Shemar James during the Gasparilla Bowl. (Photo: Lorenzo Vasquez/UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: Checking In on Gators' Latest Roster Movement ... To Be Continued
Friday, December 27, 2024 | Football, Scott Carter
ORLANDO, Fla. — Where am I? What day is it? More cookies in the oven?
Anyone else feel they're on the same ride?
The holiday season has a way of discombobulating our routines. Over the past few days, I've been in Tampa, Gainesville, Tampa, Gainesville, St. Augustine, Gainesville, Orlando.
I'd much rather be covering the Gators in the College Football Playoff this week than watching the endless stream of bowl games as casual observer. Maybe next year. That is something I say with more confidence this year than in recent years.
The Gators closed the 2024 season with a victory over Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl, finishing 8-5 and with momentum that should land them in the preseason AP Top 25 next season.
Florida is headed in the right direction, and as UF coach Billy Napier said in his postgame press conference following his team's 33-8 win over the Green Wave, "momentum is a real thing in college football."
The key is maintaining it for an extended period. Gators fans know what that looks like. They remember the 1990s. They remember the Urban Meyer years. They recall the start of the Dan Mullen era.
They are currently celebrating Florida's first four-game winning streak under Napier and his first bowl victory at UF. Yes, small prizes compared to past glories, but each burst of momentum has to start somewhere, and if we are covering the Gators in the CFB Playoff next year, we'll know where it started.
The opposite is true, as well. When the Gators lost at Texas 49-17 early last month, the loss capped a 50-game stretch in which the Gators went 21-29.
When did that once-unimaginable road to nowhere begin? The foggy night the Gators lost at home to LSU, Marco Wilson tossed a shoe, and Mullen refused to acknowledge the misdeed.
Four years later, hope is on the horizon. Here is to a promising 2025 for the Gators and their fans.
Meanwhile, a look at some recent events that you may have missed while baking another batch of cookies …
JAMES EXITS
Junior linebacker Shemar James announced late Thursday that he is skipping his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. James was a steady presence in the middle of Florida's bend-but-don't-break defense in 2024. He was noncommittal about his plans at the Gasparilla Bowl and surprised some when he opted to enter the draft. Best to Shemar as he takes the next step in his career …
HELPING HANDS
The addition of transfer receiver J. Michael Sturdivant, IMHO, is an excellent one. Of course, I'm the same guy that didn't think much of Chimere Dike when I first watched him at practice last spring. I was clearly wrong in Dike's case. Hopefully, I'm right on this one. The mood at UCLA is disappointment at the Bruins losing one of their top playmakers ...
INCOMING QUARTERBACK
The Gators lost transfer quarterback Max Brown to Charlotte last offseason. They picked up Charlotte quarterback Deshawn Purdie in the transfer portal this year. Purdie was a fan favorite at Charlotte according to the NinerTimes ...
HOMEGROWN HOPE
Receiver Dallas Wilson is officially a Gator. Wilson, who is from Tampa and attended the Gasparilla Bowl, is a big name to those who follow recruiting closely. Wilson originally signed with Oregon, but after second thoughts, sought to play closer to home. He is a talented prospect and one of Napier's biggest prep signings in his three years leading the Gators ...
BURKE DEPARTS
Veteran UF receiver Marcus Burke has entered the transfer portal. Burke never cracked the starting rotation consistently despite numerous opportunities. Best luck to Burke as he seeks an opportunity elsewhere ...
FLIP, FLIP
The Gators have added tight end Cameron Kossman to the roster. An original Penn commitment, Kossman flipped to Florida and offers depth in the wake of Arlis Boardingham's departure ...
Anyone else feel they're on the same ride?
The holiday season has a way of discombobulating our routines. Over the past few days, I've been in Tampa, Gainesville, Tampa, Gainesville, St. Augustine, Gainesville, Orlando.
I'd much rather be covering the Gators in the College Football Playoff this week than watching the endless stream of bowl games as casual observer. Maybe next year. That is something I say with more confidence this year than in recent years.
The Gators closed the 2024 season with a victory over Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl, finishing 8-5 and with momentum that should land them in the preseason AP Top 25 next season.
Florida is headed in the right direction, and as UF coach Billy Napier said in his postgame press conference following his team's 33-8 win over the Green Wave, "momentum is a real thing in college football."
The key is maintaining it for an extended period. Gators fans know what that looks like. They remember the 1990s. They remember the Urban Meyer years. They recall the start of the Dan Mullen era.
They are currently celebrating Florida's first four-game winning streak under Napier and his first bowl victory at UF. Yes, small prizes compared to past glories, but each burst of momentum has to start somewhere, and if we are covering the Gators in the CFB Playoff next year, we'll know where it started.
The opposite is true, as well. When the Gators lost at Texas 49-17 early last month, the loss capped a 50-game stretch in which the Gators went 21-29.
When did that once-unimaginable road to nowhere begin? The foggy night the Gators lost at home to LSU, Marco Wilson tossed a shoe, and Mullen refused to acknowledge the misdeed.
Four years later, hope is on the horizon. Here is to a promising 2025 for the Gators and their fans.
Meanwhile, a look at some recent events that you may have missed while baking another batch of cookies …
Junior linebacker Shemar James announced late Thursday that he is skipping his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. James was a steady presence in the middle of Florida's bend-but-don't-break defense in 2024. He was noncommittal about his plans at the Gasparilla Bowl and surprised some when he opted to enter the draft. Best to Shemar as he takes the next step in his career …
The addition of transfer receiver J. Michael Sturdivant, IMHO, is an excellent one. Of course, I'm the same guy that didn't think much of Chimere Dike when I first watched him at practice last spring. I was clearly wrong in Dike's case. Hopefully, I'm right on this one. The mood at UCLA is disappointment at the Bruins losing one of their top playmakers ...
PLAYMAKER! 🔥
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) December 20, 2024
Time to shine, @jmike_04‼️#GRIND25HINE 🐊 pic.twitter.com/VEC3ROEsWN
INCOMING QUARTERBACK
The Gators lost transfer quarterback Max Brown to Charlotte last offseason. They picked up Charlotte quarterback Deshawn Purdie in the transfer portal this year. Purdie was a fan favorite at Charlotte according to the NinerTimes ...
Elite competitor!!! 🐊
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) December 22, 2024
Time to shine, @Dpurdie0 ‼️#GRIND25HINE pic.twitter.com/xU4MvZc6JW
HOMEGROWN HOPE
Receiver Dallas Wilson is officially a Gator. Wilson, who is from Tampa and attended the Gasparilla Bowl, is a big name to those who follow recruiting closely. Wilson originally signed with Oregon, but after second thoughts, sought to play closer to home. He is a talented prospect and one of Napier's biggest prep signings in his three years leading the Gators ...
Dynamic playmaker! 🔥
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) December 23, 2024
Time to shine, @18Dallaswilson 💯#GRIND25HINE pic.twitter.com/uxeejTwMSM
BURKE DEPARTS
Veteran UF receiver Marcus Burke has entered the transfer portal. Burke never cracked the starting rotation consistently despite numerous opportunities. Best luck to Burke as he seeks an opportunity elsewhere ...
— Marcus burke (@CERTIFIED_MB4) December 23, 2024
FLIP, FLIP
The Gators have added tight end Cameron Kossman to the roster. An original Penn commitment, Kossman flipped to Florida and offers depth in the wake of Arlis Boardingham's departure ...
Lunch Pail Guy. 🐊
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) December 24, 2024
Time to shine, @CameronKossmann 💯#GRIND25HINE pic.twitter.com/GcE0wmVgzi
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