How the NCAA's New Eligibility Rules Affect Florida Gators Football

GAINESVILLE, Fla.-- The NCAA last month approved its groundbreaking new eligibility rules that give student-athletes five full participation seasons within a five-year window, which replaces the previous four full participation seasons within a five-year window.

As a result, the Florida Gators football program has seen a multitude of its players receive an additional year of eligibility.

It is important to note that players who have redshirted in a previous season do not stand to benefit from the new rules, and waivers for additional years are also eliminated. Additionally, years of eligibility are not an indication of whether a player will use every season at Florida, with the NCAA Transfer Portal still in effect.

Players who have not previously redshirted are also able to follow the previous eligibility rules, which includes redshirting if they play in less than four games, if that is more beneficial to them.

That being said, here is where eligibility stands for Florida's entire 2026 football roster.

Final Year of Eligibility

Florida Gators wide receiver Kahleil Jackson (22). | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

These players are currently in their fifth year of college and do not benefit from the NCAA's new rules. The only significant player of note is wide receiver Kahleil Jackson, who is in his seventh year of eligibility after multiple injury waivers from the NCAA.

RB Evan Pyror
WR Kahleil Jackson
DL Emmanuel Oyebadejo
OLB Kofi Asare
LB TJ Bullard
CB Jordy Lowery
CB Javion Toombs
S Alfonzo Allen Jr.
LS Carter Milliron

Two Years of Eligibility

Florida wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. (2). | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

These players received an additional year from the NCAA after initially being in their final year of eligibility, or are listed as redshirt juniors on Florida's roster. Contributors such as Eric Singleton Jr., Knijeah Harris, Kamran James and Bryce Thornton each received another year of eligibility.

*denotes redshirt junior

QB Aidan Warner*
RB London Montgomery*
WR Jaden Edgecombe*
WR Jaylen Lloyd*
WR Micah Mays Jr.*
WR Eric Singleton Jr.
WR Bailey Stockton*
TE Evan Chieca*
TE Lacota Dippre*
OL Knijeah Harris
OL Bryce Lovett*
OL Caden Jones*
OL Roderick Kearney*
OL TJ Shanahan Jr.*
DL Brendan Bett*
DL Mason Clinton*
DL Kamran James
DL DK Kalu*
DL Jamari Lyons*
OLB Erich Seager*
LB Jaden Robinson
CB Vincent Brown Jr.*
CB Dijon Johnson*
CB Cormani McClain*
Star Kanye Clark*
S DJ Coleman
S Brayden Slade*
S Bryce Thornton
P Alec Clark*

Three Years of Eligibility

Florida running back Jadan Baugh (13). | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

These players have already exhausted two years of eligibility but will have three full years remaining under the NCAA's new rules, or are listed as redshirt sophomores on the roster. Jadan Baugh, Harrison Moore, Aaron Chiles, Myles Graham and Cam Dooley are among those of note to receive another year of eligibility from the new rules.

*denotes redshirt sophomore

QB Aaron Philo*
QB Aaron Williams*
RB Jadan Baugh
RB Kelvin Jimenez*
WR TJ Abrams*
TE Luke Harpring*
TE Amir Jackson*
OL Eagan Boyer*
OL Mark Faircloth*
OL Harrison Moore
OL Fletcher Westphal*
OL Jason Zandamela*
DL LJ McCray*
OLB Titus Bullard*
OLB Charles Emanuel III*
LB Aaron Chiles
LB Myles Graham
LB Evan Jackson*
LB Matthew Kade*
S Cam Dooley
K Patrick Durkin*
K Liam Padron*
K Brandon Rabasco*
P Miller Fealy*
P Nicholas Inglis*

Four Years of Eligibility

Florida Gators wide receiver Vernell Brown III (8). | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

These players have already exhausted a year of eligibility but will have four full years remaining under the NCAA's new rules, or are listed as redshirt freshmen on the roster. Vernell Brown III, Jayden Woods, Emeka Ugorji, Joseph Mbatchou and Jeramiah McCloud, among others, each retained a year of eligibility despite playing in more than four games last season as true freshmen.

Tramell Jones Jr., Dallas Wilson and Ben Hanks III are among those who redshirted last season but do not get that season back as it is within their five-year window. They still have four years of eligibility remaining.

QB Tramell Jones Jr.*
RB Brian Case*
RB Duke Clark*
RB Byron Louis*
WR Vernell Brown III
WR Ace Ciongoli*
WR Dallas Wilson*
TE Micah Jones*
OL TJ Dice Jr.*
OL Jahari Medlock*
OL Daniel Pierre Louis*
OL Emeka Ugorji
OLB Jayden Woods
DL Joseph Mbatchou
DL Jeramiah McCloud
DL Jalen Wiggins*
LB Ty Jackson
LB Myles Johnson
LB Dylan Leighton*
CB J'Vari Flowers
CB Ben Hanks III*
CB Onis Konanbanny*
Star Elijah Owens
S Lagonza Hayward
S Drake Stubbs
LS Hunter Solwold*

Five Years of Eligibility

Florida quarterback Will Griffin (11). | Kyle Lander / Florida Gators on SI

These are true freshmen who will have five full years of eligibility as they enter their first season of college. They will not have the ability to traditionally redshirt as teammates in previous classes had.

QB Will Griffin
WR Davian Groce
WR Marquez Daniel
WR Justin Williams
TE Tripp Brown Jr.
TE Heze Kent
OL Corey Brown
OL Chancellor Campbell
OL G'Nivre Carr
OL Tyler Chukuyem
OL Desmond Green
OL Javarii Luckas
DL Kendall Guervil
DL JaReylan McCoy
OLB KJ Ford
LB Malik Morris
CB CJ Bronaugh
CB CJ Hester
Star Dylan Purter
S Kaiden Hall

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