The Florida Gators will honor former head coach Urban Meyer this weekend for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. But Meyer won’t be the only Gators National Champion returning to Gainesville for Florida’s Week 13 rivalry matchup with Tennessee; former wide receivers Jemalle Cornelius and Andre Caldwell will also be in attendance.
Cornelius will serve as Florida’s honorary Mr. Two Bits vs. Tennessee while Caldwell spoke to the team on Wednesday about the importance of special teams play.
“I brought him in and had a chance to let him speak to the special teams today as well, both sides. Just because it’s important. We always preach to the players about making sure you’re in a position here at the University of Florida to learn how to play special teams, the importance of it,” Gonzales said on Caldwell.
Caldwell, who’s widely known as ‘Bubba’, played at UF from 2003-07, recording 185 receptions, 2,349 receiving yards, and 16 receiving touchdowns during his Gators’ career. His 185 career receptions are the most in Florida program history. While Caldwell had some bright moments throughout his NFL career, it was his special teams play that kept him in the league for eight seasons (2008-15).
“Bubba had a spectacular career, he played nine years in the NFL, but it was great to hear a former player who walked in in front of the unit, and tell everybody ‘listen, I’m the all-time leader in receptions here at the University of Florida, but what kept me in the NFL for nine years was the ability to play special teams. I was a core special teams player on kickoff, punt return, punt team, everything’,” Gonzales said on Caldwell’s message to the team.
Special teams play is often an overlooked part of football. Caldwell’s past experiences show it’s not only important, but something you can make a living off of.
“For the young players to get a chance to hear that and all of a sudden, and we preach it, but all of a sudden you’ve got someone that’s been in your seat and had a chance to do the exact same thing on the same football field, preach to you guys about it, the importance of special teams. Anytime we get a chance to have former players educate our players and come back and speak, I think it’s a nice touch,” Gonzales added.
Caldwell played under head coach Urban Meyer from 2005-07 and current interim head coach Billy Gonzales, who served as his position coach at UF.
Florida is set to play Tennessee at 7:30 p.m est on Saturday, Nov. 22 inside The Swamp.