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Florida WR Trevon Grimes on his emotional response to being declared eligible by NCAA
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Florida’s offense got even better on Thursday when it was announced that transfer receivers Van Jefferson and Trevon Grimes were granted immediate eligibility to play in 2018.
Grimes played in just two games as a freshman for Ohio State before family matters related to his mother forced him to change schools.
He wanted to move back near his hometown of Fort Lauderdale, and with Gainesville just four aways away, it seemed like a good fit. When Grimes got the call confirming his immediate eligibility, he became emotional.
“I called my mom and told her the news and I actually shed a little tear I was so excited to get on the field and be able to play this season,” Grimes said, via 247Sports. “She cried like any mom would. She cried and she was just excited because she gets to go watch her baby play. Doesn’t have to sit out a year. It was kind of hard because from transitioning from Ohio State, she didn’t get to watch me play; so she gets to watch me play (now). I’m excited to go out there and play for her.”
The 6-foot-5 receiver offers a unique combination of size and speed and could provide several big plays for the Gators this season.
Jefferson, a redshirt junior, adds on to the experience this group of receivers have. Catching the ball is in his DNA, as his father, Shawn Jefferson, played 13 years in the NFL and is currently the receivers coach for the Miami Dolphins.
He recorded 49 receptions for 543 yards and three touchdowns in his sophomore season and 42 receptions for 456 yards and one touchdown in his junior year.
Jefferson is one of the beneficiaries of an SEC rule that allows transfers within the conference to be given immediate eligibility if the program they are transferring from is facing a postseason ban.
The two will join a talented receiving corps featuring players like Tyrie Cleveland, Josh Hammond, Kadarius Toney and Freddie Swan.
Jordan Dajani covers SEC football for Saturday Down South and is a University of Tennessee graduate. He also has experience working in the NBA and with ESPN.
