GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Gators are everywhere. There's reportedly 500,000 or more living alumni around the globe.
And they keep showing up and making headlines in notable ways. Here are three names Gators fans know well:
Â
1. Kadarius Toney
As confetti fell from the sky following Kansas City's win over Philadelphia in one of the best Super Bowls ever, the player who scored the go-ahead-for-good touchdown for the Chiefs celebrated "the biggest game of my life." Former Gators joystick
Kadarius Toney emerged as one of the game's stars with a 5-yard walk-in touchdown catch from quarterback
Patrick Mahomes to put the Chiefs up 28-27 in the fourth quarter. A few minutes later, Toney showed the world what Florida fans saw him do many times in his UF career: zig and zag his way to a big play. Toney's Super Bowl-record 65-yard punt return set up another Chiefs score and placed a spotlight on the player the New York Giants gave up on earlier this season and traded him to the Chiefs for a late third-round pick and a sixth-round pick. A first-round pick by the Giants in 2021, Toney was overcome with emotion on the field afterward. "S--t, I was crying," Toney said with a smile to the
New York Daily News. "I was thinking about everything I've been through, that I've overcome, coming over here and winning." Toney signed with Florida out of Blount (Ala.) High in 2017 as a running back. A former high school quarterback, Toney later moved to receiver and flashed his ability to make tacklers miss in a variety of ways. He finished his college career with a team-high 70 receptions in 2020 for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns. Toney introduced himself to a much larger audience in Super Bowl LVII by making two of the game's biggest plays, crediting Kansas City coach
Andy Reid for making it happen. "He gave me an opportunity," Toney said. "I mean, most coaches, anything go wrong, they hissy fit, cry and complain or whatever. Him, you mess up anything, he'll come over there and crack a joke with you. He's coming back to you. He's just a coach you want to play for."Â
Â
Â
Â
2. Mike Rivera
The last time we saw
Mike Rivera in a Florida uniform, the catcher was running toward the mound with his arms raised in triumph after the final out of the 2017 College World Series. Rivera was constantly in the middle of the action for the Gators in his three seasons. He played in three consecutive CWS and served as an extra coach behind the plate with his heady approach to the game and leadership skills. Rivera has retired from professional baseball following parts of six seasons in the minors, including last year at Triple-A Columbus in Cleveland's organization. A sixth-round pick by the Indians in 2017, Rivera is back at UF serving as a student assistant coach. Gators coach
Kevin O'Sullivan, a catcher in his playing days, is glad to have the 27-year-old Rivera back in the Gators' dugout. "He's been awesome, especially with [catchers]
Rene (
Lastres), who's missed a lot of time because of Tommy John [surgery], and
Luke (
Heyman), being a freshman, and
Salvatore (
Alvarez), being a freshman. He's the epitome of what we want in this program. I know it was not an easy decision for him to retire. I can't say enough about him. You guys know how I feel about Mike Rivera. He's going to be a heck of a coach someday. He's fit right in. He's honest, he's hard working. He's going to make those guys better for sure." Welcome back, Mike.
Mike Rivera playing in the College World Series during his UF career. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Â
3. Tyree Appleby
Former Gators guard
Tyree Appleby was back at it Saturday, lifting Wake Forest to a comeback home win against Georgia Tech. Appleby knocked down a pair of free throws with 2.3 seconds remaining at Joel Coliseum for a 71-70 Demon Deacons victory. Appleby scored 16 points and dished six assists in his latest clutch performance. "He's a gamer,'' Wake Forest coach
Steve Forbes told reporters. In Wake's previous game, a 92-85 win against North Carolina on Tuesday, Appleby scored 35 points and set Atlantic Coast Conference records for most free throws made
and attempted in a single game by hitting 23 of 28 from the foul line. Appleby, who transferred to Wake Forest as a graduate student, has become a go-to player on the Winston-Salem, N.C., campus. He scored 22 points earlier this season in a win over Georgia and former Gators head coach
Mike White, and in the next game, he hit a game-winning 3-pointer in overtime to beat Utah Valley. Appleby beat Ohio State with a last-second shot while with the Gators. Appleby has made the most of his lone season with the Demon Deacons, who at 17-9 are in contention for a NCAA Tournament berth. Following his breakout game against North Carolina, Appleby signed perhaps the most fitting NIL contract of any player in the country. He inked a deal with Applebee's Neighborhood Grill. Some NIL deals make more sense than others. Appleby is likely on his way to earning All-ACC honors. He is averaged 18.6 points, 6.2 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game.
Â
Â
