Cole Pepper

1 week ago | floridapolitics.com | Cole Pepper

A group including the founder and CEO of Jacksonville-based Dream Finders Homes has signed a letter of intent to purchase the Tampa Bay Rays, according to a report by Sportico. Patrick Zalupski, who founded the home builder company in 2008, took the company public in 2021. According to Forbes, his net worth is $1.4 billion. Zalupski was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the University of Florida Board of Trustees in 2023.

1 month ago | floridapolitics.com | Cole Pepper

Five teams from schools in Florida are scheduled to begin play in the NCAA baseball regionals Friday. Florida State earned the No. 9 seed nationally and will host a regional in Tallahassee. The Seminoles open the double-elimination round against Bethune-Cookman (3 p.m. ET, ACC Network). The Seminoles (38-14) were eliminated from the ACC tournament in the semifinals by North Carolina.

1 month 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.

2 months 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.

2 months 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.