GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida head football Coach Billy Napier named Billy Gonzales the Gators next wide receiver coach, it was announced Thursday.
Gonzales returns for his third stint with the Gators and brings 20-plus years of coaching experience. He was a coach on Florida’s 2006 and 2008 BCS National Championship teams and has 27 players drafted since 1999 with 12 in the first three rounds. Gonzales has worked with notable wide receivers such as Kadarius Toney, Van Jefferson, Odell Beckham Jr. and Percy Harvin.
He spent the 2021 season at Florida Atlantic as their wide receivers coach after spending four seasons in the same role for the Gators from 2018-21. In 2020, despite UF losing three receivers to the NFL Draft, the position group continued to shine under Gonzales. Florida receivers combined to catch 189 passes for 2,716 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Kadarius Toney proved to be one of the elite weapons in college football in 2020, culminating in being selected 20th overall in the 2021 draft. He finished fifth in the SEC and 28th among all FBS players in all-purpose yards per game (130.8), in addition to being one of 25 FBS players and one of six SEC players with 12-plus total touchdowns this year (10 receiving, one rushing, one punt return). Toney’s 10 touchdown receptions were tied for seventh in the FBS while his 984 receiving yards ranked 13th nationally.
In the passing attack, Florida’s 46 touchdown passes led the nation by four, marking the fifth time in school history the Gators led the FBS in touchdown passes. UFs 46 touchdown passes were the second-highest season total in school history, only trailing the school record set by the 1995 Gators (48). Florida was the only FBS team featuring six players with at least three receiving touchdowns and was one of four FBS teams featuring six players with more than 20 receptions and 225 receiving yards. The Gators were also one of eight FBS teams featuring seven players with multiple touchdown receptions.
In 2019, Gonzales’ mentorship played a crucial role in allowing Florida to reach its second consecutive New Year’s Six bowl. The Gators made a name for themselves as one of the best-receiving teams in UF history, recording 33 passing TD’s over the course of the season – the most since 2008. Florida’s pass offense averaged 300.8 yards per game, ranking 16th nationally.
Florida was the only FBS team featuring eight pass catchers with 20-plus receptions, 250-plus yards, and a…
Gonzales returns for his third stint with the Gators and brings 20-plus years of coaching experience. He was a coach on Florida’s 2006 and 2008 BCS National Championship teams and has 27 players drafted since 1999 with 12 in the first three rounds. Gonzales has worked with notable wide receivers such as Kadarius Toney, Van Jefferson, Odell Beckham Jr. and Percy Harvin.
He spent the 2021 season at Florida Atlantic as their wide receivers coach after spending four seasons in the same role for the Gators from 2018-21. In 2020, despite UF losing three receivers to the NFL Draft, the position group continued to shine under Gonzales. Florida receivers combined to catch 189 passes for 2,716 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Kadarius Toney proved to be one of the elite weapons in college football in 2020, culminating in being selected 20th overall in the 2021 draft. He finished fifth in the SEC and 28th among all FBS players in all-purpose yards per game (130.8), in addition to being one of 25 FBS players and one of six SEC players with 12-plus total touchdowns this year (10 receiving, one rushing, one punt return). Toney’s 10 touchdown receptions were tied for seventh in the FBS while his 984 receiving yards ranked 13th nationally.
In the passing attack, Florida’s 46 touchdown passes led the nation by four, marking the fifth time in school history the Gators led the FBS in touchdown passes. UFs 46 touchdown passes were the second-highest season total in school history, only trailing the school record set by the 1995 Gators (48). Florida was the only FBS team featuring six players with at least three receiving touchdowns and was one of four FBS teams featuring six players with more than 20 receptions and 225 receiving yards. The Gators were also one of eight FBS teams featuring seven players with multiple touchdown receptions.
In 2019, Gonzales’ mentorship played a crucial role in allowing Florida to reach its second consecutive New Year’s Six bowl. The Gators made a name for themselves as one of the best-receiving teams in UF history, recording 33 passing TD’s over the course of the season – the most since 2008. Florida’s pass offense averaged 300.8 yards per game, ranking 16th nationally.
Florida was the only FBS team featuring eight pass catchers with 20-plus receptions, 250-plus yards, and a…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Florida Gators…