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Callaway key to Gators’ resurgence, finally gives Gators a receiving threat
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The Gators’ dream season didn’t materialize until Antonio Callaway conceived it.
Back on Sept. 26 against Tennessee, Florida was firmly planted in what seemed to be a slow-coming reality. An improbable fourth-and-14 with 1:39 left threatened to snap its 10-game win streak over the rival Vols, signal Rocky Top’s resurrection in the SEC East and keep Gainesville wondering how long it would take to climb its way back.
Quarterback Will Grier fired a pass to Callaway, who was already well beyond the first down marker but wasn’t satisfied with just moving the chains. The Gators’ season turned the same instance Callaway turned and showed every intention of taking it 63 yards for the game-winning TD in the 28-27 win.
And that little turn has Florida way ahead of the curve.
Now, the 5-foot-11, 198-pound freshman from Miami Booker T. Washington has come into his own over the last two games, combining for 6 catches, 210 yards and a receiving TD while returning a punt 72 yards for a TD against LSU.
Last week against Georgia, Callaway came up big again. With both teams struggling on offense and Florida only up 6-0 with five minutes before halftime, Callaway raced past safety Johnathan Abram down the sideline and called for the ball with QB Treon Harris scrambling left. Harris let it fly and Callaway slowed down enough to catch the pass in stride, then shed Abram’s tackle and tight-roped the sideline for a key 66-yard touchdown.
That play would be a backbreaker for the Bulldogs in the Gators’ 27-3 win.
Callaway has not only stepped up as Florida’s top playmaker, but he’s also one of the SEC’s top threats. Callaway averages 22 yards per catch, which leads the SEC and is 7th in the FBS among qualified receivers.
Among freshmen wideouts, Callaway’s 52.3 receiving yards per game is 3rd behind only Texas A&M’s Christian Kirk (82.8) and Alabama’s Calvin Ridley (65.6) in the SEC.
Callaway’s accomplishments as a true freshman are eye-opening even at a school that has been known to churn out great receivers in the past.
Entering Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt, Callaway is coming off back-to-back 100-yard receiving games. He’s one of only two true freshman in Florida history to even record 100-yard receiving games along with Reidel Anthony in 1994. However, Saturday’s 110-yard effort against Georgia is the third 100-yard game of his debut season, while Anthony only had two.
Callaway’s potential has Florida fans hoping he’ll continue to put himself in the same sentence as former Gator greats like Anthony, Jabar Gaffney, Andre Caldwell, Ike Hilliard, Jacquez Green, etc. As of late, Florida hasn’t been a good host for those trying to join their company.
From 2010-13, not a single Gators receiver even managed to post 600 receiving yards in a season. Demarcus Robinson finally put an end to that with 810 yards last season.
However, that stretch was unfathomable and not just for a once receiver-rich program like Florida’s, but for any in the country. The only other FBS schools that didn’t have a 600-yard receiver over that span were Army, Eastern Michigan and Kansas. Prior to that, at least one Gator had gone for 600 in 23 straight seasons dating back to 1990.
Coach Jim McElwain’s offense has put receivers under the spotlight for the first time in what must feel like ages to Florida fans. The efforts of Callaway (19 catches, 418 yards, 3 TDs), Robinson (36 catches, 371 yards, 2 TDs) and Brandon Powell (21 catches, 291 yards, 3 TDs) have spearheaded a dramatically improved air attack from the Will Muschamp era.
The Gators rank among the top five in the SEC in completion percentage (62.7), yards per attempt (7.9), pass TDs (15) and QB rating (147.0).
Thanks to Callaway, the team is also dangerous on punt returns. Callaway is averaging 13.7 yards per return, which is 3rd in the SEC, to go with his touchdown against LSU.
This Saturday, Florida faces Vanderbilt with a chance to clinch the SEC East title on Homecoming, and it’s only the first week of November.
And the Gators’ sudden resurgence started with the emergence of a potential future star.
Born and raised in Gainesville, Talal joined SDS in 2015 after spending 2 years in Bristol as an ESPN researcher. Previously, Talal worked at The Gainesville Sun.
