On Wednesday, Florida athletics director Scott Stricklin joined the Sportscene radio program with Steve Russell on WRUF and gave the listeners the latest update.

“First off, let me say the information we’re getting about Keyontae has been really, really positive in the last 48 hours,” Stricklin said. “Everybody saw what his parents put out yesterday. I actually had a chance (to visit him). I was in Dallas at CFP meetings and got back late yesterday afternoon, was able to go straight to the hospital. Had a chance to see him. He was actually awake. He was actually sitting up in a chair. You could tell he’s still been sedated, so he was still a little groggy, but he thanked me for coming by. It was good to see him and sitting up, he had family in there, his parents and others.”

Gators’ AD went on to provide some more recent information on his progress.

“I’m told today that he’s even progressed a lot since then, that he’s having good conversations with his doctors, with his coaches,” the Florida athletics director said. “He’s smiling and laughing. Still undergoing more tests. I think the tests that have gotten back so far have been positive from a medical standpoint. His prognosis seems to be trending in the right direction, but we still have a lot of questions. The medical folks have a lot of questions they want to make sure they get answered.”

When discussing Johnson’s current state of mind and emotion, Stricklin added this uplifting note.

“The one thing I told Key when I saw him yesterday is he has no idea the number of people who have been lifting him up in prayer and sending along good thoughts,” Stricklin said. “He needed to know how much he was loved, not just by Gators, I mean people all over the sporting community in the state of Florida and beyond have really lifted him up.”

Finally, Stricklin tipped his hat to his rivals up the road in Tallahassee, who conducted themselves with the utmost dignity and class.

“Just the whole FSU community was, they were really special during this time and we have a great appreciation for them doing this and showing that, at the end of the day, this is just a game. There are bigger things in sports.”

Indeed, there truly are.

As the Florida Gators basketball continues to focus on the recovery of junior forward Keyontae Johnson after he collapsed at last Saturday’s game against Florida State, the program announced Thursday that it will postpone its next three three games: Dec. 19 vs. FAU, Dec. 20 vs. Florida A&M and Dec. 22 vs. James Madison. The Gators previously postponed their game against North Florida set for Tuesday and will continue their season on Dec. 30 at Vanderbilt, opening Southeastern Conference play on the road.

Johnson, who remains in stable condition, is now showing “truly encouraging signs of progress as he undergoes tests and further evaluation at UF health,” Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin said in a statement Thursday.

Johnson has been breathing on his own, speaking, having good conversations, sitting upright and laughing, according to multiple updates provided this week. This after he suddenly collapsed Saturday during the Gators’ college basketball game.

Speaking on WRUF’s Sportscene with Steve Russell, Scott Stricklin said Keyontae Johnson was alert and awake when he visited him Tuesday afternoon.

“First off, let me say the information we’re getting about Keyontae has been really, really positive in the last 48 hours,” Stricklin said. “Everybody saw what his parents put out yesterday. I actually had a chance (to visit Keyontae). I was in Dallas at CFP meetings and got back late yesterday afternoon, was able to go straight to the hospital. Had a chance to see him. He was actually awake. He was actually sitting up in a chair. You could tell he’s still been sedated, so he was still a little groggy, but he thanked me for coming by. It was good to see him and sitting up, he had family in there, his parents and others.”

“I’m told today that he’s even progressed a lot since then, that he’s having good conversations with his doctors, with his coaches,” said Stricklin. “He’s smiling and laughing. Still undergoing more tests. I think the tests that have gotten back so far have been positive from a medical standpoint. His prognosis seems to be trending in the right direction, but we still have a lot of questions. The medical folks have a lot of questions they want to make sure they get answered.”

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida’s Kyle Trask was named a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Manning Award, while also being named a semifinalist for The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida begins the 2021 season on top of the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) preseason poll. This is the third No. 1 preseason ranking for the Gator program, as UF also started the 2014 and 2015 seasons atop those preseason polls.

Both Florida and Oklahoma received 16 first-place votes with the Gators claiming the top preseason position in points. Rounding out the top five are No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 3 LSU, No. 4 Utah and No. 5 Michigan.

“We’re excited that the Gators are ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll,” Florida Head Coach Jenny Rowland said. “However, I think the Gators are most thankful that we have an opportunity to get out and compete again this year for our fans, for Gator Nation and for NCAA Gymnastics.”

MORE GOOD NEWS! 🙏🏽 #Gators Athletic Director Stricklin said on @ESPNGainesville that Keyontae Johnson has progressed. He’s been sitting up, having good conversations, laughing and smiling. He also says Johnson is still going through more tests.

In an expected move the Gators announced Monday evening that their game with North Florida, originally scheduled for Wednesday, December 16th, would be cancelled.

The news came on the heels of an update on the condition of junior forward Keyontae Johnson who was able to be moved from Tallahassee to Gainesville, as well as a particularly encouraging note regarding him being able to respond to simple commands.

Having played North Florida 6 times over the past decade they have become a staple of Florida’s non-conference schedule and they will certainly meet again in the new future, likely next season. There have been no plans to attempt to reschedule the game, and almost certainly there won’t be.

Keyontae Johnson has been successfully transferred as planned from Tallahassee Memorial to UF Health in Gainesville by ShandsCair. He continues in critical but stable condition, is following simple commands and undergoing further tests.