Category: Florida Gators

 

The Jacksonville (Fla.) native leaves Florida with one year of eligibility remaining.

 

Kentucky Wildcats running back Chip Trayanum (4) rushes with the ball while being tackled by Florida Gators defensive end Jack Pyburn (44) during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

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Florida Gators edge rusher Jack Pyburn will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after three years with the program, On3’s Hayes Fawcett revealed Tuesday. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.

 

A Jacksonville (Fla.) native, Pyburn joined Florida as part of Billy Napier’s first recruiting class ahead of the 2022 season, where he played in eight games as a freshman and recorded three total tackles.

 

In an elevated role as a sophomore, Pyburn began to hit his stride before suffering a torn ACL in the loss to Arkansas, which ended his season.

 

“I would say the hardest thing was just not being able to play the game I love for so long,” he said on Oct. 2. “That was the hardest part. The rehab wasn’t the hardest part for me, just because, in my opinion, it’s a mentality thing. If you approach everything like you need to get better, no matter what the situation is. So, I took it as ‘Okay, I hurt my knee. There’s things in my game that I can work on while I’m coming back to my rehab that can help me to come back as a better player.’”

 

However, a strong recovery allowed Pyburn to not miss any time in 2024, and he experienced a breakout season. As part of Florida’s midseason defensive turnaround, Pyburn was second on the team in tackles (60), with one sack, one interception and one forced fumble.

 

“That’s part of the value there is how he makes everybody around him better,” Napier said on Oct. 2. “I think ultimately that’s what I would say is not only production, but also just a little bit of that edge rubs off on the rest of them a little bit. So, proof’s of the pudding, and I think ultimately he’s done a lot with the snaps that he’s gotten. Then obviously his practice habits, even today it’s very evident 44 is on the field. So we need more like him.”

 

Pyburn is the 14th total outgoing transfer for the Gators and the 10th on scholarship. A complete transfer portal tracker for all of the Gators’ moves can be found here, and a complete roster outlook can be found here.

 

 

The four-star running back earned the honor following an exceptional senior season.

The Florida State Seminoles currently boast the No. 20 recruiting class in the nation after the Early Signing Period, closing it out with a few surprises. After losing four-star running back Byron Louis to the Florida Gators, the ‘Noles managed to upgrade the position by flipping talented Georgia commit Ousmane Kromah from the Bulldogs.

Kromah capped off a strong finish to Florida State’s recruiting efforts. The 6’0”, 205-pound running back rushed 152 times for 1,290 yards and 15 touchdowns during his senior year at Lee County, earning the title of 2024 Mr. Georgia Football.

Despite Florida State losing running back Lawrance Toafili, the elite prospect from Leesburg, GA, will join a deep running back group. With players like Roydell Williams, Caziah Holmes, Kam Davis, Micahi Danzy, Sam Singleton, and Jaylin Lucas returning, competition will be intense. However, head coach Mike Norvell and running backs coach David Johnson have favored a “by-committee” approach during their time in Tallahassee, so Kromah may see early playing time.

Kromah had seven games with 100+ yards rushing during his senior year and is ranked as the No. 73 overall prospect, the No. 4 RB, and the No. 10 recruit in Georgia for the 2025 class.

With the 2024 NCAA Transfer Portal still open, it’s unclear how the roster will shape up for 2025, but FSU fans are eager to see Mr. Georgia Football in garnet and gold next fall.

 

 

The Florida Gators might have the best young quarterback in the country in DJ Lagway, and On3 named the first-year phenom to its True Freshman All-America Team on Friday.

 

Lagway started the year as the backup to senior Graham Mertz. He made his first start in Week 2 against Samford while Mertz recovered from a concussion and set a program record for true freshmen with 456 passing yards. Lagway continued to earn playing time as a backup from then on, finally taking over the reins to the offense midway through the Tennessee matchup after Mertz tore his ACL.

 

Lagway missed the Texas game with a hamstring injury after suffering against Georgia but returned a week later against LSU. He finished the season 4-0 in games that he started and finished. Over 11 total appearances, Lagway totaled 1,610 yards on 93 of 157 passing (59.2%), 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions while rushing 46 times for 97 yards.

 

“No true freshman quarterback had more of an effect on winning at their respective program than DJ Lagway,” On3 national news reporter Thomas Goldkamp wrote. “Lagway took over for Florida following the season-ending injury for Graham Mertz and led the Gators to wins in four of their last five games, providing a bunch of positive momentum heading into the offseason in Gainesville.”

 

Goldkamp noted Lagway’s “top-shelf arm,” sturdy pocket presence and scrambling ability to support Lagway’s placement on the list. He also questioned whether the injury Lagway suffered hampered him from playing at full strength. True freshmen rarely play their best ball in Year 1, which means an already high ceiling for Lagway could be an underestimate.

 

Pro Football Focus gave Lagway a 71.8 overall offensive grade, good for 4th among true freshman quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks. His 75.5 passing grade is first along the same criteria.

 

Even more impressive, Lagway’s 97.3 passing grade on deep balls (20 yards or more) leads all FBS quarterbacks. He threw 30 deep balls this year, making up 18.6% of his total attempts.

 

On3 2025 True Freshman All-American List

Offensive True Freshman of the Year – WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State

 

QB – DJ Lagway, Florida

 

RB – Isaac Brown, Louisville

 

RB – Ahmar Hardy, Louisiana-Monroe

 

WR – Ryan Williams, Alabama

 

WR – Cam Coleman, Auburn

 

OL – Jordan Seaton, Colorado

 

OL – Anthonie Knapp, Notre Dame

 

OL – Cash Cleveland, Colorado

 

OL – Tyler Mercer, North Texas

 

Bonus – RB Caden Durham, LSU

 

Defensive True Freshman of the Year – EDGE Dylan Stewart, South Carolina

 

EDGE – Colin Simmons, Texas

 

EDGE – Kyran Duhon, UTEP

 

DL – Jayden Jackson, Oklahoma

 

LB – Sammy Brown, Clemson

 

LB – Simeon Coleman, Cincinnati

 

CB – OJ Frederique, Miami

 

CB – Jay Crawford, Auburn

 

CB – Eli Bowen, Oklahoma

 

S – Koi Perich, Minnesota

 

S – KJ Bolden, Georgia

 

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The Florida Gators might have the best young quarterback in the country in DJ Lagway, and On3 named the first-year phenom to its True Freshman All-America Team on Friday.

 

Lagway started the year as the backup to senior Graham Mertz. He made his first start in Week 2 against Samford while Mertz recovered from a concussion and set a program record for true freshmen with 456 passing yards. Lagway continued to earn playing time as a backup from then on, finally taking over the reins to the offense midway through the Tennessee matchup after Mertz tore his ACL.

 

Lagway missed the Texas game with a hamstring injury after suffering against Georgia but returned a week later against LSU. He finished the season 4-0 in games that he started and finished. Over 11 total appearances, Lagway totaled 1,610 yards on 93 of 157 passing (59.2%), 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions while rushing 46 times for 97 yards.

 

“No true freshman quarterback had more of an effect on winning at their respective program than DJ Lagway,” On3 national news reporter Thomas Goldkamp wrote. “Lagway took over for Florida following the season-ending injury for Graham Mertz and led the Gators to wins in four of their last five games, providing a bunch of positive momentum heading into the offseason in Gainesville.”

 

Goldkamp noted Lagway’s “top-shelf arm,” sturdy pocket presence and scrambling ability to support Lagway’s placement on the list. He also questioned whether the injury Lagway suffered hampered him from playing at full strength. True freshmen rarely play their best ball in Year 1, which means an already high ceiling for Lagway could be an underestimate.

 

Pro Football Focus gave Lagway a 71.8 overall offensive grade, good for 4th among true freshman quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks. His 75.5 passing grade is first along the same criteria.

 

Even more impressive, Lagway’s 97.3 passing grade on deep balls (20 yards or more) leads all FBS quarterbacks. He threw 30 deep balls this year, making up 18.6% of his total attempts.

 

On3 2025 True Freshman All-American List

Offensive True Freshman of the Year – WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State

 

QB – DJ Lagway, Florida

 

RB – Isaac Brown, Louisville

 

RB – Ahmar Hardy, Louisiana-Monroe

 

WR – Ryan Williams, Alabama

 

WR – Cam Coleman, Auburn

 

OL – Jordan Seaton, Colorado

 

OL – Anthonie Knapp, Notre Dame

 

OL – Cash Cleveland, Colorado

 

OL – Tyler Mercer, North Texas

 

Bonus – RB Caden Durham, LSU

 

Defensive True Freshman of the Year – EDGE Dylan Stewart, South Carolina

 

EDGE – Colin Simmons, Texas

 

EDGE – Kyran Duhon, UTEP

 

DL – Jayden Jackson, Oklahoma

 

LB – Sammy Brown, Clemson

 

LB – Simeon Coleman, Cincinnati

 

CB – OJ Frederique, Miami

 

CB – Jay Crawford, Auburn

 

CB – Eli Bowen, Oklahoma

 

S – Koi Perich, Minnesota

 

S – KJ Bolden, Georgia

 

 

 

The difference between the Florida football team having DJ Lagway under center and not was about as night-and-day as it can get this fall. In all five games that the true freshman took a majority of the snaps, the Gators emerged victoriously — including three straight to end the regular season.

 

Lagway finished the season completing 93 of 157 pass attempts (59.2%) for 1,610 yards and 11 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 11 total games played. He also ran 46 times for 97 yards (2.1 average) on the ground without a score.

 

As a result of his efforts, the gunslinger out of Willis, Texas, earned the No. 16 spot in 247Sports writer Clint Brewster’s final top 20 quarterback power rankings for the 2024 campaign. That slots him between the Texas Longhorns play-caller Quinn Ewers at No. 15 and the Clemson Tigers‘ Cade Klubnik at No. 17.

 

“Quite possibly the nation’s best true rookie signal caller, DJ Lagway threw some incredible passes that a freshman shouldn’t be able to make,” Brewster points out. “At 6-foot-3, 239 pounds, Lagway has the arm and legs to be a marquee quarterback for years to come. He won the last three games for Florida after coming back from injury. He is still not 100% healthy.”

 

A healthy Lagway, along with a robust recruiting class and more time for the program to mature, means the Gators might be a force to be reckoned with in 2025.

 

 

 

We don’t base these things on total wins andlosses, or even the quality of wins and losses. Or national rankings.

 

And by We, I obviously mean Me.

 

My rankings, my rules, my criteria.

 

DJ Lagway and Billy Napier had plenty to celebrate over the season’s final few weeks.

Results versus expectations: We expected the Miami Hurricanes to be good this year. But 10-wins good? Some were expecting no less than that, though recent disappointments have led others to slow-roll the hype each new season brings.

 

Florida Gator onlookers, however — the most sober among them, anyway — were just hoping against hope to avoid a fourth straight losing season. Noticeable improvement was the hope, but a schedule of tall timber loomed large.

 

Advantage: Gators over ‘Canes, by a little.

 

Current trends: Here’s the clincher. If you think Miami wrapped up the regular season with better mojo than Florida, you must’ve been spending your Saturdays watching the PBA Tour.

 

So here we are. After three months of Miami and the rest in our weekly rankings, we end the regular season with a coup.

 

Rank & File: Hurricanes and Gators swap spots in our weekly Florida football rankings

The weekly ranking of Florida’s seven big-league college football programs, based on results versus expectations(!), current trends(!), and perceived sideways glances from Elon …

 

1. Florida Gators (7-5)

Last week: (Ranked 2) Beat FSU, 31-11. What’s up: Bowl projections have the Gators all over the map, literally, though Jacksonville (Gator Bowl) and Tampa (Gasparilla Bowl) seem to be co-leaders in the clubhouse. There’s a chance to win four straight for the first time since 2020. Those who pay a lot of attention to such things are very excited about the new recruiting class, but aren’t they always?

 

2. Miami Hurricanes (10-2)

Last week: Lost to Syracuse, 42-38. What’s up: I already explained the reason for flip-flopping the ’Canes and Gators here. But there’s also this: If Florida and Miami played each other this week, who would you pick to win? Not as quick to answer as you would’ve been a month ago. If you’re into math formulas, the Sagarin Ratings have Miami ranked 14th (83.70) and Florida 19th (81.99), the best among five-loss teams.

 

3. USF Bulls (6-6)

Last week: (3) Lost to Rice, 35-28. What’s up: An upset loss at Rice mucked up a neat late-season run. But still expect to see Bulls coach Alex Golesh’s name pop up around some of the vacancies. Anything outside of a Power Four job, however, would be a sideways move at best. And yes, the Big 12 is a Power Four. (Ahem, see below).

 

4. UCF Knights (4-8)

Last week: (4) Lost to Utah, 28-14. What’s up: You see the typical mix of guys mentioned for the Knights’ coaching vacancy — current offensive coordinators, head coaches at lower levels, etc. But the two most intriguing names have to be Jon Gruden and Scott Frost. Gruden would bring instant star power and a coaching track record, while Frost seems like an overly sentimental possibility. Remember, the college football world was a very different place when Frost was in Orlando winning a “national championship” several years back.

 

5. FIU Panthers (4-8)

Last week: (5) Beat Middle Tennessee, 35-24. What’s up: Panthers AD Scott Carr thanked fired coach Mike MacIntyre for “solidifying the foundation” during his three-year run. Let’s see … 4-8, 4-8 and, whaddaya know, another 4-8. Not sure that’s a foundation you want to firm up. Seems like a million years ago that Mario Cristobal and Butch Davis were piecing together consecutive winning seasons at the other Miami school.

 

6. FAU Owls (3-9)

Last week: (6) Beat Tulsa, 63-16. What’s up: New coach Zach Kittley is just 33 and lowers the median age in Boca Raton by 1.3 years. He might age quickly, but it’s probably time for the Owls to quit looking for another Lane Kiffin-caliber coaching reclamation. In his intro speech to the team, Coach Zach promised a fast-paced offense and an aggressive defense, thus repeating the promises of 2,639 new coaches before him.

 

7. FSU Seminoles (2-10)

Last week: (7) Lost to Florida, 31-11. What’s up: Someone is going to do a helluva documentary on the FSU free fall from last year’s high to this nuclear winter of a 2024 season. Maybe they should hurry, because in the current climate, one of today’s playoff contenders just might suffer the same fate next year. Or maybe two of them. Is Gus Malzahn salvaging or dooming what’s left of his coaching career?

 

 

 

The Florida Gators will have Wilson back on the field come 2025

 

The Gators got a positive update on Eugene Wilson III

The Gators got a positive update on Eugene Wilson III

Despite heavy speculation surrounding Florida Gators wide receiver Eugene Wilson III and if he would be playing in Gainesville next season, it looks like he is set to stay with the Gators in 2025.

 

Word reached social media on Tuesday night that Wilson III would be suiting up in the orange and blue next season, according to On3’s Zach Abolverdi.

 

The shifty wide receiver missed most of this season due to injuries, but the most significant of them all was a hip injury that’s described as a “congenial issue” had been discovered this season and required him to have surgery.

 

“It’s a genetic hip issue that got to a point to where we had to clean it up,” Gators head coach BIlly Napier said in early November. “I think we made the best decision in his long-term career in terms of the little things that the injury was causing from a compensation standpoint.”

 

Napier did continue on to say that it was a “great surgery” for Wilson III.

 

“They got to the root of the problem, and we sent him to Chicago probably 10 days ago to see the best hip doctor in the country,” Napier stated.

 

He should be ready by next season given that Napier added that it would be a “four-month recovery” for the receiver. Also, Wilson III only played in four games this season, which gives him the option of redshirting and saving a year of eligibility.

 

In those four games he played in, he amassed 266 total receiving yards on 19 catches. He also recorded one touchdown as well. His best game of the season came in Week Two against Samford where he had six catches for 141 yards and one touchdown and had his longest catch of the season, which was a jet sweep that he took to the house for 85 yards.

 

Getting him back for next year is very important for the Gators as they will be losing both Elijhah Badger and Chimere Dike due to eligibility. Furthermore, it gives DJ Lagway potentially one of the most dangerous weapons on offense in the entire country when healthy.

 

 

 

The relationship-building is vital, and the sleek facilities alluring. Culture and climate factor in, as do playing time and projected depth charts. Name, image and likeness money, of course, is paramount.

 

All, to varying degrees, weigh significantly in the modern-day recruiting process, which seems to be getting more sophisticated each year. These days, it’s not enough for coaches to schmooze parents; they have to show ‘em the money, too. Still, some enticements remain as proven as they did in the polyester era. Want to get a five-star player on your campus? Just remember the three letters nearly as important as N-I-L.

 

 

 

“There’s nothing that is better for recruiting than winning,” Florida coach Billy Napier said.

 

That enduring philosophy is being proven in Gainesville, where the staggering rise of Napier’s 2025 recruiting class up the national rankings has been concurrent with his team’s stunning late-season success. Days before his team’s 49-17 loss at Texas, the Gators’ class was 50th in the 247Sports national rankings.

 

Today, in the wake of wins against LSU, Ole Miss and FSU, it’s 10th according to 247Sports and 11th according to On3.com.

 

“We’ve done a good job evaluating players and recruiting players,” Napier said following Saturday’s 31-11 romp over FSU in Tallahassee. “That’s not been our issue here. What we needed to do is prove ourselves on the grass, prove to recruits that we can teach and develop players and that our formula works, and win. … And I think we’ve done that for the last couple of weeks.”

 

Here’s a closer look at the Gators’ class — along with those assembled by USF, FSU, Miami and UCF — entering Wednesday, the start of the NCAA’s three-day early signing period for football. While the high school and junior college signees represent a large component of teams’ roster replenishments, even more significant additions could arrive when the NCAA transfer portal opens Monday.

 

Florida

On3.com national ranking: 11th

 

247Sports national ranking: 10th

 

Arguably no program in America is finishing this stage of the recruiting season stronger than Florida, which in a recent 15-day span convinced 11 players committed elsewhere to flip to UF, according to On3.com. Its latest coup: Getting four-star Jacksonville safety Hylton Stubbs to flip from Miami. Two offensive skill guys — Fort Lauderdale tailback Byron Louis and Jacksonville quarterback Tramell Jones — recently flipped from FSU. With breakout quarterback DJ Lagway recruiting alongside Napier, more announcements likely will be forthcoming. “I’m definitely going to be involved in the transfer portal and the recruiting class,” Lagway said, “but the biggest thing is keeping the guys that we have here.”

 

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The Seminoles lost no fewer than a half-dozen highly prominent pledges as their season went off the rails. The key for coach Mike Norvell is keeping his remaining pledges (notably Jacksonville interior offensive lineman Solomon Thomas and Georgia defensive lineman Kevin Wynn) on board. The rapid hiring of new coordinators (Gus Malzahn and Tony White) could help that effort; recruits know for whom they’ll be playing. Kevin Sperry, a three-star quarterback from Denton, Texas, and onetime Oklahoma pledge, could be a sleeper in the class.

 

Miami

Miami coach Mario Cristobal is expected to enter the early signing period with a class ranked among the top 15 nationally.

Miami coach Mario Cristobal is expected to enter the early signing period with a class ranked among the top 15 nationally.

The 11th-hour flip of Stubbs put a dent in Mario Cristobal’s class, but it’s still teeming with four-star recruits, including Armwood 1,200-yard rusher Girard Pringle Jr. The only quarterback in the crop is three-star prospect Luke Nickel from Alpharetta, Georgia, suggesting Cristobal will tap into the portal for Cam Ward’s replacement or go with 6-foot-5 sophomore Emory Williams. Though the recruiting class features five defensive backs, look for Cristobal to also use the portal to replenish his beleaguered defense.

 

 

The Knights lost a handful of pledges during their late-season swoon, and it’s hard to ascertain how the resignation of coach Gus Malzahn will affect the class. The player to watch is Kissimmee Osceola 1,600-yard rusher Taevion Swint, who grew up an FSU fan but told the Orlando Sentinel on Saturday that he remains committed to the Knights (at least for now). Another four-star player in the class, Palm Beach Central safety Tony Williams, announced via social media Monday that he also remains committed to UCF. Also solid with their pledges are Tampa Bay Tech standouts Rukeem Stroud (cornerback) and Santonyo “Kozy” Isaac (receiver), who plan to sign Wednesday morning.

 

 

For the second year in a row, USF coach Alex Golesh is expected to land one of the best signing classes in the Group of Five.

For the second year in a row, USF coach Alex Golesh is expected to land one of the best signing classes in the Group of Five.

 

For the second year in a row, the Bulls’ class should be among the best — if not the best — in the Group of Five. “This has been a really, really long time coming,” coach Alex Golesh said last week. “This is the first group that we’ve really had two years to recruit. Got some really integral parts. We’ve got to go finish, too.” The class currently includes four interior offensive linemen, three linebackers and three safeties. Offensive skill players include three-star receiver Jeremiah Koger of Baltimore’s St. Frances Academy, the nation’s No. 8 team according to MaxPreps. Three-star quarterback Locklan Hewlett has thrown for 2,500 yards and 28 TDs for St. Augustine, still alive in the Class 4A playoffs.

 

Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier claps during Gator Walk before the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on

Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier claps during Gator Walk before the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 19, 2024. [Doug

 

Florida Football is continuing its late surge in recruiting. Some flips they are pulling off have been expected, while others are coming out of the blue.

 

Then, some flips are happening so fast that it is truly a challenge to try and keep up as Early Signing Day approaches this week.

 

Florida Football: Flip season

Joseph Mbatchou popped up on the radar for the Gators over the summer. The 6’4” and 275 pounds defensive lineman out of Georgia was a basketball player who had never organized football prior to the 2024 season, but was seen as a project with size and athleticism.

 

He committed to Florida back in July and at the time was ranked outside the top 1000. As the season progressed and the word on Mbatchou started to circulate, a score of other offers started to materialize. In October he took a visit to Texas and decommitted from Florida three days later, but maintained Florida as a possibility.

 

Mbatchou then took a number of other visits, including one to Florida for the LSU win, but on November 23 he announced he would be committing to Texas.

 

Barely a week later, Mbatchou announced he is flipping again and is now a verbal commit for Florida once again.

 

Mbatchou is now a consensus four-star, but with minimal public film available, it is hard to weigh in on whether he should be higher or lower. He is explosive and has the size and speed needed to compete in the SEC, so he is a worthwhile project to take on.

 

Florida is now up to 22 verbal commitments heading into Early Signing Day, with a handful of other players still in the mix to be flipped. As of now, the Gators are ranked 12th in the 247 Composite team rankings.

 

•

 

Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier during the first half as the Florida Gators defeat the #9 Ole Miss Rebels 24-17 at Ben Hill Griffiin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. November 23rd, 2024. Gator Country Photo by David Bowie.

The winter window for the college football transfer portal opens Monday, Dec. 9, and closes Saturday, Dec. 28. Florida will be looking to add players at multiple positions to strengthen their 2025 roster. Gator Country provides you with five positions Billy Napier and the Gators’ staff need to target in the transfer portal.

 

Let me be clear, any position can be upgraded. Florida should be taking elite players regardless of position if they want in. But there’s five positions I think Florida really needs to add depth / strengthen before the 2025 season.

 

1. Wide receiver

 

Florida is losing their top two receivers from the 2024 season in Chimere Dike and Elijhah Badger due to eligibility. This duo combined for 1,476 yards and six touchdowns this year. The Gators have a young core returning, including Eugene Wilson III, Aidan Mizell, and Tank Hawkins. They also plan to welcome legacy Vernell Brown III to the mix, who could be an early contributor.

 

The Gators will likely look to add two day one starters at receiver, much like they did last season, with one of them being a bigger bodied outside receiver.

 

Florida shouldn’t have many issues attracting the best receivers in the portal given DJ Lagway is their QB of the future. Badger ranked 5th in yards per reception this season and Dike ranked 17th.

 

2. Safety

 

The safety position is one that Florida has struggled to add SEC quality players through the transfer portal under Napier. In 2022 they added RJ Moten from Michigan, who started the season at safety but logged just 95 snaps. He switched to linebacker in 2024 and found much more success. In 2023 they added a trio of safeties in DJ Douglas, Asa Turner, and Trikweze Bridges in an effort to fix their issue at safety. Bridges worked out well for the Gators but had to switch to cornerback in the final month of the season due to a laundry list of injuries in the secondary. Douglas played a lot early in the season but was later benched for younger talent. Turner suffered a season ending injury in week one and logged just 35 snaps for the Gators.

 

Douglas and Bridges are out of eligibility, and it remains to be seen whether Turner will apply for a medical redshirt to gain one more year of college football.

 

Florida returns Bryce Thornton, Jordan Castell, and Greg Smith III at the position, but they need to add SEC quality safeties to the mix in order to fix what has been the Gators’ worst performing position group in the last two seasons.

 

3. Offensive tackle

 

Much of the offensive line recruiting will depend on what Austin Barber, Damieon George, and Jake Slaughter decide to do. All three have one more year of eligibility remaining if they want it. Either way, Florida will need to add an offensive tackle to the mix because Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson is out of eligibility. Really good offensive tackles are difficult to find in the portal, but Florida needs to put all their chips in to find an SEC quality tackle that can protect their future star quarterback.

 

4. Defensive tackle

 

Florida loses defensive tackles Desmond Watson, Cam Jackson, and Joey Slackman due to eligibility. Caleb Banks has another year of eligibility, but his performance over the last month of the season shot him up NFL Draft boards and it remains to be seen what he decides.

 

The Gators return Michai Boireau, Jamari Lyons, Tarvorise Brown, D’Antre Robinson, Brien Taylor, and hopefully Caleb Banks at the position.

 

Florida likely needs to add two interior defensive linemen.

 

5. Edge rusher

 

Florida has numbers and talent at the edge position, and they return almost everyone who contributed in 2024. But when you look at how the Gators had success getting to the quarterback, a lot of it came from the interior defensive line. Caleb Banks led the Gators in pressures with 28 and Tyreak Sapp was second with 24, who often times slid inside on passing downs.

 

This is a position that Florida shouldn’t look to add depth, because they have plenty of that, they need to add a day one starter. Edge is one of the more valuable position groups in football, and Florida’s defense would really benefit from an elite pass rusher.