Gators head coach Jim McElwain is pleased with progress Gators have made on the recruiting trail. (Tim Casey/FloridaGators.com)
Gators Notebook: McElwain Announces 3 Signees, Including Top Kicker; Grier, Injury Updates
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 | Football, Scott Carter
The Gators return to practice Friday to open preparation for Citrus Bowl
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida head coach Jim McElwain and his coaching staff returned home with the team following the loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 5.
The next day they hit the road to improve the team.
In the 10 days since, the Gators have added commitments from key recruits and perhaps most importantly, regained some footing on the recruiting trail that had been lost the last couple of seasons as the program endured more losses than wins.
McElwain announced three midyear junior-college signees earlier today: kicker Eddy Pineiro 6-1, 180), running back Mark Thompson (6-2, 230) and athlete Udreis Massey.
"We are really excited about the three additions to our program and to keep the momentum going forward with our organization," McElwain said. "We are looking forward to having them on campus for spring ball."
Pineiro was a big target for the Gators considering their kicking struggles in McElwain's first season. He is rated the nation's No. 1-ranked junior-college kicker from Miami (Fla.) ASA Junior College and chose the Gators over Alabama.
Meanwhile, Thompson signed with the Gators on Wednesday out of Dodge City (Kan.) Community College, where he rushed for 1,298 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. Thompson was named a second-team NJCAA All-American.
Massey signed with the Gators out of Holmes (Miss.) Community College. Massey, who is from Greenville, S.C., rushed for 452 yards and caught a team-high 21 for 548 yards (26.1 yards per catch) in his only season at Holmes.
McElwain was optimistic at the progress the Gators have made on the recruiting trail of late when he met with the local media on Tuesday.
"I thought we had great momentum, great headway as we're moving forward in this,'' McElwain said. "Obviously renewed interest and excitement about guys being Gators. That's what it's all about. We're really excited about that."
The coaching staff took Monday off following a grueling week on the road and returned to work Tuesday with an eye toward the New Year's Day matchup against Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.
The Gators return to practice Friday. Until then, McElwain wants the Gators to close out the fall semester strong in the classroom.
"As we head into this, this is finals week for us, which we need some guys to do well on that, as a lot of schools do,'' he said. "I know our guys are working their tails off for that."
*****
GRIER UPDATE
Gators quarterback Will Grier remains on pace to rejoin the team after missing the final seven games. Grier was suspended for one year by the NCAA for testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance.
McElwain said Tuesday that Grier won't travel with the team to Orlando for the Citrus Bowl but is expected to rejoin the team for offseason workouts in January when the spring semester begins.
"He'll be ready to roll,'' McElwain said. "He's finishing up his finals now and everything from that standpoint."
Grier lost an appeal to have his suspension reduced and is not eligible to return to the field until Game 7 next season.
"It's tough on everybody. The poor guy, walking on campus ain't easy,'' McElwain said. "I just feel sick about it. Yeah, it's not easy, and yet when you learn things when they don't go well they really make you stronger.
"Look, you can sit and cry over it or you can move forward and make the best of it. That's one thing I think he's doing."
*****
INJURY UPDATE
Defensive lineman Alex McCalister (foot) and walk-on kicker Neil MacInnes (knee) are the only players McElwain ruled out of the Citrus Bowl on Tuesday.
McCalister has missed the last three games and MacInnes, who joined the team midseason, suffered his injury at a recent workout.
*****
QUOTE OF NOTE
"I didn't want to take a chance on him. He got dinged up there, and actually going into one game doing some things that we used him in practice, kind of pulled up again." -- McElwain on decision to move away from plan to use cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III on offense this season
QUOTE OF NOTE II
"Look, we're here to win a ballgame. We aren't here to just go on rides.'' – McElwain on his message to players for Citrus Bowl
The next day they hit the road to improve the team.
In the 10 days since, the Gators have added commitments from key recruits and perhaps most importantly, regained some footing on the recruiting trail that had been lost the last couple of seasons as the program endured more losses than wins.
McElwain announced three midyear junior-college signees earlier today: kicker Eddy Pineiro 6-1, 180), running back Mark Thompson (6-2, 230) and athlete Udreis Massey.
"We are really excited about the three additions to our program and to keep the momentum going forward with our organization," McElwain said. "We are looking forward to having them on campus for spring ball."
Pineiro was a big target for the Gators considering their kicking struggles in McElwain's first season. He is rated the nation's No. 1-ranked junior-college kicker from Miami (Fla.) ASA Junior College and chose the Gators over Alabama.
Meanwhile, Thompson signed with the Gators on Wednesday out of Dodge City (Kan.) Community College, where he rushed for 1,298 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. Thompson was named a second-team NJCAA All-American.
Massey signed with the Gators out of Holmes (Miss.) Community College. Massey, who is from Greenville, S.C., rushed for 452 yards and caught a team-high 21 for 548 yards (26.1 yards per catch) in his only season at Holmes.
McElwain was optimistic at the progress the Gators have made on the recruiting trail of late when he met with the local media on Tuesday.
"I thought we had great momentum, great headway as we're moving forward in this,'' McElwain said. "Obviously renewed interest and excitement about guys being Gators. That's what it's all about. We're really excited about that."
The coaching staff took Monday off following a grueling week on the road and returned to work Tuesday with an eye toward the New Year's Day matchup against Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.
The Gators return to practice Friday. Until then, McElwain wants the Gators to close out the fall semester strong in the classroom.
"As we head into this, this is finals week for us, which we need some guys to do well on that, as a lot of schools do,'' he said. "I know our guys are working their tails off for that."
*****
GRIER UPDATE
Gators quarterback Will Grier remains on pace to rejoin the team after missing the final seven games. Grier was suspended for one year by the NCAA for testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance.
McElwain said Tuesday that Grier won't travel with the team to Orlando for the Citrus Bowl but is expected to rejoin the team for offseason workouts in January when the spring semester begins.
"He'll be ready to roll,'' McElwain said. "He's finishing up his finals now and everything from that standpoint."
Grier lost an appeal to have his suspension reduced and is not eligible to return to the field until Game 7 next season.
"It's tough on everybody. The poor guy, walking on campus ain't easy,'' McElwain said. "I just feel sick about it. Yeah, it's not easy, and yet when you learn things when they don't go well they really make you stronger.
"Look, you can sit and cry over it or you can move forward and make the best of it. That's one thing I think he's doing."
*****
INJURY UPDATE
Defensive lineman Alex McCalister (foot) and walk-on kicker Neil MacInnes (knee) are the only players McElwain ruled out of the Citrus Bowl on Tuesday.
McCalister has missed the last three games and MacInnes, who joined the team midseason, suffered his injury at a recent workout.
*****
QUOTE OF NOTE
"I didn't want to take a chance on him. He got dinged up there, and actually going into one game doing some things that we used him in practice, kind of pulled up again." -- McElwain on decision to move away from plan to use cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III on offense this season
QUOTE OF NOTE II
"Look, we're here to win a ballgame. We aren't here to just go on rides.'' – McElwain on his message to players for Citrus Bowl
Players Mentioned
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