Key recruits attend big game

GAINESVILLE – Top quarterback prospect Matt Corral of Long Beach (Calif.) Poly, who is committed to the Florida 2018 football recruiting class, was the headliner among recruiting visitors Saturday as the Gators hosted another impressive group for the LSU game at the Swamp.

The 6-foot-2, 196-pound Corral, who committed to UF this summer, was joined by fellow 2018 Gators commit JaMarr Chase (6-1, 195), a receiver out of Metairie (La.) Archbishop Rummel. Chase committed to the Gators shortly after Corral’s pledge.

There were 17 UF commitments from the 2018 class at the Swamp, including Miami Carol City safety Randy Russell, (5-10, 180), Escambia receiver Jacob Copeland (6-0, 192), Clearwater Calvary Christian safety Amari Burney (6-1, 215), Bainbridge (Ga.) running back Dameon Pierce (5-11, 205) and Miami Northwestern cornerback Divaad Wilson (6-0, 180).

One of the more interesting sightings at the Swamp was Homestead South Dade defensive end/ linebacker Patrick Joyner (6-3, 210), who is committed to FSU. Joyner showed up donning a rival Florida Gators T-shirt.

Florida’s 2019 recruiting class, which has 12 commitments so far, was represented Saturday by four of those pledges. Orlando Jones High safety/linebacker Marcus Tillman Jr. (6-2, 195), New Smyrna Beach safety Jaleel McRae (6-1, 200), Homestead South Dade receiver Frank Ladson (6-4, 170), and Largo defensive end Jaquaze Sorrells (6-3, 260) were all at the Swamp.

A NEW RECORD: With Eddy Piñeiro’s 25-yard field goal in the second quarter of UF's 17-16 loss to LSU, Florida made history.

The Gators have scored in every game since being shutout by Auburn on Oct. 29, 1988. That’s 366 consecutive games, an NCAA record.

The previous record was held by Michigan at 365 games, which ended when the Wolverines were shutout by Notre Dame on Sept. 6, 2015.

SPECIAL TEAMS STANDOUT INJURED: Garrett Stephens, a redshirt senior walk-on, injured his knee during the second quarter of Saturday’s game and was carted off the field. Stephens was hurt after stepping awkwardly while covering a punt in the second quarter.

After falling to the turf, and after not moving for several minutes, Stephens was carted to the locker room.