Perine seeking strong finish
tackle, makes a guy miss and outruns everyone to the end zone,” Mullen said. That’s what you want. That’s the type of things he can do.
“When you look at his leadership and what he’s done, I mean, maybe he hasn’t been putting up big numbers, but he’s doing what he’s supposed to do, taking care of business.”
Perine also had a crucial touchdown on the road at Kentucky on a wild pitch from Trask that sparked a comeback and helped usher in a new era at quarterback.
“He’s a big-game back,” UF center Nick Buchanan said of Perine.
But for all the big plays, Perine was held under 20 rushing yards three times this season and under 50 six times. He eclipsed 100 yards just once, thanks to his breakout run against Auburn, after doing that three times the season before even while splitting carries with Scarlett.
Though like his ground game this season has been nothing like that of season’s past, his contributions in the passing games surpassed his previous three seasons’ combined.
Perine has four receiving touchdowns this season compared with three in his first three seasons. That puts him second on the team in receiving touchdowns. And his 32 receptions, which match his career total heading into this year, is good for the thirdmost on the team.
Wide receiver Van Jefferson, another player who came back for his final year, said Perine set high goals for the team before the start of the season.
“I remember Perine saying, ‘Man, we can come back and do a lot of things and contend for a national championship,’” Jefferson said. “So, I think that’s what the seniors kind of had in mind.”
Two losses have put the Gators’ championship goals out of reach, but the team can still improve upon last year’s regular season win total against Florida State on Saturday, Perine’s senior day.
Florida will host FSU under the lights at the Swamp. Perine, a player who’s seen the lows of a fourwin season and the highs of an SEC Championship Game appearance and New Year’s Six Bowl victory, said he wouldn’t want to go out any other way.
“Just knowing it’s going to be my last time running out there, man, just going to be crazy,” he said. “I’ve had a long four years, and it’s been good times, bad times, but ain’t nothing like running out there your last time. That’s the best feeling right there.”