MARK LONG
FILE - Florida quarterback Emory Jones warms up for the team's NCAA college football game against Missouri on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. Jones is leaving Florida after just two days of spring practice. Jones announced Saturday, March 19, 2022, he is entering the NCAA transfer portal, an about-face for a fifth-year senior who earlier this week said he wanted to give new coach Billy Napier and his staff a chance. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Florida QB Emory Jones transferring after 2 spring practices

By Mark Long Mar. 19, 2022 10:35 AM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Quarterback Emory Jones is leaving Florida after just two

Wake Forest tight end Blake Whiteheart (85) celebrates a touchdown scored by tight end Brandon Chapman (23) during the fourth quarter of the Gator Bowl NCAA college football game against Rutgers, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla. (Corey Perrine/The Florida Times-Union via AP)
Hartman leads No. 20 Wake Forest to 38-10 romp in Gator Bowl

By Mark Long Dec. 31, 2021 02:46 PM EST
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Sam Hartman's big day capped Wake Forest's best season in

FILE - Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson leaves the field after their loss in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. Wake Forest is trying to win 11 games for just the second time in the program’s 114-year history. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman, File)
Gator Bowl fill-in Rutgers 'letting it hang out' vs Wake

By Mark Long Dec. 30, 2021 04:11 PM EST
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Accepting a spot in the Gator Bowl was easy for Rutgers.

New Florida head football coach Billy Napier, right, and athletic director Scott Stricklin pose for a photo as Napier is introduced during a news conference at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla., Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. [Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun via AP)
Florida's Stricklin gets extension, nearly doubles salary

By Mark Long Dec. 27, 2021 06:11 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin received a three

New Florida NCAA college football head coach Billy Napier shakes hands with fans as he and his family arrive at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla., Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. [Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun via AP)
Florida's Billy Napier embraces 'scared money' catchphrase

By Mark Long Dec. 06, 2021 05:01 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — New Florida coach Billy Napier had heard the expression

New Florida NCAA college football head coach Billy Napier shakes hands with fans as he and his family arrive at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla., Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. [Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun via AP)
Florida's Napier plans to hire 'unprecedented' support staff

By Mark Long Dec. 05, 2021 07:16 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — New Florida coach Billy Napier plans to hire an

Louisiana-Lafayette head coach Billy Napier, soon to be Florida head coach, wipes his eye after the team defeated Appalachian State in the Sun Belt Conference championship NCAA college football game in Lafayette, La., Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
AP source: Napier gets 7-year, $51.8M contract at Florida

By Mark Long Dec. 04, 2021 09:31 PM EST
GAINEVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Billy Napier more than tripled his salary while moving

Louisiana-Lafayette head coach Billy Napier, right, watches Louisiana-Lafayette quarterback Levi Lewis (1) warm up before an NCAA college football game against Louisiana-Monroe in Lafayette, La., Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Florida hires La-Lafayette coach Napier to replace Mullen

By Mark Long Nov. 28, 2021 01:54 PM EST
Florida went back to Nick Saban's coaching tree in hopes of finding its next

Florida State defensive back Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (3) runs past Florida wide receiver Justin Shorter (4) after intercepting a pass in the end zone during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida tops rival FSU 24-21 for 3rd straight in series

By Mark Long Nov. 27, 2021 04:06 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Zach Carter made his way to one corner of the Swamp

Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis (13) drops back to pass under pressure from Boston College defensive lineman Izaiah Henderson (92) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Bowl game, bragging rights at stake for rivals FSU, Florida

By Mark Long Nov. 26, 2021 09:38 AM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Running back Malik Davis, one of a dozen Florida

FILE - Mississippi State interim head coach Greg Knox watches his team warm up before the TaxSlayer Bowl NCAA college football game against Louisville, Dec. 30, 2017, in Jacksonville, Fla. Knox is stepping in for Dan Mullen for the second time in five years. A 27-year veteran of the Southeastern Conference and a winner in his only game as an interim head coach, Knox knows how to handle a staff. He knows how to handle players. He knows how to handle himself. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton, File)
Florida turns to longtime SEC assistant Knox amid transition

By Mark Long Nov. 22, 2021 05:52 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Greg Knox is stepping in for Dan Mullen for the second

Florida quarterback Emory Jones sits in his end zone after an incomplete pass during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Florida fires coach Dan Mullen, completing stunning fall

By Mark Long Nov. 21, 2021 01:33 PM EST
One bad season at Florida was one too many for Dan Mullen.

Florida quarterback Emory Jones (5) scrambles for yardage as he gets past Samford defensive tackle Seth Simmer (99) and cornerback Coutrell Plair, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida sticking with QB Jones at Mizzou, moving forward

By Mark Long Nov. 15, 2021 04:23 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida coach Dan Mullen is sticking with quarterback

Florida tight end Kemore Gamble (2) hurdles Samford safety Chris Edmonds for yardage during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida rallies to beat Samford 70-52 in Swamp shootout

By Mark Long Nov. 13, 2021 03:42 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida coach Dan Mullen celebrated his team's 70-52

Florida running back Nay'Quan Wright (6) carries as South Carolina defensive end Jordan Burch (3) defends during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Florida looks to regroup, end skid against FCS foe Samford

By Mark Long Nov. 11, 2021 12:33 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — It doesn’t really matter what embattled Florida coach

Florida head coach Dan Mullen watches from the sideline during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against South Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Mullen contrite, confident he can fix Florida's problems

By Mark Long Nov. 08, 2021 05:12 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida coach Dan Mullen fired two close friends in

Florida defensive coordinator Todd Grantham coaches from the sideline during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Stephen B. Morton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Reeling Florida fires veteran assistants Grantham, Hevesy

By Mark Long Nov. 07, 2021 09:55 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida fired defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and

Liberty quarterback Malik Willis throws a pass against Massachusetts during an NCAA college football game in Lynchburg, Va., Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. (Kendall Warner/The News & Advance via AP)
NFL Prospect Watch: QB Willis gets chance to raise profile

By Mark Long Nov. 05, 2021 02:46 PM EDT
Malik Willis refused to settle for a backup role. Liberty's

Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) is tackled by Georgia defensive back Lewis Cine (16), linebacker Quay Walker (7) and defensive back Christopher Smith, right, after scrambling for yardage during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Florida's Richardson has concussion, uncertain to play at SC

By Mark Long Nov. 03, 2021 04:07 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson is recovering

Georgia coach Kirby Smart, left, and Florida coach Dan Mullen meet after Georgia's win in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Stephen B. Morton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Florida coach Mullen shutters media access for the week

By Mark Long Nov. 01, 2021 05:34 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Dan Mullen’s strange and subpar season took another