Transfer Diwun Black has made a favorable impression on his coaches and teammates in his first camp with the Gators. (Photo: Isabella Marley/UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: Diwun Black, Kyle Trask, Gators Game Day
Wednesday, August 25, 2021 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Signs this week that football season is near that we missed in 2020: crowded campus sidewalks, scooters everywhere, wide-eyed freshmen taking photos in front of the Heisman statues.
In 10 days, the Gators open the 2021 season at home against Florida Atlantic. However, since Monday students, professors and so many others that make a campus come to life have returned for the start of the 2021-22 school year at UF.
Welcome back, Gators. It's been lonely around here without you, believe me.
For once, having to park farther away from the office is an appreciated morning ritual.
It's still not quite "normal" considering a glance at the daily news cycle, but it sure beats a year ago when reduced crowds outside and inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium made game day seem like just another day at work. Not only that, the revamped schedule due to coronavirus pandemic wiped out the annual Gators-Seminoles matchup for the first time in 62 years.
Thankfully, time refuses to stay idle.
Florida's soccer team has its third game of the season on Thursday night at home against UCF, and the Gators volleyball team is headed to California to start the season on Friday against San Francisco.
Entering her 31st season, UF head coach Mary Wise appeared on WRUF Wednesday afternoon and was asked by host Steve Russell if this season feels more "normal" than last year.
Wise, whose team split its season between fall and spring in 2020-21, said it's creeping in that direction little by little.
"We get to play,'' she said. "We're taking that as a great sign."
With the Gators back in action, look for regular installments of Carter's Corner to help you stay up to date. I'm experimenting with the format, but starting off at least, I'm going to pick off three timely topics to write about in each blog.
Time for a drum roll in honor of the late, great Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones …
DIWUN BLACK
A newcomer to Florida's defense, Black has made a favorable impression during his first camp with the Gators. The 6-foot-3, 228-pound Black arrived at Florida from Gulf Coast (Miss.) Community College as the top junior college linebacker prospect in the country.
Black has size, speed and toughness, a combination that provides defensive coordinator Todd Grantham with plenty of options on where to use Black. Black has worked at linebacker and in the secondary at the hybrid "Star" position/nickelback in camp, opening eyes with the way he can move for a player his size.
"One word: a beast. That's exactly what he is," sophomore safety Rashad Torrence said after Tuesday's practice. "That's nothing to play with. Y'all going to see what he's got to offer."
Safeties coach Wesley McGriff said Black continues to learn the intricacies of Florida's defense, but he expects him to be able to help during his first season on campus. He's got tools you can't coach.
"He's very long, very long athlete," McGriff said. "He's got good run ability. He's constantly improving his change of direction. He's a guy that certainly has a skill set and talent that he'll be able to support us down the road when we get going in this thing."
We won't know exactly how the Gators plan to use Black until they take the field against FAU, but what we've heard from camp makes Black an intriguing player to watch this season.
"He's a one-of-a-kind player,'' teammate Khris Bogle said. "Not every player in the country can have what Diwun Black has."
To read more about Black, check out this story from Edgar Thompson of the Orlando Sentinel.
KYLE TRASK
The former Gators quarterback is expected to play in Tampa Bay's final preseason game on Saturday at Houston. For Trask, it's an opportunity to play in the NFL city closest to his hometown of Manvel, Texas, about 30 miles south of Houston.
The Bucs played their first two preseason games at home, losing to Cincinnati and Tennessee. With Tom Brady locked in as the starter, Tampa Bay is taking a close look at Trask and veterans Blaine Gabbert and Ryan Griffin behind Brady.
Trask finished 13 of 26 for 131 yards and two interceptions in his most extended action in last week's loss to the Titans. Both interceptions deflected off receivers. Bucs coach Bruce Arians is not putting any pressure on Trask to shine right away.
"It's a learning experience,'' Arians said after the game. "Kyle's got a long time to grow."
COVID-19 QUESTION
In the wake of LSU's announcement on Tuesday that fans 12 and older must provide either a vaccination card or proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within the past 72 hours prior to entry to Tiger Stadium this season, it was a certainty that Gators Athletic Director Scott Stricklin would be asked if Florida planned similar measures when he appeared on WRUF radio Wednesday afternoon.
Russell opened Stricklin's interview with that question.
"The simple answer is Florida will not be requiring vaccines or a negative test to attend any event on campus, whether it's classes or a football game,'' Stricklin said. "The authority to require that does not rest with our state university campuses. The public universities don't have the authority to make that decision. That decision has already been made above us."
Stricklin encouraged fans to get vaccinated in order to speed up the process of overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic that has hampered daily life in the country since March 2020.
Meanwhile, UF issued a prepared statement related to general media inquires about the Gators' protocols at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium this season.
"The University of Florida does not have the authority to require vaccinations and will not require proof of vaccination or a negative test to attend football games this fall."
In 10 days, the Gators open the 2021 season at home against Florida Atlantic. However, since Monday students, professors and so many others that make a campus come to life have returned for the start of the 2021-22 school year at UF.
Welcome back, Gators. It's been lonely around here without you, believe me.
Chomping for a great first weekend back and an even better #FirstDayUF. 📚 🐊 pic.twitter.com/y7LFwLWPHC
— FLORIDA (@UF) August 23, 2021
For once, having to park farther away from the office is an appreciated morning ritual.
It's still not quite "normal" considering a glance at the daily news cycle, but it sure beats a year ago when reduced crowds outside and inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium made game day seem like just another day at work. Not only that, the revamped schedule due to coronavirus pandemic wiped out the annual Gators-Seminoles matchup for the first time in 62 years.
Thankfully, time refuses to stay idle.
Florida's soccer team has its third game of the season on Thursday night at home against UCF, and the Gators volleyball team is headed to California to start the season on Friday against San Francisco.
Entering her 31st season, UF head coach Mary Wise appeared on WRUF Wednesday afternoon and was asked by host Steve Russell if this season feels more "normal" than last year.
Wise, whose team split its season between fall and spring in 2020-21, said it's creeping in that direction little by little.
"We get to play,'' she said. "We're taking that as a great sign."
With the Gators back in action, look for regular installments of Carter's Corner to help you stay up to date. I'm experimenting with the format, but starting off at least, I'm going to pick off three timely topics to write about in each blog.
Time for a drum roll in honor of the late, great Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones …
A newcomer to Florida's defense, Black has made a favorable impression during his first camp with the Gators. The 6-foot-3, 228-pound Black arrived at Florida from Gulf Coast (Miss.) Community College as the top junior college linebacker prospect in the country.
Black has size, speed and toughness, a combination that provides defensive coordinator Todd Grantham with plenty of options on where to use Black. Black has worked at linebacker and in the secondary at the hybrid "Star" position/nickelback in camp, opening eyes with the way he can move for a player his size.
"One word: a beast. That's exactly what he is," sophomore safety Rashad Torrence said after Tuesday's practice. "That's nothing to play with. Y'all going to see what he's got to offer."
Safeties coach Wesley McGriff said Black continues to learn the intricacies of Florida's defense, but he expects him to be able to help during his first season on campus. He's got tools you can't coach.
"He's very long, very long athlete," McGriff said. "He's got good run ability. He's constantly improving his change of direction. He's a guy that certainly has a skill set and talent that he'll be able to support us down the road when we get going in this thing."
not a joke, i'm really in that field fr❌ !!! pic.twitter.com/QF0zfI6phO
— Diwun Black🧟♂️ (@diwunblack) August 10, 2021
We won't know exactly how the Gators plan to use Black until they take the field against FAU, but what we've heard from camp makes Black an intriguing player to watch this season.
"He's a one-of-a-kind player,'' teammate Khris Bogle said. "Not every player in the country can have what Diwun Black has."
To read more about Black, check out this story from Edgar Thompson of the Orlando Sentinel.
The former Gators quarterback is expected to play in Tampa Bay's final preseason game on Saturday at Houston. For Trask, it's an opportunity to play in the NFL city closest to his hometown of Manvel, Texas, about 30 miles south of Houston.
The Bucs played their first two preseason games at home, losing to Cincinnati and Tennessee. With Tom Brady locked in as the starter, Tampa Bay is taking a close look at Trask and veterans Blaine Gabbert and Ryan Griffin behind Brady.
Some 20 minutes after practice in the broiling sun, Kyle Trask is still out here throwing passes to Jaydon Mickens. pic.twitter.com/8aMbV3b9I5
— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) August 17, 2021
Trask finished 13 of 26 for 131 yards and two interceptions in his most extended action in last week's loss to the Titans. Both interceptions deflected off receivers. Bucs coach Bruce Arians is not putting any pressure on Trask to shine right away.
"It's a learning experience,'' Arians said after the game. "Kyle's got a long time to grow."
In the wake of LSU's announcement on Tuesday that fans 12 and older must provide either a vaccination card or proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within the past 72 hours prior to entry to Tiger Stadium this season, it was a certainty that Gators Athletic Director Scott Stricklin would be asked if Florida planned similar measures when he appeared on WRUF radio Wednesday afternoon.
Russell opened Stricklin's interview with that question.
"The simple answer is Florida will not be requiring vaccines or a negative test to attend any event on campus, whether it's classes or a football game,'' Stricklin said. "The authority to require that does not rest with our state university campuses. The public universities don't have the authority to make that decision. That decision has already been made above us."
Sport Scene With Steve Russell Rewind 8-25-21 https://t.co/PKxAXx19P1
— Steve Russell (@SteveRussell850) August 25, 2021
Stricklin encouraged fans to get vaccinated in order to speed up the process of overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic that has hampered daily life in the country since March 2020.
Meanwhile, UF issued a prepared statement related to general media inquires about the Gators' protocols at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium this season.
"The University of Florida does not have the authority to require vaccinations and will not require proof of vaccination or a negative test to attend football games this fall."
Players Mentioned
Aaron Chiles Media Availability 10-15-25
Wednesday, October 15
Damieon George Jr. Media Availability 10-15-25
Wednesday, October 15
Billy Napier Media Availability 10-15-25
Wednesday, October 15
Gator Insider presented by Talon Wealth 10-15-25
Wednesday, October 15
