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  • 4-star WR Jacob Copeland commits to Gators

    4-star WR Jacob Copeland commits to Gators

    The Florida Gators have landed a top prospect in the 2018 recruiting cycle.

    The Florida Gators have landed one of their top targets in the 2018 recruiting class. Jacob Copeland of Pensacola announced his commitment via a SECCountry video on Wednesday.

    See the video below:

    Copeland is a 4-star WR at Escambia High listed at 6-0 and 192 lbs.

    247sports.com ranks Copeland as the #52 prospect overall and the #9 WR in the country.

    Copeland chose the Gators over his other finalist Alabama and Florida State. He was primarily recruited by Kerry Dixon and Tim Skipper.

    (Photo courtesy of 247sports.com)

  • Savannah Jordan starts anew, signs with Portland Thorns FC

    Savannah Jordan starts anew, signs with Portland Thorns FC

    After a tumultuous start to her professional career, former Florida Gators soccer star Savannah Jordan has returned to the United States.

    The Portland Thorns Football Club announced the signing of Jordan on Tuesday in a press release.

    The 22-year old forward was a four time All-American at Florida and finished her college career second on Florida’s all-time scoring list, behind only Abby Wambach.

    Jordan was drafted by Portland in the second round (#18 overall) of the NWSL Draft, but chose to play in Scotland for Glasgow City.

    Despite scoring back-to-back hat tricks in her first two professional appearances, Jordan rarely saw playing time for Glasgow City.

    According to the Scotland Herald, Jordan chose to leave Glasgow after failing to adapt to playing on the artificial surfaces.

    Jordan and the Thorns will return to Florida on September 23 when they face the Orlando Pride at Orlando City Stadium.

  • Florida’s Caeleb Dressel could be USA Swimming’s next superstar

    Florida’s Caeleb Dressel could be USA Swimming’s next superstar

    Most Americans recognize swimming only every four years during the Summer Olympics. If you fit in this group, you’ve probably wondered who will be the next American superstar following Michael Phelps‘ retirement.

    Florida senior Caeleb Dressel made an impression at the FINA World Championships in Budapest over the last ten days, and may represent the most likely answer to that question.

    Dressel tied Phelps’ record with seven gold medals during the World Championships. Dressel participated in three individual events, and four relay events, and took gold in all of them.

    On Satuday, Dressel became the first American to win three gold medals in one day at the World Championships, completing that task with minimal rest (all inside of ninety minutes). Dressel was also named the Male Swimmer of the Championship Meet.

    Caeleb Dressel’s finishes at the 2017 FINA World Championships:

    EVENT/TIME/FINISH/RECORD?

    50 M Free / 21.15 / 1st

    100 M Free / 47.17 / 1st

    100 M Butterfly / 50.07 / 1st

    4X100 Men’s Free / 3:10.06 / 1st / World Record

    4X100 Men’s Medley / 3:27.91 / 1st

    4X100 Mixed Free / 3:19.60 / 1st / World Record

    4X100 Mixed Medley / 3:38.56 / 1st / World Record

    The mixed relays are a relatively new format in championship swimming featuring relay teams with men and women. Phelps never participated in a mixed relay in championship swimming. Mixed relays will be included in the 2020 Olympics for the first time.

    Dressel, who earned two gold medals during the 2016 Rio Olympics, is a 21-time NCAA All-American at Florida. He has won six individual NCAA Championships including three in his junior campaign (50 M Free, 100 M Free, and 100 M Fly) and has contributed to 14 SEC Championships between his individual and relay performances.

    Dressel has proven on the collegiate and the international stage that he is more than capable of becoming the next great American swimmer. Michael Phelps has even shown his support for his former teammate:

  • WATCH: Tim Tebow and Peter Alonso homer in High-A game vs Charlotte

    WATCH: Tim Tebow and Peter Alonso homer in High-A game vs Charlotte

    On Saturday, former Florida Gators stars Tim Tebow and Peter Alonso both homered for the St. Lucie Mets against the Charlotte Stone Crabs.

    Alonso is a triple from hitting for the cycle in the seventh inning. He hit a grand slam in the second inning after doubling in the first. Alonso has five RBIs so far. The double was his 16th of the year, and the slam was his 13th home run of 2017.

    Tim Tebow also homered, with an opposite field three-run blast in the seventh inning that pushed the Mets lead to 10-3. It’s his fifth home run since his promotion to High-A.

  • 3-star OLB David Reese commits to Florida

    3-star OLB David Reese commits to Florida

    The Florida Gators continued their hot streak on the recruiting trail on Saturday.

    One week after securing nine commitments over a seven day period, the Gators have struck again.

    This time, in-state linebacker David Reese has committed to play at Florida. Reese of Fort Pierce, FL (Vero Beach High School) chose the Gators over offers from Miami, Alabama, Florida State, and Georgia, among others.

    Reese is a 6-2, 213 lb prospect that ranks #444 overall in the 2018 class by 247sports.com and is the #31 OLB prospect in the nation.

    Reese is Florida’s 15th commit for 2018.

    (Photo courtesy of 247sports.com)

  • Harrison Bader scores game winner in MLB debut; Mike Zunino homers; Preston Tucker earns PCL POW

    Harrison Bader scores game winner in MLB debut; Mike Zunino homers; Preston Tucker earns PCL POW

    Former Florida Gator outfielder Harrison Bader made his much anticipated Major League debut on Tuesday. And he didn’t disappoint.

    In Bader’s first at-bat in the second inning, he hit a routine ground ball to short and was just a fraction of a second from beating it. Bader even waited to see if manager Mike Matheny would challenged the play. Matheny chose not to and the game would resume.

    However, in the bottom of the ninth inning, Bader got his first career base hit. Bader ripped a lead off double off Colorado relief pitcher Jake McGee. Greg Garcia sacrificed Bader to third base. Pinch hitter Jedd Gyorko hit a fly ball to shallow right field, Bader tagged up and raced home, sliding and scoring the game winning run.

    It was an excellent moment for the former third round pick, and with the Cardinals only four games back of a playoff spot, Bader could figure into the race.

    __________

    Mike Zunino just keeps crushing the ball in Seattle.

    Former first round pick (number 3 overall) Mike Zunino continues to crush the ball for the Seattle Mariners.

    On Saturday, Zunino hit a 425-foot home run in the third inning to tie the game. Eventually Seattle would win the game 6-5 in ten innings.

    On Tuesday, Zunino hit a solo shot to centerfield in the seventh inning to tie the ballgame 4-4. The ball traveled 413 feet. Seattle would end up winning the game in 13 innings.

    Zunino is now up to 15 homers on the year. He is closing in on his MLB career high of 22 which was set in 2014. Zunino is only hitting .226, but he also has 42 RBIs.

    Seattle is 2.5 games out of the wild card, and Zunino will certainly play a major part of the Mariners run toward postseason play.

    __________

    Tucker named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week.

    Preston Tucker was named the Triple-A Pacific Coast League’s Player of the Week for his performance last week. Tucker led the Fresno Grizzlies to a 6-1 record. Tucker hit .393, with an on-base percentage of .500. Tucker also hit five home runs and drove in a minor league baseball best 13 runs.

    In 91 games at Triple-A, Tucker is hitting .274 with 19 home runs and a team leading 76 RBIs.

    __________

    If there is a former Florida Gator baseball player you would like The Gator Chomp Blog to feature in a future story, please comment that players name.

  • Former Gator Harrison Bader called up by St. Louis

    Former Gator Harrison Bader called up by St. Louis

    The St. Louis Cardinals have purchased the contract of former Florida Gator Harrison Bader. St. Louis has the opening on their roster due to starting CF Dexter Fowler being placed on the 10-day DL with a strained left wrist.

    The extent of Fowler’s injury is not yet known. Bader will start Tuesday’s game against Colorado in centerfield.

    Bader was the 100th overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, and has risen quickly in the professional ranks.

    In 2017 Bader has spent the entire season with the Memphis Redbirds of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. He has hit .297. Bader has also hit an organization high 19 home runs while driving in 48 runs.

    Bader will wear the #48 jersey and is batting seventh in the Cardinals lineup on Tuesday.

  • Kickoff set for 7:30 in home opener vs N. Colorado

    Kickoff set for 7:30 in home opener vs N. Colorado

    The SEC has announced the kickoff times and television networks for week two action.

    Florida will face Northern Colorado in their home opener and the game is set for a 7:30 PM kick on SEC Network.

    UF is also attempting the first “White Out” in school history by encouraging all fans coming to the stadium to wear white.

    This is the fourth Florida football game that we know the kickoff time. Florida opens the season in Dallas to face Michigan at 3:30 on September 2. The Gators play Tennessee at home in a week three tilt set for 3:30 PM, and the Florida-Georgia game is set for 3:30 per usual.

    Florida will play seven true home games this year, and homecoming will be October 7 against LSU.

  • 3-star WR Tyquan Thornton chooses Florida over Miami

    3-star WR Tyquan Thornton chooses Florida over Miami

    Photo courtesy of Flickr.

    The Florida Gators have experienced perhaps the most incredible seven day stretch of recruiting that the program has ever endured. Monday proved to only continue the momentum with the commitment of 3-star WR Tyquan Thornton.

    Thornton is a 6-3, 165 lb target from national power Booker T. Washington High School in Miami.

    247sports.com has Thornton as the #696 overall prospect in 2018, and the #117 WR.

    Thornton was previously committed to Baylor but chose to decommit on June 7.

    Florida DC Randy Shannon served as the primary recruiter while WR coach Kerry Dixon was the secondary recruiter.

    Thornton also had offers from Miami, Tennessee, Georgia, USC, and LSU.

  • SURPRISE, SURPRISE: 4-star WR JaMarr Chase commits to Gators

    SURPRISE, SURPRISE: 4-star WR JaMarr Chase commits to Gators

    Photo courtesy of campusinsiders.com.

    The Florida Gators received a surprising commitment from talented 4-star WR JaMarr Chase on Sunday. The Metairie, LA prospect was considered a heavy lean to TCU after once being committed to Kansas.  

    In fact, Chase was supposed to announce his commitment to TCU over LSU on NFL Network, but there was no scheduled time slot.  After that, Chase decided to delay his decision.  

    Chase is 6-1, 195 lb, and the #103 overall prospect according to 247sports.com.  Chase is the rare Louisiana resident to commit to a school other than LSU.  

    Chase was in attendance at Friday Night Lights last weekend and was primarily recruited by Tim Skipper.