 2021 recruiting cycle.

    Last month, the Baltimore, Maryland native was named a 2020 Preseason All-American by MaxPreps.

    Florida’s 2021 class now sits at nineteen committed prospects and is ranked No. 10 nationally.

  • Gators RS-FR WR Dionte Marks enters NCAA Transfer Portal
    Photo by Matt Pendleton / 247Sports

    The Florida wide receiver corps is poised to replace several major impact players from the 2019 campaign. One player unlikely to fill that void is redshirt freshman Dionte Marks, who has enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, according to Matt Zenitz of AL.com.

    Marks was a three star prospect in the 2019 recruiting cycle and singed in the Early Singing Period in December 2018 before arriving on campus last July.

    The Deland, FL native made two appearances in 2019 (against UT-Martin and Towson) for the Gators, thus maintaining a redshirt for the season.

    Florida is currently scheduled to open fall camp on August 7 in anticipation of a September 5 opener in The Swamp against Eastern Washington.

  • SEC postpones start of volleyball, soccer, and cross country seasons
    Photo by Brian Fox / ChompTalk.com

    The Southeastern Conference announced the postponement of the volleyball, soccer, and cross country seasons in a release on Tuesday.

    The statement explains that all exhibition and non-conference competition will be postponed through at least August 31 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The Southeastern Conference announced Tuesday that it will postpone the start of volleyball, soccer and cross country competition through at least August 31. The decision will provide additional time to prepare for the safe return of competition on an adjusted timeline.

    -SEC

    The SEC also stated that each school would be responsible for rescheduling non-conference matchups.

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    Separately, Scott Stricklin met with the media and mentioned that he tested positive for Covid-19 in June and self quarantined for ten days.

    Stricklin also emphasized that no student-athlete would lose their scholarship or stipend money in response to postponed or cancelled seasons.

    The athletic director shared that three out of 188 tests have come back positive since student-athletes have returned to the university. In total, 29 student-athletes have tested positive since April.

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    Stay posted with ChompTalk.com on Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates on the UF athletic program.

  • Gators add former Syracuse HC Paul Pasqualoni to staff
    Photo by Scott W. Grau / Getty Images

    The Florida Gators have added a former FBS head coach to their coaching staff. Paul Pasqualoni will join the program as a special assistant to the head coach, according to Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports.

    Pasqualoni was on the sidelines as the head coach at Syracuse from 1991-2004, where he recorded a 107-59-1 mark. In his time with the Orange, he guided them to nine bowl appearances with a 6-3 record in such games.

    The former Boston College defensive lineman also served as head coach at Connecticut from 2011-13, but was fired after starting the 2013 campaign 0-4.

    Most recently, Pasqualoni was the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lion of the National Football League since 2018, but he stepped down in January.

    With the hire, Dan Mullen adds yet another experienced coach to join him on the staff.

  • Gators add home and home series with NC State
    Photo by Jaylynn Nash / Getty Images

    The Florida Gators and the North Carolina State Wolfpack announced a home and home series scheduled for the 2026 and 2032 seasons.

    The 2026 contest is scheduled to be played in Raleigh while The Swamp will host the 2032 matchup.

    The two programs have met fourteen times on the gridiron with Florida holding a 9-4-1 lead in the series.

    The two teams last met in the 1992 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville. The Gators topped the Wolfpack 27-10 behind QB Shane Matthews and RB Erricht Rhett, who was the UF MVP for the game.

    Florida has added several power five programs to its future schedules over the last two years. Athletic Director Scott Stricklin has added Utah, Miami, California, Colorado, Arizona State, and Texas to schedules as far out as 2032.

    The Wolfpack have been a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference since 1953 and have made 32 bowl appearances.

  • Report: Tre Mann to withdraw from NBA Draft and return to UF
    Photo by Michael Reaves / Getty Images

    The Florida Gators men’s basketball roster appears to be set as guard Tre Mann will withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to campus for his sophomore season, per Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

    Mann was a five star prospect and a McDonald’s All-American as a recruit in the 2019 cycle.

    In his first season, Mann largely sat behind starting point guard Andrew Nembhard, who has since announced his transfer to Gonzaga.

    With Nembhard gone, Mann is expected to battle transfer Tyree Appleby for the starting role.

    The Gainesville native averaged 5.3 points and 1.9 rebounds in 29 games (4 starts) as a freshman.

    Florida returns much of it’s roster from a year ago and will have lofty expectations heading into the new season. Scottie Lewis and Keyontae Johnson have also opted to return to campus and will give the Gators one of the most athletic starting fives in the nation.

  • Gators among top programs for 2022 4-star OT Addison Nichols
    Photo by Rusty Mansell / 247Sports

    The Florida Gators landed in the top twelve for one of the top offensive line prospects in the 2022 recruiting cycle.

    4-star offensive tackle Addison Nichols released a star-studded group of programs that has stood out most to him on Saturday.

    The 6’5, 300 lb prospect out of Norcross, GA is the nation’s No. 61 overall prospect and the No. 4 OT in the 2022 class according to 247Sports.

    Nichols told ChompTalk.com that “[Florida is] a great program and they are really coming along [under head coach Dan Mullen].

    The Greater Atlanta Christian School attendee explained that he is looking for a program with, “a balance of academics and football.”

    The Gators’ 2022 class currently holds one commitment from WR Syveion Ellis of Miami, FL. Florida’s 2021 class is ranked No. 9 nationally with a total of twenty committed prospects.

  • Gators land Miami transfer Yasmeen Chang
    Photo by Kristen Oliff / ChompTalk.com

    The University of Florida announced the transfer of 5’9 guard Yasmeen Chang from Miami on Tuesday.

    Chang, who played with the Hurricanes for one season, will have to sit out one year per NCAA rules, but will be eligible for three more.

    Chang saw minutes in 18 contests last year and scored seven points three times despite limited playing time in a veteran heavy backcourt rotation.

    The Naples, FL native attended Gulf Coast High School for three years. As a senior in 2018-19, Chang averaged 17.5 points on 50% shooting from the floor and 36% from three point range.

    In an interview with ChompTalk.com, Chang spoke about her relationship with the UF coaches, “I go way back with the Gators, they have always been big on me…Coach [Cameron Newbauer] is a great person and I’m honored to call him my head coach.”

    She also praised associate head coach Kelly Rae Finley stating, “she’s been by my side the entire recruiting process, I am so thankful to have those two in my corner.”

    While Newbauer and Finley had previously built a relationship with Chang, it was the staff’s two newcomers that made quite the first impression. Assistant coaches Erika Lang-Montgomery and Julian Assibey separately reached out to Chang to express their excitement and to welcome her to the program.

    While Chang is sitting this season, she will have the opportunity to learn behind a veteran backcourt at Florida. The Gators feature seniors Kiara Smith and Danielle Rainey and sophomores Lavender Briggs and Nina Rickards. Chang explained her excitement, saying that her new teammates are “going to make me ten times better, I’m just so excited thinking about it.”

    “I am just so blessed for this opportunity and being a Gator means everything to me. Representing the state of Florida, where I am from, is all I can ask for…I can’t wait to be on campus with [my teammates] soon.”

  • Gators make Top-10 for 4-star DL Kelvin Gilliam
    Photo by Don Callahan / 247Sports

    The Florida Gators made the top-ten for one of the nation’s top defensive talents in the 2021 recruiting cycle. Four star defensive end Kelvin Gilliam is rated as No. 7 weakside DE in the country, according to 247 Sports.

    In an interview with ChompTalk.com, Gilliam made it clear that Florida is very much in contention to land his services, even stating, “Florida will get an official [visit] out of me.”

    Gilliam lauded UF head coach Dan Mullen, labeling him, “elite” and praising his hiring of top assistants like defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and defensive line coach David Turner.

    The staff has told the 6’3, 250 lb prospect that he has the potential to play all over the line of scrimmage in a role similar to that of redshirt junior Zachary Carter.

    Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Gilliam has had the opportunity to tour the UF campus via a virtual tour that he was enthusiastic about. “Florida, specifically, did a virtual visit that had the entire staff and Coach Mullen on. They showed me the campus, gameday routines, the academic center. I actually got to watch film with Coach Turner and see how they would use me.”

    While the Virginia native is enjoying the recruiting cycle and the relationships that he’s built with people all over the country, he’s most looking for “a family atmosphere and a program where I can be developed on and off the field.”

    Gilliam is in no rush to commit to a program, explaining that he wants to experience those official visits before making a decision.

    When asked if there was anything he wanted to say to Gators fans who follow the recruiting process, Gilliam simply said, “I can’t wait to visit the Swamp.”