Florida head coach Dan Mullen works the crowd earlier this season prior to a victory over Auburn. (Photo: Kaila Jones/UAA Communications)
Gators Notebook: Mullen's Momentum, Injury Report, More Tidbits
Monday, December 16, 2019 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – If you're a college football coach at a major program like Florida, you want the month of December to mirror the one Dan Mullen is living.
"It's like juggling chainsaws,'' Mullen said Monday.
Take the past week, for example.
Mullen hosted recruits on their official visits the weekend of Dec. 7-8. Back on the road to recruit after that. Next, there was a press conference in South Florida on Wednesday to promote No. 9 Florida's Orange Bowl matchup against 24th-ranked Virginia. Back in Gainesville, Mullen and his staff began to take a closer look at the Cavaliers and welcomed three early enrollees onto the team when the Gators returned to practice on Saturday. In addition, more than a dozen players participated in graduation ceremonies over the weekend at Exactech Arena.
Meanwhile, the early National Singing Day is Wednesday. Oh, for good measure: "And what am I getting my wife for Christmas? Throw that one in there. You recover from all the other things. That's a tough one."
Not that Mullen is complaining. In fact, this is the way it should be for a program on the rise, one that since ending the regular season with a 40-17 win over Florida State, has moved up the recruiting rankings like it has in the national polls in Mullen's two seasons. The Gators have moved into the top 10 of the recruiting rankings of the two major sites and hope to continue the momentum through Wednesday.
The recent surge is indicative of Florida's turnaround the past two seasons.
"A lot of players now over the last two years, when you look at the big picture of what their decisions are about, they look at the success that the program has had," Mullen said. "You go into last year, we finished a lot higher ranking than anybody projected us to go finish. There are a lot of people projecting us this year, 'Hey, they might be a 6-6 team.' Here we are in our second straight New Year's Six bowl.
"The recruiting aspect of that out there is a lot of these young men are looking and saying, 'This program is way further ahead than people thought they were.' I think that's more what guys see when they're looking at the reality of the situation maybe than what the perception was at the beginning of recruiting."
In Mullen's first recruiting class as Florida's head coach – an abbreviated one considering he didn't take over until late November – the Gators' 2018 signing class was ranked 13th by ESPN.com, 14th by 247Sports.com and 17th by Rivals.com. A year ago, the 2019 class was ranked either ninth or eighth by the recruiting services. Florida's 2020 class is currently ranked sixth by Rivals, No. 8 by 247Sports and 12th by ESPN.
As National Signing Day looms, quarterback Anthony Richardson and offensive linemen Joshua Braun and Richard Leonard started to participate in Florida's bowl practices Saturday. While the three players are ineligible to participate in the Orange Bowl, due to new NCAA rules, early enrollees are permitted to join bowl practices.
"I think the benefit is for those guys, one, it's kind of fun. They get to get out here and have a good time,'' Mullen said. "Two, they get to kind of build, they get a little bit of a jumpstart so at least when we get out for our first practice in spring, they've been at a practice before."
QUOTES OF NOTE
"I'm definitely playing." – Gators senior edge rusher Jonathan Greenard on his plans for the Orange Bowl
***
"I think our guys know I plan on being here for a long time. I know what I have here. I love being here. I think we're building a championship program here." – UF head coach Dan Mullen on NFL rumors
***
"I want what's best for him. If he feels that's best for him and his family, then I wish him all the best. He's still one of the best friends I've had here at the University of Florida and always will be. I think he's going to do great things." – Gators quarterback Kyle Trask on the departure of fellow QB Feleipe Franks
INJURY REPORT
Mullen said that other than for safety Shawn Davis, slowed by a hamstring injury, the Gators are healthy entering their Orange Bowl practices. "Still guys a little banged up with bumps and bruises, but nobody that we expect to miss the bowl game." … Fifth-year senior defensive end Jabari Zuniga, who missed seven games during the regular season, is ready to get back on the field according to Mullen. "We expect him to come out and have a big game for us." … Sophomore linebacker Amari Burney, who did not play in the final three regular-season games due to a knee injury, is probable for the Orange Bowl according to Mullen … Redshirt junior linebacker Jeremiah Moon (foot) will miss the bowl game. Moon did not play the final three games of the regular season after getting injured against Georgia on Nov. 2. … Redshirt junior tight end Lucas Krull announced on social media that he plans to transfer to Pittsburgh for his final season of eligibility.
"It's like juggling chainsaws,'' Mullen said Monday.
Take the past week, for example.
Mullen hosted recruits on their official visits the weekend of Dec. 7-8. Back on the road to recruit after that. Next, there was a press conference in South Florida on Wednesday to promote No. 9 Florida's Orange Bowl matchup against 24th-ranked Virginia. Back in Gainesville, Mullen and his staff began to take a closer look at the Cavaliers and welcomed three early enrollees onto the team when the Gators returned to practice on Saturday. In addition, more than a dozen players participated in graduation ceremonies over the weekend at Exactech Arena.
Meanwhile, the early National Singing Day is Wednesday. Oh, for good measure: "And what am I getting my wife for Christmas? Throw that one in there. You recover from all the other things. That's a tough one."
Not that Mullen is complaining. In fact, this is the way it should be for a program on the rise, one that since ending the regular season with a 40-17 win over Florida State, has moved up the recruiting rankings like it has in the national polls in Mullen's two seasons. The Gators have moved into the top 10 of the recruiting rankings of the two major sites and hope to continue the momentum through Wednesday.
The recent surge is indicative of Florida's turnaround the past two seasons.
"A lot of players now over the last two years, when you look at the big picture of what their decisions are about, they look at the success that the program has had," Mullen said. "You go into last year, we finished a lot higher ranking than anybody projected us to go finish. There are a lot of people projecting us this year, 'Hey, they might be a 6-6 team.' Here we are in our second straight New Year's Six bowl.
"The recruiting aspect of that out there is a lot of these young men are looking and saying, 'This program is way further ahead than people thought they were.' I think that's more what guys see when they're looking at the reality of the situation maybe than what the perception was at the beginning of recruiting."
In Mullen's first recruiting class as Florida's head coach – an abbreviated one considering he didn't take over until late November – the Gators' 2018 signing class was ranked 13th by ESPN.com, 14th by 247Sports.com and 17th by Rivals.com. A year ago, the 2019 class was ranked either ninth or eighth by the recruiting services. Florida's 2020 class is currently ranked sixth by Rivals, No. 8 by 247Sports and 12th by ESPN.
As National Signing Day looms, quarterback Anthony Richardson and offensive linemen Joshua Braun and Richard Leonard started to participate in Florida's bowl practices Saturday. While the three players are ineligible to participate in the Orange Bowl, due to new NCAA rules, early enrollees are permitted to join bowl practices.
"I think the benefit is for those guys, one, it's kind of fun. They get to get out here and have a good time,'' Mullen said. "Two, they get to kind of build, they get a little bit of a jumpstart so at least when we get out for our first practice in spring, they've been at a practice before."
"I'm definitely playing." – Gators senior edge rusher Jonathan Greenard on his plans for the Orange Bowl
***
"I think our guys know I plan on being here for a long time. I know what I have here. I love being here. I think we're building a championship program here." – UF head coach Dan Mullen on NFL rumors
***
"I want what's best for him. If he feels that's best for him and his family, then I wish him all the best. He's still one of the best friends I've had here at the University of Florida and always will be. I think he's going to do great things." – Gators quarterback Kyle Trask on the departure of fellow QB Feleipe Franks
Mullen said that other than for safety Shawn Davis, slowed by a hamstring injury, the Gators are healthy entering their Orange Bowl practices. "Still guys a little banged up with bumps and bruises, but nobody that we expect to miss the bowl game." … Fifth-year senior defensive end Jabari Zuniga, who missed seven games during the regular season, is ready to get back on the field according to Mullen. "We expect him to come out and have a big game for us." … Sophomore linebacker Amari Burney, who did not play in the final three regular-season games due to a knee injury, is probable for the Orange Bowl according to Mullen … Redshirt junior linebacker Jeremiah Moon (foot) will miss the bowl game. Moon did not play the final three games of the regular season after getting injured against Georgia on Nov. 2. … Redshirt junior tight end Lucas Krull announced on social media that he plans to transfer to Pittsburgh for his final season of eligibility.
Players Mentioned
ATH
/ Football
DB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
LB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
DL
/ FootballPlay Breakdown with Billy Gonzales presented by Tower Hill Insurance (November 5, 2025)
Wednesday, November 05
Billy Gonzales Media Availability 11-5-25
Wednesday, November 05
Play Breakdown with Billy Gonzales presented by Tower Hill Insurance 11-5-25
Wednesday, November 05
Gator Insider presented by Talon Wealth (November 4, 2025)
Tuesday, November 04
