Florida Flips USF OT Transfer Commit Lyndell Hudson Jr.
Florida has flipped the transfer commitment of former Florida International offensive tackle Lyndell Hudson Jr. from South Florida, bolstering the Gators' offensive line depth for the 2023 season with the addition of a potential one-year starter from the spring transfer portal period.
Hudson pledged to the Gators on Saturday following a two-day official visit to the program, which All Gators was first to report on Friday.
Hudson entered the transfer portal on March 24 following five seasons at FIU. He committed to USF on May 3 but did not finalize his transfer via enrollment, allowing Florida's coaching staff the opportunity to enter his recruitment and schedule the visit.
A product of Brooksville (Fla.) Central, Hudson signed with the Panthers in the recruiting class of 2018.
Hudson went on to emerge as a multi-year first-teamer on FIU's offensive line, making 38 game appearances and 25 starts between 2019-22. His 2022 season was limited due to a nagging back injury, although he reportedly played through the hurt in a rotational role due to the Panthers' lacking offensive line depth.
Pro Football Focus credits Hudson with 1,564 career offensive snaps logged, with 1,452 at right tackle and 112 at left tackle. He posted a single-season career-high run-blocking grade of 82.3 (out of 100) in 2020 and performed his best as a pass-protector in 2022, giving up zero sacks on 247 such reps.
The 6-foot-6, 300-pound lineman joins the Gators with one season of eligibility remaining and as a rising sixth-year senior.
With redshirt sophomore and reigning Freshman All-American Austin Barber pegged to start at left tackle for Florida in 2023, Hudson will likely compete with fourth-year redshirt sophomore Damieon George Jr. and sophomore Kiyaunta Goodwin — winter transfers from Alabama and Kentucky, respectively — to play on the right side this fall.
The Gators' 2023 roster is currently comprised of 82 scholarship players, with three vacancies that can be filled with additional transfer portal talent before the upcoming season begins. Hudson and former Michigan safety R.J. Moten both teamed up with UF via spring transfers, after Florida welcomed ten transfers during the winter window.
Several All-22 video clips of Hudson (No. 77) blocking for the Panthers can be observed below, via Football Transfer Prospects on YouTube.
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