Florida Gators get Maye and Davis for one more season

With the deadline to declare for the NFL Draft up today the Florida Gators will get good news from two defensive players. Both Jarrad Davis and Marcus Maye will return to school for the 2016 season.

Davis, a linebacker from Kingsland, Georgia, had previously stated twice (after the SEC Championship game and again before the Citrus Bowl) his intentions to return to school. Maye announced his decision on Monday that he was returning to Florida.

Maye is coming off of his best season in Gainesville, where he recorded career-highs in tackles (62) and interceptions (2). Pro Football Focus listed Maye on their “Dream Team” and also awarded him on their All-America team.

Maye and Davis’ return to the Gators will bolster a defensive unit that finished the season fourth in the SEC in passing, total and scoring defense. Additionally, Maye and Davis will looked to be leaders and the faces of a defensive unit that is losing key contributors Jon Bullard, Antonio Morrison, Keanu Neal, Brian Poole and Vernon Hargreaves, but could be as good, if not better, thanks to their return in 2016.

Nick de la Torre
A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGC

2 COMMENTS

    • I was so happy when I heard this. They need them back bad. I just wish Neal and Taylor would have too. Taylor wasn’t ready in my opinion. Neal was but I still wish he came back.