Gators juniors reclusive on draft
CBs Tabor, Wilson, others say they have not made decision.
ATLANTA— Florida linebacker Jarrad Davis announced he was returning for his senior season after last year’s SEC Championship game.
The Gators didn’t have any players ready to declare Saturday. Following the 54-16 loss to Alabama, none of Florida’s juniors revealed their plans for 2017 in postgame interviews with the media.
Cornerbacks Jalen “Teez” Tabor and Quincy Wilson, defensive tackle Caleb Brantley, offensive tackle David Sharpe and punter Johnny Townsend all said they had not made a decision yet on the NFL draft.
Tabor and Wilson, both pro j e c t e d a s f i r s t - ro und picks, are expected to forgo their senior seasons. Brantley, Sharpe and Townsend could also turn pro early.
Online critics: Former Florida quarterback Treon Harris, who transferred in July, took to Twitter during Saturday ’s game to place blame on Florida offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier. Harris tweeted “It’s the OC” and then deleted the tweet shortly afterward. This was his first tweet since April 25.
Harris started at quarterback for Florida in each of the previous two seasons. Nussmeier is in his second season as offensive coordinator at Florida. He was Jim McElwain’s replacement at Alabama as offensive coordinator before leaving for Michigan in 2014.
Florida ranked 13th in the SEC in total offense this year, with only South Carolina having worse per-game numbers.
The Gators had to rotate between quarterbacks again this year because of injuries to Luke Del Rio.
Purdue transfer Austin Appleby — who took over at quarterback after Del Rio injured his shoulder — struggled Saturday, throwing three first-half interceptions.
Appleby got off to a great start against Alabama, completing 6 of 7 passes on the game’s opening drive and finding Antonio Callaway for the first touchdown the Crimson Tide defense had allowed since Oct. 22.
I t went downhill f ro m there. He threw three firsthalf interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown by Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Kiffin noncommittal: Lane Kiffin paused before he walked off the turf Saturday night. Looking left, he sauntered toward the crowd and tossed his white Alabama visor to a young boy in the front row.
As he turned to step into the tunnel, another young fan yelled, “Don’t leave!”
If recent reports are true, Ki f f i n i s s c heduled f or a head-coaching interview at Houston next week, and he might be considering a coordinator job at LSU as well.
“Our players joke about it. ‘Hey, it’s our last game together,’” Kiffin said. “We’ve got really loose, nice kids. ... We just have a lot of fun. We don’t really talk about it seriously like that.”
Friday, head coach Nick Saban said Kiffin, who flamed out at USC and with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders — and left his Tennessee gig after one season — was ready to be a head coach again.
But Kiffin brushed aside related questions after the win.
“I’m not worried about that,” he said. “I want to keep winning these next two games. It’d be really special to do.”
Would he consider returning to the Crimson Tide in 2017?
“Yeah, sure,” he said. “I’m happy to be here.”