Florida State Semi-Nos Recruiting
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Seminoles having a knockout season in 2022 looks to be an unrealistic expectation.
But progress is progress. Finishing above .500 for the first time since 2017 could help them significantly improve their recruiting efforts.
None of FSU’s recruiting classes under head coach Mike Norvell and since 2019 have finished in the top 15 nationally, per 247Sports and Rivals. Under former Seminole’s head coaches Bobby Bowden and Jimbo Fisher, top 10 classes were the standard.
In an effort to improve recruiting, FSU added three off-field staff members this offseason: GM Darrick Yray, Director of Football Relations Corey Fuller, and Assistant Director of High School Relations Keiwan Ratliff.
These hires, along with top in-state recruiting could be the key to the Seminoles elevating their recruiting prowess.
In each of Norvell’s three recruiting cycles, FSU has finished below Miami and Florida in the overall team rankings.
247Sports pegged the Hurricanes at No. 18, 12 and 15 in the 2020-2022 classes, respectively. The Gators came in at No. 7, 13 and 17. The Seminoles landed at 25, 31 and 18.
To have a solid recruiting operation again, FSU will need to compete better against its in-state rivals. Especially when Miami and Florida struggle.
Head coaches Mario Cristobal and Billy Napier are hired. That may have enhanced the in-state recruiting competition.
Until that happened, Norvell was the best head coach recruiter in the state. So, it’s gotten competitive now for top in-state targets, because Mario Cristobal lives and breathes recruiting. He does a tremendous job – as good as any head coach at communicating with top targets.
Billy Napier is as organized of a head coach as you are going to find with their recruiting infrastructure as well. It just got a lot more competitive.
We’ve seen college football be great when all three of those teams have been great. So, you can live in a world where Florida, Miami and Florida State are all terrific football programs. We are just so far removed from that right now.
As FSU tries to build off a topsy-turvy 5-7 record heading into their third season under coach Mike Norvell, the Seminoles’ biggest recent splashes came once again through the transfer portal.
A year after landing transfers such as Jermaine Johnson and Keir Thomas, who would prove to be standout starters on defense, FSU landed seven transfers it hopes will add explosiveness to its offense including four wide receivers.
Oregon transfer Mycah Pittman (5-11, 195), Illinois transfer Deuce Spann (6-4, 194), as well as 6-6, 224-pound Johnny Wilson add some needed depth at the position.
FSU might have found its next big contributor from Miami Central High through the portal as well. Former Rockets linebacker Tatum Bethune transferred from UCF in early January after three years with the Knights.
Bethune totaled 185 tackles including 13 for loss with 4.5 sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles while playing in 35 games for the Knights, which included 16 starts.
Mike Norvell had the perfect storm this past recruiting cycle with Miami and Florida making coaching changes, but Norvell showed his inability to pull top tier talent to Tallahassee.
Stock Down on FSU and Mike Norvell.
Prove It To Me
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It is that time of the year that is dreaded and that is the official ending of football season.
Football, the greatest game on the planet, is in hibernation until August. However, it is never too early to discuss SEC football in the South. Here is a look at my top five teams in the SEC with the most to prove in 2022:
1: Texas A&M: All the talent money can buy. They need a good season this year, and need to prove they can win.
Can Jimbo get it done in College Station? Yes, they beat Alabama last season, but they found a way to lose 4 football games.
The Aggies must find a QB that can lead this team to the SEC title game. The new NIL landscape favors the Aggies, who have very deep pockets. If this team can’t win 10-11 games this fall, then the heat starts mounting on Jimbo Fisher.
2: LSU: When you think LSU, you think contenders.
LSU will have a new coach, and will have to prove they are making progress.
I think Brian Kelly is a pretty good hire. Talent is never an issue in Baton Rouge, but right now the QB position is a big question mark. If the Tigers can figure that out quickly, they could be factor in the West.
3: Tennessee: The Vols have not been relevant since 2007, when they last won the SEC East.
Tennessee has not won a national title since 1998.
Skill position talent is much improved, but Tennessee does not have the offensive or defensive line talent to be a serious SEC contender yet.
Tennessee has lost 15 straight to Alabama and is 1-16 against Florida in the last 17 years.
Since Philip Fulmer was forced out in 2008 the Vols have whiffed on 4 straight head football coaches. Josh Heupel hopes to reverse that trend.
Tennessee went 7-6 in 2021. In the last five years Tennessee is a combined 0-15 against Alabama, Florida and Georgia, which are the 3 biggest games on the Vol schedule. Tennessee needs to beat one of those three teams in 2022.
4: Florida: Florida also has a new head coach.
They must prove they can compete in the SEC East. The East is way better when Florida can challenge UGA for that top spot.
Billy Napier was a great hire for UF. There is talent on the roster, but it is undisciplined talent. If Napier can change that culture in Gainesville and recruit then Florida will be back soon.
If Florida can win 8-9 games in 2022 then things should take off quickly in Gainesville.
Since Steve Spurrier retired Florida has missed on 4 of its last 5 football coaches. Only Urban Meyer has had consistent success since 2001.
Florida has not won an SEC or National Title since 2008. Too much talent in the State of Florida for the flagship university not to be a national player and to top it off you just lost to UCF in a bowl game.
5 Ole Miss: Ole Miss surprised a lot of people last season by being a top 10 team. Was it a fluke? They must prove they can maintain solid seasons with Lane for years to come.
I don’t think 2021 was a fluke for Ole Miss. If Matt Corral can be replaced then I think this team will finish right behind Alabama, and Alabama does come to Oxford in 2022.
The defense is improving, and we know a Lane Kiffin offense will produce. I think this will be the surprise team in the SEC next year. I believe Ole Miss is here to stay and 2022 will prove that.
I did not mention Auburn because Bryan Harsin is dead man walking on The Plains of Auburn. Of course, it has all been self-induced by Auburn, who set this man up for failure.
Peachy Parades
By: Charles Skipper
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2021 sports seasons for fans in the state of Georgia were rewarding, memorable and will be talked about for eternity whenever fans reminisce about their teams’ successful campaigns.
The past year’s champions in Major League Baseball, NCAA Division I Football and the National Football League were either from Georgia or had strong ties to the state.
The Atlanta Braves won the World Series to become champions of Major League Baseball. The Georgia Bulldogs won the National Championship Game to bring back the trophy to the Classic City. The Los Angeles Rams are not from the state of Georgia obviously, but they were led by former Bulldogs quarterback Matthew Stafford.
One title in a major sport for a state or city’s faithful following is an achievement in itself but for a group of fans in Georgia that follow all 3 of these teams it was a year that saw unparalleled success.
These teams not only won it all this year but they broke droughts that lasted decades and accomplished one feat that had never been done before.
Braves teams won 14 division championships in a row starting in 1991 but could only muster one World Series crown in 1995 to show for all that regular season success.
The Braves finished on top of the Eastern Division at season’s end to win their fourth consecutive division championship. To say the team struggled in the early going is being nice. The fact that the team did not reach the .500 mark until August 5th illustrates that point.
Savvy front office moves by Alex Anthopoulos at or near the trading deadline brought the pieces to the team that provided the extra spark and firepower to propel them to their first World Series trophy in 26 years.
The 2021 edition of the Georgia Bulldogs Football team brought an even longer drought to a close. Georgia fans have not celebrated a National Championship since the Herschel Walker led squad gained victory over Notre Dame on New Years Day 1981 to bring the prize back to the Empire State of the South.
The Dawgs were undefeated all season until they ran into nemesis Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. Georgia was fortunate enough to get another shot at the Crimson Tide in the playoffs. Georgia beat them in the rematch to become winners of the Championship game and become the Top Dawg in College Football.
The immortal Run Lindsey Run play in the historic Gator Bowl, the Junkyard Dog defense and the season long heroics of Herschel Walker are memories forever associated with the 1980 team.
There were memorable plays and circumstances that will be linked to the 2021 Red and Black also. The interception by Kelee Ringo to seal the victory in Indianapolis will be etched in the minds of fans forever.
Great plays were made throughout the year but the hot topic that surrounded the team for most of the season was whom the quarterback should be.
Highly touted, USC transfer J.T. Daniels started the season opener at Clemson but went down early in the year with an injury and that opened the door for Pierce County graduate and former walk on Stetson Bennett to get on the field and he never came off.
Daniels became the modern-day version of Wally Pipp and the Mailman became a folk hero.
We cannot forget the two Brunswick local members of the team who played major roles also. Starting right tackle Warren McClendon and placekicker Jake Podlesny gave solid and consistent performances all year long and represented the Golden Isles in style.
The Los Angeles Rams was special to fans because Matthew Stafford became the first former Bulldogs quarterback to win the Super Bowl.
Fran Tarkenton and Zeke Bratkowski are the only other two former Georgia players with an opportunity to claim that honor. Stafford made history by winning but former Georgia standouts Sony Michel and Leonard Floyd will be sporting a ring also, which adds further pride to Dawg Nation.
Our state’s sports fans may never see results from their teams like this again but 2021 will always be a year that left fans in the Peach State feeling warm and fuzzy.
Swampy Draft
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Florida Gators had to make an offseason change from Dan Mullen to Billy Napier as their new head coach, but that does not mean there were no stars on the team in 2021.
A handful of Florida Gators received NFL Scouting Combine invitations ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. This is an opportunity for these players to increase their stock.
Florida saw four of its players invited this season, but each had quality ends to their college careers and definitely drew the eyes of NFL scouts.
Here’s a breakdown of each Florida Gator invited to the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine:
Zach Carter: Carter can play inside and outside along the defensive line, which should be attractive to NFL teams.
He opted out of the Gasparilla Bowl to prepare for the draft. Carter is likely to play more defensive end at the next level, but his versatility showed he can do both, should a team want to move him back inside.
The NFL Scouting Combine will definitely be an opportunity to show off his athleticism and running through certain drills could show he is able to play multiple positions for an NFL team looking for a versatile lineman.
Last season, Carter had the best season of his college career, finishing with 31 total tackles, 15 solo tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two pass deflections and one forced fumble.
In his career, Carter had 102 total tackles, 39 solo tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, eight pass deflections, one fumble recovery, two forced fumbles and one touchdown.
Carter is currently projected as a late 3rd early 4th round pick.
Kaiir Elam: Elam left school early to head to the pros. That was for good reason after a productive career with the Gators.
Elam received some first-round NFL Draft buzz. He’s not a lock for the one of the first 32 picks, but he is a high-quality prospect coming into the pros.
The NFL Scouting Combine usually propels a handful of prospects to higher positioning and that could very well be the case with Elam as well. Elam made a quick impact on Florida when he started playing as a true freshman and kept it rolling over three seasons.
Elam played three seasons for the Gators, having another productive year in 2021, as he had 29 total tackles, 17 solo tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception and five pass deflections. In his career, Elam had 78 total tackles, 53 solo tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, 20 pass deflections and one fumble recovery.
Elam should be the first Gator selected.
Jeremiah Moon: Moon had a productive year to conclude his college career and ended up at the Reese’s Senior Bowl to showcase his talent to NFL scouts up close.
Now that he is headed to the NFL Scouting Combine, he can showcase his abilities once again.
Moon was an EDGE defender before transitioning to linebacker due to injuries. But Moon appeared to provide a physicality to the position that the Gators needed. He has the ability to play the EDGE or linebacker spots, which should be intriguing to NFL teams.
He took advantage of a sixth year eligibility after the free year of 2020. He finished 2021 with a solid stat line: 49 total tackles, 20 solo tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one pass deflection and one forced fumble.
He finished his Gators career with 151 total tackles, 60 solo tackles, 14 tackles for loss, eight sacks, four pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. Moon is a late day three selection or free agent.
Dameon Pierce: Pierce could be a steal in the NFL Draft when April comes around. He was actually tabbed as the top running back from the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl by CBS Sports.
With that type of performance, there should be a lot of eyes on Pierce throughout the combine as he showcases his speed and agility.
What also helps Pierce, in addition to him carrying and catching the football, he can pass block very effectively. NFL teams will love that in a young prospect. Pierce is very powerful and has a low center of gravity.
He had a career-year finding the end zone in 2021. He finished the season with 100 carries, 574 yards, 13 touchdowns, 5.7 yards per carry, 19 catches, 216 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.
He finished his Gators career with 329 carries for 1,806 yards, 23 touchdowns. 5.5 yards per carry, 45 catches, 422 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.
Pierce is projected a late 3rd early 4th round selection.
The New Head Jag
By: Charles Skipper
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Jacksonville Jaguars recently announced the hiring of Doug Pederson as their new Head Coach. Pederson will become the seventh Head Coach of the organization.
Pederson’s hiring comes after Urban Meyer was fired with cause during the 2021 season with the team sporting a 2 – 11 record at the time of his firing.
Meyer brought unwanted negative attention to himself and his team with some of his off the field shenanigans. These actions coupled with lack of respect from his players, treating his assistants and other team employees badly plus poor on the field performance led to owner Shahid Khan showing the Golden Boy of College the door. The firing ended his first and probably his last professional coaching job.
The Jaguars have had a total of six head coaches in the 27-year history of the team. The men whom have been at the helm of the ship in chronological order are Tom Coughlin, Jack Del Rio, Mike Mularkey, Gus Bradley, Doug Marrone and Urban Meyer.
Coughlin was the first and by far the most successful hire for the organization. He had almost complete control of team operations even though he never wore the title General Manager. He commandeered the most successful expansion team in league history.
Jacksonville entered the playoffs with a win in the last game of the season and made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game in only its second year of existence.
Coach Coughlin was fired after a 6 – 10 finish in 2002. He finished his career in Duval with a 68 – 60 regular season record and a 4 – 4 slate in the playoffs. After leaving the Jaguars he went on to coach the New York Giants for 12 years securing 2 Super Bowl victories along the way.
Nineteen seasons and five head coaches later the Jaguars have not been able to equal Coughlin’s four trips to the playoffs. Del Rio with 2 and Marrone with 1 represents all the playoff appearances since their initial success.
Quickly achieved success is not foreign to the fifty-four-year-old Pederson. He led the Eagles to a Super Bowl Title in his second season as leader of that squad.
Coach Pederson spent 13 years in the NFL as a backup quarterback although he did make some starts for the Eagles and Browns during his playing career. He won a Super Bowl ring with the Brett Favre led Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI.
The victory with the Eagles as a Head Coach puts him in the category of only four people to win the ultimate prize as a player and Head Coach.
The new head honcho for Jacksonville and his extensive NFL background is the polar opposite of the College background of Meyer.
Pederson comes to the Jaguars touted as a creative minded offensive play caller. Andy Reid served as mentor to the new Jag leader while he was his assistant at Philadelphia and when he served as his offensive coordinator at Kansas City.
Reid is known as an offensive whiz and Pederson displayed some of those traits while at Philadelphia. The signature play of his team’s Super Bowl victory was run on fourth and goal minutes before halftime. The trick play became known as the Philly Special and will forever be associated with the win.
It remains to be seen if the Jaguars new leader will be able to quickly turn the franchise around like he did the Eagles. I am absolutely certain that they are in better hands than they were heading into the 2021 season.
Who knows? Maybe winning is in the future for the River City gang and the Black, Teal and Gold will become something special to watch.
Needy NFC South
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2022 draft starts April 28th in Paradise, Nevada. I’m going to take a look at the NFC South and see who each team will draft in the first round.
#6 Carolina: The Panthers (5 – 12) have several positions they need to address. Quarterback is the biggest glaring weakness. They did trade for Sam Darnold last April. He started the season well but suffered fractured scapula during the game against New England and he missed seven games.
Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett would be a good pick if he’s still available. He had a breakout senior season, throwing for 4,319 yards, 42 touchdowns, 7 interceptions while completing 67% of his passes.
If they don’t get him NC State tackle Ikem Ekwonu would also be a good pick. He’s a very good run blocker but he still needs to get better in pass protection.
#8 Atlanta: The Falcons (7 – 10) announced they have no plans to move on from Matt Ryan. The number one receiver Calvin Ridley only played in five games before missing the rest of the season. Surprisingly, it was not due to injury but to deal with personal issues. Atlanta also needs to improve on the offensive and defensive lines.
Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeux would be a great fit. The Falcons have struggled with getting pressure on the quarterback for a few seasons and he can change that. He had 7 sacks and 2 forced fumbles last season.
Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson could also fill a void if Ridley is traded. He had 70 catches for the Buckeyes with 1,058 yards and 12 scores.
#18 New Orleans: The Saints (9 – 8) had several injuries last season and started a few quarterbacks. They still wound up over .500. Sean Payton has resigned as head coach and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has replaced him.
Drew Brees retired after the 2020 season and Jameis Winston was supposed to replace him. He suffered a season ending injury so we do not know if they will resign him or move in a different direction. Star receiver Michael Thomas also missed all of last season.
If they pick a quarterback Matt Corral from Ole Miss will get selected. He passed for 3,349 yards, 20 touchdowns, 5 picks and completed 68% of his passes. On paper he’s good but he struggles in big games.
Wide receiver Chris Olave from Ohio State could also be an option. He caught 63 passes for 936 yards and 13 TD’s.
#27 Tampa Bay: The Bucs (13 – 4) had a great season. They lost to the Rams in the divisional round of the playoffs. Tom Brady has retired after the season. I believe they will try to get a veteran QB to replace him as a free agent. They could also lose Chris Godwin in free agency.
Boise State WR Khalil Shkir would be a good replacement. He primarily played in the slot last season. He only had 22% of his snaps were out wide in 2021. He caught 77 passes for 1,117 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Texas A&M offensive lineman Kenyon Green could also be an option. He is versatile and could play guard or right tackle. He has more than 35 starts in his three-year career so he has a lot of experience.
Freddie, Freddie, Freddie
By: Charles Skipper
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The scene is Truist Park, home of the World Champion Atlanta Braves.
The Braves have found themselves in the last inning needing a rally to pull out the victory. The lineup card says it is the first baseman due up in the order.
The crowd starts to buzz and then erupts into a stadium wide chant. Freddie!! Freddie!!Freddie!! resonates throughout the park.
Freddie Freeman has been the starting first baseman for the Braves since the 2011 season. He has stepped into the batter’s box countless times over the years with his team needing him to deliver in order for them to come out on top. More times than not the 2020 National League MVP has done just that; he has delivered.
The franchise has added young stars to the roster in the past few years but number 5 has been the man they all followed and modeled their work habits after. Freddie not only excels on the field but he represents the organization with class, dignity and professionalism.
Fans in Braves Nation have been blessed to call a player of Freeman’s stature their own. Blessed as we have been, there is steeped anticipation as we await the players lockout to end and the 2022 season to begin.
The Braves and Freeman did not come to an agreement before the lockout so all talks are halted until the stalemate is over. There seems to be a disagreement between the club and Freeman over the length of the contract according to reports on the matter.
The Braves don’t spend money like they did in the days of the flamboyant owner Ted Turner but fans are hoping that they do know a sound business decision when they see one.
We have seen many Atlanta Braves stars, hometown favorites and even faces of the franchise at the time play in other uniforms towards the end of their careers.
The list includes names such as Glavine, Smoltz, Torre, Justice, Murphy, Neikro and even Mr. Brave himself Hank Aaron. The majority of these players were in the twilight of their careers and weren’t as productive with their new teams as they were with the Braves. This is not the case with Freddie Freeman.
There is no reason not to expect for him to put up MVP contention numbers for several more years to come. Long term contracts in professional sports are risky just by their nature.
Injuries, age, deteriorating skills are all things that contribute to the unknown in the quality of a player’s production. The Braves have reason for concern over any long term contract but please, this is not a standard contract or is this a standard player. This is a generational player whom has been the backbone of your team for nearly a decade.
Decisions in Major League front offices are based on many factors. Money is the number one factor that drives the choice as it does in most all business decisions.
When you attend a Braves game now it is a much different experience than a game at the two previous parks in Atlanta. It is more than a game, it is an event.
The Battery is a small city that is packed before and after the game. The area in front of the big screen is loaded with families on blankets, people playing catch, folks watching highlights on the screen.
All these people are spending money, lots of money due to some of the prices charged. Fans are asking the front office to do what they have been doing. They are asking them to spend their money to support the Braves just as they have.
Fans want the people in charge to take some of that gold mine they are sitting on and do whatever it takes to keep Freddie Freeman an Atlanta Brave for life.
Braves fans everywhere let us keep our fingers crossed and our hopes alive that once again with the game on the line we have the pleasure of hearing the hair raising chant…..Freddie!!Freddie!!Freddie!!
Crean Not Rising
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Georgia is riding high after winning the national championship in 2021.
They had a historically great defense that helped deliver their first football national championship since 1980. The question is can that inspire some of the other teams in the athletic department?
The UGA men’s basketball team needs some help. They currently sit alone in last place in the SEC. Their overall record is 6 – 15 and 1 – 7 in conference play.
The most recent game was an 85 – 77 loss to Vanderbilt (11 – 9), led by Scottie Pippen Jr. The younger Pippen scored 23 points and dished a season-high 9 assists and Vanderbilt snapped a three-game losing streak, leading from the opening tip. This was the first time the Commodores swept an SEC opponent since 2017.
Aaron Cook led four Bulldogs into double-digit scoring, finishing with 18 points. Kario Oquendo and Noah Baumann each scored 15 points and Braelen Bridges contributed 14 points. Baumann led Georgia (6-15, 1-7) with nine rebounds.
Vanderbilt led by as many as 15 points in the second half after a Pippen layup with less than five minutes to play. The Commodores hit 7 of 11 from 3-point range in the first half and knocked down 12 of 23 overall. Vandy shot 63% from the floor in the first half, hitting 28 of 55 (50.9%) for the game.
Last season the Bulldogs were 14 – 12. Not great but at least they were over .500. They had one returning starter from the 2020-21 team, P.J. Horne. The 6’6 forward from Tifton, GA suffered a season ending knee injury in October.
Head coach Tom Crean had to know then that season would be tough.
“This is such a major blow to us because (Horne) was playing so well and showing great leadership as our leading returning player,” Crean said on Twitter. “But more so because he is such a great person and one of the finest people I’ve ever coached. He cares about his teammates deeply.”
In May, 9 players entered the transfer portal. This is happening to every team but to have that many players enter at once is still shocking.
No team has been hit more squarely in the mouth by player free agency than Georgia. They have been picked nearly down to the bone. From a raw numbers’ standpoint, the Bulldogs have lost 83.4% of their scoring (1,680 points), 72.5% of their rebounding (701) and 72.1% of their 3-point field goals made (119).
One of their best players, K.D. Johnson transferred to Auburn. The Tigers are currently the number one team in the nation. The Bulldogs had the 4-star recruit for all of 16 games, with Johnson missing the first 10 because of NCAA academic eligibility issues. He averaged 13.5 points a game, second on the team.
Another notable name to leave was graduate transfer Andrew Garcia, who transferred to Kent State.
The Bulldogs appear to have done reasonably well with the six transfers they’re bringing in, led by sophomore guard Jabri Abdur-Rahim, who’s coming from Virginia.
Crean has been in Georgia for four seasons and last year was his only winning record. He did go 16 – 16 in 2019-20. The finished 10th in the SEC that year which was the best they have done in his tenure. He has a 47 – 64 record in Athens.
It might be a good time to move on from Crean after this season and rebuild.
In Or Out
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Florida Gators Ty’Ron Hopper saga continues to grow.
The redshirt sophomore entered his name into the transfer portal on January 20, only to withdraw it in an hour’s time. Now, four days later, Hopper’s name is back in the transfer portal.
Hopper saw game action on defense and special teams in all 13 games last season, including four starts. He finished fourth on the team with 65 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.
The redshirt sophomore from Alpharetta, Ga., figured to be a key member of the 2022 squad. Hopper was seen as one of Florida’s rising stars heading into the new year.
As a freshman in 2019, he appeared in four games as a reserve linebacker and on special teams. He made two tackles in his limited role.
2020 saw more playing time and more contributions. Hopper appeared in 11 games for the Gators, finishing with 15 total tackles (five solo, 10 assisted) and one tackle for loss.
He was expected to be a starting linebacker for the Gators in 2022. While he has entered his name into the transfer portal that doesn’t mean he cannot choose to still return to Florida.
The news of Hopper looking to transfer comes at an interesting time. Hours before he first entered the portal last week, former Florida Gators coach Christian Robinson would be joining the Auburn Tigers.
Robinson was an integral part of Hopper’s recruitment and was also his position coach for three seasons. A redshirt sophomore, Hopper has three years of eligibility (a free COVID year included) of eligibility left.
Robinson was a popular coach not just among the linebackers, but the entire team. He joins an Auburn team going into its second season under head coach Bryan Harsin.
Beating The Odds
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
McKenzie Milton had quite the college football journey. After breaking out at UCF, Milton suffered a gruesome leg injury and was thought to be in danger of never playing again.
However, he recovered and ended up transferring to Florida State, playing the 2021 season.
Milton had a unique helmet for the Hula Bowl, a postseason college football all-star game. Ironically, it is held in Orlando, Florida, home of the UCF Knights. Milton debuted his helmet, sporting both the UCF and Florida State logo on each side. As far as Milton’s future in football, he said he was holding out hope to make it in the NFL.
“Honestly I have no idea,” Milton told reporters when asked what is next for him. “To me, I shoot for the NFL. Hoping that opportunity will come, but we’ll see. It just depends..”
Later the reporter asked if a coaching career is in his future, Milton said his current focus is on playing at the next level, though he does anticipate entering the coaching industry when the time comes for him to hang up his cleats.
In total, Milton finished his college career with 9,458 yards, 75 touchdowns, 28 interceptions, a 61.3% completion percentage, 1,065 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns.
He led the Knights to a 27-6 record as a starter, including an undefeated 2017 season, and two American Athletic Conference championships.
The Hawaiian high school star suffered a catastrophic knee injury during the regular-season finale in 2018 which forced him to miss the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
After multiple surgeries and several years of rehabilitation, Milton took over as quarterback for UCF’s scout team.
After graduating from UCF and completing a long road to recovery, Milton transferred to Florida State to close out his college campaign. Appearing in 6 games for the Seminoles, Milton threw for 775 yards and 3 touchdowns to go along with 6 interceptions while making 4 starts.
Milton was named the ACC’s Brian Piccolo Award winner, which honors the league’s ‘most courageous’ football player and is named for the former Wake Forest and Chicago Bears running back.
Florida State quarterback McKenzie Milton capped off a stellar college career by being named one of three winners of the 2021 Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award on Tuesday.
Milton’s focus is now on the future, particularly one in the NFL, as he looks to make an impression on some of the 100 scouts on hand for this week’s game.
“You’ve just got to go out there and be yourself,” Milton said. “Perform as if thousands of people are watching, which is how it is in the game. So, it’s nothing different. “Everything you put on film is your job interview as well. So, it’s just trying to maximize every rep, even when I’m not in there, get mental reps, too. But it’s been a good learning experience for sure.”
Milton has no idea what’s in store for him, but he plans to participate in FSU’s Pro Day and possibly one at UCF. “I’m just hoping that opportunity comes,” he said. “It just depends on if it’s right for me and if it’s right for my family, so we’ll see.”
McKenzie Milton will be finishing his college football career where it all began: the Bounce House.
