2021 Florida Gators football team

The 2021 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Gators played their home games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida, and competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by fourth-year head coach Dan Mullen, who was fired on November 21, and were then led by interim head coach Greg Knox.[1]

2021 Florida Gators football
Florida Gators logo
Gasparilla Bowl, L 17–29 vs. UCF
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Record6–7 (2–6 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorTodd Grantham (4th season; first 9 games)
Christian Robinson (interim)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumBen Hill Griffin Stadium
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 1 Georgia x#^   8 0     14 1  
No. 18 Kentucky   5 3     10 3  
Tennessee   4 4     7 6  
Missouri   3 5     6 7  
South Carolina   3 5     7 6  
Florida   2 6     6 7  
Vanderbilt   0 8     2 10  
West Division
No. 2 Alabama x$^   7 1     13 2  
No. 11 Ole Miss   6 2     10 3  
No. 21 Arkansas   4 4     9 4  
Mississippi State   4 4     7 6  
Texas A&M   4 4     8 4  
Auburn   3 5     6 7  
LSU   3 5     6 7  
Championship: Alabama 41, Georgia 24
  • # – College Football Playoff champion
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule edit

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 47:30 p.m.Florida Atlantic*No. 13SECNW 35–1486,840
September 111:00 p.m.at South Florida*No. 13ABCW 42–2066,646
September 183:30 p.m.No. 1 AlabamaNo. 11
CBSL 29–3190,887
September 257:00 p.m.TennesseeNo. 11
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL (rivalry)
ESPNW 38–1488,478
October 26:00 p.m.at KentuckyNo. 10ESPNL 13–2061,632
October 912:00 p.m.Vanderbilt No. 20
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL
SECNW 42–086,258
October 1612:00 p.m.at LSUNo. 20ESPNL 42–4996,012
October 303:30 p.m.vs. No. 1 GeorgiaCBSL 7–3476,141
November 67:30 p.m.at South CarolinaSECNL 17–4070,131
November 1312:00 p.m.Samford*
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL
ESPN+/SECN+W 70–5270,098
November 204:00 p.m.at MissouriSECNL 23–24 OT47,818
November 2712:00 p.m.Florida State*
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL (rivalry)
ESPNW 24–2188,491
December 237:00 p.m.vs. UCF*
ESPNL 17–2963,669
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[2]

Rankings edit

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP13131111102020RVRV
Coaches11991191817RVRV
CFPNot releasedNot released

Game summaries edit

Florida Atlantic edit

Florida Atlantic at No. 13 Florida Gators – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Florida Atlantic 0 0 01414
No. 13 Florida 14 0 71435

at Ben Hill Griffin StadiumGainesville, Florida

  • Date: September 4, 2021
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Temperature: 81 °F (27 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NE at 3 mph (4.8 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 86,840
  • Referee: Matt Loeffler
  • TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color) and Cole Cubelic (sideline reporter)[3]
  • Boxscore
Game information

South Florida edit

No. 13 Florida Gators at South Florida Bulls – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 13 Florida 14 21 0742
South Florida 3 0 10720

at Raymond James StadiumTampa, Florida

  • Date: September 11, 2021
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Temperature: 82 °F (28 °C) • Weather: Cloudy
  • Game attendance: 66,646
  • Referee: Hank Johns
  • TV announcers (ABC): Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Dan Orlovsky (color) and Kris Budden (sideline reporter)[4]
  • Boxscore
Game information

No. 1 Alabama edit

No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 11 Florida Gators – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 1 Alabama 21 0 7331
No. 11 Florida 3 6 14629

at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, Florida

  • Date: September 18, 2021
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Temperature: 87 °F (31 °C) • Wind: E at 3 mph (4.8 km/h) • Weather: Cloudy
  • Game attendance: 90,887
  • Referee: Alex Moore
  • TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color) and Jamie Erdahl (sideline reporter)[5]
  • Boxscore
Game information

Tennessee edit

Tennessee Volunteers at No. 11 Florida Gators – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Tennessee 7 7 0014
No. 11 Florida 10 7 14738

at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, Florida

  • Date: September 25, 2021
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Temperature: 80 °F (27 °C) • Wind: N at 2 mph (3.2 km/h) • Weather: Cloudy
  • Game attendance: 88,478
  • Referee: Matt Loeffler
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst) and Katie George (sideline)[6]
  • Boxscore
Game information

Kentucky edit

No. 10 Florida Gators at Kentucky Wildcats – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 10 Florida 7 3 0313
Kentucky 7 0 6720

at Kroger FieldLexington, Kentucky

  • Date: October 2, 2021
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Temperature: 75 °F (24 °C) • Wind: SW at 6 mph (9.7 km/h) • Weather: Cloudy
  • Game attendance: 61,632
  • Referee: Marc Curles
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Dan Orlovsky (color) and Kris Budden (sideline reporter)[7]
  • Boxscore
Game information

Vanderbilt edit

Vanderbilt Commodores at No. 20 Florida Gators – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vanderbilt 0 0 000
No. 20 Florida 14 7 21042

at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, Florida

  • Date: October 9, 2021
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Temperature: 77 °F (25 °C) • Wind: NW at 5 mph (8.0 km/h) • Weather: Cloudy
  • Game attendance: 86,258
  • Referee: Steve Marlowe
  • TV announcers (SECN): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst) and Taylor Davis (sideline)[8]
  • Boxscore
Game information

LSU edit

No. 20 Florida Gators at LSU Tigers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 20 Florida 6 7 22742
LSU 0 21 141449

at Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, Louisiana

  • Date: October 16, 2021
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Temperature: 66 °F (19 °C) • Wind: NE at 14 mph (23 km/h) • Weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 96,012
  • Referee: Alex Moore
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst) and Molly McGrath (sideline)[9]
  • Boxscore
Game information

No. 1 Georgia edit

No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs vs. Florida Gators – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 1 Georgia 0 24 3734
Florida 0 0 077

at TIAA Bank FieldJacksonville, Florida

  • Date: October 30, 2021
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Temperature: 67 °F (19 °C) • Wind: W at 16 mph (26 km/h) • Weather: Cloudy
  • Game attendance: 76,141
  • Referee: David Smith
  • TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color), Jamie Erdahl (sideline reporter)[10]
  • Boxscore
Game information

South Carolina edit

Florida Gators at South Carolina Gamecocks – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Florida 7 3 0717
South Carolina 10 20 10040

at Williams-Brice StadiumColumbia, South Carolina

  • Date: November 6, 2021
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Temperature: 55 °F (13 °C) • Wind: NE at 9 mph (14 km/h) • Weather: Cloudy
  • Game attendance: 70,131
  • Referee: Alex Moore
  • TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), Alyssa Lang (sideline)[11]
  • Boxscore
Game information

Samford edit

Samford Bulldogs at Florida Gators – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Samford 21 21 01052
Florida 14 21 211470

at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, Florida

  • Date: November 13, 2021
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: 64 °F (18 °C) • Wind: SW at 5 mph (8.0 km/h) • Weather: Rain
  • Game attendance: 70,098
  • Referee: Lee Hedrick
  • TV announcers (ESPN+ and SECN+): Mike Couzens (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst)[12]
  • Boxscore
Game information

Missouri edit

Florida Gators at Missouri Tigers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Florida 3 3 73723
Missouri 3 6 07824

at Faurot FieldColumbia, Missouri

  • Date: November 20, 2021
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: 60 °F (16 °C) • Wind: S at 5 mph (8.0 km/h) • Weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 47,818
  • Referee: James Carter
  • TV announcers (SECN): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Deuce McAllister (analyst), Andraya Carter (sideline)[13]
  • Boxscore
Game information

Florida State edit

Florida State Seminoles at Florida Gators – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Florida State 0 7 01421
Florida 7 0 10724

at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, Florida

Game information

UCF (Gasparilla Bowl) edit

UCF Knights vs. Florida Gators – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
UCF 0 9 17329
Florida 7 3 7017

at Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, Florida

  • Date: December 23, 2021
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: 57 °F (14 °C) • Wind: SE at 3 mph (4.8 km/h) • Weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 63,669
  • Referee: Mark Duddy
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Wes Durham (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst), Taylor Davis (sideline)
  • Boxscore
Game information

Personnel edit

Roster edit

As of September 11, 2021[15]
2021 Florida Gators roster

Quarterbacks

Running backs

  •  6 Nay'Quan Wright –   Sophomore
  • 20 Malik Davis  Senior
  • 21 Lorenzo Lingard –   Junior
  • 23 Demarkcus Bowman –   Freshman
  • 27 Dameon PierceSenior
  • 38 Carlson Joseph –   Freshman

Wide receivers

  •  0 Ja'Quavion Fraziars – Sophomore
  •  1 Jacob Copeland  Junior
  •  3 Xzavier Henderson – Sophomore
  •  4 Justin Shorter  Junior
  • 12 Rick Wells –   Senior
  • 14 Trent Whittemore –   Sophomore
  • 81 Daejon Reynolds – Freshman
  • 82 Ja'Markis Weston –   Sophomore
  • 86 Jordan Pouncey –   Senior
  • 88 Marcus Burke – Freshman

Tight ends

  •  2 Kemore Gamble –   Senior
  •  9 Keon Zipperer – Junior
  • 80 Gage Wilcox – Freshman
  • 84 Nick Elksnis – Freshman
  • 87 Jonathan Odom –   Freshman

Offensive line

  • 50 Kaleb Boateng –   Sophomore
  • 51 Stewart Reese – Graduate
  • 54 Gerald Mincey –   Freshman
  • 56 Jean DeLance –   Senior
  • 58 Austin Barber – Freshman
  • 64 Riley Simonds –   Sophomore
  • 65 Kingsley Eguakun  Sophomore
  • 66 Jake Slaughter – Freshman
  • 67 Richie Leonard –   Freshman
  • 70 Michael Tarquin –   Sophomore
  • 72 Josh Braun – Sophomore
  • 73 Mark Pitts –   Freshman
  • 74 Will Harrod –   Sophomore
  • 76 Richard Gouraige  Junior
  • 77 Ethan White – Junior
  • 78 Yousef Mugharbil – Freshman
  • 79 Hayden Clem – Freshman

Defensive line

  •  6 Zachary Carter  Senior
  •  9 Gervon DexterSophomore
  • 18 Dante Zanders –   Junior
  • 21 Desmond WatsonFreshman
  • 33 Princely UmanmielenSophomore
  • 44 Daquan Newkirk –   Senior
  • 54 Lamar Goods –   Freshman
  • 55 Antonio Valentino –   Senior
  • 66 Jaelin Humphries –   Sophomore
  • 90 Chris Thomas Jr. – Freshman
  • 91 Justus Boone – Freshman
  • 92 Jalen Lee – Sophomore
  • 94 Tyreak Sapp – Freshman
  • 95 Tyrone Truesdell – Graduate
  • 97 Griffin McDowell –   Junior

Outside linebackers

Linebackers

Cornerbacks

  •  3 Jason Marshall Jr.Freshman
  •  5 Kaiir ElamJunior
  • 23 Jaydon Hill –   Junior
  • 24 Avery Helm –   Freshman
  • 25 Ethan Pouncey –   Freshman
  • 27 Jadarrius Perkins – Junior
  • 31 Jordan Young – Freshman
  • 37 Patrick Moorer –   Senior

Safeties

  •  0 Trey DeanSenior
  • 13 Donovan McMillon – Freshman
  • 16 Tre'Vez Johnson – Sophomore
  • 20 Corey Collier Jr. – Freshman
  • 22 Rashad Torrence II – Sophomore
  • 26 Kamar Wilcoxson –   Freshman
  • 32 Mordecai McDaniel – Sophomore
  • 39 Fenley Graham –   Freshman

Defensive backs

  • 19 Elijah Blades – Graduate
  • 35 Dakota Mitchell – Freshman
  • 43 Nicolas Sutton –   Senior

Kickers

  • 47 Jace Christmann – Graduate
  • 71 Chris Howard –   Senior

Punters

  • 26 Jeremy Crawshaw –   Freshman
  • 40 Jacob Watkins –   Senior

Long snappers

  • 42 Rocco Underwood – Freshman
  • 45 Marco Ortiz –   Junior

Athletes

  • 13 Kyle Engel –   Sophomore
  • 18 Jack Anders –   Sophomore
  • 22 Kahleil Jackson –   Freshman
  • 29 Khamal Ellison –   Senior
  • 29 Isaac Ricks –   Senior
  • 30 Taylor Spierto – Freshman
  • 31 Chase DeMichele –   Junior
  • 33 Daniel Cross –   Junior
  • 35 William Sawyer –   Sophomore
  • 36 Cornelius Barnes – Freshman
  • 37 Tyler Waxman –   Sophomore
  • 38 Cahron Rackley – Freshman
  • 44 Brandon Becar –   Senior
  • 46 John Brady –   Sophomore
  • 47 Justin Pelic –   Sophomore
  • 49 Adam Mihalek – Freshman
  • 53 Chase Whitfield –   Sophomore
  • 57 Coleman Crozier –   Junior
  • 83 Joshua Tse –   Senior
  • 85 Kevin Johnson –   Junior
  • 96 Travis Freeman –   Sophomore
  •   Redshirt
  •   Injury

Coaching staff edit

Name Position Joined staff
Dan Mullen Head coach (until Nov. 21) 2018
Greg Knox Interim head coach (after Nov. 21) / Running backs / special teams coordinator 2018
Todd Grantham Defensive coordinator (until Nov. 7) 2018
Christian Robinson Interim defensive coordinator (after Nov. 7) / linebackers 2018
Tim Brewster Assistant head coach / tight ends 2020
John Hevesy Running game coordinator / offensive line 2018
Billy Gonzales Passing game coordinator / wide receivers 2018
Garrick McGee Quarterbacks 2020
Wesley McGriff Secondary 2021
Jules Montinar Cornerbacks 2021
David Turner Defensive line 2019
Nick Savage Director of strength and conditioning 2018

Players drafted into the NFL edit

Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
1 23 Kaiir Elam CB Buffalo Bills
3 95 Zachary Carter DT Cincinnati Bengals
4 107 Dameon Pierce RB Houston Texans

References edit

  1. ^ Low, Chris (November 21, 2021). "Sources: Mullen out at Florida; Knox interim". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  2. ^ "2021 Florida Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  3. ^ FAU Pregame
  4. ^ USF Pregame
  5. ^ ALA Pregame
  6. ^ TEN Pregame
  7. ^ KEN Pregame
  8. ^ VAN Pregame
  9. ^ LSU Pregame
  10. ^ UGA Pregame
  11. ^ SCAR Pregame
  12. ^ SAM Pregame
  13. ^ MIZZ Pregame
  14. ^ FSU Pregame
  15. ^ "2021 Football Roster". Florida Gators. Retrieved September 11, 2021.