Gators name Shannon defensive coordinator

GAINESVILLE —

Randy Shannon’s promotion to defensive coordinator for the Outback Bowl has become permanent for the Florida Gators.

Coach Jim McElwain announced the much-anticipated move on Friday.

After coaching linebackers and serving as associate head coach the past two season, Shannon will replace Geoff Collins. Collins left last month to become head coach at Temple.

“Coach Shannon has been a big part of our success over the last two years,” McElwain said in a statement from UF. “It’s been really cool to watch him handle his business. He really connects with our players and they have a lot of respect for him.

“More than being a great coach, he is a great mentor and teacher to these young men and that is one of our greatest measuring sticks as coaches.”

Shannon’s players strongly endorsed him for the job leading up to the bowl game. The Gators then turned in dominant defensive performance during this past Monday’s 30-3 win against Iowa. UF held the Hawkeyes to a season-low 226 yards and intercepted three passes, including a pick-six.

“He’s a great coach, great guy, great mentor,” senior defensive tackle Joey Ivie said prior to the game.

Shannon played for a national championship defense in 1987 at Miami. In 2001, he coached the Hurricanes’ defense when UM won the national title, earning him the Broyles Award as the best assistant coach in college football.

Shannon, 50, served as defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins in 1998-99 and UM from 2001-06. From 2007 to 2010, he was the head coach at UM.

Brantley leaves

The Florida Gators’ NFL draft exodus continues.

Defensive tackle Caleb Brantley announced Friday he will enter the 2017 draft. He is the fifth UF non-senior to declare early entry, joining cornerbacks Jalen Tabor and Quincy Wilson, linebacker Alex Anzalone and left tackle David Sharpe.

The redshirt junior is a projected first-round pick and anchored the 2016 Gators’ defensive line, highlighted by a career performance at LSU.

A rare combination of size and quickness, the 6-foot-2, 297-pound Brantley had three tackles for loss and forced a fumble inside the UF 10-yard line to spearhead the Gators’ 16-10 upset win against the Tigers.

A native of Crescent City, located 90 minutes southeast of Gainesville, Brantley finished his final season with 31 tackles, including 9.5 for loss (2.5 sacks).

Brantley penned a letter to fans on the website SEC Country.

“For the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of playing for the University of Florida and Gator Nation,” he wrote. “Now, I’m fortunate enough to start the next chapter of my life and career.”

Brantley’s decision leaves the Gators without eight defensive starters and with a huge hole to fill in the middle of the defense.

Redshirt sophomore reserves Khairi Clark and Taven Bryan are the Gators’ most-experienced interior lineman. Clark had three tackles and Bryan two during this past Monday’s 30-3 Outback Bowl win against Iowa.

Shannon