Tag: florida

Feb 23, 2023; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Sea Dragons cornerback Chris Payton-Jones (5) breqks up a pass intended for St. Louis Battlehawks wide receiver Gary Jennings (12) during the second half at Lumen Field. St. Louis defeated Seattle 20-18. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Ex-NFL, UFL cornerback Chris-Payton Jones dies in crash

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former NFL and UFL cornerback Chris Payton-Jones died in a car accident Saturday night in Alachua County, Fla. He was 30.

Payton-Jones was driving a sedan eastbound in the westbound lanes of State Road 24 in Gainesville when it collided head-on with a pickup truck, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol, News 4 Jacksonville said. The three people in the truck sustained only minor injuries.

The sedan overturned and burst into flames. Payton-Jones was pronounced dead at the scene, per New 4 Jacksonville.

Payton-Jones, a native of the Jacksonville area, was known as Chris Jones when he played college football at Nebraska from 2014-17. Unselected in the 2018 NFL Draft, he went on to appear in 29 regular-season games with the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans from 2018-21.

He later moved on to the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL in 2023, and spent the past two seasons with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the UFL.

“Chris was a beloved teammate and leader in the locker room, who demonstrated the importance of hard work, determination, and resilience throughout his career,” the UFL said in a statement. “As importantly, Chris was always a bright soul who everyone throughout the league enjoyed spending time with off-the-field.”

Payton-Jones retired in January and made his side business of content creation a full-time job. His video content, primarily sports-related, has more than 1 million views on his YouTube site, Flashflix.

–Field Level Media

Georgia quarterback Jaden Rashada (10) warms up before the start of a NCAA college football game against Massachusetts in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.

Reports: Ex-Florida QB Jaden Rashada settles NIL lawsuit

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Quarterback Jaden Rashada agreed to a settlement on Tuesday, ending his name, image and likeness lawsuit targeting former Florida coach Billy Napier and others.

Terms of the agreement were not announced.

The defendants included Napier, school booster Hugh Hathcock, Hathcock’s company and ex-Florida staffer Marcus Castro-Walker, according to The Athletic.

Rashada accused the defendants of reneging on a four-year, $13.85 million NIL agreement reached when he was a high school senior in Pittsburg, Calif., in late 2022.

The quarterback, who previously committed to Miami, instead signed with Florida, but he never played for the Gators.

Rashada’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, told ESPN after the settlement was revealed, “He’s a bright young man with great judgment. He thought it was time to move on. He made the point he wanted to make, and now he’s ready to go play football.”

Napier’s attorneys, Hank Coxe and Michael Lockamy, said in a statement to The Athletic, “The parties have reached a confidential resolution of the litigation. The case will be dismissed, and all parties are moving forward.”

While the case was working its way through the legal system, a federal judge wrote in 2025, per The Athletic, that Rashada’s assertions “advance a compelling narrative that the Defendants were all marching to the beat of the same drum throughout Rashada’s failed recruitment to UF, each taking interwoven and often overlapping steps designed to lure Rashada away from Miami all while knowing they would never make good on the NIL promises made and leading Rashada on until his other NIL offers dried up.”

Rashada appeared in three games for Arizona State in 2023, completing 53.7% of his passes for 485 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions.

He subsequently transferred to Georgia, though he never played for the Bulldogs, and then to Sacramento State. Last season for the Hornets, he connected on 40.5% of his passes for 264 yards with one TD and one interception in six games.

Three weeks ago, Rashada transferred again, to Mississippi State.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Ex-Florida QB DJ Lagway commits to Baylor

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Former Florida quarterback DJ Lagway has committed to Baylor, according to multiple reports on Thursday.

Lagway visited the school in Waco, Texas on Wednesday and was spotted numerous times at the Baylor-Iowa State men’s basketball game with Bears football coach Dave Aranda on Wednesday night.

Lagway, a former five-star recruit, passed for 4,179 yards and 28 touchdowns against 23 interceptions for the Gators from 2024-25. He started 19 of his 24 appearances and compiled a 10-9 record.

Last season, Lagway completed 63.2% of his passes for 2,264 yards and 16 touchdowns but was intercepted 14 times, most among Southeastern Conference quarterbacks.

Florida dismissed coach Billy Napier during the season and he was replaced after the campaign by former Tulane coach Jon Sumrall.

Sumrall and Lagway met before the latter decided to put his name in the transfer portal.

Lagway, who has two seasons of eligibility remaining, is the son of Derek Lagway, a Baylor running back from 1997-2001.

DJ Lagway also played at Willis (Texas) High, located about 150 miles southeast of Waco.

Baylor needed a quarterback to replace three-year starter Sawyer Robertson, who passed for 3,681 yards and 31 touchdowns against 12 interceptions last season.

–Field Level Media

Florida’s Jon Sumrall hires Kentucky DC Brad White

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Florida’s new football coach Jon Sumrall made his first major hire with longtime Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White accepting the same position Thursday in Gainesville.

White, 43, was Kentucky’s defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach from 2019-25, and was that position’s coach in 2018. He spent the six prior seasons with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts (2012-17), rising from defensive quality control coach to outside linebackers coach.

“Brad is one of the best defensive minds in football and I’m thrilled he will be joining us in Gainesville,” said Sumrall, an assistant with White at Kentucky from 2019-21, including the final year as co-defensive coordinators. “Brad has led one of the best defenses in the SEC the last seven years and has extensive experience in the NFL as well. His defenses possess the exact characteristics we are going to have here at Florida, and I can’t think of a better leader for that unit.”

The Wildcats’ defense ranked in the FBS top 45 from 2018-24, including top 25 in 2018, 2018, 2021 and 2022.

“I’m ready to hit the ground running on helping construct a defense that will make Gator Nation proud,” White said in a news release from the athletic department. “Coach has already stated the vision: be the most feared defense in college football. Now comes the hard work necessary to make that vision a reality. And while scheme has its importance, the most critical focus we’ll have as a defensive staff will be to develop the highly talented playmakers we recruit and demand that they play with a pace and violence second to none.”

One of those players at Kentucky was linebacker Josh Hines-Allen, now a stellar defensive end with the Jacksonville Jaguars. A first-team All-America selection and the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year along with numerous national individual awards in 2018, Hines-Allen praised his former position coach.

“First of all, they’re getting a great person, a great communicator, a guy that wants the best for his players,” Hines-Allen said in the news release. “He was my positional coach when I had him, and the time we spent together helped me develop and be where I am today. I give him a lot of credit and a lot of respect and love. He’s done a lot of good things for that program. Hopefully, he continues to have that success at Florida.”

White also worked at Kentucky with Liam Coen, the Jaguars’ first-year head coach, who called him “one of the smarter guys, coaches, I’ve been around at any level.”

“True teacher of the game,” said Coen, the offensive coordinator at Kentucky in 2021 and 2023. “I learned so much from Brad in terms of the way that he saw the game. He is one of the more detailed, organized coaches I’ve been around in terms of his process throughout the week, his checklists throughout the week and then his game plans to be able to go and cause issues for people.”

White was a starting linebacker at Wake Forest, where he graduated in 2004.

–Field Level Media

Report: Florida to hire Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Florida is finalizing a six-year contract to hire Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as its next head coach, ESPN reported Sunday.

Per the network, Sumrall will receive nearly $6.5 million annually in addition to “significant incentives” tied to the College Football Playoff.

Sumrall, 43, owns a 42-11 record in four seasons as a head coach split between Troy and Tulane. He was the 2022 Sun Belt Coach of the Year with the Trojans and guided the Green Wave to a 10-2 record in 2025.

Sumrall returns to the Southeastern Conference after playing at Kentucky and serving as an assistant coach and co-defensive coordinator at the school.

He effectively will take the position previously held by Billy Napier, who was fired on Oct. 19 and replaced by interim coach Billy Gonzales. The Gators finished the season with a 4-8 record after posting a 40-21 victory over Florida State (5-7) on Saturday.

–Field Level Media

Jadan Baugh’s historic outing leads Florida to rivalry win over Florida State

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Florida’s Jadan Baugh eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing in a dominating, career-best outing, and the Gators deprived rival Florida State of a bowl berth by rocking the Seminoles 40-21 on Saturday in Gainesville, Fla.

Baugh carried 38 times for 266 yards and two touchdowns, and DJ Lagway was 15 of 24 for 168 yards with three touchdowns and an interception as the Gators (4-8, 2-6 SEC) finally won in November.

With an interim coach and falling out of the Lane Kiffin sweepstakes this weekend, Florida snapped a four-game losing streak.

Meanwhile, Florida State (5-7, 2-6 ACC) needed another win for a bowl appearance, but the ACC school never led and lost for the third time in four games.

Tommy Castellanos went 17 of 28 for 240 yards with two TD passes and a pick; he also rushed for 77 yards and a score. Lawayne McCoy had six receptions for 117 yards and a score.

The Seminoles are now winless on the road for the second straight season; their last road victory, coincidentally, was in Gainesville in 2023.

After the Gators took a 3-0 lead on Trey Smack’s 23-yard kick, Florida’s defense stuffed the visitors’ second series with a turnover on downs, and Lagway soon found J. Michael Sturdivant on a slant for a five-yard score at 2:49 for a 10-0 lead.

However, on third-and-5 in the second quarter, Castellanos hit receiver Micahi Danzy, who hauled in a throw underneath and was shoved into the end zone by his teammates for a 13-yard TD to make it to 10-7 at 13:39.

The home side answered Florida State’s score with a nine-yard play-action pass to Tony Livingston in an epic 13-play, 75-yard drive that ate up 8:01 of the quarter.

Seminoles defensive back Edwin Joseph picked off Lagway to set up the half’s final score, a four-yard scamper by Castellanos as a short skirmish broke out at the goal line between the north Florida foes in the 17-14 contest.

Baugh had 101 yards in the first half to become the first 1,000-yard rusher since Kelvin Taylor in 2015.

Lagway led Florida 40 yards in three plays after a turnover on downs and regained the 10-point lead with a three-yard pass to Hayden Hansen at 9:47. Baugh created separation with a 22-yard run at 2:55 to increase it to 31-14.

Smack hit from 54 for the first points of the 4th quarter. Then, Castellanos found McCoy from 17 yards out with 3:07 left.
Baugh’s TD run was the final score of the contest.

–Field Level Media

Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin says he’ll declare decision Saturday

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Lane Kiffin has announced when he will make a decision, but he says the choice he’ll make has yet to be determined.

After the Ole Miss coach led the seventh-ranked Rebels to a 38-19 victory over Mississippi State on Friday in the regular-season-ending Egg Bowl, Kiffin told reporters he’ll declare next year’s coaching destination on Saturday.

“I feel like I’ve got to,” Kiffin said.

The 50-year-old Kiffin has racked up a 55-19 record in six seasons at Ole Miss, a 74.3% winning rate that has attracted the attention and deep pockets of Southeastern Conference rivals LSU and Florida – both of which fired their coaches in October.

Speculation over whether Kiffin will jump to the Tigers or the Gators has reached soap-operatic proportions over the last month, but Kiffin promised to bring the storyline to a conclusion on Saturday. He also claimed, as of Friday afternoon, not to know which school he’ll pick.

“Probably not as enjoyable as people probably think it is,” Kiffin said. “Like (Georgia coach) Kirby (Smart) says when he wants to complain about being in the national championship and missing the portal window, there’s no crying from the yacht. So I’m not trying to get pity. But it’s not as enjoyable as maybe some people would think.”

There are reports, however, that Florida has moved out of range and has its eye on other candidates, operating with the belief that Kiffin is not as interested in the Gators as the Rebels or Tigers.

More than a week ago, Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter gave Kiffin a Nov. 29 deadline to make a decision. Now that Kiffin has led the Rebels to the first 11-win regular season in the school’s 120 seasons – as well as a virtually assured spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff — he has become an even hotter commodity.

“I guess no one in the entire state has ever had an 11-win regular season, so that’s pretty cool,” Kiffin said. “Especially since the SEC has never been harder or deeper than it is now.”

–Field Level Media

Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin deflects questions about coaching future

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With multiple fan bases and athletic departments hanging on every word he says, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is focusing publicly on this week’s rivalry game against Mississippi State instead of the decision that looms after.

Kiffin said during his opening statement of Monday’s press conference that he wouldn’t be answering any questions about his uncertain future.

“I’m sure you’ve got a lot of other questions but I’m just answering questions focused on the team and this season and our players,” Kiffin told reporters.

There’s been a lot of buzz over the last few weeks about Kiffin — whose Rebels (10-1, 6-1 SEC) are sixth in the College Football Playoff rankings and would make their first CFP with a win Saturday — and whether he’ll be leaving Ole Miss.

He’s reportedly the top candidate at both LSU and Florida, and members of his family have taken visits to both Baton Rouge, La., and Gainesville, Fla., to scout houses, according to multiple reports.

LSU is preparing an offer of nearly $90 million in salary with at least $25 million in annual roster funding in an effort to woo Kiffin, Yahoo Sports reported on Friday.

Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter released a statement Friday after he reportedly met with Kiffin.

“Coach Kiffin and I have had many pointed and positive conversations regarding his future at Ole Miss, including meeting today with Chancellor Boyce,” Carter said. “While we discuss next steps, we know we cannot lose sight of what is most important — our sixth-ranked team that is poised to finish the regular season in historic fashion.

“Despite the outside noise, Coach Kiffin is focused on preparing our team for the Egg Bowl, and together, we want to ensure that our players and coaches can concentrate fully on next Friday’s game. This team is on the cusp of an unprecedented season, and it’s imperative they feel the support of the Ole Miss family in the week ahead. An announcement on Coach Kiffin’s future is expected the Saturday following the game.”

Despite what he said in his opening statement, Kiffin was asked multiple questions about his future on Monday. He declined to answer them, but insisted his team wasn’t distracted by questions about his future.

That belief was backed up by a statement Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss made on his X account.

“To our fans, this team is completely locked in, living in the moment, and staying true to our 1-0 mindset for the Egg Bowl and future games,” Chambliss said. “We are unbothered by anything about next year and fully trusting Coach Kiffin’s leadership to keep up moving toward our goals.”

Kiffin has led the Rebels to at least 10 wins in four of the past five seasons, including a program-record 11 wins in 2023. Ole Miss had four 10-win seasons since 1961 before Kiffin took the job.

–Field Level Media

No. 20 Tennessee crushes Florida in first half, coasts to win

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DeSean Bishop rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries and No. 20 Tennessee won for the first time at Florida in 22 seasons on Saturday night, thrashing the Gators 31-11 in Gainesville, Fla.

Quarterback Joey Aguilar completed his first 10 passes and finished 17 of 22 for 204 yards with a score for the Volunteers (8-3, 4-3 Southeastern Conference), who dominated in leading 31-0 at halftime.

They also notched a win on Florida’s campus for the first time since Sept. 20, 2003, when they beat the Gators 24-10, ending a streak of 10 consecutive losses.

Tennessee closes its regular season at home next Saturday against No. 14 Vanderbilt, which moved to 9-2 with a 45-17 home win over Kentucky.

For the Gators (3-8, 2-6), DJ Lagway was 11 of 17 for 116 yards and a score. Jadan Baugh had 96 yards on 18 rushes and a scoring reception.

Florida plays its final 2025 game at home against rival Florida State next Saturday with the Seminoles (5-6) needing a win for bowl eligibility.

The visitors from Rocky Top were crisp on offense from the start, as Aguilar took them 75 yards in nine plays. On the final play of the opening drive, he flipped a swing pass that Ethan Davis caught then rumbled 23 yards for a 7-0 lead at 11:28.

The Volunteers were equally effective on their second drive, a seven-play, 60-yard march that culminated with Bishop’s over-the-top, somersault leap on a third-and-goal at the 1-yard line with 5:33 left.

Tennessee held a 190-1 edge in total yards in the first quarter.

On the fourth play of the second, Bishop scored again from short. Star Thomas (nine carries, 71 yards for the game) then set himself up for a short plunge at the 9:14 mark after a 52-yard run on third-and-17.

Tennessee’s Max Gilbert connected from 26 yards for a 31-0 half that saw the Volunteers hold a 323-110 advantage in total yards.

Florida’s Trey Smack redeemed himself from an earlier miss by hitting from 46 yards at 2:06 for the third quarter’s only points, and Baugh caught a 33-yard strike in the fourth as Florida made it 31-11.

–Field Level Media

Report: Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss AD to meet amid LSU, Florida rumblings

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Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin is expected to meet with athletic director Keith Carter on Friday as the deadline for his reported stay-or-go decision nears, according to an On3 report.

Kiffin, 50, has emerged as the reported top target for the coaching vacancies at Southeastern Conference rivals LSU and Florida.

In the meantime, his Ole Miss team is 10-1 (6-1 SEC), ranks sixth in the country and is positioned to host a first-round College Football Playoff game in December if the Rebels can win at rival Mississippi State Nov. 28.

According to multiple media reports, members of Kiffin’s family recently visited Gainesville, Fla., and Baton Rouge, La., to scout out the areas should Kiffin elect to take one of those jobs. Ole Miss has no game this week and is set to return to practice on Sunday.

It also has been reported that Carter issued an ultimatum to Kiffin that he inform Ole Miss administrators of whether he’ll be staying in Oxford or taking another job before the Mississippi State game, although it’s unclear what action the school would take if he didn’t. Kiffin disputed this report in an appearance on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” earlier this week.

Kiffin is in his sixth season at Ole Miss and his 14th as a college head coach after he was hired as the Oakland Raiders’ head coach in 2007 at 31. He was fired in his second season, then spent one season at Tennessee (2009) before leaving for Southern California (2010-13). After he was fired at USC, he rebuilt his image as Alabama offensive coordinator under Nick Saban before having success as Florida Atlantic head coach (2017-19) and parlaying that into the Ole Miss job.

Kiffin has led the Rebels to at least 10 wins in four of the past five seasons, including a program-record 11 wins in 2023. Ole Miss had four 10-win seasons since 1961 before Kiffin took the job.

–Field Level Media