Gators in the NFL: Season Recap
Monday, February 19, 2024 | Football
Highlighting all the Former Gators who Made an Impact this NFL Season
Good luck to all the Gators in the NFL this season! 🐊#GoGators | #GatorMade pic.twitter.com/74uMjv8UlQ
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) September 7, 2023
Offensive Highlights
As the fourth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Anthony Richardson came into the season with high expectations, and until his season-ending injury in week five, he lived up to the billing. In week four, Richardson etched his name into the record books, becoming the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to score a rushing touchdown in each of his first three career games.The return of the spin spike. 🌀
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 1, 2023
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/uBcHRbZGmx
Another rookie who shined this season was O'Cyrus Torrence. Torrence not only started all 19 games for the AFC East champion Buffalo Bills, but was also on the field for every single one of the Bills' offensive snaps this season. The 2022 Consensus All-American was on an offensive line that blocked for the seventh most rushing yards in the league while allowing the least sacks in the entire NFL. Torrence was named to the NFL All-Rookie team for his efforts.
The only Buffalo Bill to play EVERY single snap this season. 💯
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) January 24, 2024
Congratulations @78_KingBo on being named to the NFL All-Rookie Team.🐊#GoGators | #GatorMade pic.twitter.com/1TQav8q96I
Demarcus Robinson, an eight-year NFL vet, put together a resurgent second half of the season as a 29-year-old in his first campaign with the Rams. After not seeing the field for the first eight weeks of the season, and just five targets through week 11, Robinson emerged as a top receiver target for the Rams from week 12 on, hauling in touchdown passes in four straight games. The Rams were 3-6 after week nine, when Robinson made his first catch, and finished the season 10-7, with an NFC wild card berth to boot.
This is now the Demarcus Robinson game.
— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2023
6 catches
82 yards
1 TD@RamsNFL are rolling into the half.#NOvsLAR on Prime Video
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Nz8Z54zYm0 pic.twitter.com/hls1PcFIEN
Defensive Highlights
First up on our defensive highlight section is Detroit Lions duo Alex Anzalone and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The linebacker, safety duo had a season to remember, accounting for 181 combined TOT's which was 14.1% of the Lions tackles this season. VIDEO: Lions LB Alex Anzalone came out of nowhere to explode through and sack Geno Smith
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) September 17, 2023
🎥: @NFL pic.twitter.com/n9hQcVIyd3
Fourth year defensive end Jonathan Greenard had a breakout season with 57 TOT's, 12.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two pass deflections. Greenard's 12.5 sacks are good for the 10th most sacks in NFL and the fourth most among defensive ends.
JG with the sack 😤 pic.twitter.com/6DvuCJyXJw
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 10, 2023
Special Teams Highlights
Eddy Pineiro played for a Panthers team that won just two games in the 2023-24 NFL season. "Steady Eddy" notably went two-for-two on walk-off, game-winning kicks this season. Pineiro also fired off a new career-long field goal this season, drilling a 56-yarder in week four.
Eddy Pineiro drills it for the first @Panthers win of the year! pic.twitter.com/AyTouPTeJ9
— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2023
Tommy Townsend had an "MVP" caliber season, averaging 47.1 yards on 59 punts and pinning opposing teams inside the 20-yard line on 20 occasions. Townsend is more than a punter, the fourth year vet was the best QB on the Chiefs per his quarterback rating (112.5). The second best quarterback for KC only had a rating of 92.6. The all-around athlete converted a crucial fourth and seven against the divisional rival Raiders.
Tommy Townsend threw a STRIKE on this fake punt pass. #ChiefsKingdom
— NFL (@NFL) November 15, 2021
📺: #KCvsLV on NBC
📱: https://t.co/FF7Rvmy1OI pic.twitter.com/dJt0Bi5PYK
Brandon Powell continues to be a gadget piece for whatever team he plays for. The sixth year WR was signed by the Vikings this off season and immediately made an impact. Powell had 29 catches for 324 yards and a TD. He also put in work on the punt unit, racking up a career high 289 yards returning.
JOSH DOBBS ➡️ BRANDON POWELL JUST HOW WE ALL THOUGHT IT WOULD GO!!!
— NFL on DAZN (@NFLonDAZN) November 5, 2023
📺 Vikings vs. Falcons on NFL Game Pass on DAZN
pic.twitter.com/Ri7rz8lNLb
Best Moments
Dameon Pierce had never been a kick returner. He didn't receive a kick at Florida, and he hadn't received a single kick in 24 career NFL games. But in week 16, on just his second career return, Pierce let off a 98-yard return, which was the second longest return this season by any player, and one of just four kick return TD's this season.98 YARDS TO THE HOUSE @IRep229 🔥#GoGators | #GatorMade pic.twitter.com/PEXZl0tcUH
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) December 24, 2023
Evan McPherson continued to dominate in his third year in the league. "Money Mac" made 83.9% of his field goals (26) and was automatic when kicking extra points making all 40 of his attempts. McPhearson's season-long 56-yarder came in an upset win against the Super Bowl runner-up 49er's. McPhearson's best kick of the season came against Jacksonville when he booted a 48-yard game winner.
Evan McPherson walks it off for the Bengals! 🎯
— NFL on DAZN (@NFLonDAZN) December 5, 2023
📺: Watch Bengals vs. Jaguars on NFL Game Pass on DAZN | via @NFL pic.twitter.com/gFlKLEIxbE
Kyle Pitts is called "The Unicorn" for a reason. Unicorns are magical, and Pitts reminded us all why he earned the nickname with this magical catch against the Bucs in week 7.
What a catch by @kylepitts__ on #NationalTightEndsDay ‼️🐊pic.twitter.com/zwGrdCuJCp
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) October 22, 2023
Gators Win the Super Bowl
The team with the most Gators on its roster won the Super Bowl this year. The Kansas City Chiefs, featuring Tommy Townsend, Jawaan Taylor, Kadarius Toney, La'Mical Perine and Trey Dean , are Super Bowl 58 Champions.
Townsend and Toney made history becoming just the third and fourth Gators to ever win back-to-back Super Bowls (Emmit Smith and Myles Godfrey went back-to-back with the Cowboys in '93 and '94).
"Big Time Tommy" is in the NFL record book, booting a 62-yarder which became the fourth longest punt in Super Bowl history.
Going down in the history books. Congrats to our Super Bowl Champion Gators! 🐊#GoGators | #GatorMade pic.twitter.com/HkfGoSuHZW
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) February 12, 2024
Gators on the Move
Mar. 13 Jawaan Taylor: signed by Chiefs
Mar. 19 C.J. Gardner-Johnson: signed by Lions
Mar. 22 Brandon Powell: signed by Vikings
Mar. 30 Keanu Neal: signed by Steelers
Oct. 10 Van Jefferson: Rams → Falcons
Dec. 13 Johnathan Harrison: signed by Dolphins
Dec. 28 Marco Wilson: signed by Patriots
Jan. 17 Trey Dean: signed by Chiefs
Feb. 13 Jerimiah Moon: signed off waivers by Steelers
Season Stats
Arizona Cardinals
74 – D.J. Humphries – OL – 8th year
Atlanta Falcons
8 – Kyle Pitts – TE – 3rd year (53 catches for 667 yards, 3 Td's)
15 - Van Jefferson – WR – 4th year (20 catches for 209 yards)
Baltimore Ravens
48 – Jeremiah Moon – OLB – 2nd year (12 TOT, 6 Solo, 2 FF)
Buffalo Bills
24 – Kaiir Elam – CB – 2nd year (19 Tot, 11 Solo, 1 Int)
64 – O'Cyrus Torrence – G – Rookie
18 - Justin Shorter – WR – Rookie (injured/reserve)
75 – Richard Gouraige – OL – Rookie (practice squad)
Carolina Panthers
74 – David Sharpe – OL – 6th year
24 - CJ Henderson - CB – 4th year (39 TOT, 31 Solo, 1 Sack)
4 - Eddy Pineiro - K - 6th year (25 Fg's, 86.2 %, 17 Xp's, 85%, Long of 56)
Chicago Bears
98 – Gervon Dexter Sr. – DL – Rookie (20 TOT, 13 Solo, 2.5 Sack, 2 Pd's)
Cincinnati Bengals
95 - Zachary Carter - DL – 2nd year (23 TOT, 8 Solo, 1 FF, 1 Pd)
2 - Evan McPherson - K – 3rd year (26 Fg's, 83.9%, 40 Xp's, 100%, long of 56)
Dallas Cowboys
56 - Dante Fowler Jr. - OLB - 8th year (13 TOT, 8 Solo, 4 Sacks, 1 FF, 3 PD's)
34 - Malik Davis - RB – 2nd year (Practice squad)
Detroit Lions
34 - Alex Anzalone - LB - 7th year (152 TOT, 104 Solo, 3 Sacks, 7 TFL's, 1 FR, 6 PBU's)
23 - C.J. Gardner-Johnson - DB – 4th year (29 TOT, 21 Solo, 2 Int's, 4 PBU's)
Green Bay Packers
93 - T.J. Slaton - DL – 3rd year (56 TOT, 27 Solo, 2 Pd's)
57 – Brenton Cox Jr. – DL – Rookie
Houston Texans
31 - Dameon Pierce - RB – 2nd year (148 carries for 416 yards, 2 Td's, 13 catches for 101 yards, 7 KOR's, 225 yards, long of 98, 1 Td)
52 - Jonathan Greenard - DE – 4th year (57 TOT, 40 Solo, 12.5 Sacks, 1 FF, 2 Pd's)
Indianapolis Colts
5 – Anthony Richardson – QB – Rookie (50 passes for 577 yards, 3 TD's, 25 carries for 136, 4 TD's)
96 - Taven Bryan - DT - 6th year (22 TOT, 12 Solo, 2 Sacks, 1 FF)
Jacksonville Jaguars
51 – Ventrell Miller – LB – Rookie (Injured/Reserve)
Kansas City Chiefs
19 - Kadarius Toney - WR – 3rd year (27 catches for 169 yards, 1 Td, 11 carries for 31 yards)
29 – La'Mical Perine – RB – 2nd year (22 carries for 77 yards, 3 catches for 33 yards)
74 – Jawaan Taylor – OT – 5th year
5 - Tommy Townsend - P – 4th year
N/A – Trey Dean – S – Rookie (Practice Squad)
Las Vegas Raiders
56 – Amari Burney – ILB – Rookie (15 TOT, 10 Solo)
Los Angeles Rams
15 – Demarcus Robinson – WR – 8th year (29 catches for 415 yards, 4 Td's, 1 carry for 16 yards)
Minnesota Vikings
93 – Jonathan Bullard – DE – 8th year (44 TOT, 24 Solo, 2 Sacks, 1 FF)
19 - Brandon Powell – WR – 6th Year (26 catches for 324 yards, 1 Td, 5 carries for 17 yards, 37 Punt returns for 289 yards)
New England Patriots
77 - Trent Brown – OT – 9th year
19 – Marco Wilson – CB – 3rd year (53 TOT, 41 Solo, 4 PBU's)
New Orleans Saints
73 - Max Garcia – G – 9th year
6 – Marcus Maye – S – 7th year (37 TOT, 27 Solo, 1 Sack, 2 Int, 2 PBU's)
New York Giants
57 - Jarrad Davis – LB - 7th Year
Philadelphia Eagles
50 - Fred Johnson – OT – 5th year
Pittsburgh Steelers
22 – Keanu Neal – S – 8th year (50 TOT, 33 Solo, 1 FR, 1 Int)
Seattle Seahawks
78 – Stone Forsythe – OT – 3rd Year
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2 - Kyle Trask – QB – 3rd Year
