Charting The Gators: Foursome Delivered Big Plays

Receiver Freddie Swain is among a group of senior receivers who played an important role in Florida's turnaround the past two seasons. (Photo: Courtney Culbreath/UAA Communications)

Charting The Gators: Foursome Delivered Big Plays

Friday, November 29, 2019 | Football, Scott Carter

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- As the Gators prepared for the season and prognosticators took a closer look at their prospects, a common theme emerged.

The Gators had question marks coming off a breakthrough season in their first year under Dan Mullen, but one position group that seemingly everyone agreed on was the receivers. They were viewed as the Gators' strength. Florida had talent, experience, depth and an array of playmakers.

Thank you, Tyrie! 👏@Tyrie_1 x #GatorStandard pic.twitter.com/H209m2nEa1
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) November 28, 2019

Sometimes predictions actually turn out correct despite a quarterback change early in the season. Four of those receivers will say goodbye to the Swamp on Saturday in the final home game of their careers when the Gators (9-2) host Florida State (6-5) in the "Fresh From Florida Sunshine Showdown": Tyrie Cleveland, Josh Hammond, Freddie Swain and Van Jefferson.

All four have played meaningful roles throughout their careers.

"I'll never forget the moments that I had in the Swamp,'' Cleveland said this week. "It'll be very emotional for me on Saturday."

In a season that took a significant turn when starting quarterback Feleipe Franks suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the third game of the season, backup Kyle Trask took over and Florida's offense didn't miss a beat in the passing game. The four senior receivers are a big reason why.

Thank you, Freddie! 👏@Freddie_iball2 x #GatorStandard pic.twitter.com/EQ9hpE5MhR
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) November 25, 2019

While sophomore tight end Kyle Pitts has emerged as the team's top receiver this season with a team-leading 46 catches and 566 yards, Jefferson (38 for 480), Swain (30 for 434), Hammond (24 for 307) and Cleveland (18 for 256) have each factored into a pass-heavy offense that has eight players with 17 or more receptions.

"The guys are pretty good in that room,'' Swain said of his fellow receivers. "To be able to step on the field with those guys and so say we had an impact, it's pretty good."

Thank you, Josh! 👏@J_Hammond10 x #GatorStandard pic.twitter.com/JxXOUfpP05
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) November 23, 2019

Cleveland, Swain and Hammond arrived at UF together. Jefferson, a fifth-year senior who transferred from Ole Miss following the 2017 season and was granted immediately eligibility, added veteran leader and detailed route runner who helped those around him improve.

It wasn't always a smooth ride for the senior trio of Hammond, Swain and Cleveland -- they were part of an SEC East championship team in 2016 and a 4-7 crash in 2017 -- but the last two years have proved to be a significant turn for the better.

"I don't get as much hate on Twitter for our offense anymore,'' Hammond quipped.

Thank you, Van! 👏@VanJefferson12 x #GatorStandard pic.twitter.com/D2UzGEHYCW
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) November 21, 2019

CHARTING THE GATORS

A look at some of the key plays for Florida's group of senior receivers during their time in Orange & Blue:

PLAYER	BIG PLAYS
Tyrie Cleveland	Had 98-yard TD catch at LSU (2016) as freshman; Caught 63-yard game-winner vs. Vols (2017) that sent Swamp into frenzy
Josh Hammond	As senior, iced Kentucky win with 76-yard run, caught a 65-yard pass vs. Miami and 34-yard whirling TD grab at Missouri
Freddie Swain	Set tone for career game vs. Auburn with 64-yard catch-and-run score on opening drive; 65-yard TD catch at Tennessee in 2018
Van Jefferson	Had 38-yard TD catch to blow open 2018 win at FSU; Fumble recovery on punt return vs. Miami; Two TD catches in loss at LSU

NEWS, NOTES, NUGGETS

Florida leads the all-time series 35-26-2, including 20-12-1 at Florida Field. However, Florida State has won four consecutive games at the Swamp as the Gators seek to get their first home win over the Seminoles since 2009.
Gators head coach Dan Mullen can become the first coach in school history to win 10 games in each of his first two seasons with a victory Saturday.
Florida can also defeat Miami and FSU in the same season for the first time since 2008 with a victory. The Gators beat the Hurricanes 24-20 to open the season.
FSU junior running back Cam Akers is ranked fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference with 1,042 rushing yards. He joined Warrick Dunn and Dalvin Cook as the only players in school history with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
The Gators have 38 sacks, which is tied for fifth among FBS schools. Florida's sack total is already one more than last season and its most since 41 in 2015. Graduate transfer Jonathan Greenard has a team-high six sacks.
UF senior running back Lamical Perine has four receiving touchdowns, the most by a Gators back since fullback James Jones had five touchdown grabs in 1982.
Seminoles wide receiver Tamorrion Terry averages 20.3 yards per catch (44 receptions, 892 yards) and has five touchdown catches of 60 or more yards this season (60, 64, 69, 74 and 75).
FSU star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson, a Bednarik Award semifinalist, is out for the season following hand surgery earlier this month. Wilson had five sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss prior to the injury.
The Gators can finish undefeated at home for the 14th time since 1990 and third time this decade (7-0 in 2012; 5-0 in 2016) with a victory. FSU's four-game win streak at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium marks Florida's longest stretch of home futility against an opponent since a 0-4-1 stretch against LSU from 1978-86.
Gators senior receiver Van Jefferson needs 17 yards to reach 1,000 during his two seasons with the Gators. Jefferson enters with 73 catches for 983 yards and 10 touchdowns in 24 games at UF. In his two seasons at Ole Miss, Jefferson caught 91 passes for 999 yards and four scores.