Rookie Jawaan Taylor has been a mainstay on the Gator offensive line, starting every game but one.
Linemen Taylor, Zuniga Tabbed to Freshman All-SEC Team
Thursday, December 8, 2016 | Football
For the second straight season, two linemen represent Florida on the all-conference team
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Linemen Jawaan Taylor and Jabari Zuniga have been named to the Coaches' Freshman All-SEC team, the Southeastern Conference announced Thursday. Both were instrumental in guiding Florida to its second-straight SEC East title.
This is the second-consecutive year that both of Florida's All-Freshman selections were an offensive and defensive lineman. In 2015, Martez Ivey and Cece Jefferson were picked to the team.
Taylor started every game but one at right tackle, providing what head coach Jim McElwain described as "infectious energy" to the offensive line. He helped running backs Lamical Perine and Jordan Scarlett to a combined five games of 100 rushing yards.
Zuniga made three starts at defensive end and has played in every other game this season. He led Florida with five sacks, becoming the first UF freshman since Huey Richardson in 1987 to total five sacks in a season. Zuniga anchored a Gator defensive unit that tied for 10th in the country in points allowed per game (17.9).
Outback Bowl
Florida (8-4) accepted an invitation on Sunday from the Outback Bowl to play Iowa (8-4) on Jan. 2 in Tampa. The schools have met three times previously with the last two meetings coming in the Outback Bowl. The Gators are ranked No. 20 in the latest AP Top 25 released Sunday, and Iowa is No. 21. Florida checked in at 17th, and Iowa was unranked in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Florida and Iowa first played 33 years ago when the Gators beat the Hawkeyes 14-6 in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville. Twenty years passed before they met again, a 37-17 Iowa victory after the 2003 season. Two years later, the Gators avenged that loss in Urban Meyer's first season at UF with a 31-24 victory.
The Gator Ticket Office began taking ticket orders for the 2017 Outback Bowl on Monday, Dec. 5. All season ticket holders can order online at FloridaGators.com/tickets, visit the Gator Ticket Office or call their order in.
The complete Coaches' Freshman All-SEC team is as follows:
OFFENSE
TE
Isaac Nauta, Georgia
OL
Jonah Williams, Alabama
Jawaan Taylor, Florida
Greg Little, Ole Miss
Logan Stenberg, Kentucky
C
Erik McCoy, Texas A&M
WR
Dimetrios Mason, Missouri
Van Jefferson, Ole Miss
QB
Jalen Hurts, Alabama
RB
Benny Snell, Jr., Kentucky
Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M
AP
Jonathan Johnson, Missouri
DEFENSE
DL
Jabari Zuniga, Florida
Marlon Davidson, Auburn
Ed Alexander, LSU
McTelvin Agim, Arkansas*
Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State*
LB
Leo Lewis, Mississippi State
Devin White, LSU
De'Jon Harris, Arkansas
DB
Javaris Davis, Auburn
Nigel Warrior, Tennessee
Ronnell Perkins, Missouri
Jaylon Jones, Ole Miss
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK
Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia
P
Josh Growden, LSU
RS
Jonathan Johnson, Missouri
* indicates a tie
This is the second-consecutive year that both of Florida's All-Freshman selections were an offensive and defensive lineman. In 2015, Martez Ivey and Cece Jefferson were picked to the team.
Taylor started every game but one at right tackle, providing what head coach Jim McElwain described as "infectious energy" to the offensive line. He helped running backs Lamical Perine and Jordan Scarlett to a combined five games of 100 rushing yards.
Zuniga made three starts at defensive end and has played in every other game this season. He led Florida with five sacks, becoming the first UF freshman since Huey Richardson in 1987 to total five sacks in a season. Zuniga anchored a Gator defensive unit that tied for 10th in the country in points allowed per game (17.9).
Outback Bowl
Florida (8-4) accepted an invitation on Sunday from the Outback Bowl to play Iowa (8-4) on Jan. 2 in Tampa. The schools have met three times previously with the last two meetings coming in the Outback Bowl. The Gators are ranked No. 20 in the latest AP Top 25 released Sunday, and Iowa is No. 21. Florida checked in at 17th, and Iowa was unranked in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Florida and Iowa first played 33 years ago when the Gators beat the Hawkeyes 14-6 in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville. Twenty years passed before they met again, a 37-17 Iowa victory after the 2003 season. Two years later, the Gators avenged that loss in Urban Meyer's first season at UF with a 31-24 victory.
The Gator Ticket Office began taking ticket orders for the 2017 Outback Bowl on Monday, Dec. 5. All season ticket holders can order online at FloridaGators.com/tickets, visit the Gator Ticket Office or call their order in.
The complete Coaches' Freshman All-SEC team is as follows:
OFFENSE
TE
Isaac Nauta, Georgia
OL
Jonah Williams, Alabama
Jawaan Taylor, Florida
Greg Little, Ole Miss
Logan Stenberg, Kentucky
C
Erik McCoy, Texas A&M
WR
Dimetrios Mason, Missouri
Van Jefferson, Ole Miss
QB
Jalen Hurts, Alabama
RB
Benny Snell, Jr., Kentucky
Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M
AP
Jonathan Johnson, Missouri
DEFENSE
DL
Jabari Zuniga, Florida
Marlon Davidson, Auburn
Ed Alexander, LSU
McTelvin Agim, Arkansas*
Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State*
LB
Leo Lewis, Mississippi State
Devin White, LSU
De'Jon Harris, Arkansas
DB
Javaris Davis, Auburn
Nigel Warrior, Tennessee
Ronnell Perkins, Missouri
Jaylon Jones, Ole Miss
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK
Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia
P
Josh Growden, LSU
RS
Jonathan Johnson, Missouri
* indicates a tie
Players Mentioned
OL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DL
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