Cole Pepper

2 weeks ago | floridapolitics.com | Cole Pepper

The Kentucky Derby will have a decidedly Florida feel to the field on Saturday. In the 151st Run for the Roses, 13 of the 20 horses have Florida ties. Among them are the top five favorites. Journalism (3-1) is owned in partnership with Ocala-based Bridlewood Farm, where he received early training. Sovereignty (5-1) also participated in the early training program at Bridlewood Farm and finished second at the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. He trains at Payson Park in Indiantown, west of Jupiter.

3 weeks ago | floridapolitics.com | Cole Pepper

With the 19th pick of the NFL draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. Egbuka received all-conference honors in all four years with the Buckeyes, including honorable mention All-Big Ten as a kick returner as a freshman. He was named second-team All-Big Ten as a sophomore and third-team as a junior and senior. In his final year in Columbus, he served as team captain and caught 81 passes for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns.

3 weeks ago | floridapolitics.com | Cole Pepper

With a dire need on the defensive line, the Miami Dolphins used the 13th pick of the NFL draft on Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant. Grant paired with the fifth pick, Mason Graham, to form the top defensive tackle combo in college football. At 6-foot-4, 331 pounds, Grant was a disruptive force in the interior of the Wolverines’ line who finished his final season in Ann Arbor with three sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss. He did not play in the team’s bowl game against Alabama.

3 weeks ago | floridapolitics.com | Cole Pepper

In his first draft decision as a General Manager, James Gladstone swung for the fences. Gladstone, the 34-year-old General Manager for the Jacksonville Jaguars, engineered a draft day trade to select the top prospect in the draft, Colorado’s cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter. The Jaguars began the night with the fifth pick in the draft. With the two top prospects, Hunter and Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter, unlikely to fall to No. 5, Gladstone got on the phones.

1 month ago | colepepper.substack.com | Cole Pepper

Most of my writing lately has been about the Jaguars’ offseason (and a little bit about the Gators, in addition to my work with Sporting JAX. In the most recent edition of Jacksonville Bold on FloridaPolitics.com, I wrote about whether the Gators stand a chance of repeating as college basketball champions. Cole’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.