Tyrie Cleveland making strides and meeting high expectations

Tyrie Cleveland’s college career didn’t start the way he or anyone else expected it to. Before the sophomore wide receiver ever played a snap for the Florida Gators, he and teammate Rick Wells were arrested for damaging property at an apartment complex.

After serving his suspension, the struggles continued. Despite being a highly touted recruit coming in, he found himself behind due to a hamstring injury. The injury held him back for nearly half the season.

Once he was healthy and getting more time on the field, he showed his potential in bits and pieces, but there was still so much more to be seen.

The Gators saw it on Saturday. There was no better moment to describe the strides Cleveland has made than the final play of the Tennessee game. It was not a fluke. It was not a lucky play. It was a receiver giving it everything he had, getting open and trusting his quarterback to hit him when it mattered.

Before the play, Cleveland told redshirt freshman quarterback Feleipe Franks to just give him a chance and he would come through. He did.

The 63-yard game-winning touchdown catch ranks right up there with his 98-yard touchdown reception at LSU a year ago. He hasn’t been able to stop watching the play since.
“Things have been going pretty fast since Saturday night,” Cleveland said. “I watched the play like 50 times. It’s been crazy.”

The play not only won a huge game, it put life back into the Florida football program. After an embarrassing loss to Michigan in week one and a very poor start against Tennessee, the excitement for this season was going downhill quickly.

One play isn’t going to save an entire season, but it can absolutely provide a spark to both the team and the fan base.

A crowd of nearly 88,000 gave its biggest roar of the game when the ball landed in Cleveland’s arms, and the stadium continued rocking long after it was over. Cleveland took that moment in as much as he possibly could.

“The thing I like most about the play is the crowd when they made the noise, when they go crazy,” he said. “That’s why I like looking at the play. Just to see my teammates all running on the field and going crazy, and just to see the fans going crazy. The atmosphere was very crazy. I just feel like that play was a dream come true.”

That play didn’t just happen from pure talent. He possessed talent long before he arrived on Florida’s campus. That play, and other outstanding plays he has made so far this season, is the product of many hours of work over the offseason.

Cleveland made it a point to transform his body and become better in all phases of the game after last season. It’s paying off, and head coach Jim McElwain notices it.

“I think the biggest thing is kind of really invested in getting in shape, understanding the position and then playing with some technique where I think he was able to get away with just running fast when he got here,” said McElwain. “But learning some of the technical details and places you need to be. You know, he’s a fun guy to be around. Here’s what I like, he’s learned how to practice. By learning how to practice, then that becomes confidence in games.”

Cleveland not only worked on his physical shape, he learned the offense inside and out, and that has led to more confidence and better route running.

With all the issues he dealt with last season, he had to play catch-up on those things. On the plays he did make, his routes were not always crisp, he just outran everyone else to get open. Now, he can still rely on his stellar speed, but he also is progressing on the technical side.

“Freshman year, I was just out there running, just playing,” Cleveland said. “This year, I feel like I’m more comfortable with the play calling and the offense. I feel like I just put in the time just to learn the offense with help from my teammates, such as Josh Hammond, Brandon Powell, all those guys. They helped me get to where I’m at now.”

With so much uncertainty still surrounding Florida’s suspended players, including top wide receiver Antonio Callaway, Cleveland has taken on the No. 1 receiver role. Without Callaway out there to make the big plays, Cleveland is the guy Franks looks to, and he is gladly accepting the challenge.

Despite starting his career on the wrong foot, he is becoming the player Florida envisioned from the very beginning.

Bailiegh Carlton
A lifelong sports fan, Bailiegh Carlton knew from a young age that she wanted to work in sports in some capacity. Before transferring to the University of Florida to study journalism, she played softball at Gulf Coast State College. She then interned for Gator Country for three years as she worked toward her degree. After graduation, Bailiegh decided to explore other opportunities in the world of sports, but all roads led her right back here. In her time away, she and her husband welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. When she isn't working, she can almost always be found snuggled up with sweet baby Ridley, Cody and her four fur babies.