Martez Ivey at last summer's SEC Football Media Days in Hoover, Ala. (Photo: Jimmy Mitchell/SEC)
Ivey Coming Back; 4 Gators signees in All-American Game
Thursday, January 4, 2018 | Football, Scott Carter
Offensive lineman Martez Ivey announced via Twitter on Thursday night that he is returning for his senior season.
Ivey announced on Thursday night via Twitter that he is returning for his senior season. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound Ivey has started 31 of the 36 games he has appeared in during his three seasons at UF.
It's only right to finish what I started with my brothers. 1 more year. Go gators?? pic.twitter.com/KOYV6H7w8B
— martez ivey (@tezivey) January 5, 2018
Ivey started all 11 games in 2017 and has played guard and tackle. Ranked the No. 1 overall offensive tackle prospect in 2015 coming out of Apopka (Fla.) High, Ivey's return provides the Gators another experienced starter on the offensive line in head coach Dan Mullen's first season.
Ivey was not projected as a first-round pick in this year's NFL Draft, so returning to school to attempt to boost his stock is a smart move. Ivey and defensive lineman CeCe Jefferson were the two highest-ranked players in Florida's recruiting class in 2015.
Jefferson announced his decision to return for his senior season earlier in the week.
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GATORS IN UNDER ARMOUR GAME
Quarterback Emory Jones, defensive back Trey Dean, tight end Kyle Pitts and kicker Evan McPherson are the Florida signees who played in Thursday night's Under Armour All-America Game:
-- Jones played sparingly for the team coached by former NFL and Florida State star Deion Sanders. Jones finished 1-for-3 for nine yards passing, and rushed five times for eight yards. His lack of pass attempts caused some fans to fret -- and accuse Sanders of biased play-calling on social media. However, Jones did not seem to mind after the game.
UNDER ARMOUR GAME: UF-signee QB Emory Jones heads to Gainesville Saturday morning. He did the Gator Chomp after the game.@InsideTheGators pic.twitter.com/1juqNbEKZ4
— Jeff Gardenour (@JeffGardenour) January 5, 2018
-- Dean had a solid game with two pass breakups and one tackle. A defensive back from Hampton, Ga., Dean nearly picked off a pass in the second half but was unable to hold on. At the end of the first half he broke up a pass in the end zone.
-- Pitts was quiet until an 11-yard reception late in the fourth quarter led to a touchdown run on the next play.
-- McPherson made both of his extra-point attempts and successfully executed an onside kick that put the outcome in doubt until the very end.
Players Mentioned
OL
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