Spring Transfer Portal: What Are Florida’s Most Pressing Positions of Need?
Photo: Billy Napier; Credit: Alex Shepherd
Billy Napier has pointed out Florida's "unique" roster flip on numerous occasions throughout his second spring camp in Gainesville.
The Gators welcomed 27 new scholarship enrollments between December and January — 16 recruits, 10 transfers and one grayshirt freshman — and anticipate another four additions from the prep level this summer. The internal hope is an infusion of talent can elevate UF above its back-to-back losing records in SEC play and sub-.500 seasons from 2021-22 moving forward.
Napier does not believe Florida's 2023 roster has taken its full shape, however, and the spring transfer portal window between Apr. 15-30 will offer UF opportunities to finalize it.
"Our roster is not complete," Napier said after Florida's spring game on Apr. 13, "and certainly we could add some players in the future.
"We're under 85 scholarships. We're going to have opportunities to potentially add players to our team, but those will be much like they've been in the past. They're a case-by-case basis."
Following offensive tackle David Conner's portal entrance, Florida's roster is currently comprised of 82 scholarship contributors.
Napier intends to award standout walk-on members of UF's roster with scholarships this summer, he said in February, but Florida would benefit from further portal acquisitions that can make an immediate impact for the Gators this upcoming season filling in some of the vacancies.
Below are four positions that Florida could reasonably target in the transfer portal this summer due to the team's arguable biggest needs. Players are only eligible to enter the portal during the active 15-day window but can continue to be recruited over the course of the offseason.
Quarterback
Napier has suggested multiple times this offseason that Florida intends to secure another scholarship quarterback before the next campaign begins.
Although UF welcomed experienced signal-caller Graham Mertz from Wisconsin in December, the Name, Image and Likeness-related collapse of Jaden Rashada's class of 2023 signing with the Gators has narrowed Florida's current quarterback room to three scholarship members.
Ideally, Napier said in December, the team would like to maintain four to five, and the operation to get up to four began before the conclusion of spring camp.
"I think that process is underway to some degree," Napier said on Apr. 13, asked if Florida will be in the market for another QB. "I think we'll know more pretty soon. That's what I would say in that regard. Yes, we anticipate adding a player to our team at that position."
Considering the portal window had yet to open when Napier made the above comment, it can be theorized that Florida is looking into alternatives to fill the fourth quarterback spot. It would have been impermissible for the transfer portal contact process to have begun otherwise.
A graduate transfer could always be the target as such players are not subject to the portal windows, but none have been publicly linked to Florida yet.
Another possibility would be the reclassification of Florida's class of 2025 quarterback commitment, Austin Simmons.
While reclassifications are typically unpredictable, Simmons presents a special case. Although he can be confused as a rising junior at the prep level due to his recruiting year, Simmons has surpassed the class credits needed to graduate high school and is currently dual-enrolled to earn college credits.
In theory, Simmons could make the jump to the class of 2023 and join the Gators this summer. He's acknowledged the possibility in interviews, although he has yet to confirm if reclassification is in his plans.
“It’s a possibility, but I don’t know yet,” Simmons told Gators Online in April. “I’m still talking to my family about it. I’m not really too sure about it and we are still talking about the pros and cons, but it’s a possibility.”
Time will tell how Napier and his staff plan to complete their quarterback room entering the 2023 season. It is a safe bet, however, that Florida will add one more scholarship passer before Week 1.
Tight end
New year, similar problem. Florida's tight end position was hampered greatly by injuries throughout 2023 spring camp, much like a year ago during Napier's first offseason in charge.
The projected top three tight ends on the roster — redshirt senior Dante Zanders, senior Keon Zipperer and junior Jonathan Odom — were each sidelined with varying injuries. Zanders' unavailability was considered short-term due to a minor shoulder injury, but Zipperer is likely to miss the upcoming season and Odom's Week 1 status is dependent on his recovery as both tend to serious knee wounds.
Florida has been encouraged by underclass contributors at the position throughout spring, with redshirt freshmen Arlis Boardingham, Hayden Hansen and walk-on Scott Isacks III appearing to step up into significant roles.
However, the Gators opted for in-house reinforcements in 2022 at tight end by moving Zanders and two other former defenders to the position. Zanders' performance was inspiring as he took on a starting role, but the unit underwhelmed as a whole, tallying just 30 receptions, 321 yards and three touchdowns combined.
Circumstances are a bit different this time around given the year of development at the position under Boardingham, Hansen and Isacks' belt. Still, a change in approach could be beneficial for UF this offseason given the position's current lack of proven and available contributors. The young trio has combined for just one career appearance.
If an experienced and capable tight end emerges in the transfer portal, it would behoove the Gators to pursue that player to bolster the position's depth.
Offensive line
Much like the tight end spot, injuries plagued Florida's offensive line throughout spring camp and the extent to which the unit was depleted was noticeable during the Orange and Blue Game. A combined nine sacks were called during the scrimmage, although it is worth noting that quarterbacks were not allowed to be tackled.
Projected starting left guard Micah Mazzccua, one of the team's three winter transfer additions along the line paired with tackles Damieon George Jr. and Kiyaunta Goodwin, suffered an undisclosed injury about halfway through spring and did not practice again. His return timetable is currently unclear although the team hopes he can return to action before the season kicks off.
Additionally, redshirt sophomore tackle/guard Kamryn Waites reportedly suffered an Achilles injury during the offseason workout program that will sideline him for an undetermined amount of time. Redshirt freshman guard Jalen Farmer was also limited in participation throughout the spring with an undisclosed wound, and tenured starting center Kingsley Eguakun didn't play in the spring game.
Florida reshaped its offensive line of the future by signing three transfers and four high school prospects up front this offseason. The ripple effects of losing four starters and two backups from a season ago, though, are being felt due to injuries and general inexperience across the depth of the unit.
At a minimum, Florida would gain from adding experienced depth to its offensive line to prevent rushing freshmen onto the field — keep in mind, Knijeah Harris was a member of the first team in the scrimmage. It wouldn't be a bad idea to pursue a starting-caliber lineman if such an option arises, either.
Safety
Similar to quarterback, safety is a position that Napier has specifically shared an interest in adding talent to before the 2023 season.
Following 2022 starters Trey Dean III and Rashad Torrence II's departures to the NFL Draft, Florida's safety room currently features two true sophomores rising into first-team roles in Kamari Wilson and Miguel Mitchell, and two true freshmen projected to serve as primary backups immediately in Bryce Thornton and Jordan Castell.
“That’s one of the areas on our team where young players are going to have to play, there’s no question," Napier said on Apr. 6. "Overall, that’s a room where we can add a player. It’s a room that we need to continue to develop depth if that makes sense and, ultimately, it’s going to be a big part of how good we can be on defense is how good that can be.”
Wilson and Mitchell appear poised to start as each player appeared in 13 games in their freshmen campaigns. But an experienced, versatile backup from the portal would prevent Florida from having to rely on true freshmen in a pinch if such a scenario were to occur.
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