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  • Florida Gators National Signing Day Preview & Predictions

    Florida Gators National Signing Day Preview & Predictions

    Photo by James Gilbert | Getty Images

    When Billy Napier took over the Florida football program, the lack of recruiting and inevitable attrition from the previous regime left a lot to be desired. The 2022 recruiting class was ranked dead last among SEC schools and reached as far back as the mid-60’s in late November and early December.

    Napier himself did his best to temper expectations for his transition class, saying that Florida would likely have a quiet early signing period and begin making the relationships necessary for future classes.

    What did Napier do in the early period? He under-promised and over-delivered. He convinced five-star S Kamari Wilson to sign with the Gators and earned the signature of four-star LB Shemar James, along with several other high profile commitments.

    Following the early signing period, Napier has struck with six more verbal commitments including four-star RB Trevor Etienne.

    So, what does Napier have in store for the Gator Nation on Wednesday? We will have to wait and see, but here are my predictions on some of the bigger names associated with Florida football this cycle:

    • Harold Perkins, No. 2 LB, No. 8 overall: After decommitting from Texas A&M, it seemed he was all-Gators. He did visit LSU in the final recruiting weekend, but if he signs anywhere but Florida, it’ll seem like he trolled Gators fans for the last month and a half. Florida.
    • Jacoby Mathews, No. 2 S, No. 38 overall: Mathews is very familiar with Florida DB coach Corey Raymond, who had previously been recruiting him to LSU. Mathews is a Louisiana kid and with the Tigers getting his last visit, I think it’s unlikely he ends up in Florida’s swamp. LSU.
    • TreVonte’ Citizen, No. 9 RB, No. 107 overall: A 6’0, 217 lb running back down to Auburn and Florida. This one seems like a toss-up, but he really seems to like what Billy Napier is selling. Florida.
    • Caden Story, No. 27 DL, No. 204 overall: The Gators got Story on campus the final week of recruiting visits. Was the trip impressive enough to ward off Dabo Swiney and Clemson? I think so, Florida.
    • Caleb Douglas, No. 67 WR, No. 474 overall: Down to Florida and LSU, will announce at 1:20 PM central. Florida, but it could easily go the other way.
    • Arlis Boardingham, No. 31 ATH, No. 496 overall: The Van Nuys, CA native has been all Gators since he received an offer on December 22. Shortly thereafter, Oregon also offered and the Ducks did get the final visit, but it would be surprising if he doesn’t choose Florida.

    Admittedly, this would be a dream scenario, missing on just one guy to his hometown school and landing the rest would be an incredible showing for Napier and would likely bring this class inside the top-15 or higher.

    But, even if Napier misses on several of, or even most of these prospects, there’s no reason to panic. The turnaround since early December is obviously, painfully so to many of Florida’s biggest rivals.

  • 3-Star Edge Rusher Jack Pyburn commits to Florida

    3-Star Edge Rusher Jack Pyburn commits to Florida

    Photo: Jack Pyburn via 247Sports

    Florida picks up its 16th high school commitment of the signing class in 3-star edge rusher Jack Pyburn. The 6 foot 3 inch Jacksonville, Florida native chose Florida over Auburn and Miami.

    Pyburn is an up-and-coming talent that came on late in the 2022 cycle, having a solid senior year which helped boost his initial ranking and scholarship offers in 2022. Pyburn has appeared in 34 total games and has accounted for 264 total tackles, 168 solo tackles, 50 tackles for loss, 21 sacks, 18 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, and one safety for his career (Per MaxPreps).  

    Pyburn brings a vicious, mean streak as an edge rusher and has also lined up as an inside linebacker in his career. He also has an imposing resume as a wrestler, placing him in the top-3 of his state during his junior year of high school. He is exceptionally conditioned cardiovascular-wise and will not have a problem helping teams late in the 4th quarter with a huge play or game saving tackle.

    Pyburn finished his senior year with the Bolles Bulldogs, going 8-3 (4A Region 1) with 109 total tackles (80 solo tackles), 32 tackles for loss, 14 Sacks, two passes defended, one caused fumble, and one safety.  

    David’s Opinion: The Gators are getting a good one here with someone who came on late in the recruiting cycle.

  • Florida – Florida State Rivalry Game Moved to Black Friday for 2022

    Florida – Florida State Rivalry Game Moved to Black Friday for 2022

    Photo by James Gilbert | Getty Images

    For the first time since the series began in 1958, the Florida Gators’ annual showdown with their rivals from Tallahassee won’t be played the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Instead, the two teams will kick off on Black Friday, according to The Tallahassee Democrat’s Jim Henry.

    The expectation is that the game will be aired on either ABC or ESPN in primetime.

    Florida owns a 33-26-2 advantage in the series and have won three straight. The Gators will have a new head coach roaming the sidelines as Billy Napier looks to make his mark in his first season at UF.

    Despite all regular season meetings being played the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the two programs have met in the Sugar Bowl twice (once on a Thursday and once on a Monday) as well.

    The Gators will take on the Seminoles on Friday, November 25, 2022.

    Florida opens the season against Utah on September 3.

    Additionally, Florida announced the date of it’s annual spring game, April 16 on Monday, as well.

  • Gators blown out by No. 1 Gamecocks

    Gators blown out by No. 1 Gamecocks

    Photo by James Gilbert | Getty Images

    By Florida standards, Gainesville was basically the frozen tundra over the weekend with the cold front that swooped in. The cold found its way onto the Exactech Arena court and into the Florida Gators Sunday.

    The Gators women’s basketball team fell to the No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks 62-50. UF dug a huge hole in the first half due to a poor shooting performance that couldn’t be filled by an admirable second half effort.

    Florida started the game just 1-for-19 from the field through the first quarter as the Gamecocks built their double-digit lead. Three-pointers, layups and free throws. Florida couldn’t sink any as Carolina led 19-3 after the first 10 minutes. A jumper in the lane by Kiki Smith was the lone field goal.

    Gators Head Coach Kelly Rae Finley said there was difficulty with how open the players were at times. South Carolina presents a unique length that’s hard to simulate and thus players might’ve misjudged their shots. But Florida saw good looks nonetheless. It just like there was a lid on the rim for Florida.

    “They’re not different than anything that what we’ve seen all season so far, but (there’s) an expectation to execute and knock them down,” Finley said. “We knew at some point they would start to fall. Which is why I don’t think you saw panic. And you just simply have to start better shooting from the floor if you’re going to beat a team like that.”

    The Gators indeed didn’t panic as they outscored the Gamecocks 47-43 over the next 30 minutes of game time. Unfortunately, that still resulted in a 12-point loss. An end result Finley said she wouldn’t have expected after the first 10.

    One contributing factor to that effort was limiting National Player of the Year candidate Aliyah Boston. The junior finished with 13 points and was 1-for-6 from the field in the second half. Most of her points in that half came from three free throws.

    Smith said the team knew coming in if they could limit her and the guards played well on defense it would be a tough game for her and the Gamecocks.

    “I give all credit to our fours and our five for playing hard on her and being…just as physical with her as she was with them,” Smith said. “I think that the guards, we did a good job of guarding our own man so that the forwards didn’t have to help as much as we didn’t want them to.”

    Finley said the Gators got back to who they were in that second half after making some adjustments. That is running the offense through Smith in transition to get good looks. She said Carolina did a good job to limit that starting out.

    Smith finished with 22 points on 10-for-22 from the field with two made free throws plus four rebounds but just two assists to three turnovers. Jordyn Merritt, who posted 16 points in the win over LSU, was limited to just eight on Sunday because of how South Carolina defended her.

    Despite the putrid start and persistent double-digit lead, the crowd stayed throughout. Finley said the fans’ presence and encouragement kept Florida in it and chipping into that big deficit.

    Now, the Gators will welcome the No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers into Gainesville on Thursday to close out a three-game home stand. It’s Florida’s second consecutive game against a top five team and fourth straight against a ranked team.

    “Their guard play is very different,” Finley said. “They have a tremendous inside presence and (Tamari) Key who (is) an elite shot blocker, she might lead the country in shot blocks per game. Just being able to combat (South Carolina’s) length, I think it prepares us well. But they’re very talented. There’s also a reason that they’re top five, but we don’t focus on that number. It’s them versus us.”

  • WGYM Liveblog: No. Florida’s Link to Pink v. No. 13 Arkansas

    WGYM Liveblog: No. Florida’s Link to Pink v. No. 13 Arkansas

    After a mixed bag of a meet in Athens, the Gators returned home with another W in the books and hungry for more. Tonight, they face the Gymbacks of rising star Arkansas, coached by Olympians Jordyn Wieber and Chris Brooks, as both teams celebrate those fighting against breast cancer and give back to Play for PINK, through Skaggs’s Tiny Bow Project, and the Reynolds Cancer Support House, through Arkansas’s The GiveBack initiative.

    Arkansas is a team on the rise, one of several evidencing the increase in parity both in the SEC and the NCAA at large. While their ceiling is significantly lower than Florida’s, the Gators did just lose two athletes in a single meet due to injury, with both Ellie Lazzari and Halley Taylor rupturing their Achilles’ tendons last week, so it’s possible that a rattled Florida could fall to a confident Arkansas. Look for strong routines from Gymbacks Kennedy Hambrick, who can give any Gator a run for her money in the all-around, and Maggie O’Hara, who has the technique and the confidence to earn a 10.0 on bars if she can put it all together in a single routine.

    However, don’t expect the Gators to be all that rattled. As we’ve said throughout preseason and season so far, the depth this team has is almost unprecedented. It can absorb the loss of Lazzari and Taylor. Will it hurt? Of course. Lazzari was the team’s third-best all-arounder last season after Trinity Thomas and Skaggs; replacing 9.9+ routines on all four events is no easy feat. But this team is capable. Expect to see Richards rotating in more frequently, Blakely likely in all four, and Thomas possibly back in AA sooner than planned. We might even see freshman Riley McCusker on beam if we’re lucky! Expect the Gators to be eager for another win, but to continue pacing themselves steadily toward postseason.

    It all starts at 8:15pm ET tonight on SEC Network, but if you can’t watch for any reason, we’ll be here with the play by play, with minute by minute updates for you on all that happens.

    I’m going to apologize ahead of time for being a little bit behind, as I’m watching on Sling this week, but I will have everything for you guys!

    https://twitter.com/GatorsGym/status/1487237030132084736?s=20

    8:35pm: Edwards, VT: Yfull, big air but opened a little too late, landed a little forward, chest down, bounce in place.

    Scalzo, UB: Jaeger to overshoot, great amplitude on those. A little shy on last handstand. DLO, little step forward.

    8:37pm: Skaggs, VT: Yfull, nice in the air, little teeny slide of one foot. What a great vault!

    Gianfagna, UB: Tkachev, nice, goes to the low bar and brushes her feet? That’ll be a significant deduction. Full in dismount, hop forward.

    8:39pm: Schoenherr, VT: Y1.5, STUCK! I would like to see another angle please! Soft knees in the air, but YES her feet, did not move, she held that in place as long as she could to show that off.

    L Smith, UB: Maloney to bail, great handstand there. Nice last handstand too! DLO is a little whippy, little slide back on the landing.

    8:41pm: Reed, VT: Y1.5, looked like a little adjustment on the landing, but what distance she gets!! You love to see it.

    Hambrick, UB: Gorgeous high piked Jaeger to immediate overshoot, I dislike that skill but she did it fine. Short on the final handstand, full in dismount and stepped out of the landing really quickly, I don’t buy that stick at all.

    8:43pm: Wong, VT: Podkopayeva, better power and more precise in shape than last week but it could still be better. Landed it more upright, but slide on the landing.

    Shaffer, UB: Maloney to bail, DEAD on on that handstand. DLO, comes in short and has to lunge forward.

    8:45pm: Thomas, VT: HUGE Y1.5, little shuffle back, but her body was so clean in the air, that was gorgeous.

    O’Hara, UB: Overdoes it on the first handstand and ends up having to come down. Ooh, that’s a bummer. She remounts and has a great routine afterward, but it’s too late unfortunately. That’s not how they wanted to start this meet.

    AFTER ONE: UF 49.55, ARK 48.775

    Thomas’s score was inflated, she did not stick and one judge gave her a 10, but regardless of scores, I would call 2/3 of this vault lineup postseason-ready. Thomas and Reed have found consistency they’ve rarely had before, Schoenherr is finding her footing again post-injury, and Skaggs’s full is just gold. Those other two slots will be up in the air for a little bit longer, I think, until Wong can find a more consistent shape and landing or Blakely can slot back in.

    8:55pm: Pennese, VT: Yfull, a little soft knees, little hop back.

    Blakely, UB: Solid releases between the bars. Double front, little step forward. A solid start!

    8:57pm: Smith, VT: Yfull, nice height, lovely form, little slide back.

    Skaggs, UB: Tkachev to immediate pak salto, little leg sep but some of that is just her knee structure. DLO stuck! Yes ma’am!

    8:58pm: Shaffer, VT: Yhalf, a little off to the side but sooo straight in the air, little hop.

    McCusker, UB: Maloney to pak, legs glued together. Great handstand work on the low bar. van Leeuwen is good. Good handstand work on the high bar as well. Just a double tuck dismount this week and she sticks it!! Good for her!

    9:00pm: Elswick, VT: Yfull, big air but comes in short, has to step forward and catch herself.

    Schoenherr, UB: PIked Jaeger is just gorgeous. Bail is solid, a little flexed feet but keeps her legs glued together. Double front half is STUCK! Does this girl have glue on her feet tonight or something?? That’s 2/2 for her!

    9:02pm: Sedlacek, VT: Y1.5, a little deep on the landing and has to hop back. Some knees in the slow mo but legs just pasted together, hard to see the error in real time.

    Thomas, UB: Good opening handstand. Maloney to pak, lovely form through both. Good low bar handstands. van Leeuwen looked nice. DLO kinda whipped around, little teeny slide it looked like.

    9:04pm: Hambrick, VT: Y1.5, little off to the side, little cross step behind herself, ooh she was so close to a stick.

    Wong, UB: Great first handstand. Maloney to pak, nicely done. Up to the high bar. DLO and holds the stick! So nice.

    IT’S A PERFECT TEN WHAT!!! What a huge night for the freshman!

    AFTER TWO: UF 99.275, ARK 97.98

    https://twitter.com/glitterjeezus/status/1487243487351353350?s=20

    9:13pm: Skaggs, BB: Wolf turn, solid. Switch to split, gorgeous positions in the air. Back handspring layout stepout (bhs loso), definitely crooked on that but she locked her arms in and said NO, wow. Front aerial, much better. Cat leap switch side, both fine. Side aerial back full, tried to stick it but I don’t quite buy it.

    9:16pm: Hickey, FX: Double pike to start, good start. She’s got like some video game sound effects in here and I kinda love it?? 1.5 to front lay, a little shaky on the landing but kept her feet under her. Dance series looked good. Double tuck to finish, she looked a little out of gas but she finished fine. A good start for Arkansas!

    9:18pm: Blakely, BB: Front aerial to bhs, steady. Switch to switch half, dead on. Side somi, little lean forward there but she keeps going. Sider aerial back full stuck! Good for her. Gators keeping the nerves under control here.

    9:20pm: Shaffer, FX: Double pike to open, nice amplitude there. 1.5 to front lay, great body position on those. Double tuck, looked her ankle tried to give way underneath her but she kept it on her feet, looked like she might have stepped out of bounds? Hard to see in the slow mo angle, score will tell.

    9:21pm: Baumann, BB: Let’s see how our ice queen bounce back after a fall last week. Bhs loso, dead on. Switch to split, nicely done. Front aerial to beat jump, great. Side aerial, gorgeous. Roundoff 1.5 stuck! They took out her switch half, which is where she fell last week, and clearly it worked. She’s probably not happy watering it down, but she stayed on!

    9:23pm: Hambrick, FX: Double tuck to start, huge air on that. Rudi to layout to double stag, gets some air on that jump too! Great amplitude on her dance series. Double pike to close, super clean – THAT will be a great score for the Gymbacks.

    9:25pm: Wong, BB: Switch to split leap, looovely. Bhs loso, solid there. Front aerial, weird delayed bobble there? Side aerial, good. Roundoff double full, stuck!

    9:27pm: Sedlacek, FX: Full in to start, a little staggered in the legs but landed fine. 1.5 to front lay, good form and control there. Double tuck to close, and it’s a great one! What a way to debut on floor for the freshman!

    9:29pm: Thomas, BB: One-arm bhs loso, so confident on that. Front aerial to beat to bhs swingdown (korbut), quick and clean on each of those connections. Side aerial bhs is stuck!

    Smith, FX: Piked full-in, very nice! Love to see Arkansas going for the difficulty. Front tuck through to double tuck, also well controlled. Dance series is solid. Double pike to finish – all double saltos in her routine! Wow!

    Meanwhile, it was another PERFECT TEN for Thomas!! What a night for these Gators!!

    9:33pm: Clapper, BB: Bhs loso loso, just effortless for her. Switch to split, a little tight on the 180 positions maybe? Side aerial back full stuck! Crowd is going nuts for her, but I kinda doubt it’ll be another 10.

    9:35pm: Lovett, FX: DLO to start, and it’s a huge one, just a beauty! Double tuck for her second pass, practically rotates the whole thing in place. Dance series is gorgeous. Front half front full to stag half, and that’s another huge routine – the back half of this Arkansas floor lineup has been really strong, I’m so impressed.

    AFTER THREE: UF 148.975, ARK 147.0

    9:45pm: Gianfagna, BB: Bhs loso, solid start. Cat leap to front toss, nice. Beat to straddle half, little balance check there. Roundoff 1.5, looked stuck but then she kinda jumped out of it? Don’t know if I would count that.

    9:47pm: Skaggs, FX: Double wolf to start us off, makes it around cleanly. Rudi, normally does a jump out of that pass but she didn’t do it… I wonder if she’ll try to add more bonus somewhere else. Dance series was solid, still only two elements there though. 1.5 to front lay to finish – nope, didn’t add anything. Wonder if she has enough built in extra bonus or if her score will suffer.

    9:49pm: Lovett, BB: Front aerial to loso, that’s a different series, trying not to use her arms since she has a nagging elbow injury. Switch to split, nice extension in those. Side aerial to back full stuck! She is such a rockstar for this team.

    9:51pm: Blakely, FX: Double arabian, that’s the best I’ve seen her do that! Just pops the landing into a lunge, very nice. Switch ring to switch half, good positions in the air. Double tuck, a little slide on that landing but solid amplitude. 1.5 to front lay to finish, that was maybe her best floor yet!

    9:52pm: Smith, BB: Candle mount to open, love that for her. Bhs loso, little lean but keeps it under control. Dance series is solid. Double tuck dismount and she nails it! Stuck! That’s huge, she is going to be such an asset to this team over the next four years.

    9:54pm: Baumann, FX: 1.5 to front full to open, good control dancing out of that. Love the preciseness of the choreo in here. Double pike to finish, she’s so thrilled with this routine, as she should be! I am just waiting for the day where she gets her 10, but I doubt it’ll be today. Third in the lineup order is just highly unlikely to do it.

    9:56pm: Sedlacek, BB: Bhs 2ft layout, love to see that! Dance series is good. Side somi, a little lean but she keeps it small. Small step on the dismount. Beam is looking good for Arkansas too!

    9:58pm: Wong, FX: Triple full to open, just FLIES through the air. Combo pass is lovely. Double pike to finish, nicely done.

    10:00pm: Hambrick, BB: Looking great so far, series and switch to switch half. I’m starting to get a little bit of a migraine so forgive me if I miss a few things here, y’all. Cartwheel gainer full stuck! Arkansas going for it here, even when they’re so far back. Good for them.

    10:02pm: Clark, FX: We LOVE to see her in this lineup! Thomas getting some rest this week. 1.5 to front full, little hop forward out of it but keeps it small. Dance series looked good in positions but maybe a little imprecise in rotation? Double tuck is nice to finish it out. Asst coach Adrian Burde goes nuts in the background – he is thrilled to see her stepping up into this lineup, clearly!

    10:04pm: Elswick, BB: I missed most of this routine, but clearly this was a huge hit, as they team went nuts afterward and they’re chanting for 10s.

    10:06pm: Reed, FX: Love to see her anchoring here – she deserves it. How does she seem to exude even MORE confidence now? I didn’t think that was possible! DLO to lead off, and it’s ENORMOUS. Little foot slide on the landing though. Front lay Rudi, another foot slide on the landing. Dance series is solid. Double pike to finish, this time she keeps that foot glued down. That should be a great score!

    FINAL: UF 198.15, ARK 196.475

    What a night, y’all! Well, unfortunately, I am in a pretty tenuous Internet situation, so I won’t be attending the press conference tonight, but we’ll see y’all next week for the next meet! Goodnight!

  • The Gator Slant to Broadcast Live From Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille

    The Gator Slant to Broadcast Live From Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille

    The Gator Slant, an all-sports Florida Gators podcast, will air a live episode for only the second time this upcoming week.

    Co-hosts Brian Fox, Jesse Richardson and Ryan Haley will be at Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille on Wednesday February 2nd at 8 p.m for an exciting, in-depth preview of Florida baseball as the clock ticks closer to the Gators’ first pitch of 2022. Listen as The Gator Slant hosts breaks down a freshman-filled roster, thinks out who will play where, and offers predictions and analysis for the upcoming season.

    The trio’s 24th episode will broadcast live on the ChompTalk Facebook and Twitter accounts as well as the Gator Dugout Club Facebook page.

  • Napier lands 2022 QB Max Brown

    Napier lands 2022 QB Max Brown

    Photo via 247Sports

    The Florida Gators football team added a second name to its’ signing class Monday, this time at the quarterback position with 3-star Max Brown.

    The Oklahoma native, formerly a Central Michigan commit until Sunday, shared his announcement on Twitter just one day after he shared the Gators extended him a scholarship offer.

    Brown, who committed to play for former Gators coach Jim McElwain with the Chippewas last July, made an official visit with the Gators over the weekend.

    The newest Florida QB commit accounted for over 4,000 yards and more than 60 touchdowns his senior season, 41 with his arm and 20 with his legs, against just four interceptions. He led Lincoln Christian High School to the Oklahoma 3A State Championship game before ultimately finishing runner-up with a 13-1 record.

    The 6-foot-3, 200-pound signalcaller is the 110th-ranked QB in the 2022 class according to 247Sports’ Composite Ranking. He’s the only quarterback in Florida’s 2022 class as of his commitment after 4-star prospect Nick Evers flipped to Oklahoma following former head coach Dan Mullen’s firing.

    Brown marks Florida head coach Billy Napier’s third signing in the past two days, as the Gators rose up to 26th in 247Sports’ team recruiting rankings.

  • Gators land 2022 3-star DL Andrew Savaiinaea

    Gators land 2022 3-star DL Andrew Savaiinaea

    Photo by Brandon Huffman | 247Sports

    Florida head coach Billy Napier’s inaugural recruiting class landed another feather for its’ cap Monday with the commitment of 3-star defensive end Andrew Savaiinaea.

    Savaiinaea, who also lists himself as a tight end and an outside linebacker in his twitter bio, stands 6-foot-3 and 258 pounds. He’s the 113th-ranked defensive lineman and 13th-best prospect from Washington, according to 247Sports’ Composite Ranking.

    Savaiinaea announced on Twitter Saturday night he’d received an offer from the Gators, less than 48 hours before he shared his decision to commit to the orange and blue. He made an official visit to Gainesville Friday.

    “To my Papa in heaven, I know your watching and I hope to continue to make you proud,” Savaiinaea wrote.

    The Washington native chose the Gators over Pac-12 schools like Oregon, USC and UCLA as well as offers from the likes of Kentucky and Virginia, among his 11 total offers.

    Savaiinaea adds a 14th name to a 2022 Florida class 247Sports now ranks 33rd in the country, not including 5 more incoming transfers. Savaiinaea is the third defensive lineman in the class, joining 4-stars Chris McClellan and Jamari Lyons.

  • WBB: Gators Upset No. 10 LSU; Move to 15-5 on Season

    WBB: Gators Upset No. 10 LSU; Move to 15-5 on Season

    Photo by James Gilbert | Getty Images

    LSU head coach Kim Mulkey entered Sunday’s matchup with the Gators searching for win number 650. Instead, Florida pulled off the upset of the nation’s No. 10 ranked team and earned interim head coach Kelly Rae Finley her fifteenth career win.

    The Gators improved to 15-5 overall and 5-2 in SEC play.

    Florida started out playing a physical style on both offense and defense that, early on, appeared to make LSU uncomfortable. The Gators twice led by as much as six in the first quarter, and escaped the first frame with a 16-12 advantage.

    The Gators extended the lead to eight after a pair of made free throws by Kiki Smith with 4:54 remaining in the first half. The Tigers made a push before half and managed to tie the game at 33 entering intermission.

    A mostly back and forth third quarter saw a tug of war between the two teams. The visitors built a lead of as much as five with just :30 left in the period. Florida entered the fourth quarter trailing by four points at 58-54.

    The Gators opened the fourth with four straight points that came on a pair of free throws by Smith and a layup by Nina Rickards. Again, the quarter was back and forth with neither team taking a stranglehold. LSU held a 1-2 point lead for much of the fourth, but the Gators rallied. Smith and Zippy Broughton keyed the final few minutes and iced the win by hitting three of four from the free throw line. Broughton knocked down a pair with :06 remaining that put Florida up four. LSU’s Khayla Pointer made a three pointer at the buzzer, but it was inconsequential.

    Smith finished with a team high 23 points and eight assists. Jordyn Merritt added 16 points and 7 rebounds while knocking down 4-6 from beyond the three point line. Broughton scored 14 despite obtaining a fourth foul late in the third quarter.

    Florida shot 38% from the floor and made 6-17 from deep. LSU only made one three, shooting 1-9 from long range. The Gators defense forced 19 turnovers and turned them into 22 points.

    Florida will now have a week off before taking on No. 1 South Carolina in Gainesville next Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for noon and the game will be aired on SEC Network.

  • Gators Land Commitment From 3-Star TE Hayden Hansen

    Gators Land Commitment From 3-Star TE Hayden Hansen

    Photo via 247Sports

    Following another round of official visitors, the Florida Gators once again added to its 2022 class as 3-star TE Hayden Hansen made his commitment via social media.

    Hansen committed on the heels of his official visit, which concluded on Sunday. The Weatherford, Texas native had also received offers from Colorado, UTSA, and from new head coach Billy Napier’s staff at Louisiana.

    Hansen is listed at 6’5 and 250 lbs. As a senior at Weatherford High, he hauled in 38 receptions for 369 yards and four touchdowns.

    Hansen is ranked the No. 103 tight end in the 2022 class and the No. 1,729 overall prospect according to the 247Sports composite.

    Hansen is the third commitment since the early signing period, joining RB Trevor Etienne and DB Miguel Mitchell.