2016 Citrus Bowl Highlights Michigan vs Florida
<p>ORLANDO - Junior tailback Kelvin Taylor"s goal going into the Citrus Bowl was to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season and close his Florida career with a victory over Michigan.</p><p>He achieved only half of his goal.</p><p>He rushed for 50 yards to bring his season total to 1,035, but the Gators were blown out by Michigan 41-7.</p><p>I"m very thankful, but it was a sad day today, he said. I wish I had gotten the win today, but we came up with an "L".</p><p>Taylor did come up with enough yards to join his father, Fred Taylor, as a 1,000-yard rusher for the Gators. The elder Taylor ended the 1997 season with 1, 292 yards rushing, 234 coming in a victory over Penn State in the Citrus Bowl.</p><p>That definitely was my goal, Kelvin Taylor said of joining the 1,000-yard club. My offensive line, those guys helped me out with that goal. They did a great job for me. I"m very thankful and blessed with great coaches and great teammates.</p><p><b>Double move gets Hargreaves III</b></p><p>UF coach Jim McElwain talked earlier in the week about how the Florida defensive backs had to be wary of double moves by the Michigan wide receivers. All-American cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III apparently did not heed the warning.</p><p>Hargreaves bit hard on a double move by UM wide receiver Jehu Chesson in the second quarter and got burned for a 31-yard touchdown pass that gave the Wolverines a 14-7 lead.</p><p>Hargreaves was replaced in the lineup by sophomore Quincy Wilson for the last UM series in the first half and half of the Wolverines" first series of the second half.</p><p> After the game, McElwain said Hargreaves was not benched.</p><p> That"s the standard rotation we play with the corners, he said.</p><p><b>Gators young up front</b></p><p> As expected, the Gators started three true freshmen on the offensive line against Michigan"s fourth-ranked defense.</p><p> Martez Ivey started at left guard, Tyler Jordan at right guard and Fred Johnson at right tackle, where he replaced ineligible starter Mason Halter.</p><p> With Jordan starting at guard, senior Trip Thurman made the start at center.</p><p> Ivey"s day did not last long. He appeared to injure his leg on the game"s first series and did not return. Antonio Riles replaced him.</p><p> The young line did a good job holding up in the first half, helping the Gators roll up 245 yards of total offense. But the strong Michigan defensive front dominated the line in the second half.</p><p><b>McGee, Hardin sit it out</b></p><p> Sixth-year senior tight end Jake McGee, who talked earlier in the week about how positive his final season has been, did not have a chance to play in his last game as a Gator.</p><p> McGee sustained a pulled hamstring in practice Tuesday. He tried to go through warm-ups, but he struggled and the decision was made to sit him.</p><p> Struggling starting place-kicker Austin Hardin also was held out after sustaining a sprained ankle in Thursday"s walk-through practice. He did not dress out and was wearing a protective boot on his left foot.</p><p>With Hardin out, the kickoffs were made by walk-on Dallas Stubbs. Walk-on Neil MacInnes, who has an injured ACL, kicked UF"s extra point and would have kicked field goals.</p><p>Two players were injured in the game -- outside linebacker Jarrad Davis and defensive end Cece Jefferson. McElwain said Davis got his eggs scrambled, while Jefferson blew a wheel.</p><p><b>Record for Callaway</b></p><p>With his 26-yard reception in the first quarter, wide receiver Antonio Callaway broke the school record for reception yards for a true freshman. Callaway surpassed Reidel Anthony, who had 615 receiving yards in 1994.</p><p> Callaway finished the game with five catches for 75 yards, giving him 678 for the season.</p><p><b>Morrison the tackling machine</b></p><p> Senior middle linebacker Antonio Morrison had four tackles in the first half, pushing his total for the season over 100. He is only the second Gator since 1983 to record 100 tackles or more in back-to-back seasons.</p><p> The others to do it are Carlton Miles (1991-92) and Ed Robinson (1992-93).</p><p><b>Advantage Michigan</b></p><p>The Wolverines are 3-0 against Florida, with all the wins coming in bowl games played in the Sunshine State this century: 2003 Outback, 2008 Capital One and Friday.</p>
Source: http://www.gainesville.com/article/20160101/ARTICLES/160109980?Title%3DCitrus-Bowl-notebook-Taylor-reaches-goal
