Graphic: Scott MacCord/UAA Communications
Dunbar Proves worth, Easley Soars, RIP Reeves, More Tidbits
Tuesday, January 2, 2018 | General, Football, Scott Carter
Former Gators receiver Quinton Dunbar went undrafted three years ago but has carved out a place in the NFL with the Washington Redskins.
Two initial thoughts popped into my head: 1. Dunbar is not the most talkative person so don't expect Randy Moss material; 2. The editor must not watch a lot of Florida games.
Remember, Dante Fowler Jr., D.J. Humphries, Matt Jones, Andre Debose and Max Garcia were among the UF players in the 2015 draft pool selected. Teams also took Chaz Green, Neiron Ball and Trenton Brown off the board.
Dunbar did not hear his name called. And quite frankly, no one should have been surprised. Dunbar had a steady college career, catching 111 passes for 1,500 yards (13.5 per catch) and eight touchdowns in 49 career games.
Still, blessed with the speed of a sprinter and the hype of an Urban Meyer recruit, you always expected more.
Of course, Dunbar, like so many of the Gators' offensive skill players since the 2009 team finished 13-1 with Tim Tebow at quarterback, played for multiple offensive coordinators and schemes. His quest for consistency and big plays was elusive.
Fast forward to Monday morning and as many of his Redskins teammates cleared out their lockers following a 7-9 season, Dunbar and his agent were in the team's opulent "Contract Room" for Dunbar to sign a three-year contract extension.
Dunbar had the best season of his career in 2017, playing in 15 games and starting four as a cornerback. He moved from receiver to the secondary in training camp of his rookie season and never moved back.
"I saw Dunbar playing on punt – cover team – and he was blocking the flyers and doing extremely well,'' Washington coach Jay Gruden told Redskins.com. "He was long so I threw him out there and put a jersey on him and he did pretty well. We kept him out over there and he's developed."
Dunbar finished with a career-high 35 tackles, eight passes defended and an interception last season as the primary backup to starting cornerback Bashaud Breeland.
He didn't get drafted, but Dunbar has proven he belongs in the NFL and has staying power. All he needed was the right opportunity and a position change.
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TWITTER FUN
We know the national champion is going to come from the Southeastern Conference. We know the Gators are not in the mix. We know Florida fans like Georgia and Alabama about as much as a 5-year-old likes bean sprouts.
What we don't know is which team would you prefer to hoist the national championship trophy …
For the heck of it #Gators -- Georgia vs. Alabama for the national title, which team would you rather win?
— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) January 3, 2018
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FRIENDLY RIVALS
The Florida-Georgia rivalry is supposed to be nasty.
Gators quarterback signee Emory Jones and Georgia quarterback signee Justin Fields are adding a friendly twist. The two Georgia prep stars have trained together under private coach Quincy Avery and know each other well.
Georgia's Justin Fields encouraged QB Emory Jones to sign with Florida https://t.co/wgtcphlxzy pic.twitter.com/XWVYyXEo7m
— Zach Abolverdi (@ZachAbolverdi) January 2, 2018
How well? Fields actually encouraged Jones to sign with the Gators.
"He was like, 'I feel Florida would be the best opportunity for you, but I hate to play against you," Jones told SECCountry.com. "I was like, 'I'll hate to play against you, too.' We talked about it."
"Emory is a good friend of mine, so really I just want the best for him,'' Fields said.
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REMEMBERING REEVES
Abram James "Jay" Reeves was a rugged defensive nose guard for the Gators in the first two seasons at UF for head coach Bob Woodruff.
The newspaper accounts of those days refer to him as Jimmy Reeves and Jim Reeves, depending on which story you read. Reeves passed away on Christmas Day in Tennessee at age 90. In his final season at UF in 1951, Reeves played alongside future first-team All-American Charlie LaPradd, a standout defensive tackle, and was named the team's most valuable defensive lineman.
Found on Newspapers.com
He went into coaching after college, first as head coach at Lake City High in 1953-54, and then at Sarasota High in 1955-56. After a game in Tampa in late '56, Reeves criticized the officiating in the next day's Tampa Tribune and the Florida High School Activities Association placed Sarasota on a one-year probation.
That didn't sit well with Reeves, who was forced to resign later in the season due to differences with the school's administration and the acrimonious split made front-page news in the state's newspapers.
Reeves returned to his native Tennessee and had six sons, taking an active role in their weight training and youth football careers.
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SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE?
Alachua County announced Tuesday that due to the potential of inclement weather on Wednesday -- forecasts call for snow flurries and the possibility of icy roads -- all public schools are closed the next two days.
That prompted a timely tweet from Florida fan and Twitter fanatic Tony Agolini, a photo I had never seen and one that might catch your attention ...
I didn't take the picture - nor am I in it. Year was 1989 though. If I knew who took the picture I'd give him/her credit. pic.twitter.com/1ppCTYyEIS
— Tony Agolini (@tonyagolini) January 2, 2018
A while later, Twitter user @GothamGator1 chimed in.
"I took the picture below. December 23, 1989. Snowed overnight and all morning in Gainesville. My buddy, Dave, is there on the 50. So thrilled to see it pop up on my timeline today."
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ROPER RESURFACES
The last time former UF offensive coordinator Kurt Roper had career stability, he left Duke to try and reinvigorate Florida's offense under Will Muschamp in 2014. That didn't work out so well when Muschamp was dismissed at the end of the regular season.
Roper spent 2015 with the Cleveland Browns before reuniting with Muschamp as South Carolina's offensive coordinator. That didn't work out so well when Muschamp recently dismissed Roper after two seasons.
Fortunately for the likeable Roper, he has apparently found a new home outside of the Southeastern Conference …
REPORT: Former #Gamecocks OC Kurt Roper heading west. https://t.co/0D3QQ6KpAa pic.twitter.com/c4RdPsPbPI
— TheBigSpur.com (@TheBigSpur247) January 2, 2018
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PILOT EASLEY
Former Gators defensive lineman Dominique Easley, New England's first-round pick in 2014, has struggled to stay on the field in the NFL due to injuries.
If that sounds familiar, it's because the same was true for the talented Easley at Florida. He spent the 2017 season with the Los Angeles Rams recuperating from another knee injury.
Easley had some extra time and spent much of it in the skies over Southern California …
How do you fill the void left by football when you're on the IR? Learn to fly, of course. Go for a ride with Rams DL @DominiqueEasley. I've got your backseat view. https://t.co/fHVx86hTq2 pic.twitter.com/yh8qPgBxSn
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) December 25, 2017
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SEEKING A SHOT
Teryl Austin spent seven years as an NFL assistant prior to joining Meyer's staff as defensive coordinator in 2010. He was only at UF for one season and then returned to the NFL.
Austin interviewed on Tuesday to replace Jim Caldwell as Detroit's head coach …
The Lions gave DC Teryl Austin their 1st interview, but 2 other defensive minds are believed to be front runners for the job https://t.co/xrtjI8XYDl via @freep
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) January 2, 2018
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