2011 Florida Gators football team

The 2011 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2011 college football season. The Gators competed in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They played their home games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus, and were led by first-year head coach Will Muschamp. Muschamp coached the Gators to a third-place finish in the SEC East, a 3–5 conference record, a 24–17 Gator Bowl victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes, and an overall win–loss record of 7–6 (.539).

2011 Florida Gators football
Gator Bowl champion
Gator Bowl, W 24–17 vs. Ohio State
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Division	Eastern Division
Record	7–6 (3–5 SEC)
Head coach	Will Muschamp (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Charlie Weis (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Pro-style
Defensive coordinator	Dan Quinn (1st season)
Base defense	Multiple 4–3
Home stadium	Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Uniform

2011 Southeastern Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Eastern Division
No. 19 Georgia x		7	–	1					10	–	4
No. 9 South Carolina		6	–	2					11	–	2
Florida		3	–	5					7	–	6
Vanderbilt		2	–	6					6	–	7
Kentucky		2	–	6					5	–	7
Tennessee		1	–	7					5	–	7
Western Division
No. 2 LSU x$		8	–	0					13	–	1
No. 1 Alabama  %#		7	–	1					12	–	1
No. 5 Arkansas		6	–	2					11	–	2
Auburn		4	–	4					8	–	5
Mississippi State		2	–	6					7	–	6
Ole Miss*		0	–	8					2	–	10
Championship: LSU 42, Georgia 10
# – BCS National Champion $ – BCS representative as conference champion % – BCS at-large representative x – Division champion/co-champions * Ole Miss vacated all wins due to NCAA violations. Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 3	Florida Atlantic*	No. 22	Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL	ESPNU	W 41–3	88,708
September 10	Alabama-Birmingham*	No. 18	Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL	FSN	W 39–0	87,473
September 17	Tennessee	No. 16	Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL (rivalry)	CBS	W 33–23	90,744
September 24	at Kentucky	No. 15	Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY (rivalry)	ESPN	W 48–10	65,134
October 1	No. 3 Alabama	No. 12	Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL (rivalry)	CBS	L 10–38	90,888
October 8	at No. 1 LSU	No. 17	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)	CBS	L 11–41	93,022
October 15	at No. 24 Auburn		Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL (rivalry)	ESPN	L 6–17	87,451
October 29	vs. No. 22 Georgia		EverBank Field Jacksonville, FL (rivalry)	CBS	L 20–24	84,524
November 5	Vanderbilt		Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL	SECN	W 26–21	90,144
November 12	at No. 15 South Carolina		Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC	CBS	L 12–17	80,250
November 19	No. 24 (FCS) Furman*		Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL	PPV	W 54–32	84,674
November 26	Florida State*		Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL (rivalry)	ESPN2	L 7–21	90,798
January 2, 2012	vs. Ohio State*		EverBank Field Jacksonville, FL (Gator Bowl)	ESPN2	W 24–17	61,312
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Rankings

See also: 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	22	18	16	15	12	17	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Coaches	23	18	17	15	12	18	RV	—	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Harris	Not released						25	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Not released
BCS	Not released							—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Not released

Game summaries

Florida Atlantic

See also: 2011 Florida Atlantic Owls football team

Will Muschamp's debut as head coach for Florida was a success as the Gators defeated the Owls 41–3.

1 2 3 4 Total Florida Atlantic 0 3 0 0 3 • Florida 10 14 7 10 41 Date: September 3 Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL Game start: 7:03 p.m. EST Elapsed time: 3:13 Game attendance: 88,708 Game weather: 88 F, wind 8 ESE Referee: Steve Shaw TV announcers (ESPNU): Clay Matvick, Brian Griese & Allison Williams

Scoring summary 1 8:28 FLA Caleb Sturgis 51-yard field goal FLA 3–0 1 2:41 FLA Chris Rainey 14-yard pass from John Brantley (Caleb Sturgis kick) FLA 10–0 2 14:52 FLA Jeff Demps 35-yard run (Caleb Sturgis kick) FLA 17–0 2 8:34 FLA Chris Rainey 14-yard run (Caleb Sturgis kick) FLA 24–0 2 1:22 FAU Vinny Zaccario 27-yard field goal FLA 24–3 3 10:09 FLA Chris Rainey 22-yard blocked punt return (Caleb Sturgis kick) FLA 31–3 4 11:18 FLA Jeff Demps 20-yard run (Caleb Sturgis kick) FLA 38–3 4 1:46 FLA Caleb Sturgis 29-yard field goal FLA 41–3

UAB

1 2 3 4 Total UAB 0 0 0 0 0 • Florida 13 12 14 0 39 Date: September 10 Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL

Tennessee

1 2 3 4 Total Tennessee 0 7 6 10 23 • Florida 10 6 14 3 33 Date: September 17 Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL Game start: 3:30 p.m. EST Television network: CBS

Scoring summary 1 10:45 FLA Trey Burton 1-yard pass from John Brantley (Caleb Sturgis kick) FLA 7–0 1 1:10 FLA Caleb Sturgis 28-yard field goal FLA 10–0 2 11:57 FLA Caleb Sturgis 30-yard field goal FLA 13–0 2 8:31 FLA Caleb Sturgis 46-yard field goal FLA 16–0 2 1:43 TEN Marlin Lane 8-yard pass from Tyler Bray (Michael Parlady kick) FLA 16–7 3 11:41 FLA Trey Burton 1-yard run (Caleb Sturgis kick) FLA 23–7 3 8:08 FLA Chris Rainey 83-yard pass from John Brantley (Caleb Sturgis kick) FLA 30–7 3 4:25 TEN Da'Rick Rogers 14-yard pass from Tyler Bray (pass failed) FLA 30–13 4 13:33 TEN Michael Parlady 20-yard field goal FLA 30–16 4 7:19 FLA Caleb Sturgis 42-yard field goal FLA 33–16 4 4:46 TEN Mychal Rivera 18-yard pass from Tyler Bray (Michael Parlady kick) FLA 33–23

Kentucky

1 2 3 4 Total • Florida 21 10 10 7 48 Kentucky 3 7 0 0 10 Date: September 24 Location: Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, KY Television network: ESPN

Alabama

1 2 3 4 Total • Alabama 10 14 0 14 38 Florida 10 0 0 0 10 Date: October 1 Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL Television network: CBS

LSU

1 2 3 4 Total Florida 0 3 8 0 11 • LSU 14 10 3 14 41 Date: October 8 Location: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA Television network: CBS

Auburn

1 2 3 4 Total Florida 0 6 0 0 6 • Auburn 7 0 0 10 17 Date: October 15 Location: Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL Television network: ESPN

Georgia

1 2 3 4 Total • Georgia 0 10 7 7 24 Florida 7 10 3 0 20 Date: October 29 Location: EverBank Field, Jacksonville, FL Television network: CBS

Vanderbilt

1 2 3 4 Total Vanderbilt 0 0 7 14 21 • Florida 0 17 3 6 26 Date: November 5 Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL Television network: SEC TV

South Carolina

1 2 3 4 Total Florida 3 0 3 6 12 • South Carolina 0 14 0 3 17 Date: November 12 Location: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC Television network: CBS

Furman

1 2 3 4 Total Furman 22 0 10 0 32 • Florida 7 20 10 17 54 Date: November 19 Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL

Florida State

1 2 3 4 Total • Florida State 7 7 0 7 21 Florida 0 0 0 7 7 Date: November 26 Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL

Gator Bowl

1 2 3 4 Total Ohio State 0 10 0 7 17 • Florida 7 7 7 3 24 Date: January 2 Location: EverBank Field, Jacksonville, FL

Players

Depth chart

Projected starters and primary backups versus Florida Atlantic.

Defense
FS De'Ante Saunders Josh Evans		WLB MLB SLB ⋅ Jon Bostic ⋅ Dee Finley Michael Taylor ⋅					SS Matt Elam Joshua Shaw
CB Jeremy Brown Marcus Roberson		DE DT DT DE Ronald Powell Dominique Easley Jaye Howard Sharrif Floyd Kedric Johnson Leon Orr Omar Hunter William Green						CB Cody Riggs Moses Jenkins
Offense
WR Quinton Dunbar Andre Debose		LT LG C RG RT Xavier Nixon Dan Wenger Jonnotthan Harrison Jon Halapio Matt Patchan Chaz Green Kyle Koehne Dan Wenger Nick Alajajian Chaz Green					TE Jordan Reed Gerald Christian	WR Deonte Thompson Frankie Hammond Jr.
				QB John Brantley Jeff Driskel
		RB Chris Rainey Jeffery Demps			FB Trey Burton Hunter Joyer		Special teams PK Caleb Sturgis P David Lerner KR Andre Debose PR Chris Rainey LS Drew Ferris

Roster

2011 Florida Gators roster
Quarterbacks 12 John Brantley – Senior 16 Jeff Driskel – Freshman 19 Ryan McGriff – Freshman 14 Chandler Carr – Sophomore 13 Christian Provancha – Sophomore 18 Ryan Parrish – Sophomore 17 Jacoby Brissett – Freshman 10 Tyler Murphy – Freshman Halfbacks 28 Jeff Demps – Senior 38 Phillip Bellino – Senior 1 Chris Rainey – Senior 23 Mike Gillislee – Junior 8 Trey Burton – Sophomore 37 Ben Sams – Sophomore 33 Mack Brown – Freshman Fullbacks 34 Jason Traylor – Senior 41 Hunter Joyer – Freshman 35 Jessie Schmitt – Sophomore Wide receivers 85 Frankie Hammond Jr. – Junior 9 Quinton Dunbar – Freshman 89 Stephen Alli – Sophomore 30 Michael McNeely – Freshman 82 Omarius Hines – Junior 4 Andre Debose – Sophomore 29 Solomon Schoonover – Senior 7 Robert Clark – Sophomore 83 Solomon Patton – Sophomore 6 Deonte Thompson – Senior 80 Ja'Juan Story – Freshman 88 Matt Morrow – Freshman		Tight ends 87 William Steinmann – Senior 81 A.C. Leonard – Freshman 11 Jordan Reed – Sophomore 32 Gerald Christian – Sophomore 88 Clay Burton – Freshman Offensive line 66 James Wilson – Senior 62 Cole Gilliam – Sophomore 67 Jon Halapio – Sophomore 65 Tommy Jordan – Freshman 63 Trip Thurman – Freshman 78 David Young – Senior 77 Ian Silberman – Freshman 72 Jonotthan Harrison – Sophomore 75 Chaz Green – Freshman 64 Kyle Koehne – Sophomore 73 Xavier Nixon – Junior 71 Matt Patchan – Sophomore 50 Sam Robey – Junior 56 Dan Wenger – Senior Defensive line 2 Dominique Easley – Sophomore 73 Sharrif Floyd – Sophomore 96 William Green – Senior 6 Jaye Howard – Senior 99 Omar Hunter – Junior 90 Evan Holmes – Freshman 93 Kedric Johnson – Sophomore 34 Lerentee McCray – Junior 94 Gerry Marseille – Freshman 91 Earl Okine – Junior 44 Leon Orr – Freshman 92 Lynden Trail – Freshman 97 Tevin Westbrook – Freshman		Buck 7 Ronald Powell – Sophomore Linebackers 25 Gideon Ajagbe – Freshman 52 Jon Bostic – Junior 13 Dee Finley – Sophomore 3 Jelani Jenkins – Sophomore 49 Darrin Kitchens – Sophomore 33 Minch Minchin – Senior 53 Scott Peek – Junior 95 Hygens Succes – Junior 51 Michael Taylor – Freshman 55 Graham Stewart – Freshman Cornerbacks 31 Brian Biada – Senior 8 Jeremy Brown – Sophomore 36 Moses Jenkins – Senior 15 Loucheiz Purifoy – Freshman 31 Cody Riggs – Sophomore 5 Marcus Roberson – Freshman 37 Brandon Sanders – Sophomore 45 Newton Lizima – Senior Safeties 30 Tim Clark – Sophomore 22 Matt Elam – Sophomore 24 Josh Evans – Junior 21 Jabari Gorman – Freshman 27 Ben Peacock – Freshman 9 Joshua Shaw – Freshman 20 Valdez Showers – Freshman 14 Jaylen Watkins – Sophomore		Punters 44 Kyle Christy – Freshman 39 Todd Fennell – Freshman 40 David Lerner – Senior Placekickers 98 Zack Brust – Senior 47 John Crofoot – Sophomore 97 Brad Phillips – Sophomore 19 Caleb Sturgis – Junior Long snappers 43 Kyle Crofoot – Freshman 46 Drew Ferris – Sophomore 54 Christopher Guido – Sophomore 50 Cody Hampton – Senior

Coaching staff

Name	Current Responsibilities	Joined Staff
Will Muschamp	Head Coach	2011
Charlie Weis	Offensive coordinator Quarterbacks	2011
Dan Quinn	Defensive Coordinator	2011
D.J. Durkin	Linebackers Special Teams	2010
Aubrey Hill	Wide Receivers Recruiting coordinator	2011
Frank Verducci	Offensive line Running game coordinator	2011
Brian White	Running backs	2009
Derek Lewis	Tight ends	2011
Travaris Robinson	Defensive backs	2011
Bryant Young	Defensive line	2011
Coleman Hutzler	Special teams coordinator Linebackers	2010

Players drafted into the NFL

See also: 2012 NFL Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	NFL Club
4	114	Jaye Howard	DT	Seattle Seahawks
5	159	Chris Rainey	RB	Pittsburgh Steelers