Skip to main content
All Gators

Florida Gators WR Kadarius Toney Earns SEC Co-Special Teamer of the Week

Kadarius Toney's game-changing punt return touchdown against Kentucky earns him a big honor.
Zach Goodall|
Florida Gators WR Kadarius Toney Earns SEC Co-Special Teamer of the Week
Florida Gators WR Kadarius Toney Earns SEC Co-Special Teamer of the Week

The SEC has named Florida Gators wide receiver Kadarius Toney its co-Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against Kentucky this past weekend. He shares the honor with Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller, the first female to ever play in a Power 5 football game.

Toney returned a punt 50 yards for a touchdown near the end of the second quarter, securing a halftime lead for the Gators as they were in danger of their first halftime deficit of the season. He also made an acrobat grab off of the bounce of a punt within UF's ten-yard line, with coverage defenders enclosing, and somehow managed to squeeze a nine-yard return out of it.

In addition, Toney added three receptions for 38 yards, as Florida's passing attack flowed through tight end Kyle Pitts in his return to action after missing two games.

Head coach Dan Mullen was pleased with the Gators' all-around special teams plays sans a missed field goal by typically automatic kicker Evan McPherson. Running back Dameon Pierce ran for 15 yards to convert a fake punt on Florida's first offensive drive of the game. Punter Jacob Finn had a punt pinned at the Kentucky one-yard line after UF's defense had given up scores on consecutive drives, and Kentucky failed to score again from that point on.

"Overall I thought it was a really good special teams day and we talk about all three phases being equal," Mullen said post-game. "A lot of times young players or guys that come into the program are, 'Hey, what about my reps on offense, what about my reps on defense?' Worry about your reps and executing on special teams because those can be game-changing plays and you saw that with game-changing plays today."

Fuller attempted one kickoff for Vanderbilt, an admirable pooch-kick that yield no return. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations

Published
Zach Goodall
ZACH GOODALL

Zach Goodall is the publisher of AllGators.com on FanNation-Sports Illustrated, serving as a beat reporter covering football, recruiting, and occasionally other sports since 2019.  Before moving to Gainesville, Zach spent four years covering the Jacksonville Jaguars for SB Nation (2015-18) and Locked On Podcast Network (2017-19), originally launching his sports journalism career as a junior in high school. He also covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for FanNation-Sports Illustrated (2020-22). In addition to writing and reporting, Zach is a sports photographer and videographer who primarily shoots football and basketball games, practices and related events. When time permits in the 24/7 media realm, Zach enjoys road trips, concerts, golf and microbreweries. 

Share on XFollow zach_goodall
Home/Football