R.J. Raymond is one of eight players on Florida's leadership committee. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Raymond Couldn't Pass Up One More Go-Round with Gators
Monday, March 19, 2018 | Football, Scott Carter
Fifth-year senior R.J. Raymond, a walk-on, has a long family history at the University of Florida.
With a coaching change on the horizon and his status unclear, Raymond ran from the tunnel at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to be greeted by interim head coach Randy Shannon. It was a special moment for Raymond, whose parents met at UF and whose father, Bobby Raymond, starred as the Gators' placekicker during the 1983 and '84 seasons, making 43 of 49 field goals.
When the Gators finished their first practice of spring camp under head coach Dan Mullen on Friday, Raymond stayed a few minutes extra to talk to the media as one of eight players voted by teammates to the team's leadership committee.
Confused? Raymond had an extra year of eligibility remaining and couldn't pass up one more season with the Gators.
In fact, the first question Raymond got asked was why he came back for his fifth year of eligibility after going through Senior Day festivities in November. Raymond walked onto the team over the summer of 2014 and did not play in his first two seasons.
He started to play special teams in 2016 and last season played linebacker and fullback in Florida's jumbo goal-line package.
"I talked to my parents. I kind of talked with everybody,'' Raymond said. "I didn't really get a chance to talk to Coach Mullen but I liked what he was doing. He was previously at UF and I'm a big Gator fan since I was a child. My dad played here, so I knew everything that [Mullen] did here and I liked what he was doing at Mississippi State. I'd be mad at myself, or kicking myself, if I didn't come back. That's what really made me make the decision."
A Florida native who played at Fletcher High in the Jacksonville area, Raymond has paid his dues the past four years.
He is grateful his teammates consider him worthy of a spot on the leadership council. And that he came back, of course.
"I set my sights on it,'' Raymond said. "Coming from the Florida background and my dad playing here – I'm actually a fifth generation in a row, so my great-great grandpa, my great grandpa, my grandpa, my dad and myself all in a row. So with that background it just means the world. I know what this program means to everybody. To be voted as one of the eight on the leadership council, especially as a walk-on, that just really shows me that everybody appreciated what I've been doing and the work I've put in up to this point."
Players Mentioned
LB
/ FootballFlorida Women's Basketball | Jacksonville Recap
Wednesday, November 12
2025 Florida Athletics Hall of Fame - Kitty Cullen | Lacrosse, 2010-13
Wednesday, November 12
Florida Men's Basketball | Rueben Chinyelu SOARS for the Alley-Oop ☄️
Wednesday, November 12
Florida Men's Basketball | Players Postgame Press Conference | Florida State
Wednesday, November 12
