Gators head coach Dan Mullen, left, and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, right, talk to New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick at UF's 2019 Pro Day. (Photo: Courtney Culbreath/UAA Communications)
Gators Notebook: Mullen-Grantham IV Appears Set, East-West Shrine Bowl, More Tidbits
Tuesday, January 14, 2020 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The one-year anniversary passed Monday without a blip on the radar, buried underneath the hoopla surrounding the LSU-Clemson national championship game and another season at Florida on the career ledger of defensive coordinator Todd Grantham.
It was on Feb. 13, 2019, that Grantham informed the Cincinnati Bengals that he wasn't moving north and Gators head coach Dan Mullen that he was staying south, which delighted defensive players such as Marco Wilson and Mohamoud Diabate, both of whom voiced their thoughts on social media by requesting playfully the Bengals chill in pursuit of their defensive coordinator.
Grantham's decision to remain at UF and not return to the NFL worked out well for the Gators, who went from sixth in the Southeastern Conference and 28th nationally in total defense (343.3 yards per game in 2018) to second and ninth (304.8 ypg), respectively, in 2019. Meanwhile, in head coach Zac Taylor's first season, Cincinnati limped to a 2-14 season with a defense that ranked 29th overall by surrendering 393.7 ypg.
Of course, success breeds opportunity and as the Gators put the finishing touches on an 11-2 season and No. 6-ranking in the final AP Top 25, Mullen's and Grantham's names surfaced as potential candidates elsewhere: Mullen as a possible replacement for Jason Garrett in Dallas and Grantham as head coach at Mississippi State, where he first joined forces with Mullen in 2017.
Asked multiple times in December about his interest in leaping to the NFL, Mullen said he was content at UF and focused on the job he was hired to do: to continue to build the program into a national championship contender. Mullen never said the NFL is not an intriguing option, but he never showed any serious interest publicly in the speculation. The Cowboys hired former Packers coach Mike McCarthy last week.
Meanwhile, Grantham was linked to the Mississippi State opening following the dismissal of Joe Moorhead. Six days later, the Bulldogs made a splash by hiring former Washington State coach Mike Leach.
For now, the Mullen-Grantham marriage seems set to stay intact for a fourth season in 2020 unless someone gives the coaching carousel an unexpected late shove.
Their professional relationship has worked well for both coaches. Mullen has a 29-9 career record with Grantham on his staff, and Grantham's paychecks have become heavier to lift.
Prior to Cincinnati's pursuit a year ago, Mullen and Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin took a significant step in keeping Grantham around by signing him to a contract extension in January 2019 that runs through the 2021 season, increasing Grantham's salary to $1.8 million per year and making him the fifth-highest defensive coordinator in college football.
A veteran with 11 years of NFL experience, Grantham's impact on the Bulldogs was significant, revamping a defense that ranked 110th nationally in 2016 to one that ranked 10th in 2017. Beyond the statistical improvement, the upbeat and hyper Mullen discovered a connection with the passionate Grantham, whose on-field demeanor contrasts greatly with the patient teacher in the film room.
"Before his interview, the Todd Grantham I knew was what I saw on game day. He was a pretty fiery guy and at times, maybe controversial,'' Mullen said prior to their first preseason camp together at Mississippi State. "I loved the fire, energy and passion he had. When I met him, I realized that it was the competitive spirit coming out on game day. Him as a teacher is slightly different. I think sometimes people look and have one glimpse of somebody, but our players see somebody that is an excellent football coach and knows how to get guys into the right position who is also going to hold them to a very high standard. That is the side that a lot of people don't see, which is as a mentor to a lot of guys."
Florida's players responded well to Grantham, who installed an attacking 3-4 scheme when he arrived and found the pieces to make it work. As the Gators prepared to face Virginia in the Orange Bowl, Grantham reflected on the Gators' progress the last two seasons.
The wins have added up and the Gators are viewed as a program on the rise.
"It allows us to finish the season off the right way, but also it creates energy and excitement moving forward,'' he said. "Our first year here, there was a lot of uncertainty, guys kind of feeling their way, but after the Michigan win, we came in the next January, there was a lot of confidence because of what we had done in that bowl game propelling us into the offseason.
"I think [a bowl win] sets up your offseason the right way. It gives a sense of pride in the sense you know you've accomplished something, and the ability to win 21 games over the past two years would be something I think is pretty good. I just think it sets up moving forward the right things, and I think that's important."
It was, but not as important as the fact Mullen and Grantham have not left the building.
GATORS ON EAST
The annual East-West Shrine Bowl is Saturday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg (3 p.m., NFL Network) and features three Gators: receivers Josh Hammond and Freddie Swain, and punter Tommy Townsend.
All three UF players are on the East team, which is being coached by Tampa Bay Bucs assistant Mike Caldwell. The game provides a final collegiate showcase for players hoping to make a favorable impression on NFL scouts.
Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden and Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Marrone were among the NFL notables who stopped by Tuesday's practice.
For Hammond and Swain, they are working this week to develop a connection with East quarterbacks Tommy Stevens (Mississippi State), Kevin Davidson (Princeton) and James Morgan (Florida International).
150 GREATEST PLAYERS
In honor of the 150-year anniversary of college football, ESPN ranked the game's 150 greatest players, a substantial endeavor that never had a chance not to ruffle feathers.
A blue-ribbon panel of 150 media members, college administrators, and former coaches and players landed on former Syracuse star Jim Brown as the greatest player.
Former Gators running back Emmitt Smith was No. 70, UF quarterback Tim Tebow was No. 76 and Steve Spurrier checked in at No. 91. OK, back to Tebow at 76th … yeah, even non-Gators fans might have arched an eyebrow at that one.
EXTRA POINTS
Former Gators quarterback Luke Del Rio has joined the staff of new Redskins coach Ron Rivera as an offensive quality control assistant. Del Rio joins his father Jack Del Rio (defensive coordinator) in Washington …
The Redskins added another assistant coach who had ties to the Gators this season in Ken Zampese, who spent the 2019 season at Florida as an offensive analyst on Mullen's staff ...
Speaking of Tim Tebow, he is a non-roster invitee of the New York Mets for the third consecutive season ...
Doug Nussmeier, Florida's offensive coordinator under Jim McElwain, is reportedly set to move from tight ends coach to quarterbacks coach under McCarthy, which means he will mentor Mullen pupil Dak Prescott ...
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
In the fall of 2013 at Clearwater Central Catholic High School, defensive lineman Justus Reed earned a spot on the Class 3A All-State Team with 13 sacks.
Reed signed with the Gators in 2014 and redshirted his first season on campus. Reed played in nine games as a redshirt freshman in 2015 but an injury plagued 2016 limited him to only two games. Following the season, Reed opted to transfer to Youngstown State for a fresh start under head coach Bo Pelini.
The move has paid off for Reed, who returned to the field in 2017 and finished with 16 tackles in seven games. The best was yet to come. Still, before Reed's breakout season, he endured more injuries and had to sit out the 2018 season.
Once Reed got back on the field in 2019, he finally experienced similar success to what he had in high school, earning a spot on the Missouri Valley Football Conference first-team with 19 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. Reed is coming back for a seventh season of eligibility in 2020 according to Pelini.
"That's the best recruit I've had in a long time,'' Pelini said last month. "He had a chance to enter the NFL draft, weighed all his options, and made a decision to come back."
Quite a college ride for Reed.
It was on Feb. 13, 2019, that Grantham informed the Cincinnati Bengals that he wasn't moving north and Gators head coach Dan Mullen that he was staying south, which delighted defensive players such as Marco Wilson and Mohamoud Diabate, both of whom voiced their thoughts on social media by requesting playfully the Bengals chill in pursuit of their defensive coordinator.
Grantham's decision to remain at UF and not return to the NFL worked out well for the Gators, who went from sixth in the Southeastern Conference and 28th nationally in total defense (343.3 yards per game in 2018) to second and ninth (304.8 ypg), respectively, in 2019. Meanwhile, in head coach Zac Taylor's first season, Cincinnati limped to a 2-14 season with a defense that ranked 29th overall by surrendering 393.7 ypg.
Of course, success breeds opportunity and as the Gators put the finishing touches on an 11-2 season and No. 6-ranking in the final AP Top 25, Mullen's and Grantham's names surfaced as potential candidates elsewhere: Mullen as a possible replacement for Jason Garrett in Dallas and Grantham as head coach at Mississippi State, where he first joined forces with Mullen in 2017.
Asked multiple times in December about his interest in leaping to the NFL, Mullen said he was content at UF and focused on the job he was hired to do: to continue to build the program into a national championship contender. Mullen never said the NFL is not an intriguing option, but he never showed any serious interest publicly in the speculation. The Cowboys hired former Packers coach Mike McCarthy last week.
Will Mississippi State coaching search wrap up Wednesday? #Florida DC Todd Grantham has been a strong candidate from the start, but #Alabama OC Steve Sarkisian very much under consideration. #WSU coach Mike Leach another name to watch.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) January 8, 2020
Meanwhile, Grantham was linked to the Mississippi State opening following the dismissal of Joe Moorhead. Six days later, the Bulldogs made a splash by hiring former Washington State coach Mike Leach.
For now, the Mullen-Grantham marriage seems set to stay intact for a fourth season in 2020 unless someone gives the coaching carousel an unexpected late shove.
Their professional relationship has worked well for both coaches. Mullen has a 29-9 career record with Grantham on his staff, and Grantham's paychecks have become heavier to lift.
Prior to Cincinnati's pursuit a year ago, Mullen and Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin took a significant step in keeping Grantham around by signing him to a contract extension in January 2019 that runs through the 2021 season, increasing Grantham's salary to $1.8 million per year and making him the fifth-highest defensive coordinator in college football.
A veteran with 11 years of NFL experience, Grantham's impact on the Bulldogs was significant, revamping a defense that ranked 110th nationally in 2016 to one that ranked 10th in 2017. Beyond the statistical improvement, the upbeat and hyper Mullen discovered a connection with the passionate Grantham, whose on-field demeanor contrasts greatly with the patient teacher in the film room.
"Before his interview, the Todd Grantham I knew was what I saw on game day. He was a pretty fiery guy and at times, maybe controversial,'' Mullen said prior to their first preseason camp together at Mississippi State. "I loved the fire, energy and passion he had. When I met him, I realized that it was the competitive spirit coming out on game day. Him as a teacher is slightly different. I think sometimes people look and have one glimpse of somebody, but our players see somebody that is an excellent football coach and knows how to get guys into the right position who is also going to hold them to a very high standard. That is the side that a lot of people don't see, which is as a mentor to a lot of guys."
Florida's players responded well to Grantham, who installed an attacking 3-4 scheme when he arrived and found the pieces to make it work. As the Gators prepared to face Virginia in the Orange Bowl, Grantham reflected on the Gators' progress the last two seasons.
The wins have added up and the Gators are viewed as a program on the rise.
"It allows us to finish the season off the right way, but also it creates energy and excitement moving forward,'' he said. "Our first year here, there was a lot of uncertainty, guys kind of feeling their way, but after the Michigan win, we came in the next January, there was a lot of confidence because of what we had done in that bowl game propelling us into the offseason.
"I think [a bowl win] sets up your offseason the right way. It gives a sense of pride in the sense you know you've accomplished something, and the ability to win 21 games over the past two years would be something I think is pretty good. I just think it sets up moving forward the right things, and I think that's important."
It was, but not as important as the fact Mullen and Grantham have not left the building.
The annual East-West Shrine Bowl is Saturday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg (3 p.m., NFL Network) and features three Gators: receivers Josh Hammond and Freddie Swain, and punter Tommy Townsend.
All three UF players are on the East team, which is being coached by Tampa Bay Bucs assistant Mike Caldwell. The game provides a final collegiate showcase for players hoping to make a favorable impression on NFL scouts.
In one on ones, #Gators WR Freddie Swain wins on a crossing route.#Raiders head coach was sure to tell him "nice catch" afterwards. pic.twitter.com/TeaGcq89AT
— Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall) January 14, 2020
Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden and Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Marrone were among the NFL notables who stopped by Tuesday's practice.
For Hammond and Swain, they are working this week to develop a connection with East quarterbacks Tommy Stevens (Mississippi State), Kevin Davidson (Princeton) and James Morgan (Florida International).
In honor of the 150-year anniversary of college football, ESPN ranked the game's 150 greatest players, a substantial endeavor that never had a chance not to ruffle feathers.
A blue-ribbon panel of 150 media members, college administrators, and former coaches and players landed on former Syracuse star Jim Brown as the greatest player.
Former Gators running back Emmitt Smith was No. 70, UF quarterback Tim Tebow was No. 76 and Steve Spurrier checked in at No. 91. OK, back to Tebow at 76th … yeah, even non-Gators fans might have arched an eyebrow at that one.
I can't freaking stand Tim Tebow, but he is without a doubt one of the greatest college football players of all time. That he's not in the Top 25 is laughable.
— Alicia de Artola (@PenguinOfTroy) January 14, 2020
Former Gators quarterback Luke Del Rio has joined the staff of new Redskins coach Ron Rivera as an offensive quality control assistant. Del Rio joins his father Jack Del Rio (defensive coordinator) in Washington …
Redskins assistant coaching hires that are official so far: Scott Turner (OC), Jack Del Rio (DC), John Matsko (OL), Chris Harris (DBs), Pete Hoener (TEs), Ben Jacobs (assistant STs, Sam Mills (DL), Jim Hostler (WRs), Vincent Rivera (quality control),... https://t.co/rQPMH8WvIa
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 14, 2020
The Redskins added another assistant coach who had ties to the Gators this season in Ken Zampese, who spent the 2019 season at Florida as an offensive analyst on Mullen's staff ...
The Washington Redskins have announced that they have made the following changes to the coaching staff.
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) January 15, 2020
🔗: https://t.co/V8yOX8J2TN pic.twitter.com/Y3X2v3Lj2t
Speaking of Tim Tebow, he is a non-roster invitee of the New York Mets for the third consecutive season ...
Ryan Braun thinks Tim Tebow has a chance to make the big leagues with the Mets https://t.co/M3vvWFATC1 pic.twitter.com/5LYYTrrupc
— SNY (@SNYtv) January 14, 2020
Doug Nussmeier, Florida's offensive coordinator under Jim McElwain, is reportedly set to move from tight ends coach to quarterbacks coach under McCarthy, which means he will mentor Mullen pupil Dak Prescott ...
Sources: Texas A&M assistant Maurice Linguist to coach Cowboys' secondary; Doug Nussmeier to coach QBs@DavidMooreDMN | #CowboysNation https://t.co/UplpuElGSR
— SportsDay Cowboys (@dmn_cowboys) January 13, 2020
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
In the fall of 2013 at Clearwater Central Catholic High School, defensive lineman Justus Reed earned a spot on the Class 3A All-State Team with 13 sacks.
Reed signed with the Gators in 2014 and redshirted his first season on campus. Reed played in nine games as a redshirt freshman in 2015 but an injury plagued 2016 limited him to only two games. Following the season, Reed opted to transfer to Youngstown State for a fresh start under head coach Bo Pelini.
The move has paid off for Reed, who returned to the field in 2017 and finished with 16 tackles in seven games. The best was yet to come. Still, before Reed's breakout season, he endured more injuries and had to sit out the 2018 season.
Congratulations to DE 4⃣ Justus Reed on being named first-team All-MVFC. 🐧🏈
— YSU Football (@YoungstownStFB) December 2, 2019
He's the first Penguin since 2016 to earn first-team all-league defensive honors.#GoGuins // #GritU pic.twitter.com/PUwzwGmiaq
Once Reed got back on the field in 2019, he finally experienced similar success to what he had in high school, earning a spot on the Missouri Valley Football Conference first-team with 19 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. Reed is coming back for a seventh season of eligibility in 2020 according to Pelini.
"That's the best recruit I've had in a long time,'' Pelini said last month. "He had a chance to enter the NFL draft, weighed all his options, and made a decision to come back."
Quite a college ride for Reed.
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