NFL
UCF Hall of Fame Inductee Shaquem Griffin Launches Search For Greatness Combine With Joey Grant and GMTM
Published
1 year agoon
By
Mike BrodskyFormer UCF football players Shaquem Griffin and Joey Grant have partnered with GMTM to launch their Search for Greatness Combine at UCF on Saturday, November 9th. They’re giving local athletes a chance to showcase their talents and explore new sports opportunities. Griffin will be inducted into the UCF Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 2nd, during halftime of the Arizona vs. UCF football game. He is remembered for his tenacity, setting an NFL Combine record with the fastest 40-yard dash by a linebacker, and playing four seasons in the NFL, overcoming the challenge of only having one hand. He is now training to make the USA Paralympic Track and Field Team and hopes to compete in the 2028 Olympics. Joey Grant, the co-founder and CEO of GMTM, is a former UCF team captain, playing mostly Center for the Knights from 2011-2015.
Participation at the upcoming combine is free and invite-only, targeting athletes over the age of 18. To be considered, athletes must submit a highlight video via GMTM’s platform, showcasing their athleticism. GMTM will evaluate submissions and invite the most promising athletes to participate in the combine. The goal for this year’s event is to get 1,000 athletes to submit videos and be part of the combine process. Athletes chosen will receive personalized invites with further instructions, including event time slots and details. The athletes will be evaluated for their key athletic traits, to identify opportunities for them across multiple Olympic sports or professional sports programs. To learn more, or to apply for the combine, visit: https://gmtm.com/articles/the-search-for-greatness-at-ucf-with-shaquem-griffin-what-you-need-to-know.
Florida National News spoke with Shaquem and Joey about the combine, college football in the era of NIL and the transfer portal, and Griffin’s hall of fame induction. You can watch the full interview here:
Shaquem Griffin and Joey Grant interview
Stay tuned to www.FloridaNationalNews.com and www.FloridaSportsChannel.com for more.
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Jacksonville
Jaguars Down the Jets 48-20 in Jacksonville
Published
4 days agoon
December 14, 2025By
Mike BrodskyJACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) beat the New York Jets (3-11) 48-20 at EverBank Stadium today. Jets QB Brady Cook made the first start of his career. Cook was the first undrafted rookie QB to start for the Jets in 50 years.
On the first drive of the game, QB Trevor Lawrence found WR Brian Thomas Jr. in the end zone for a 4 yard touchdown pass, followed by the extra point from Cam Little, giving the Jaguars an early 7-0 lead. The Jaguars second drive ended with a 15 yard touchdown run by Lawrence, followed by another Little XP, to put the Jags up 14-0. But Brady Cook completed his first career TD pass to WR Adonai Mitchell for 9 yards, followed by the XP by K Nick Folk, to put the Jets on the board. At the end of the first quarter, the Jaguars were ahead 14-7.
Early in the second quarter, Trevor Lawrence completed a 16 yard touchdown pass to RB Bhayshul Tuten, and Little added the XP to put the Jags up 21-7. Several minutes later, Jets WR Isaiah Williams appeared to score a touchdown returning Logan Cooke’s punt, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty nullified that TD. Several plays later, the Jets settled for a 41 yard Nick Folk field goal, to narrow the Jets deficit to 21-10. Cam Little added a 33 yard field goal for the Jags shortly before the half, extending their lead to 24-10. Just two downs later, CB Montaric Brown intercepted a Brady Cook pass intended for Adonai Mitchell, and the Jags moved the ball down the field, with Lawrence ultimately hitting RB Travis Etienne Jr. in the end zone for a 20 yard touchdown pass, followed by Little’s XP. This completion put Trevor Lawrence ahead of David Garrard for third place on the Jaguars all-time franchise record for passing TDs with 90. The Jaguars went into halftime up 31-10.
Nick Folk kicked a 51 yard field goal on the Jets’ first drive of the third quarter. The Jaguars responded with another touchdown pass by Lawrence to Etienne, this one for 8 yards. After Little’s XP, the Jaguars led 38-13. This was Travis Etienne Jr.’s 30th touchdown of his career. Late in the third, Cam Little added a 22 yard field goal, which was the 50th of his career, making him the youngest player in NFL history to kick 50 field goals. The Jaguars were up 41-13 at the end of the third quarter.
The Jets scored early in the fourth on a 24 yard touchdown run by RB Isaiah Davis, followed by Folk’s XP, to make the score 41-20. Two plays later, the Jaguars added another Lawrence to Etienne touchdown pass, this time for 45 yards, followed by Little’s XP, extending their lead to 48-20. The Jaguars brought QB Nick Mullen in to relieve Lawrence soon after as a precautionary move. Midway through the fourth, the Jets were threatening to score, but Jags LB Ventrell Miller intercepted a Brady Cook pass intended for WR Allen Lazard in the end zone. Late in the fourth, Brady Cook was once again picked off, this time by S Antonio Johnson. The final score remained 48-20.
Trevor Lawrence finished with 330 passing yards and 5 TDs. Trevor Lawrence also led the Jaguars’ rushing with 51 yards and 1 TD. Travis Etienne Jr. was the leading receiver with 73 yards and 3 TDs. Today’s attendance was 60,815.
Trevor Lawrence reached 3,000 passing yards for the fourth time in his five year career. In Jaguars franchise history, only Mark Brunell has had more such seasons, with five.
The Jaguars have two games on the road against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 21 and the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 28, before returning home for the final game of the season against the Tennessee Titans. That game will be held either Jan. 3 or 4, but the date and time have not yet been confirmed. Be sure to follow www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.
Jacksonville
Jaguars Beat Colts for Eleventh Straight Time in Jacksonville
Published
2 weeks agoon
December 7, 2025By
Mike BrodskyJACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4) beat the Indianapolis Colts (8-5) 36-19 at EverBank Stadium today. The weather was cloudy and overcast with intermittent rain all afternoon. Today’s victory was also Jacksonville’s 11th straight home victory against Indianapolis.
Jaguars RB Travis Etienne Jr. was the first to score with a 3 yard touchdown run, on a scoring drive which started with LB Devin Lloyd’s interception of a Colts QB Daniel Jones pass. After K Cam Little’s extra point, the Jaguars were up 7-0. The Colts responded with a drive which ended with a 1 yard RB Jonathan Taylor TD run, followed by K Blake Grupe’s XP to tie the score. The Jags followed up with a drive that culminated in a 14 yard WR Jakobi Meyers touchdown pass from QB Trevor Lawrence, and Little added the XP. Just before the end of the first quarter, Daniel Jones limped off the field with an Achilles injury after slipping on the wet turf, and was replaced with rookie QB Riley Leonard. The score remained 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Jaguars CB Jarrian Jones recovered a Jonathan Taylor fumble, and on the next play, Travis Etienne ran for a 28 yard touchdown, followed by Little’s XP. The Colts later added a 28 yard field goal by Blake Grupe, to narrow their deficit to 21-10. The Jags added a score late in the quarter as Trevor Lawrence found Tim Patrick in the end zone for an 8 yard touchdown pass, followed by Little’s XP. The Jaguars led 28-10 at halftime.
The Colts first drive of the third quarter ended with a 36 yard Blake Grupe field goal. The quarter ended with the Jaguars ahead 28-13.
Early in the fourth, Cam Little kicked a 35 yard field goal. The Jaguars later added a safety when DE Josh Hines-Allen sacked Riley Leonard in the end zone. Just a few plays later, Cam Little kicked a 48 yard field goal, to extend the Jags’ lead to 36-13. A Colts touchdown pass by Riley Leonard to WR Alec Pierce just before the two minute warning was overturned by officials, but Leonard later ran 6 yards up the middle for a touchdown, before missing the two-point conversion attempt. The final score was 36-19.
Trevor Lawrence finished with 244 passing yards and 2 TDs. Travis Etienne Jr. led the Jaguars’ rushing with 74 yards and 2 TDs. Brian Thomas Jr. was the leading receiver with 87 yards. Today’s attendance was 60,067.
During today’s game, Foye Oluokun reached 100 total tackles for his sixth consecutive season. He is one of six active players with 100+ tackles every season from 2020-24.
Foye Oluokun reached 100 total tackles for his sixth consecutive season. (Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)
The Jaguars face the New York Jets next week at EverBank Stadium on Dec. 14. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The Jaguars have two games on the road against the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts (again), before returning home for the final game of the season against the Tennessee Titans. Be sure to follow www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.
Jacksonville
Jaguars Charge Past Los Angeles 35-6
Published
1 month agoon
November 16, 2025By
Mike BrodskyJACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) handily beat the Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) 35-6 at EverBank Stadium today. The last time the Jags faced the Chargers, they overcame a 27 point deficit to win the AFC Wild Card 31-30 in January 2023.
Chargers K Cameron Dicker was the first to score with a 41 yard field goal. But the Jaguars responded with a scoring drive that culminated in RB Bhayshul Tuten’s 4 yard touchdown run, followed by K Cam Little’s extra point at the end of the first quarter, to put Jacksonville ahead 7-3.
Bhayshul Tuten scores a TD to end the 1st quarter. (Photo credit: Arthur “Dell” Morgan, Florida National News)
In the second quarter, Jaguars DE Josh Hines-Allen sacked Chargers QB Justin Herbert, which gave Hines-Allen Jacksonville’s franchise record of 56 sacks, breaking the record previously held by DE Tony Brackens. On the next play, Dicker kicked a 46 yard field goal, to bring the Chargers within one of the Jaguars, 7-6. But the Jags responded on their next scoring drive, which was capped off by Travis Etienne Jr.’s 2 yard touchdown run and Little’s XP, to put Jacksonville up 14-6.
Josh Hines-Allen sets franchise record with 56th career sack. (Photo credit: Arthur “Dell” Morgan, Florida National News)
Early in the third quarter, WR Jakobi Meyers, playing for the first time at EverBank stadium as a Jaguar, had a reception that put him over 5,000 career receiving yards. Later on that drive, QB Trevor Lawrence ran up the middle for a 1 yard touchdown, followed by Little’s XP, extending the Jaguars lead to 21-6.
The Jaguars added more points early in the fourth quarter as Trevor Lawrence threw a 1 yard touchdown pass to WR Tim Patrick, and Little added the XP, to put the Jaguars ahead 28-6. As the Chargers took possession of the ball, Herbert’s first pass was picked off by S Antonio Johnson, who returned the ball 44 yards. Two plays later, the Jags added another score on Travis Etienne Jr.’s 13 yard touchdown run, followed by Little’s XP, making the score 35-6, which remained the score at the end of the game.
Trevor Lawrence finished with 153 passing yards, 1 passing TD, and 1 rushing TD. Bhayshul Tuten led the Jaguars’ rushing with 74 yards and 1 TD. Jakobi Meyers was the leading receiver with 64 yards. Today’s attendance was 58,461.
Today was the Jaguars’ 2025 Salute To Service game, part of the NFL’s commitment to recognize and honor the military and veteran community. Over the past 15 years, the NFL has raised more than $75 million for charitable organizations that support the military community.
Today was Jacksonville’s 2025 Salute To Service game. (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)
The Jaguars travel to Arizona to play the Cardinals on Sunday, Nov. 23 at State Farm Stadium. Kickoff is at 4:05 p.m. The Jags face the Titans the following week before returning to EverBank Stadium on Dec. 7 to face the Indianapolis Colts. Be sure to follow www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.
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MikeBrodsky | MikeBrodsky@FloridaNationalNews.com
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