2021 Florida Football Postgame Notes
No. 20 Florida 42, Vanderbilt 0
October 9, 2021
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – Gainesville, Fla.
Gators Offense
• With 181 rushing yards vs. Vanderbilt, Florida’s 1,642 total rush yards is the Gators’ most through the
first-six games of the season since 1975 and second-highest total through six games in program
history.
o The Gators rushed for 1,940 yards in the first six games of the 1975 season.
• With 479 total yards vs. Vanderbilt, Florida’s 3,024 total yards is the team’s second-most through the
first-six games of the season in the last 20 years – behind only the 2020 campaign (3,070 yards).
o This is just the sixth time since 1965 the Gators have eclipsed 5,000 total yards through six
games.
o Florida totaled 3,306 yards through six games in 2001.
• Florida amassed 400 total yards for the 15th time in its last 16 games including 28 of the last 35
contests.
o Today’s game is the 30th time Florida amassed 400-plus total yards in Mullen’s 44 games as
head coach – five more than the program’s total of 25 400-yard outings from the 88
games comprising the 2011-17 seasons.
• This is the first time since 1993 that Florida has rushed for 150-plus yards in each of the first six games
of the season.
o Overall, this is the eighth time since 1965 that the Gators have rushed for 150-plus yards in
each of the first six games of the season.
• The Gators open the season with six-consecutive 100-plus yard rushing games for the first time since
2018.
o The Gators delivered their 35th game of 100-plus rushing yards in Mullen’s 44 games.
o Florida rushed for 100-plus yards in all 13 games of the 2018 season.
• Florida scored 40 points for the 17th time under Mullen (44 games) and for the third time in the
program’s last-eight games, which is five more 40-point games than the Gators accumulated from
the 2010-17 seasons combined (101 games played).
o UF had 12 40-point outings in 101 games from 2010-17.
• The Gators scored 30-plus points for the 30th time in 44 games under Mullen, including scoring 30-
plus in 17 of the team’s last 20 games.
• Quarterback Emory Jones recorded his first-career game of three-plus passing touchdowns,
throwing four touchdown passes and also setting a career high with 273 yards passing.
o Jones threw his four touchdown passes to four-different receivers.
o Jones is the 13th Gators quarterback to throw four touchdown passes in a game since
1996.
• With 273 passing yards vs. Vanderbilt, quarterback Emory Jones surpassed 1,000 passing yards for
the 2021 season – marking his first-career 1,000-yard passing season.
o Jones’ previous career high for passing yards in a season was 267 in 2019 and he came
into the 2021 campaign with just 613 career passing yards.
o Jones now has 1,144 passing yards on the season and 1,757 career passing yards following
tonight’s game.
• Emory Jones’ 51-yard completion to Nay’Quan Wright in the second quarter represented the
longest reception of Wright’s career.
o It also marked Jones’ longest-career completion at the time, until Jones connected with
Dameon Pierce for a 61-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.
That 61-yard connection also represented the longest reception of Pierce’s career
and broke his single-game career high for receiving yards (previously 45 yards).
• Emory Jones’ 32-yard pass to Trent Whittemore on Florida’s game-opening drive in the first quarter
marked the longest reception of Whittemore’s career.
• Wide Receiver Ja’Quavion Fraziars set career highs in receptions (two) and receiving yards (10).
o Fraziars hauled in his second-career touchdown with a five-yard touchdown reception in
the first quarter after recording his first-career touchdown last Saturday at Kentucky.
• On a fake punt in the third quarter, Jeremy Crawshaw ripped off a 28-yard rush on his first-career
rushing attempt.
Gators Defense
• With Florida’s 42-0 win, today’s game represents Florida’s first defensive shutout in 21 games – since
Nov. 9, 2019 when the Gators defeated Vanderbilt at home by a score of 56-0.
o This is Florida’s fourth shutout under Mullen including the team’s second SEC shutout during
his tenure. The previous three all came during the 2019 season.
• Today’s game is the first time the Gators have allowed seven or fewer points since Nov. 16, 2019
when Florida defeated Missouri on the road, 23-6.
o Florida has now held opponents to seven points or fewer eight times in 44 games under
Mullen.
• Florida allowed 10 points or fewer for the first time since Nov. 28 of last season (W, 34-10 vs.
Kentucky) and for just the second time in the team’s last 20 games dating back to Week 12 of the
2019 season.
o Florida has now held opponents to 10 points or fewer 11 times in 44 games under Mullen.
• Florida has now allowed 14 or fewer points 15 times under Mullen, including three times already this
season.
o Florida’s 14 points allowed tonight is tied for the team’s second-fewest points allowed in a
game dating back to November of 2019.
o The Gators allowed fewer points just once last season, beating Kentucky at home by a
score of 34-10 on 11/28/20.
• Florida’s 21-0 halftime lead marked the Gators’ largest shutout lead at half in 34 games – since Nov.
17, 2018 vs. Idaho.
o Florida led Idaho, 49-0, at half and ultimately won the game, 63-10.
• Florida’s 88 rushing yards allowed is the team’s lowest total so far this season and the Gators’ fourth
game holding an opponent under 100 yards rushing this year.
• With 287 total yards allowed, the Gators allowed under 300 total yards for the third time this season.
• Florida’s 199 passing yards allowed is the team’s third game of the season allowing under 200
passing yards.
• Entering the game ranked second in the SEC and tied-for-ninth nationally with 17 sacks, the Gators
recorded three sacks vs. Vanderbilt to bring their season total to 20.
o Florida’s 141 sacks since Mullen’s debut 2018 season rank first in the SEC and third
nationally – trailing only Clemson (156) and Pittsburgh (147).
o Florida ranked tied-for-14th in the FBS and second in the SEC with 34 sacks last season.
• The Gators recorded two takeaways vs. Vanderbilt in the form of Daquan Newkirk’s second-
quarter interception and Trey Dean’s third-quarter pick.
o Florida’s defense has now produced 71 turnovers since Mullen’s debut in 2018, which ranks
third in the SEC and tied-for-14th in the FBS.
• Florida posted its 13th multi-interception game on defense under Mullen and its first in the last 10
games.
o Daquan Newkirk’s interception in the second quarter marked the first of his career.
o Trey Dean collected UF’s second interception in the third quarter, marking his first of the
season and the fourth of his career.
• After giving up 200 yards in the first half, the Florida defense rallied and only surrendered 33 yards of
total offense in the third quarter.
• Rashad Torrence set a career high in tackles and tackles for loss before the first half ended, tallying
13 total tackles (four solo) and 1.5 TFLs in the first half alone.
o Torrence finished with a career-high 15 tackles (five solo) and 1.5 tackles for loss.
• Antwuan Powell recorded his first career sack and TFL in the game, finishing with 1.5 sacks (1.5 TFLs).
o Powell entered the game with six-career games played, two tackles and zero TFLs.
• Justus Boone made his college debut in the win and registered 0.5 sacks.
Explosive Plays
• Trent Whittemore (from Emory Jones): 32-yard reception, first quarter • Nay’Quan Wright: 34-yard rush, first quarter • Emory Jones: 16-yard rush, first quarter
• Nay’Quan Wright (from Jones): 51-yard reception, second quarter • Emory Jones: 11-yard rush, second quarter • Jeremy Crawshaw: 28-yard rush, third quarter • Dameon Pierce (from Jones): 61-yard touchdown reception, third quarter • Jacob Copeland (from Jones): 47-yard reception, third quarter • Jacob Copeland (from Jones) 25-yard touchdown reception, third quarter • Rick Wells (from Jones): 19-yard reception, third quarter • Rick Wells: 10-yard rush, third quarter • Demarkcus Bowman: 11-yard rush, fourth quarter
Series Updates
• Today’s game represented the 55th all-time meeting between Florida and Vanderbilt including the
26th time the two programs have faced off in Gainesville.
• Florida improves to 43-10-2 against Vanderbilt including 4-0 under head coach Dan Mullen.
o The Gators have now won eight-straight games against the Commodores including
victories in 30 of the last 31 meetings.
• Mullen improves to 6-0 (4-0 at UF) against Vanderbilt in his career, which is his most wins against any
opponent without a loss.
• Today marked the first meeting between Mullen and Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea as head coaches, with
Mullen falling to 2-0 against first-year head coaches this season.
• In four games vs. Vanderbilt under Mullen, UF has outscored the Commodores, 173-44 (+129, +32.3
PPG), while out-gaining them, 2,201 yards to 1,157 yards (+1,044, +261 YPG).
• Florida has now totaled 400-plus yards of offense against Vanderbilt in five-straight games.
Other
• UF has scored in 416-consecutive games – which is an NCAA record.
o The Gators broke Michigan’s record of 365-consecutive games (1984-2014) against LSU on
Oct. 7, 2017.
o The next-closest active streak belongs to TCU, as the Horned Frogs have scored in 359-
straight contests.
• Florida Game Captains: #6 Zachary Carter, #20 Malik Davis, #51 Ventrell Miller
• Florida won the toss and deferred; Florida defended the south end zone.
• Attendance: 86,258
