Gators head coach Dan Mullen shows off his new pair of Jordans on Tuesday at SEC Media Days. (Photo: Courtney Mims/UAA Communications)
SEC Media Days Blog: CeCe Jefferson Q&A, Mullen's new Jordans, QB Race, Social Scene, Etc.
Tuesday, July 17, 2018 | Football, Scott Carter
Head coach Dan Mullen, senior offensive lineman Martez Ivey, junior linebacker David Reese and senior defensive lineman CeCe Jefferson are scheduled for a series of interviews at the College Football Hall of Fame to preview the upcoming season and essentially say hello to everyone before fall camp starts next month.
Check back here for regular updates and if you want real-time information, check us out on Twitter (above). In addition, follow @GatorsFB and @FloridaGators for tonight's special unveiling of the Jordan uniforms the Gators will wear in 2018.
— Dan Mullen (@CoachDanMullen) July 17, 2018
To kick off this blog, here is a Q&A with Jefferson, who stands as one of the most important players on the roster in Mullen's first season back in Gainesville.
Q: What's it mean to you to be selected by Coach Mullen to represent the team for the first time at this event?
A: For the coaches to look at me the way they do, to pick me and a couple more guys to go and represent this program, it's a great feeling. Coming in with a new staff, you have to prove yourself to them. For me to be able to go to media day my last year, it's an amazing feeling. I remember watching the SEC Media Days, always wanting to go and always wanting to be a part of it. To finally have that chance, it's such a surreal feeling. I won't believe I'm going until I land and walking through the Hall of Fame doors.
Q: What did it come down to for you to return for your senior season?
A: What really made me come back to school, me personally, I felt like I wasn't ready for that next level yet. I felt like I could develop so much more. If I'm going to offer myself to the next level, I want to do it when I feel 100 percent that I can come up here and compete. I don't want to half-ass and go in and embarrass myself. All those types things went through my head.
Q: Was making the decision to return to school easy or hard?
A: It wasn't that hard. It really wasn't hard at all. Once you sit down, it's really like, 'man, go look in the mirror and that will be answered.' You can't lie to yourself. I can't lie to myself. I know in my heart that I'm not ready, so why put myself out there if I'm not ready.
Q: Was last season the most difficult one for you since you started playing football?
A: Yeah, yeah. It was disappointing. Even with all those guys we lost due to that situation (nine suspended players), I felt in my heart that we still had enough talent to make it back to another SEC championship. It always feels bad when you know that some of your mistakes as a player cost the team. I just felt like as a team we could have done so much more to pull away and win those games we lost by a few points, or come out with more fire and more intensity. I just felt like as a team we could have done more. It kind of upset me and that's the feeling I had leaving that season. I was disappointed in myself and my teammates. With the talent we have, there's no way we should ever have a season like that one.
#SECMD18 here we come!#GoGators pic.twitter.com/fNzKDnRM7U
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) July 17, 2018
Q: What do you think fans can expect of this team in 2018?
A: This coaching staff is coming in with that mentality 'why wait? Why wait three or four years to change a program?' We want to win national championships right now. Everybody has been buying in to that mentality, that 'why wait' mentality. It's been looking good. Gator Nation, we've got a treat in store for you guys.
Q: What have you learned in your first three years here that you didn't know about playing college football when you arrived?
A: Coming out of high school, I did not know that the two most important people that I would have to keep up with would be the strength coaches and the nutritionists. They are the ones who are going to develop you. It's the coaches' job to teach you the information, but strength and conditioning and the nutrition staff are the ones that are going to develop you. Your body is not going to respond if you don't have a good relationship with those two.
Coach Mullen, David Reese, Martez Ivey amd CeCe Jefferson are ready for SEC Media Day 2018.
— Dan Mullen (@CoachDanMullen) July 17, 2018
Several Gators fans are hanging out in "The Quad" at the College Football Hall of Fame patiently waiting for Coach Mullen, Reese, Ivey, and Jefferson to arrive at the College Football Hall of Fame. The guy in that No. 96 CeCe Jefferson jersey looks familiar. That's CeCe's dad.
#Gators awaiting @GatorsFB to arrive here in Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/qeS53FVogG
— Ian Preston (@IanPTV20) July 17, 2018
Really.
O RLY? #SECMD18 @SECNetwork @CoachDanMullen @GatorsFB pic.twitter.com/I0Mc3u3WWX
— Nick Cole (@NickColeSports) July 17, 2018
"We are going to evaluate what you do well and put you in a position to be successful." @CoachDanMullen speaking on his philosophy towards all his players.#SECMD18 #GoGators pic.twitter.com/QnmusedEmI
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) July 17, 2018
EXTRA POINTS
Mullen finished his main press conference a few minutes ago. Here are some of notables from the interviews with Mullen and players:
-- The status of transfer receivers Van Jefferson and Trevon Grimes remains a work in process. Both players hope to be ruled eligible to play in their first season with the Gators. "Hopefully we'll be able to announce something in the near future about what's going on with the transfers,'' Mullen said.
-- As he will until a starter is named, Mullen faced more questions about the starting quarterback battle between Feleipe Franks, Kyle Trask and true freshman Emory Jones. When a reporter asked if there's a chance one or more quarterbacks could play in the season opener, Mullen responded: "Fifty-fifty. There is a good chance you can see one, you can see two, you can see three right now coming out of spring. It will be interesting to see. I haven't been through an offseason with these guys. That's when you see it."
-- Defensive lineman CeCe Jefferson said he is recovering nicely from shoulder surgery and hopes to be ready by the season opener.
NOTABLE TWEETS
Mullen: "My family and I, we gave everything we had to Mississippi State. We had opportunities to go other places and we didn't."
— Brett Hudson (@Brett_Hudson) July 17, 2018
"Florida was a dream job for me."
***
***"This new staff brings an energy that you can't ignore. It's infectious" - @cecejeferson7 #SECMD18 pic.twitter.com/0ac42COzjW
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) July 17, 2018
***"It will be a different game for me than the rest of them.'' — Mullen on facing Mississippi State in first season at UF
— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) July 17, 2018
***Dan Mullen made this fans day at #SECMD18. Mullen says he learned the value of good deeds from Tim Tebow.
— Spectrum Sports 360 (@SpecSports360) July 17, 2018
Story today at 5 p.m. on @MyNews13! pic.twitter.com/cdivHp5bTO
Picture doesn't go it justice but perhaps the most amount of buzz on his arrival here at #SECMD18 is @CoachDanMullen.
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) July 17, 2018
He's showing off his @GatorsFB Jordan's for the CFB Live crew. pic.twitter.com/t0x55zwxiO
#WeChomp because it's been a great day at #SECMD18 #GatorStandard 🐊 pic.twitter.com/0FcdCicb6w
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) July 17, 2018
Players Mentioned
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